Our Mission and History
ABOUT CENTER OF LIFE
Founded in 2001 by Tim Smith, Center of Life (COL) supports the people of Hazelwood as they strive to be strong and to make their community strong. With its roots planted deeply in the community and supported by extraordinary partners, COL serves Hazelwood and its surrounding communities with rich academic out-of-school programs and outstanding experiences in music and arts. COL employs a holistic approach to community through all of its programs, believing that commitment to others is most productive when you walk with those served in their schools, homes, and families.
OUR MISSION & VISION
Our mission is to provide families and youth with the life skills, education, training, and resources necessary to be strong and to make their communities strong. Our vision is to empower and equip families to bring economic revitalization to their communities.
ABOUT HAZELWOOD
We are proudly located in the Greater Hazelwood community of Pittsburgh, PA. Once the center of the region’s steel industry, Hazelwood lost various community resources as the steel industry declined, including community stores, schools, and other businesses. At COL, we believe the neighborhood’s revitalization must be powered by and designed for its residents. We work with community members to make Hazelwood the neighborhood they desire it to be.