Driven by his desire to change the outcomes of marginalized and overburdened communities, Dr. Jamil Bey is the founder and CEO of UrbanKind Institute.
Dr. Bey believes that cities should be kind places for people. He is inspired by the many young people he works with, challenging himself to do better, work smarter, and find new ways to create space and opportunities for these future leaders to shine. He is on a mission to promote political, economic, housing, educational, environmental, and social justice through improving communities and driving change. His ultimate goal is to establish Southwestern Pennsylvania as a place where Black children and families can prosper and thrive and white supremacy is eradicated.
Dr. Bey stirs critical thinking by facilitating tough conversations around race, equity, and systemic change. In addition to Dr. Bey's role as UrbanKind's visionary, he serves on many boards and councils throughout Pittsburgh, to drive real systemic change in policy and programming that affects underserved populations. Additionally, Dr. Bey is the founder of the Black Environmental Collective.
He earned a PhD and a Master of Science at Penn State University in Geography. He also holds a bachelor's degree in Education, which allows him to connect with people and see the world around him through a unique lens.
In his free time Dr. Bey enjoys gourmet cooking, gardening, off-road driving, and hosting friends and family. Dr. Bey’s friends would describe him as witty, charismatic, and passionate.
Jason Beery, PhD, is the Director of Applied Research at UrbanKind Institute.
Trained as a geographer, Dr. Beery examines spatial differences from a holistic, intersectional perspective. In his work, this perspective means that political, economic, environmental, legal, and health issues cannot be separated from each other or from race, gender, class, ability, and other identities.
Currently, he manages the Equitable and Just Greater Pittsburgh initiative; co-leads the Policy & Place Committee of The Pittsburgh Study, a long-term child health equity research project of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh; and co-leads the Scientific Support and Advocacy workgroup of the SWPA Cancer and Environment Network. Dr. Beery has developed or worked on a variety of other projects, including co-creating and running a cultural humility workshop series for environmental organizations, researching and writing critical essays, analyzing data, and facilitating community planning conversations with residents.
Previously, Dr. Beery was Geographer-in-Residence at Carnegie Mellon University CREATE Lab. He also taught as an instructor / adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University. Dr. Beery received a PhD in Geography from the University of Manchester (UK) and his MS from Penn State University.
In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, gardening, and being among trees.
Dr. Janora Bey is driven by her background in Human Services as the Director of New Programs and Evaluation.
Dr. Bey’s work with those from various walks of life has been the number one contributor to her passion to create social change. Dr. Bey continues to learn and understand various perspectives while helping those in need and hopes to use this experience to make a difference in the world around her.
At UrbanKind Institute she specializes in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts, and is responsible for our Equity Based Facilitation and Program Evaluation work. Dr. Bey ensures that all collaborations, contracts, and programs have these principles as their foundation. Additionally, Dr. Bey is on the core team for the Equitable and Just Greater Pittsburgh initiative, where she helps to develop inclusionary efforts for the advisory team and the larger network.
Dr. Bey has a doctoral degree in General Psychology, in which she focused her research on the experience of Black motherhood. She obtained a Master of Counseling Psychology degree from Capella University and holds a bachelor's degree in Social and Behavioral Science from Penn State University.
Dr. Bey is a foodie who loves trying new cuisine. Her friends would describe her as witty, fun, and compassionate. She enjoys outdoor activities and art, and is an amusement park enthusiast. Dr. Bey is a huge fan of Marvel, Star Wars, and all things Disney.
Passionate about drive changing and re-writing narratives about the Black experience, Alyssa Lyon is the Director of the Black Environmental Collective.
Alyssa believes that everything you do makes a difference and is guided by this belief in her work. Her experience as Sustainable Communities Director at Green Building Alliance helped her recognize the importance and necessity of amplifying marginalized voices in the sustainability sector, and that environmental justice is a civil rights issue.
The Black Environmental Collective includes 100+ cross-sectoral organizations, whose mission is to advance solutions that support Black communities’ ability to combat environmental threats to quality of life, food, environment/place, and climate change. Alyssa’s work ensures that through policy and issue advocacy, direct services, movement and coalition building, and region-wide education, this will be achieved.
Alyssa has a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Master of Public Management from CMU Heinz College. She is a board member of Rebuild Together Pittsburgh, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, and Vice Chair for InvestPGH at the Urban Redevelopment Authority. She has received many honors including Get Involved! Western PA Rising Star Award (2019), Pittsburgh Courier Fab 40 honoree (2019), The Incline: Who’s Next in Pittsburgh Community Leaders & Activists (2019).
In her spare time, Alyssa enjoys traveling with her wife, attending music festivals/concerts, and eating amazing food wherever she goes!
Eric Macadangdang is the Community Networks Coordinator at UrbanKind Institute, supporting the work of the Equitable and Just Greater Pittsburgh and the Black Environmental Collective.
Eric is passionate about building strong and sustainable partnerships to bring about transformational change in Pittsburgh. Through his studies and experiences in the Oakland community, he sees how disparate power dynamics and unequal levels of engagement can create poor outcomes for residents. Driven by the belief that all issues are connected, Eric wants everyone to have a stake in shaping their future and challenging the status quo. He is excited to use this role to facilitate that belief.
Eric recently completed a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, concentrating on urban affairs and planning. He completed his Bachelor’s degree from Pitt in 2021, majoring in Urban Studies and History & Philosophy of Science. During the course of both degrees, Eric’s primary interests revolved around affordable housing, zoning reform, and participatory community engagement.
During that time, he also served as the undergraduate student government president, representing over 18,000 students on the main Oakland campus. Eric currently serves on the Board of Directors for Oakland Planning and Development Corporation.
During the early part of the pandemic, Eric developed a keen interest in cooking and cocktail-making. He likes to match these hobbies with listening to folk or old country, traveling, watching movies, and hitting the links when the weather permits.
Quaadir Bey is the Program Associate responsible for research and data analysis, and part of the neighborhood team.
Quaadir’s approach focuses largely on understanding the trends and the meaning of the data he encounters and how it applies to the people's lives it represents. He is most interested in how the region functions as a living metropolitan. He is passionate about a better public transportation system in Pittsburgh and often fantasizes about the return of the many inclines that once scaled the hillsides and the idea of a ferry system running through the rivers.
In addition to collecting and interpreting data for various projects, as a part of the neighborhood team, Quaadir also walks the streets of local communities to better understand the social environment people live in, to better understand the routine inequities people face in their daily lives.
Quaadir graduated from Penn State with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology.
Quaadir lived in Pittsburgh his entire life before leaving for college. He loves his city; loves pierogies. In his spare time Quaadir likes to croon while playing his Omnichord.