The Penn Hills community is invited to the first Penn Hills Regifting and Entrepreneurial Spirit of Hope (PHRESH) Friday night.
Dion Dupree, school and community liaison and outreach coordinator for the district, said the event will celebrate the high school’s young entrepreneurs and network with local business owners in attendance and mentorship programs.
“PHRESH is an initiative that embodies the fusion of creativity, philanthropy and community engagement,” said Dupree. “By uniting teen entrepreneurs, local vendors and supporters, this event has the power to create a huge positive impact while celebrating talent and innovation.”
Dupree said organizers hope to pair students with vendors in similar fields of expertise during the event.
“We want vendors to work with (students) and teach them the do’s and don’ts of business,” Dupree said. “We hope to build those connections at our events.”
Dupree said each vendor shows up with the intention of mentoring young entrepreneurs. To assist with these connections, Penn Hills High School student Arshad Bryant serves as the internal liaison between students and vendors. Bryant owns a clothing company and attends local vendor events. Dupree said he’s already made some of the connections his classmates hope to make Friday.
He added that the event will “embody the spirit of giving back” with a clothing drive that will bring together gently used clothing, shoes and accessories.
“We want this event to give young entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their creativity and business skills,” Dupree said. “We hope this will foster some empowerment and inspiration within the community.”
The event, hosted by Becoming a Man and Safe Spaces, will feature live DJ performances and an art exhibit by Paradise Gray, chief curator and advisory board member of the Bronx Museum of Hip Hop. Dupree said Gray plans to bring about a dozen pieces from the museum to display at the high school.
The event will be held at Penn Hills High School on Friday at 6 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and free for those 18 and under.
“Our goal is to really tap into and showcase the hidden talents of our high school students,” Dupree said. “When we realized how much talent and interest there was, we leveraged our network to connect students with mentors.”
Haley Daugherty is a TribLive reporter covering local politics, features and Allegheny County news. She is originally from Pittsburgh, where she lived in Alabama for six years. She joined her tribe in 2022 after she graduated from Chatham University. Contact her at hdaugherty@triblive.com.
