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We Can Be podcast - The Heinz EndowmentsAuthor: The Heinz Endowments
Those working for a more just world share their stories of community and possibility to host - and The Heinz Endowments President - Chris DeCardy. Episodes take you behind the scenes of in-the-news individuals and topics, revealing honesty, humanity and hope at every turn. Language: en Genres: Science, Social Sciences, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Kendra Whitlock Ingram one of nation's largest downtown cultural districts w/ vision & authenticity (S0608)
Episode 93
Tuesday, 6 January, 2026
Heinz Endowments President and “We Can Be” host Chris DeCardy welcomes Kendra Whitlock Ingram, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Kendra leads the Trust in overseeing one of the largest and most complex downtown arts and culture districts in the country. With a dedication to inclusive and diverse programming, she began her arts management journey with a Duquesne University undergraduate internship with the Pittsburgh Opera. Kendra circled back to the city in 2023 after two decades of leadership positions at renowned arts organizations across the United States. “We’re an economic engine that is utilizing arts and culture as the vehicle to drive excitement, community and activation in Downtown,” says Kendra. “We use data and community input to understand exactly what those who attend our performances and events want from a Downtown experience, and we work with our partners to provide it.” In the past four decades, that approach has helped the Cultural Trust spur a dramatic transformation of Downtown Pittsburgh’s red-light district of the ‘70s and ‘80s to a vibrant, nationally recognized destination for arts and culture programming. The multitude of historic venues and outdoor public spaces managed by the Trust cover more than a million square feet of Downtown real estate across 14 blocks. With a $600 million Downtown revitalization plan underway that includes Arts Landing, a 4.5-acre riverside park with performance spaces and public art installations, Kendra and the Trust will have even more opportunities to bring an increased range of arts and culture to residents and visitors alike. “We work to showcase national and internationally recognized artists as well as our region’s own top-notch creatives in world-class spaces,” says Kendra. “That magic combination gives us one of the most vibrant arts ecosystems in the country.” Learn more about that creative magic in this episode of “We Can Be.” “We Can Be” is hosted by Heinz Endowments President Chris DeCardy and produced by the Endowments, Josh Franzos and Tim Murray. Special commentary in this episode by Endowments Managing Director of Arts & Culture Jasmin DeForrest. Theme music by Josh Slifkin. Host and guest photos: Josh Franzos. Guest inquiries: Scott Roller at sroller@heinz.org. Subscribe, listen and share new “We Can Be” episodes every two weeks on all major podcast platforms and YouTube. Use search term “Heinz We Can Be.”
