Qiana Buckner strives to become first Black female mayor of Penn Hills

by Diane I. Daniels

For New Pittsburgh Courier

Most of Qiana Buckner’s adolescent years were spent in foster care and homeless shelters throughout the Pittsburgh area.

A Penn Hills resident for the majority of her adult years, leaning on her life experiences, she has been involved in the community helping others facing similar circumstances with the goal to build a promising future for young people by opening doors of opportunities for them. With the vision to lead and help the residents of Penn Hills, Buckner is campaigning to be the next mayor of Penn Hills. If successful, she will become Penn Hills’ first Black female mayor.

She relayed to the New Pittsburgh Courier that her priorities for the municipality are public safety, positive community-police relations, government accountability, community recreation and investment, public infrastructure, and building pathways to quality living.

“There’s a need for restoration in Penn Hills,” Buckner said. “A need to build and strengthen partnerships and relationships that make our community stronger.”

During her official campaign announcement in December 2022, she said:

“I stand, with a grieving heart, for the young people and parents of our community whom I love, cherish, and connect with daily. Some of our residents have nowhere to go, nothing to do, and no recreational facilities or additional resources that address the mental, physical, and emotional stress they face regularly. Now more than ever, it is crucial for us to come together as a whole community.

Quoting our 16th president of the United States, Mr. Abraham Lincoln, ‘A