In 1992, Glenn moved to Wilkinsburg from Swissvale because of the location, affordable rent, and diverse community he found here. A little over 20 years ago, when he was self-employed and working various part-time jobs, he started getting more involved in the community after noticing a lot of work that needed to be addressed, including issues with litter and vacant property. His neighbors in Hamnett Place invited him to join their neighborhood association and participate in initial conversations with groups that had a stake in the community, such as St. James Church, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (formerly Port Authority), Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, and Grow Pittsburgh. Through these conversations, he started a litter task force, working with the school district to educate local youth, raised funds to get litter collection bins for the borough, and was a founding board member of the Hamnett Place Community Garden.
Glenn continued his community service when he became a commissioner on Wilkinsburg Borough’s Planning Commission and an ongoing WCDC volunteer. As a commissioner, Glenn addresses vacant property issues and makes sure that when new businesses come into the borough, they meet the community’s high standards both aesthetically and environmentally. As a WCDC volunteer over the years, Glenn has participated in most, if not all, of our activities and campaigns, including the difficult work of circulating petitions and collecting signatures for the liquor license referendum in 2015 and annexation referendum during 2021 and 2022. Glenn consistently steps up to support our work as an event volunteer, too, and even opened his home for our Home & Garden Tour fundraiser in 2016.
“It’s hard to say how much I have personally helped the WCDC, but I think the outreach efforts of WCDC and volunteers has increased awareness of the challenges facing the borough. The WCDC itself has become a lightning rod for those who don’t want sweeping change that might transform our way of life even if we have more resources, so it’s an uphill battle convincing people that change can be a good thing.”
– Glenn Freund, WCDC Volunteer
For Glenn, the most important thing about our community is our dedicated residents. “Everyone I know in my community works hard and is committed to positive change,” he explains. “Along with an aging population there is an influx of young families who want to see Wilkinsburg continue to grow and be a sustainable community.”
To this end, Glenn sees many opportunities to move the borough in the right direction, including increasing the tax base, keeping our school system viable, rebuilding our business community, and making Wilkinsburg a fun place to live and work. Thank you, Glenn, for your dedication to Wilkinsburg and the WCDC!