May is Teacher Appreciation Month, and what better way to say “thank you” than to recognize a few outstanding lifelong educators.

The last year has seen an influx of new businesses crop up all throughout the region. Although the businesses highlighted below could not be more different from each other, what connects them is their owners’ passion for creating a comfortable and inviting space for customers.

In January, Okane Sushi opened an elevated omakase experience on the second floor of its downtown restaurant. Omakase means “I’ll leave it up to you,” so each course is thoughtfully prepared by its chef.

Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project, or PUMP as it is known, is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit that engages young professionals in civic life, community building, and social networking through events, advocacy, and sports leagues.

Like a lot of Pennsylvania towns that built their economies on steel, Ellwood City faced some hard times in the 1980s. But the borough of roughly 7,500 people persevered, and today the town that spawned the seamless tube industry is attracting new businesses as well as families looking for a welcoming place to call home.

What prompts someone to get involved in local government? We spoke with three women who are leaders in various local governmental bodies about their journeys.

Pittsburgh has always been a city of builders. And while the steel mills have long gone quiet, a different kind of industry has taken root. One driven by entrepreneurs turning ideas into income, often with little more than a laptop, a business plan and a willingness to show up at networking events on a Tuesday night.

The Pittsburgh region, long defined by its industrial heritage, is witnessing a new chapter as local nonprofit organizations redefine what it means to be an industrial powerhouse.

Events happening in Pittsburgh, PA in May 2026