Season 2 Ep.2 Joanna "Jo" Deming, Founder and Principal Consultant of Hope & Action Consulting

In Season 2, Episode 2 of Storyburgh, Jo Deming reflects on her journey as a community organizer, consultant, and storyteller rooted in Pittsburgh’s North Side neighborhoods, particularly Perry South and Perry Hilltop. She was also a storytelling coach for one of Storyburgh's DMZ event in 2024 and played a major role in recruiting numerous storytellers for another event. Jo talks about her deep commitment to fostering inclusive community spaces, often inspired by her own church community that emphasized care, play, and shared meals beyond weekly worship. She shares how raising children in a screen-saturated world presents new parenting challenges, and how she tries to counter that with real-world engagement, like inviting families to shared dinners and encouraging participation in activities like sports and mock trial.Much of the conversation focuses on community development work. Jo discusses her past roles, including working with the Housing Alliance and her efforts to support legislation around housing trust funds and inclusionary zoning. She also recounts collaboration between Perry Hilltop and Fineview in resisting displacement caused by redevelopment, emphasizing the importance of building trust across racial and class lines to develop shared community goals.Currently, Jo runs a consulting business called Hope and Action, where she helps nonprofits navigate complex issues and develop adaptable plans amid uncertainty. She sees her role as a guide and connector—someone who helps people stay grounded while working toward practical, community-centered change.*AI generated: Glasp Extension. Truncated version. 03/18/2025*