On a given weekday in Pittsburgh, a mother who fled violence halfway around the world is learning to ride the bus. A teenager who was born abroad is adjusting to a new school, a new language, and an uncertain future. A family that has lived here for years is suddenly worried about losing the legal status they spent years building. For each of them, a network of local nonprofits is working to make sure they don’t face these challenges alone.

Natalie Grow remembers when Allegheny Health Network had four primary care dietitians. That was 2020. Today there are 14, but the pace of hiring has not slowed the shortage.

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.