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Next On Q, Pittsburgh people changing lives.

First you'll meet Erin Gannon.

How would you describe yourself?

Me?

I describe.

That I'm wonderful.

See how this teacher's aid is helping other local young people deal with their disabilities while also introduce you to this man who brings a lot to the community.

See how Father Regis Ryan is changing lives by bringing hope to a local town that's fallen on hard times.

On Q starts right now.

And for me.

And for me.

And welcome to On Q. I'm Michael Bartley.

We all know the Pittsburgh region is filled with lots of special people.

Some of them are local celebrities, easily recognizable.

Most of them are just regula people who may not even realize the impac they have on those around them.

Tonight, we'll introduce yo to two of those special people Pittsburg people who are changing lives.

First, the story of a local woman who sets quite an example for so many others.

Her name is Erin Gannon.

She's busy and happy.

And as Tonia Caruso reports, more than a little inspiring.

She's a Pittsburgh person changing lives.

It's 10:00 on a Tuesday morning, and Erin Gannon has a lot of work to do at the century medical doctor' office in downtown Pittsburgh.

And there are two more to go.

Welcome back.

Yeah.

Okay.

Thanks for the follow.

Yeah.

There's copying.

Filing.

Oh, man.

How do they put them up high?

And lots of mail to get ready.

And that's just before lunch.

Come with a funny freak.

Okay.

I like, keep everything neat.

You like to keep everything neat organized, actually.

Why is that?

Because I if you see a messy desk, you think I'm sloppy.

But me and I want to be more importan and get everything done and be.

I want to be like, important.

Erin Gannon is important.

And perhaps more way than she'll ever know, for her story is not just about her own personal successes, but full of inspiration for so many others.

And I have six children.

They're all grown.

Erin is the youngest born in 1972.

Down syndrome.

Some people even still use the word mongoloid.

Children with down syndrome really were not educated.

I can remember calling a a colleague of my husband's who said to me, don't take her home.

Don't take her home.

At that time, many of these children were not being taken home.

But Nancy Gannon and her husband Bob refused to put Erin in an institution.

And a short tim later, things began to change.

The following year the right to education came in and the challenges of mental retardation were coming into the public.

People were talking about it.

People were having support groups.

People then were beginning to think that we needed to educate these children.

Erin went to a montessori school and as she grew older, another educational institution known as Pathfinders.

When we took over Saint Anthony's started a program at Canavan High School, was the first high school program that was an inclusive setting within the high school.

And at that time, I had he at Saint Anthony's in Canavan, and that's where she graduated from.

Long before Erin entered school, she took part in hours of early intervention therapy.

Dealing with Marsha Blanco as the CEO of Achieva, one of the area's largest human service agencies for people with disabilities.

I've known Erin since shortly after she was born, and isn't she just a joy?

This this is a person who so loves and embraces life, every aspect of life.

Erin is also legally blind but her list of accomplishments is endless.

She volunteers, plays the piano, and is on the board of Special Olympics.

She loves to swim and twice went to the special Olympic Worl Games, earning medals for golf.

How did you start golfing?

That's what I want to know.

I knew when I was a little girl.

My dad taught me.

He took me out.

Let's see if I can hit a golf ball.

I hit by a hundred yards and he said I can make her a golfer.

But even the brightest medals can't outshine Erin's latest Achievament.

She's taken on a second jo as a teacher's aide at Achieva.

Erin works two days a week i the preschool readiness program.

She helps children with a variety of developmental and physical disabilities.

Hey, you!

What do you like about working with the kids?

One though.

A lot of fun.

A lot of fun, especially Sophie.

Do you want to?

For younger families, the initial shock of having a child with disabilities, can be disturbing to families.

I think that it's really, really important that our younger families, have a role model.

Such as Erin, around at the preschool.

I think that it opens their minds to the fact that you need not mourn the birth of this child.

Oh, this may be a lifelong joy.

It may not be exactly what you had anticipated, but life is going to be good again.

And while you may think that this is a lemon, it's going to be lemonade.

But whether it's one on one time or singing a song in a group, Erin's an important part of the classroom.

It's neat to see that she can really be a big help to the program, and it just sets a good example, and it just kind of shows the overall attitude of the program that they're about, including everybody and and finding how everybody can contribute.

How would you describe yourself?

Me I describe that I'm wonderful.

Sometimes my mom would say, I'm uniform.

I'm outgoing and I'm full of life.

I feel like a little bit Achieva is one of the best place to be, and it's a place where you can see all kind of excitement and plus of people here.

They make you feel comfortable and they just inspire everyone.

How about a little relaxing today too?

Erin indeed feels comfortable here.

Oh, hi, Connie here.

And how are you?

Good.

Good.

Are you all ready?

Yeah.

What's on the.

She pops in and out of offices paying folks a visit, but she's also comfortable in her everyday life.

Erin moved out of her family's home several years ago and into a supervised group setting.

She takes the bus nearly everywhere.

You like living on your own?

I do.

What do you like about it?

I get t meet, a lot of different people and a lot of different friends and a lot of different staff.

And you have a good time?

Oh, yeah.

In fact, Erin is never one to miss out on anything.

I like going to movies.

I like going at to dinner.

Having fun.

Nor does she miss out on meeting anyone.

Chuck.

No.

This is the lad that runs the school for blind.

Her most recent meeting was wit Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Raymond.

Star Erin was crowne Queen of Saint Bridget's Court and this year's Saint Patrick's Day Parade.

The court honors women who have exemplified courage and gran will in the face of adversity.

What did you think of the mayor?

I liked him, and how much fun was it to be in the parade?

That was fun.

I have any own car, so.

So what did you have to do?

I just sit there and wave.

You have a thing that you wave.

Erin signature laugh no doubt.

Makes the day of everyone here, including mom Nancy, who, after years of volunteering, now chairs Achieva, board of trustees.

You might say Erin Achieva and the entire Gannon family have grown together.

Started out as a support group and we have grown into all of this lifelong support that we provide at Achieva it.

And we do from early intervention all the way through.

Hi.

I see that is as Erin traveled this road, so did Achieva.

How would you describe your mom?

My mom is my hero.

I always thought of as my hero.

She's the most boring person in my life and I love her for everything that she's done.

Even though she's just being on the board here and everything else.

She's a wonderful mother.

She does a great job here.

When you look at all these things that she's done, you say, wow.

And I think for us, fo my husband and I, that has been, you know, we've sat back and marveled at how far she came.

Oh, that's a mom.

What do you think we ca all learn from Erin to love life and to realize that each of us has differing abilities.

Each of us has issues in our lives, and she has overcome something that might really set back.

Most people.

With Erin.

She accepts that she is.

She knows who she is.

And she's going to be right there, living every moment of life to its fullest.

Hey, you.

I'm saying.

Indeed she does.

Antonia tells us that Erin works alongside preschool readiness teacher star Hugh Grant and a full staff, and she's no stranger to spending time with kids.

Erin has quite a few niece and nephews, and her years as an aunt have helped her to prepar for her work in the classroom.

And when we come back, we'll continue our look at Pittsburgh people changing lives.

We'll find out how this man is bringing arts, culture, health care and hope to a local town that's fallen on some hard times.

That's coming up next.

You're watching On Q because these foundations care enough about local programing to help pay for it.

The Richard King Mellon Foundation, the Howard Heinz Endowment, the McCune Foundation, the Pittsburgh Foundation, the Grable Foundation.

Additional funding for On Q is made possible by the Pennsylvania Public Television Network and by the Allegheny Regional Asset District.

Helping On Q showcase thi region's vibrant arts community with corporate funding from Highmark.

Highmark is proud to support OnQs coverage of the arts, culture, health, public affairs, and civic journalism.

The stories of our region.

Thank you.

And we couldn't do it without you.

The members of WQED.

If you watch On Q, you know our stories take you everywhere, from great local landmarks to far off countries with unique connections to our region.

You might also know On Q has som camera people you'll find anywhere.

And now you can see their work in beautiful high definition.

So if you have a high def TV, you can watch this program on WQED HD channel.

That's weeknights at 7:30 for on view in HD.

Welcome back.

Tonight our focus is on those unique, colorful and caring people who work to enrich our lives.

Some have celebrity status.

Others you've never heard of but they have a story to tell.

Stories we're capturing and On Q segments we call Pittsburgh people changing lives.

And that brings us t our second story of the night.

If you love the arts and culture in this region, you'll b pleased to know a new $3 million arts and cultural cente is being built here in Allegheny County, where McKees rocks.

That's where it's the latest successful development and a neighborhood struggling to come back from poverty and despair.

And McKees rocks residents are quick to credit a priest by the name of Father Regis Ryan for helping their neighborhood survive and hopefully thrive.

My blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant.

It will be shed for you and for all.

We pray for unity in our community.

We pray for unity in our church.

We pray for unity in our own minds and hearts.

It brings a lot to the community.

He is Father Regis Ryan.

This is McKees rocks.

Many who live here love to praise Father Ryan's wor and their hometown of Perrone.

Plus the Mancini's bread, the Jenny Lee bakery.

How ethnic this whole area is.

But it's it's a nice area.

And McKees rocks was once a big money thriving area.

50 plus years ago, Chartiers Avenue, the main street, bustled with business.

It was a highly profitable railroad town through the Second World War until the 50s.

Well-Dressed businessmen posed for pictures in this town of almost 20,000.

Then a 4th of July parade had the sidewalks packed as elaborate floats and marching bands passed by.

But the railroad industry in McKees rocks declined when the airlines ascended and nearby steel mills began to falter and the once bustling McKees rocks fell into financial hardship.

The scars of almost sudden poverty are still visible.

The population fell in the past 50 years from that 20,000 to 6300.

Today.

At Dietz Florist, proud lifelong resident Terry Angel, a flower designer, says things could be a lot worse.

Sometimes if people ask where you live and you say McKees rocks, there you go.

Oh, that could be from years ago of what went on here.

We have some corruption and but hopefully we can change that around.

What do you want them to know?

That it's still a nice place to come.

It's close to Pittsburgh.

I mean, you could be in the city within ten minutes.

Businesses should be looking here.

Many credit this nonprofit community service agency focus on renewal.

And this man they were all for stabilizing what was onc a fast declining McKees rocks.

And I don't want to insult any of the other towns in Allegheny County because they all have their good points and poor points.

But I've been through a lot of other mill towns who I think of reall deteriorated a lot more quickly than the McKees rocks has.

67 year old father Regis Ryan has spent the last 32 years of his lif trying to improve McKees rocks.

As executive director of focus on Renewal.

Father Ryan has grown the agency from one storefron to 11 service center buildings, from two employees to 150 employees.

There's a community center with a food bank, daily meals for the homeless and elderly.

There is the Sto-Rox Family Health Center, which used to be the old A&P supermarket.

It offers medical care, denta care for the poor and uninsured.

There is a senior high rise transportation for seniors and others.

Focus on renewal now owns an runs the neighborhood library, which almost closed.

And workers put the finishing touches on the new 26,000 square foot Sto-Rox Cultural Arts Center.

While Father Ryan is still raising money for the $3.4 million property, it is hoped the cultural cente will bring arts, entertainment, a renewed spirit and further development.

We do it because the needs here basically, and I think from the beginning the philosophy has been, you know, if you're, if you're a Christian peer, you don't have to be a priest or a sister.

But if you're, committed somehow to what Christ had in mind, you gotta be able to serve the folks around it.

Regis Ryan was born on Lincoln Avenue in Homewood.

His fierce dedication to social justice lifting up the poor began as a child.

Like going back to my parents, you know, my parents, who were very, faithful Catholics, went to church a couple times a week and my dad used to take m to the vets hospital out there at Rich farm off Lincoln Avenue.

The wheel, the vets, the chapel when I was 12 years old.

And to feed them, you know they couldn't feed themselves.

I think I was, indoctrinated so to speak, with my early life from my parents and my family.

And, I think that whole part of me is, is so much a part of what I do here.

Father Ryan was ordained a Catholic priest in 1966, and while he spent several years in parish work, Ryan was appointed by then Bishop Vincent Leonard to continue the mission of focus on renewal.

He believes his work here giving hope to those without help raising money to expand programs and facilities for the poor, is his calling.

Federal statistics show nearly 70% of McKees Rock's children qualif for low income lunch programs.

We probably deal with about 10 or 12,000 different individuals a year, with probably a quarter million encounters or contacts with these folks.

The children's programs, we have the three famil support sites, as I mentioned.

So they're doing not just wit the kids, but with the parents.

We also have our early learning center, of course, at the health center, we deal with prenatal.

They have obstetricians that come in.

We have a pediatrician so they deal with the children.

And all those programs.

Fathe Ryan has been honored with just about every single local awar for his unyielding commitment.

And while Father Ryan appreciates the recognition, it's the people of McKees rocks who inspire him on a greater salt of the earth.

They're really, down to earth, you know, they they walk in and they they tell you their whole story and then there's not a whole lot of affectation.

There's no a whole lot of hidden agendas.

You know, it's pretty much out there what they have and what they do and who they are.

It's a lot like the people I grew up with on Lincoln Avenue, you know, just real working class people.

I think we have more people struggling now to existing than we did.

And in those days, it seemed like everybody was in the same basket of being poor and struggling somewhat.

But now you got, of course, the drug in the alcohol problems.

That's that's a big on that has ruined so many families and that has really torn down a lot of people.

I don't think we had that problem back in the 50s, in the 60s, but the I think it' probably the biggest difference.

I think the place would be in a whole lot worse shape than it is.

When I first came here in 1981, and I was amazed at the the attitude of the people that, you know, there's no sense in talking about anything because nothing's going to happen.

And I think he started making it happen.

Sister Ruth Bearer is associate director of the Family Health Center.

A colorful mural on the sid of the building includes Father Ryan and an overall anti-tobacco message for young people.

I think one of the things that I admire most about him is the fact that he talks to the local people the same way he would talk to the Pope.

It doesn't make any difference.

He has such a, respec for the human dignity of people.

He done a lot.

He put a food bank in an started the, community center.

He has a program for little kids.

And, you know, when they got rid of his start program, all we had with Father Ryan's program, he is Brian Anthony.

He is 11 days old.

Brian Anthony's parents come here to the focus on Renewal Community Center to feed their new baby and themselves.

They help out with food, clothing, other services like help people with homeless problems.

They get money is up fo some people for rent and bills.

And.

Yeah, it's a good place to be.

So now that you have the baby, it's going to help.

Oh, yes.

Yes, it.

Sure.

Well, they even help wit formula and baby, diaper even.

Yeah.

They do it all good in the community right.

If this place wasn't here, what would you do?

Oh, we'd be in troubl because I work for another place down the street, and I don't make that much.

I came down every day.

I'm like most McKees rocks seniors who struggle financially.

91 year old Helen Tarantino uses the transportation and comes to the community center for lunch.

I sit and talk to the people there.

They treat me real nice here.

And while some criticize fo for acquiring so many buildings, others praise the agency and Father Ryan saying his father doesn't buy them.

They just sit and decay like the one next to the florist.

It's been neglected.

It's falling apart.

The roof is collapsing on it.

Father Ryan's approach continue rehabilitating such buildings and for profit business will move in.

He and others are hoping to drive new developmen once the cultural center opens.

There's a new group called the Friends of Father Ryan.

And they want thi cultural center named for you.

Yeah, I like that.

They don't seem to be doing this lightly.

They're determined.

They, we got some very determined people.

Yeah.

My first reaction to that was, you're supposed to wait till somebody dies befor you name a building after them.

They're very kind.

And I certainly appreciate that.

Father Ryan admits he's uncomfortable taking credit, saying it's an employee volunteer effort here.

He's here longer than I am.

And taking credit, he says, is not what this is about.

He loves living here, celebrating mass here, working here.

He says he'll press on raising money, planning a better future for McKees rocks.

The unity that we pray for is based not on any political or economic situation, but based on the preaching, the teaching of a love of Christ.

May that love touch us to improv to remind people that they were valued and to remind people that they were, dignified.

And thats one of the big thing that people need to be reminded that they are dignified, that they are children of God, that they are loved by God.

If nobody, by nobody else in the if people know that I'm saying that really, then they start to act like they're dignified in that they're people who are loved so people can say, he did some of that.

That would be nice.

Fathe Ryan lives at Saint John of God Parish in McKees rocks, where he celebrates mass throughout the week.

Meantime, Fathe Ryan is a member of an economic development board in McKee rocks, where the goal continues to be to attract new business, jobs and development to the area.

For more information on his work with Focus on Renewal, log on to our website wqed.org/OnQ and by the way, you can also use our website to tell us about more Pittsburgh people changing lives.

Write to us by clicking on the viewer comment line.

In the meantime, for all of us here at On Q, I'm Michael Bartley.

Thanks for watching tonight.

Good night.