Hope and Love
Hope
After eight years as president of the NAACP McKeesport Unit, Ocie Paige has retired at 78.
The local unit meant something special to Paige, as it was founded by his aunt, Mary Lee Truss, in 1960. While the national organization began in 1909, she was inspired decades later to move for activism within the City of McKeesport when she heard a speech by the NAACP’ s regional director Calvin Brooks at Bethlehem Baptist Church. As an adult, Paige noticed that the unit had withered from Truss’ original assembly.“ I’ d seen the condition that the NAACP was in here,” Paige recalled.“ It didn’ t have a great name or reputation. My idea was to join the group and bring it up to what it could be, to what my aunt’ s vision was.
“ I didn’ t have any ambition to be president, but I was talked into it. When I won, I set out to build a great reputation, and I made a promise to the unit’ s members.”
Through a great deal of hard work, most of which Paige attributes to his wife Alease, the NAACP McKeesport Unit grew exponentially. The group now hosts two popular events, the annual Black History Month Pancake Breakfast in February and the Human Rights Dinner in the fall; issues annual scholarships in the amount of $ 500 to graduating seniors who are pursuing higher education; welcomes voters to Meet the Candidates debates for local elections; and takes part in community-wide events such as the Festival of Trees, McKeesport Rib Fest and many more.
Paige never hesitates get involved in the McKeesport community. He was the first black president of the McKeesport Area School District’ s board of directors, and he has worked hard to keep local politicians involved in their neighborhoods.
Paige moved to McKeesport as a child, when his family relocated from Birmingham, Ala., for work. He attended school here before enlisting in the U. S. Army for a 20-year career.
As a Sgt. 1st class, Paige was stationed for two tours in Vietnam and in Korea, Italy and various bases throughout the United States. In retirement, he returned to McKeesport with his family.
City of McKeesport News
cKeesport
Love
Lifelong McKeesporter Sandi George, a Grandview native who now lives in the Haler Heights neighborhood, is all about helping others.
Friends and family describe George as someone who always puts others before herself, and she never hesitates to reach out to those in need.
As a local volunteer for Allegheny County’ s Snow Angels program, she cleared driveways and sidewalks of ice and snow for elderly and disabled residents in the McKeesport area. And now with the Snow Angels program taken over by an organization that only works within Pittsburgh city limits, George took it upon herself to maintain this service for the people of McKeesport.
Over the summer, George began the Love Thy Neighbor initiative by banding together local volunteers who could cut grass, trim hedges and perform other light yard maintenance for homeowners who can’ t do these jobs on their own.
While other organizations offer similar one-time service projects, George wanted to start something that would ease residents’ minds as they struggle to keep their properties looking nice while also making ends meet.
“ I thought it would be a great way to help those in need and help spruce up the neighborhoods here in McKeesport,” she said.
“ There are a lot of folks who can’ t afford to put a lot of money into yard maintenance. So many people are on fixed incomes, and they typically have to spend what little funds they do have on other things. Their lawns and yards are often overlooked, because paying a landscaper to do it can be costly.”
With very few volunteers, George was able to help a handful of homeowners this summer and fall, and she’ s looking to do more as winter comes. She also participated in city-organized events, including a downtown cleanup around the former Penn-McKee Hotel in partnership with Pitt Make a Difference Day.
Anyone looking to volunteer their time with Love Thy Neighbor can email George at sandi. george @ gmail. com. McKeesport homeowners who may need assistance through Love Thy Neighbor can email jen. vertullo @ mckeesport-pa. gov or call 412-675-5020, ext. 605.
Living the Message...
The McKeesport Message Committee, a subgroup of McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko’ s Select Committee on Crime and Violence, invites the public to nominate community members who exemplify the words,“ Respect, Dignity, Hope and Love.”
McKeesporters of all ages – from youth volunteers to senior citizens – display characteristics of Respect, Dignity, Hope and Love on a daily basis in our community. Whether through organizing community activities or offering a helping hand to those in need, everyday people are doing their part to make our city a better place. If we look within our schools, our neighborhoods, our churches and our service organizations, we will find acts of kindness for which we all can be proud. Living the Message awards are intended to showcase these individuals and give the community an opportunity to share its good news. Awards are given quarterly. Using 250 words or fewer, describe how the individual of your choice embodies one of the four words. For more information, contact the mayor’ s office at 412-675-5020, ext. 605. Nominations can be mailed to the mayor’ s assistant Jennifer Vertullo, 500 Fifth Avenue,
McKeesport, PA 15132, or emailed to jen. vertullo @ mckeesport-pa. gov. The deadline for the next round of nominations is February 15, 2017.
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