(These leaders will be on hand throughout the morning. When they’re not hands-on with the work itself, they’re happy to speak with press.)

Diamonte Walker — CEO, Rising Tide Partners

Kendall Pelling — Founder, Rising Tide Partners

Diane Daniels — Executive Director, East Hills Consensus Group

Donta Green — Executive Director, Trade Institute of Pittsburgh

Ray Miles — Field Operations Manager, Trade Institute of Pittsburgh

Liz Kozub — Director of Technical Assistance, Center for Community Progress

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About RVP: The Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference (RVP), hosted by the Center for Community Progress, is the only national gathering fully dedicated to addressing vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties and advancing equitable community revitalization. Since 2007, RVP has served as an essential training and networking event for local government leaders, community organizations, land banks, developers, and grassroots advocates. The 2026 conference—held September 22–25 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh—marks a full-circle return to the city that hosted the inaugural RVP nearly 20 years ago. RVP 2026 will bring 1,000 leaders from local governments, nonprofits, land banks, philanthropy, and community development organizations together to learn, share, and build a movement. Learn more at communityprogress.org/rvp26.

About the East Hills Park revitalization: The East Hills Park Homeownership Association was built in the 1960s as an affordable community of 167 townhouses. By 2020, roughly a third of the homes were abandoned and another third were owned by absentee landlords. Over the past five years, Rising Tide Partners has implemented a comprehensive land recycling approach—stabilizing every abandoned property, buying out absentee landlords to preserve affordability for 42 families, and completing the first two homes for affordable ownership. The first phase of an $850,000 HOA infrastructure investment is funded and ready to break ground.

About the East Hills Consensus Group: The East Hills Consensus Group operates as a unified community collaboration that addresses concerns and issues within the community. Aiming to promote a positive image of the East Hills community, their goal is to address issues affecting residents of the community, including improving the quality of life, beautification, public safety, and youth.

About Rising Tide Partners: Rising Tide Partners is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with communities and public agencies to restore neighborhoods and prevent displacement, with active work in Pittsburgh's Hazelwood, East Hills, Homewood, and Northside communities. The organization has site control of more than 500 housing units and has raised $53 million in real estate capital. Learn more at RisingTidePartners.org.

About the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh: The Trade Institute of Pittsburgh empowers men and women with significant barriers to employment through a tuition-free, 10-week training program in masonry and carpentry, including life skills courses and social service supports. Its social enterprise undertakes landscaping and home renovation projects, supporting community revitalization while building job skills for crew members.

About the Center for Community Progress: Community Progress helps people transform vacant spaces into vibrant places. Since 2010, their team of experts has provided urban, suburban, and rural communities with the tools and resources needed to address vacant properties at the policy and systems level. As the only national nonprofit dedicated to vacant property revitalization, Community Progress has delivered customized, expert guidance to leaders in over 300 communities. To learn more, visit communityprogress.org.