Media
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Bill Strickland named to White House panel… read more
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If you would like to listen to Bill Strickland being interviewed on CBC – Information Morning, please click here
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Click to read Bill Strickland interview in Edge Magazine
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Turning underprivileged lives around
U.S. man thinks learning centre model for kids, adults can work in Halifax
By MICHAEL LIGHTSTONE Staff Reporter
Sat, Sep 18 – 4:54 AM
Can a U.S. educational model with a proven track record of helping at-risk city kids and disadvantaged adults work in the Halifax region?
Absolutely, says the affable and altruistic Pennsylvania resident who turned his own underprivileged life around and has set up such programs in his hometown and elsewhere.
After all, Bill Strickland said Friday, he’s hardly a doubting Thomas.
“I don’t view it as a challenge, I view it as an opportunity — because I’m the guy who built something from scratch in Pittsburgh,” he said. “So I tend to be very optimistic about this work.”
Strickland is planning to set up a centre in metro that will take underprivileged youth and older folks and offer them vocational training and fine arts programming. He was in Halifax for a fundraising event.
“Every life matters,” said Strickland, who grew up poor in a rough neighbourhood.
He not only survived his childhood, he finished high school, went on to earn a degree from the University of Pittsburgh “and is now a trustee at the place.”
Then the man parlayed his despair-to-success story into a full-time commitment to help disadvantaged people better their lives.
In metro, there are hundreds of children — if not more — who would benefit from Strickland’s American model. He said he and his associates have done a feasibility study and they’re convinced the concept will fly here.
He said a good push out of the starting blocks would be for a philanthropic property owner to donate a building, such as a structure that resembles a public school.
Strickland, a 63-year-old grandfather of two, is president of the non-profit Manchester Bidwell Corp. in Pittsburgh. He told The Chronicle Herald he’s not sure how long it will take to establish a learning centre in the Halifax area, but pointed to a similar program in the United States that was operating in six months.
Asked if he had a monetary goal for the Halifax fundraiser, Strickland acknowledged he was thinking that $200,000 “would be great.”
If that amount was raised, he said, “that would help pay for a full-time staff person at a location where we can set up an office and then help us with the expenses associated with planning.”
Strickland said he’s been in touch with several community leaders and officials with organizations interested in an educational centre for underprivileged students in metro.
He said he realizes governments in many jurisdictions are strapped for cash, but is hopeful public funds will one day be contributed to his cause.
“We would like to have government money,” said Strickland, “but we’re very early in that conversation.”
