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Sunday, July 27, 2003

By Donald I. Hammonds, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Pittsburgh's African American community is reaping economic benefits from the National Urban League's annual conference under way at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Local leaders hope the region's image benefits, too.

African American businesses, cultural organizations, vendors, laborers and others are helping conduct tours of the city, provide business and entertainment services and even displaying -- and selling -- their goods and wares.

For example, a special "Marketplace," arranged by Tina Stevens, former owner of the Wood Street Emporium, features 22 local African American vendors. There also is an Art Expo presenting the works of about 27 local African American artists.

Outside of the convention center, black-owned restaurants and nightspots expect to benefit from special events. The Urban League of Pittsburgh, for instance, is hosting several events at Dowe's on 9th, Downtown and Crawford Grill on the Square, Station Square.

The impact of the meeting on the region as a whole is expected to be considerable, the Greater Pittsburgh Convention & Visitors Bureau estimates. It anticipates final tallies will show nearly 4,000 out-of-town delegates for the convention, up to 10,000 people overall and some $4 million in spending on local hotels, stores, taxis and entertainment venues. "Most of the Downtown hotels are sold out through Monday," Laura Ellis, director of communications for the bureau, said late last week.

Assuming that the convention goes well, the biggest winner may be Pittsburgh's image in the minds of African Americans. The Urban League includes upwardly mobile, issue-oriented black Americans who are opinion leaders and influential in their communities.

Local leaders long have lamented that the Pittsburgh region either does not show up on the radar screen with many African Americans -- or the image is a negative or outdated one. This convention, they believe, offers an opportunity to frame the city and region in a positive light.