Staff & Board
Kirk
Holbrook
Program Director
Kirk began his career in community service in 2001, working within inner-city youth programs in the Hill District, Homewood, and throughout Allegheny County. Later, he served as an educational advocate and in state government as a district office Chief of Staff for State Representative Jake Wheatley, before moving to the University of Pittsburgh as director of the Community Engagement Center (CEC) in the Hill District.
Kirk was appointed to the Pittsburgh Public Schools’ Equity Advisory Panel in 2018, was named one of the upcoming leaders in education by Incline Magazine in 2019, and was appointed as a Remake Learning ambassador in 2022. He believes that by working together to weave a connective thread between nonprofit organizations, anchor institutions, and the private sector, we can directly counteract legacies of inequity in black and brown communities.
Education
Manager
Coming soon!
Deeplocal Team
We are a team of 125 artists, inventors, makers, and marketers. We have aerospace engineers building interactive displays made out of arcade buttons and electromechanical flowers. We have specialists in AI, haptics, and rocket science. Metalsmiths sit next to architects. Strategists work alongside roboticists. And we’re excited to teach and learn from you.
Community Advisory Board
Nina Marie Barbuto
Executive Director, Assemble
Nina’s passion for art, new media, and social learning led her to found Assemble, a community space for arts + technology, in 2011. On her own, Nina works in a variety of media including architecture, film, sound, and installation. She is co-founder of I Made It! Market and holds degrees in architecture from SCI-Arc and CMU, where she is also adjunct faculty.
Itha Cao
Director, Digital Inclusion & Innovation, Neighborhood Allies
Itha leads initiatives to bridge the digital divide in the Pittsburgh region through investment, collaboration, and digital skills-building. Previously, she served the City of Pittsburgh, managing PGH Lab, the city’s urban incubator for startups, and former Mayor Peduto’s Office of Equity, managing digital inclusion initiatives.
Mayada Christiansen
Senior Director of Youth Workforce Development Programs, Partner4Work
Mayada brings 18+ years of experience in youth development, education, and program design to Partner4Work, where she leads strategic efforts to provide workforce development services to young people ages 14-24 in Allegheny County. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and a master’s in Education, as well as a PA Level I Teaching Certification.
Maxmilian Dennison
Founder, Beta Builders
Max is the founder of Beta Builders, a coding program for students in Pittsburgh that focuses on community engagement, accessibility, transparency, and training. He is also the Digital Inclusion Coordinator for the City of Pittsburgh, where he leads the Rec2Tech initiative. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Education.
Dr. Amber Epps, DSc, EdD
Executive Director, Protohaven
A college educator and nonprofit leader, Dr. Epps specializes in community development, commercial district revitalization, workforce development, and youth education. She leads Pittsburgh’s largest makerspace, and is also an artist, musician, mom, member of the #NotWhite Collective, and co-owner of Arts & Crafts: Botanica & Occult Shop.
Jim Gibbs
CEO & Co-Founder, Meter Feeder
An entrepreneur and software developer, Jim Gibbs leads Meter Feeder, a tech-driven, affordable solution to parking. Meter Feeder is Pittsburgh-based, positioning themselves to become the #1 parking and parking enforcement solution for individuals, fleets, and government agencies.
Donta Green
Executive Director, Trade Institute of Pittsburgh
A nonprofit leader with a background in criminal justice, Donta is ED of TIP, providing tuition-free training programs, life skills courses, and social services support for individuals with barriers to employment. He also serves on the Westinghouse Entrepreneurial Program Advisory Board and the Homewood Children’s Village Site Team. His accolades include “40 Under 40” and leadership recognition across Pittsburgh media.
April Jackson
Leadership & Development Director, Women In Tech PGH
Along with her role at WIT PGH, April is a strategic consultant, executive coach, and certified yoga instructor whose approach is anchored in mindfulness and inclusivity. She brings 20+ years of experience in leadership, coaching, and mentoring to her work for clients including NASA, FedEx Ground, KPMG, City of Pittsburgh, and others.
Amira Johnson
Student, Carnegie Mellon University
A Hill District native, Amira studies Computational Biology and HCI at CMU. She is an alum of Deeplocal’s STEAM Academy, as well as a former intern who focused on Deeplocal’s community building initiatives. She hopes to apply her CS skills to community service and engagement.
Stephanie Lewis
Director of Relationships, Remake Learning
Stephanie is a passionate youth advocate, out-of-school time champion, and consultant. At Remake Learning, she focuses on building strong connections, providing support, and increasing engagement among members of the network—with a belief that these relationships are crucial for young people in the region to have more opportunities.
Justin Mazzei
Executive Director, MCG Youth
Mazzei is an artist, educator, and ED of MCG Youth, a nationally-recognized after-school arts education and apprenticeship program with ceramics, design, digital, and photography studios. Mazzei was awarded Outstanding Non-Public Secondary Art Educator of the Year from the Pennsylvania Art Education Assoc.
Dr. Andre Samuel, PhD
Founder, President, & CEO,
The Citizen Science Lab
An award-winning research biologist and leader in STEM education, Dr. Samuel is founder of the Citizen Science Lab, a nonprofit that creates engaging, hands-on lab experiences to foster science literate communities. His accolades include the President’s Volunteer Service Award from the Obama Administration.
Terry Smith
Founder, President, & CEO,
M-PowerHouse
Mr. Smith leads M-PowerHouse, a nonprofit that uses edutainment to address the socio-educational and health factors that become barriers to STEAM academic success for youth. M-PowerHouse launched the first Drone FAA 107 certification program for black and brown PPS students. Formerly a Medical Specialist and Paratrooper in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division, Mr. Smith serves on boards across education, healthcare, and community engagement.