In partnership with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Neighborhood Project (Nick Cotter) will be presenting a recurring lecture at various Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branches entitled, “Separate and Unequal: The Causes and Consequences of Persistent Racial & Economic Segregation Across Greater Pittsburgh’s Neighborhoods.”

Intersection of Knox and Bausman in Pittsburgh’s Knoxville neighborhood.

The lecture will provide context on our region and ask and answer the following questions:

• Allegheny County context, with additional focus on City of Pittsburgh​
• Do neighborhoods matter? ​
• What specific mechanisms make neighborhoods matter? ​
• Are there differences in who is exposed to neighborhood need/disadvantage versus opportunity/advantage?​
• What structural and private factors created and maintain neighborhoods with such different conditions? ​
• Once segregated, do neighborhoods tend to change or stay the same?​
• How should we effectively & equitably address persistent concentrated need/disadvantage?​
• Conclusion ​

Below are the current dates and branches for the lecture series, with more dates and branches coming in 2027. This post will be updated as more dates are confirmed:

Sunday, September 13th, 2026 from 1pm-2:30pm at CLP – Allegheny

Wednesday, October 7th, 2026 from 6pm-7:30pm at CLP -Hill District