The community of McKees Rocks will be in the spotlight Saturday, March 22, as the focal point of WQED’s 11th annual Be My Neighbor Day, a celebration of kindness and what it means to be a caring neighbor.
The event, inspired by “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” – a beloved PBS KIDS series from Fred Rogers Productions — fosters diverse community-building by encouraging families to connect with each other and their neighbors while promoting a welcoming environment for everyone.
More than 600 people attended last year’s event, which took place in Canonsburg. This year’s event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Focus on Renewal’s Father Ryan Arts Center, 500 Chartiers Ave., and the McKees Rocks Borough Council Building, 340 Bell Ave.
Abha Vaishampayan, a learning neighborhood manager with WQED Education, said one of her cohorts was a longtime McKees Rocks resident “and she recognized all the wonderful things happening in The Rocks.”
“McKees Rocks gets its share of bad press with violence and crime, but we wanted to highlight the fact that the community is working so hard in those areas and to actually empower families,” Vaishampayan said.
“There are so many initiatives for enriching and empowering the community that we felt this would be the perfect place to celebrate.”
Organizers received some grant funding from PNC Bank to plan the event but Vaishampayan stressed that it’s a “completely community-led event. The community decides what they want to do and what kinds of activities they will have for family engagement.”
Organizers have focused on several themes, including ethnic foods and arts and culture, but the primary theme is one of resilience — honoring the unwavering strength of the community.
Vaishampayan said community residents will create a resilience bulletin board that will include messages about what makes McKees Rocks special. Other activities include face painting, a ceramics studio, a chef demonstration and an interactive Lego display.
Guests also will enjoy an interactive theater with Gemini Children’s Theater, line dancing lessons, interactive exhibits and displays provided by the McKees Rocks Historical Society, a meet-and-greet with Daniel Tiger and complimentary food and snacks provided by local businesses.
The Daniel Tiger meet-and-greet will take place at the borough building.
More than 30 partners have pitched in to help put Saturday’s event together. Vaishampayan said planning began in early October, and organizers have been meeting at least monthly since then. She said there has been excellent buy-in from the community and organizers appreciate the fact that WQED can promote the event.
“When people heard about the idea of a celebration, everyone jumped on it,” Vaishampayan said.
Paul Siefken, president and CEO of Fred Rogers Productions, said his company is thrilled to continue its work with WQED and PNC Grow Up Great and to bring Be My Neighbor Day to communities throughout the southwestern portion of the state.
“This year’s event in McKees Rocks is sure to be a fantastic family day while celebrating neighborliness, community and kindness,” he said.
Vaishampayan said connecting with the community for planning and preparing Saturday’s event has been an enriching experience.
“Along the way we have made partnerships with the (Sto-Rox) School District and other community organizations for supporting the educational needs of families beyond school by equipping them with PBS learning resources.
“But most importantly, we have been able to recognize the ongoing efforts of the community in empowering their families and children.”
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