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Steel Smiling

@steelsmilingpgh

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Bridging the gap between Black people + Mental Health support through Education, Advocacy + Awareness. An Organization in Residence of @nhbdalliespgh

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Last week, we were lucky to welcome new partners from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (@landpolicy) to Pittsburgh! We explored a few key neighborhoods and brainstormed around our ongoing work.

Neighborhood Allies is excited to be a part of a new learning cohort that the Lincoln Institute will be launching in the fall - an amazing peer learning opportunity for intermediaries from four cities to advance existing economic development strategies that center community well-being and social infrastructure! We were also able to gather with additional partners to share more about our city with the Lincoln Institute.

Stay tuned for more about our experience! #LetsBeAllies #LincolnInst by @steelsmilingpgh

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a month ago

What would it mean to create a home for the parts of ourselves that the world has called irrational, unstable, dangerous, or “mad”?

We seek art that imagines sanctuary as a psychological and emotional home: a series of spaces, or “rooms,” allowing us to move through different aspects of Black lived experience. We’re looking for work that has engaged with how joy, madness, frustration, doubt, grief, and anger actually appear and are practiced, and what it takes to hold them all at once.

The details:
• Steel Smiling × The Future Is Black
• BOOM Concept, 5139 Penn Ave, Garfield
• November 6–30, 2026

If this speaks to something you’ve been making or meaning to make, find the link in the bio.The deadline is Sept 20th, and we’ll notify selected artists by October 4th. by @steelsmilingpgh

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2 months ago

Last month, Steel Smiling's Managing Director, Courtney Abegunde, was featured on @cbspittsburgh Intersections! She talked about the mission and work of Steel Smiling over the past decade.

The interview took place on the patio of the Thelma Lovett YMCA, and Courtney was able to visit with our partners there from Macedonia Family and Community Enrichment Center, Inc. The Elders Support Group that takes place there has been meeting for 5 years now!

Watch the segment, starting around 9:30, at the link in our bio! by @steelsmilingpgh

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2 months ago

In June, in celebration of Men's Mental Health Month and Father's Day, Steel Smiling in partnership with @thekingsleyassociation hosted a powerful Men's Day of Grounding in Highland Park.

Men from across the community came together to share a meal, build relationships, and enjoy fellowship in nature. Guided by Thomas Tyson, participants engaged in a grounding activity that encouraged them to connect with the earth beneath their feet and reflect on the elements surrounding them. From the strength of the trees to the flow of the water and the openness of the sky, men found meaningful ways to connect their own experiences to the natural world.

The day served as an important reminder that men's mental health matters. Creating spaces where men can slow down, connect, reflect, and support one another is essential to building healthier families and stronger communities.

As we celebrated fathers, father figures, and the men who continue to show up for their families and communities, we also honored the importance of caring for ourselves. Healing is not something we have to do alone. There is power in brotherhood, vulnerability, and community.

The Kings Smile Men's Group continues to grow as a space where men can find support, build authentic relationships, and prioritize their mental wellness. Through the partnership between Steel Smiling and the Kingsley Association, we are creating opportunities for men to heal, grow, and thrive together.

Strong men build strong communities. Strong communities create space for healing.

#MensMentalHealthMonth #FathersDay #SteelSmiling #KingsleyAssociation #KingsSmile #MensMentalHealth #Brotherhood #HealingInCommunity #Grounding #MentalWellness #CommunityCare #BlackMensWellness by @steelsmilingpgh

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2 months ago

Today I stepped outside my comfort zone and into an experience I’ll never forget. 🖤

At the August Wilson House Community Cookout, we began with stretching and breathwork before putting on blindfolds to paint while being guided by the soothing sounds of singing bowls. It was such a powerful reminder that creativity doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be honest.

The best part? Revealing our paintings at the end and receiving crystals that matched the colors and energy of our artwork. It was peaceful, grounding, and such a beautiful way to connect with art, mindfulness, and community.

Have you ever tried painting without being able to see? Tell me in the comments if you’d give this a try! 🎨✨

#AugustWilsonHouse #SoundBath #MindfulArt #PittsburghEvents #CreativeHealing taken in August Wilson House by @steelsmilingpgh

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4 months ago

Thrilled to share that gooxjy will be hosting our wellness experience, Intuitive Sound + Paint, at the iconic + historical @augustwilsonhouse August Wilson House to kickoff Steel Smiling’s Community Cookout this Saturday.

June 27 from 11:30-12:30P
August Wilson House | 1727 Bedford Ave

Rooted in the practice of pratyahara (sensory withdrawal), this immersive workshop invites you to surrender to sound and create without sight. Together, we will explore embodied movement, sound sensing, and intuitive artmaking within a safe and playful space.

Brought to you by Steel Smiling.

There’s no cost to attend, but please only register if you’re certain you can attend.
Space is limited, and we want to make sure as many people in the community as possible have the opportunity to participate.

Register: bit.ly/junesoundpaint

#soundbath #pratyahara #shorething #creativewellness #yoga taken in August Wilson House by @steelsmilingpgh

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4 months ago

You’re invited to the cookout! 🍽️

Come kick it with the Steel team at August Wilson House this Saturday June 27. The vibe is fun and full of care. Bring a friend and the kids, and help us answer the question “What places and spaces support our healing?”

RSVP appreciated, link in bio.

See you there ✨ taken in August Wilson House by @steelsmilingpgh

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4 months ago

Our Organization-in-Residence, Steel Smiling, celebrated 10 years of impact in 2025! They also received two awards, obtained vital funding, and completed the 5th ever cohort of Beams to Bridges, a program that equips residents with practical skills grounded in Black history and healing traditions to support mental health and community wellbeing.

Learn more about our 2025 impact at the link in our bio! by @steelsmilingpgh

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4 months ago

Men’s Grounding Day 2026 🤴🏾🧘🏾‍♂️

This Men’s Mental Health Month and Father’s Day season, join us as we celebrate the fathers, brothers, sons, mentors, husbands, and community leaders who show up every day for their families and communities.

Come out for an evening of brotherhood, connection, healing, fun, food, music, and community as we honor the strength of men while creating space for honest conversations about mental wellness.

Whether you’re a father, mentor, friend, or supporter, bring your family and loved ones and be part of a gathering that reminds us that strong men ask for support, build meaningful connections, and prioritize their well-being.

📅 Tuesday, June 23, 2026
⏰ 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 7206 Lake Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
(Across from Lake Carnegie)

Hosted by Kings Smile Men’s Group
Presented by Steel Smiling and The Kingsley Association

✨ Food & Drinks
✨ Music & Entertainment
✨ Games & Activities
✨ Brotherhood & Connection
✨ Friends & Family Welcome

Strong Men. Healthy Minds. Strong Families.

#MensMentalHealthMonth #FathersDay #KingsSmile #SteelSmiling #KingsleyAssociation MentalWellness Brotherhood CommunityHealing PittsburghEvents StrongMenHealthyMinds FamilyAndCommunity taken in Highland Park by @steelsmilingpgh

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4 months ago

The Beams to Bridges 6 Welcome Party was full of joy, connection, and community pride. New cohort members gathered with Steel Smiling staff and BTB alumni to celebrate the start of this next chapter. Alumni poured into the room with wisdom and reflection, reminding the new cohort that they are joining a powerful community of people committed to healing, growth, and collective care.

📸: @cwlcreatives by @steelsmilingpgh

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4 months ago

Mark your calendars and join us for the third annual Western PA Book Read as we read and discuss "Dèy" by Edwidge Danticat.

This year, we will distribute copies of "Dèy" to individuals and organizations beginning August 26, 2026. Between September 2026 and February 2027, participants will read the book, and in early March 2027, partner organizations will offer their locations for group discussions.

The group discussions will be held between March 1 and March 13, 2027. Participants who want to join the group discussion will sign up and attend one of the ten discussions in the locations closest to them.

The Western PA Book Read is made possible through a collaboration with Steel Smiling and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, with support from The Pittsburgh Foundation. by @steelsmilingpgh

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5 months ago

Through the Community Violence Reduction Initiative (CVRI), Steel Smiling supports folks and organizations who do violence reduction and community outreach work through trainings, support groups, and fun kickback sessions to help them care for their mental health.

"A CVRI kickback, in my perspective, is intended to give this group of community violence warriors an opportunity to experience joy, connection, relaxation, and wellness. We must continue to stress the importance of how emotionally and mentally taxing the work of these individuals is.....and why laughter and humanity can be a potential remedy to some of these bigger issues." - Cheyenne Campbell, Steel Smiling Program Coordinator and CVRI kickback leader.

For our most recent kickback on May 8th, we shared a meal and engaged in fellowship together at Dave and Buster's. We also had a CVRI x Steel Smiling Music Award Show facilitated by Cheyenne and inspired by the music of Michael Jackson and new movie Michael. Each team introduced themselves (as a means for relationship building) and as a group performed a part of a Michael Jackson or Jackson 5 song (for about 20-30 seconds.) We followed the "musical performances" with the "award ceremony" where each team had the opportunity to share a positive shot out to one person on their team. Many individuals shared how this friendly competition, like their daily work, was a collective responsibility and so it was the entire TEAM they wanted to shout out. We ended the session with a community circle and somatic practice led by Ms. Robin- where she stressed the importance of unity. We even had the chance to play some games and have fun after the session!

📸: @cwlcreatives by @steelsmilingpgh

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5 months ago