Let's Talk: September Watershed Wide Workshop with the Mon Water Project

WHEN: Wednesday, September 16, at 6 PM - 8 PM

WHERE: OPDC Office at 294 Semple St.

For September’s Let’s Talk, OPDC is working with the Mon Water Project to host a workshop on the watershed around Oakland. The workshop will cover everything watershed-related with information on rain water, stormwater, and how climate affects our city. Sign up for the workshop with the Eventbrite link above and come learn about water in Oakland!

If you’re interested in learning more about the greater Pittsburgh watershed, the Mon Water Project is hosting 3 more workshops including a Drain Water Workshop in Greenfield, a Tap Water Workshop in Squirrel Hill, and a River Water Workshop in Hazelwood. Find more information about these events here:

Let's Talk: August Drop-In Office Hours!

WHEN: August 17 - 21 from noon to 4pm each day

WHERE: 294 Semple St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Our Let’s Talk this month is by YOU! During the entire week of August 17 – 21, noon to 4 pm, OPDC staff will be available at 294 Semple Street to talk about whatever issues are on your mind. We’ll be under a tent outside our Louisa Street entrance in Central Oakland with cold drinks and cookies. Too hot? Just step inside and enjoy our AC. Everyone is invited to stop by, have a chat, or ask any Oakland-related questions you may have! Trash and recycling rules, new construction, pedestrian safety concerns, street trees, housing and other resources, where to find the best local ice cream – we’re looking forward to talking with you!

Lets Talk: Move-out Madness & Detour Drama

WHEN: Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 6:00 PM 7:00 PM

Teams link HERE

Passcode: s6ty6jr3

Due to the closure of the Parkway East starting Friday, July 10 at 9 pm, and Oakland’s annual move-out blitz, the July Let’s Talk event will be virtual via Teams. Staff will be available to answer your recycling questions and help you with issues arising from move-out season. In the meantime, if you have questions or concerns, please contact Liz Gray at lgray@opdc.org or 412-335-0933.

Lets Talk: Home Repair Resources

WHEN: Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 6:00 PM 7:00 PM

Join us for a conversation with local funders and financing agencies to learn about resources for homebuying, home repair, and affordable housing resources.

Zoom link: Here

Passcode: 393869

This conversation will be in-person, with a hybrid option - and we'll record it for future reference. Got questions in advance? Drop them below and we'll be sure

Let's Talk: Please join us at 'Oakland Together' under the tent at Schenley Plaza

WHEN: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 6:00 PM 7:00 PM

We're preempting our Let's Talk event for May, and hope you will join us at Oakland Together on Thursday, May 14, 6 - 9 p.m., for an evening of community, conversation, and fun in support of Oakland Planning and Development Corporation.

Let’s Talk meetings are interactive, resident-focused discussions featuring a monthly theme, presentations from community partners, and an open conversation.

Let’s Talk takes place on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m.

Click here for meeting minutes, recordings, and additional resources from past Let’s Talks meetings.

Let's Talk: 2050 Comprehensive Plan

WHEN: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 6:00 PM 7:30 PM

Help shape the future of our city by joining us at the Comprehensive Plan engagement meeting focused on directing Pittsburgh’s future land use. Your input is essential to shaping how our city grows, develops, and serves our neighborhoods over the next 25 years.

WHERE:

  • IN PERSON at the Western PA School for the Blind, 201 N Bellefield Ave.

WHEN:

  • Wednesday, April 15, 2026 from 6 - 7:30 pm


Let’s Talk meetings are interactive, resident-focused discussions featuring a monthly theme, presentations from community partners, and an open conversation. The meetings take place on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m.

Click here for previous meeting minutes, recordings, and additional resources available for past Let’s Talks below.

Let's Talk: Oakland's Community Gardens

WHEN: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 6:00 PM 7:00 PM

Mid-winter is the perfect time to make plans for spring gardening!

Are you interested in community gardening? If yes, please join us for a discussion of how we can better support Oakland’s community gardens to thrive.

Light refreshments will be served.

Let’s Talk meetings are interactive, resident-focused discussions featuring a monthly theme, presentations from community partners, and an open conversation.

While Let’s Talk usually takes place on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. , this month’s meeting was pushed back a week because of weather and staffing.

Click here for previous meeting minutes, recordings, and additional resources available for past Let’s Talks below.

Meeting in person at 249 Semple Street and online via Zoom at https://bit.ly/4tNWhb0 (passcode: 393869)

CANCELED TO DUE WEATHER Let's Talk

WHEN: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 6:00 PM 7:30 PM

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the low temperatures expected in the region for the next few days, we’ve decided to cancel this week’s Let’s Talk program.

Liz Gray is putting together an informal survey looking for your thoughts on the different programs being offered at community centers (see list below), which will be circulated in the next few days.

In the meantime, stay warm, stay safe.

As we heard in the 2022 Oakland Plan process, Oakland neighborhoods lack for “third spaces” and community centers that can support neighborhood needs. 294 Semple Street, where OPDC’s offices are located, was identified in the Plan as one of the potential sites to be developed as a community service hub. There’s a lot of public engagement and fundraising we’ll need to do to develop programs and adapt the spaces at 294 Semple to community needs – but in the meantime, we’d love to hear your ideas about what we can do with what we’ve got.

What would make 294 Semple more welcoming, comfortable, and useful to the neighborhood? What are some of the services and activities you feel are missing from Central Oakland? Down the road, what programming are you interested in seeing?

Our January Let’s Talk is about what near-term actions we can take to better serve our community at 294 Semple Street. Come share your thoughts!

Below is a sampling of the January activities bulletins and activity calendars for the city’s existing senior community centers. Please take some time and look at the options and opportunities that current centers offer.

Light refreshments will be served.

South Oakland and West Oakland Community Potlucks

WHEN: Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM 7:30 PM

Let’s Eat and Talk!

For this month’s community meeting, we will host potlucks in two different locations:

  • 2520 Wadsworth (West Oakland) and

  • 3250 Parkview Ave (South Oakland)

Come share a meal and converse with us! All you need to bring is yourself. Food welcomed but not required.