COVERSTORY
An International Tapestry As thousands of people from around the world— heads of state, finance ministers, central bank governors, ambassadors, support staff, and press— begin to stream into Pittsburgh for the G-20 world economic summit, it’s worth noting that a global delegation is already here, living and working in our neighborhoods. Look around and you’ll find threads of varying cultures and experiences that form a rich international tapestry—one that is dramatically transforming our communities in extraordinary ways.
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BY CALLY JAMIS VENNARE espite a slow rate of immigration compared to other metro areas, Allegheny County is home to nearly 50,000 people born in foreign countries—a majority from India, Italy, Germany, China, and the United Kingdom, according to 2008 U.S. Census bureau estimates. Likewise, GlobalPittsburgh reports that more than 40 distinct international communities can be found in Southwest Pennsylvania, while at least 300 international firms from 26 countries operate facilities in the region. The East End and Fox Chapel areas alone offer an album of global snapshots, with residents hailing from as far away as South Africa, Iran, Brazil, Japan, Lebanon, and Ukraine, among dozens of other countries. These individuals have come to Pittsburgh to start their careers, raise families, launch businesses, and in many cases, guide our city toward a better future. Here’s a glimpse into the lives of some of these remarkable people and how they are leading us to excellence in business, medicine, education, and the arts. S H A D Y AV E
FALL 2009
The Artists: A South African and Brazilian Perspective Christopher Hahn comes to Pittsburgh by way of London, San Francisco, and his birthplace of Cape Town, South Africa. Hahn had never been to the city prior to receiving a call about a possible job with the Pittsburgh Opera, but he felt an immediate connection during his first visit here nine years ago. “I was amazed at how at home I felt,” recalls Hahn, who now lives in Shadyside. “It reminded me of San Francisco and Cape Town because of the hills, the water, and the Victorian architecture. It seemed to fit like a glove.” Soon afterward, Hahn became the Pittsburgh Opera’s new artistic director, and last summer, he decided to extend his stay by accepting his current position as general director—a move that might have surprised his colleagues in bigger markets. “It’s all very well to be in a big cosmopolitan city,” Hahn explains. “But I took it as a challenge that a geographically provincial city like
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