Service Saturdays are a great way to get out into the Pittsburgh community and volunteer for unique, one-time service opportunities.
Local Opportunities
Community engagement is embedded into Carnegie Mellon's culture, and countless opportunities exist on campus and across the city to make meaningful contributions. In fact, more than 2,500 non-profit organizations, or non-governmental organizations (NGOs), serve the Pittsburgh regional community.
Community Engagement Fair
CMU's Community Engagement Fair provides the opportunity to meet regional changemakers who are leading and serving in their communities and tackling today’s challenges. Undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff and local alumni can connect with more than 50 local non-profits and student organizations that focus on creating community change, advocacy work, and opportunities for direct involvement in the Pittsburgh community.
A community agency or CMU community/democratic engagement-focused student organization that wants to participate at the Community Engagement Fair can send us an email.
Partners Allied in Community Engagement
Part of the Office of Community Engagement and Leadership Developmen, Partners Allied in Community Engagement (PACE) is a student staff team that serves as peer community-minded leaders who support students and organizations in building stronger connections with communities—both on and off campus. Their work includes promoting accessible opportunities for engagement, supporting community-engaged learning, and helping others navigate pathways to socially responsible action.
Whether you are a student wanting to get involved in the community or a student organization planning an event, explore the ways that the PACE team can support you in your community engagement journey.
Find PACE on TartanConnect and follow on Instagram!
PACE Engagement Opportunities
PACE can guide students through various forms of community engagement—from one-time volunteer opportunities to longer sustainable engagement with the community. PACE supports opportunities for volunteering, advocacy, and community-engaged learning in collaboration with campus partners and community-based organizations.
PACE Learning Opportunities
Through peer-led dialogue, reflective practices, and collaboration with faculty and staff, PACE supports students in understanding the “why” behind their engagement. With an emphasis on community context, humility and reciprocal partnerships, students learn about social issues, explore their identities and values, and connect classroom learning to real-world challenges. PACE supports community-engaged learning by helping students reflect critically on impact, intention, social responsibility and personal growth.
PACE Support & Consultation
PACE offers personalized consultation to students, organizations and CMU partners who want to build or deepen their community engagement efforts. Whether planing a volunteer opportunity, integrating reflection into an existing program, or exploring local sustainable partnerships, PACE works to align your interests and goals with meaningful opportunities that consider timing, accessibility, transportation and community needs. Support also includes guidance on sustainable community engagement, ethical partnership and meaningful impact.
Service Saturdays
Offered weekly throughout the year from PACE, Service Saturdays are a great way to get out into the Pittsburgh community and volunteer for unique, one-time service opportunities. Sign up solo or with a friend for as few, or as many, Service Saturdays that interest you.
All projects are accessible via public transportation or transportation will be provided.
Additional Resources to Help You Connect & Contribute
Idealist’s platform can connect you to volunteer opportunities, but also to jobs and internships for social impact.
The Leonard Gelfand Center (LGC) at CMU works with faculty, staff and students through community-based activities that improve educational opportunities in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics for youth. Students can support their programs as paid tutors or as a Gelfand Outreach Instructor.
Pittsburgh Cares works with local non-profits to publicize volunteer opportunities that can help meet current needs in the Pittsburgh area. Browse their opportunities calendar, which is searchable by date, issue or organization to sign-up for one-time or on-going volunteer opportunities.
VolunteerMatch strengthens communities by making it easier for good people and good causes to connect. Check out opportunities on VolunteerMatch, including virtual service opportunities in Pittsburgh and around the United States.