Interview by Jonathan Kersting
Nina Marie Barbuto, founder of Assemble in Pittsburgh's Garfield neighborhood, joins TechVibe this Sunday to celebrate 15 years of building community through arts, technology, and hands-on maker education. What started with a backpack and a bicycle has grown into an organization that has impacted over 107,000 people — including more than 30,000 youth — through STEM and STEAM programs rooted in culturally relevant, project-based learning.
Nina shares the story of Assemble's evolution from an all-volunteer effort to a generational force in Pittsburgh's tech ecosystem, the ripple effects of empowering kids to build, create, and dream, and details for the upcoming Unicornapalooza celebration on September 19th — featuring carnival games, flash unicorn tattoos, the first-ever Unicorny Awards honoring community champions, and costumes strongly encouraged.
Featuring honorees Gregg Behr of the Grable Foundation, Representative La' Tasha Mayes for her work passing the CROWN Act in Pennsylvania, community maker Miss Junyetta Seale, and Assemble's own Jess Gold. Learn more and get tickets at assemblepgh.org.
Transcript:
Assemble
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[00:00:00] Every program that we've done over the last 11 years that we've been able to get all our numbers in for, it's been over 107,000- Oh my goodness ... people. And for kids alone, for programs that we have, like registered programs or like we're coming into school- Yeah ... to do something, it's been over 30,000
It is Tech Vibe, and it is your front row seat to all things great, fun, and exciting happening in Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem. And I'm Jonathan Kersting with the Pittsburgh Technology Council. Today is gonna be so much fun, 'cause it's been a, it's been like a year, I think, Nina, since I've last talked to you.
It's been a year. And I've been so stoked to see you, 'cause you're like a positive ray of energy that comes- Oh, thank you ... into the Huntington Bank Studios to kind of light everything up. And there's a little bit of unicorn power going on with some of that, because we're gonna jump into that today. But I'm talking to Nina Marie Barbuto from Assemble in Pittsburgh's Garfield neighborhood, where it has now been 15 years since you started [00:01:00] Assemble and have impacted so many people's lives for the better.
So- Let's hope so. Yeah. I think so. How could you not? It's- Oh my goodness ... it's been a good time. No, always so much fun having you here to talk to you, because I'm just in awe with the work that you've done. You've done, you could probably write a book about some of the crazy stories- Ooh
in order to keep kids in, to get them into technology- ... and STEM and creating, and in getting adults to do that too. Just a little bit of everything, and it's just it's like a really tough job, but I'm thinking about the dividends it pays for getting folks stoked on tech, and just being here in Pittsburgh .
So yeah, thanks for being here, Nita. Thank you, Jonathan. And thank you too for bearing witness- ... to the evolution of Assemble over the years, from when I was hustling on my little bicycle to come- I know, I know ... meet with Kim way back in the day. Exactly. A big shout to Kim Chesney. I literally remember the day you came in.
Remember she was putting together our, our creative arts and [00:02:00] technology network, and we had this idea of trying to help people get things started. And you were like part of the first class, where you came in on your bike. Yeah. You had your backpack, and you were like, you had this idea for putting what was Assemble together, and it's like, "Man, she's gonna do some good stuff."
And then how did it become 15 years later? I don't know. That, I don't- And that's where my mind is like, I don't know how... do you have anyone working on time travel or why time is moving so fast here at the Tech Council? Exactly right. 'Cause I would love to know. Exactly. Before we jump into the conversation about the journey and the fact that you're celebrating 15 years with Unicornapalooza, I just like- Yes
saying that. I'm sorry. It's so cool, and I've always been a big fan of your unicorns. I have some of your pins on my backpack, because it's my way of keeping some of your good vibes with me at all times. give us the pitch. 'Cause I don't- Yeah ... do it justice with all the cool work that you guys do in Garfield there.
Well, thank you, Jonathan. Well, Assemble is a community space for arts and technology. Yeah. And we are [00:03:00] always trying to bring the people together, artist, makers, technologists, learners, to help build agency in our learners of all ages- ... as well as to build confidence through making, by utilizing science, tech, engineering, art, and math through a culturally relevant and contextually responsive lens.
So all of this , is rooted in the belief that, learning and creating are essential tools to making the future- Yes ... that we need to see. And kids- are gonna have to be solving the problems that they didn't create. As we have been trying to solve problems- Yeah ... that maybe we created and maybe we didn't create, and you're like, "How do we utilize the- Right.
Yeah ... the knowledge and the skills and upper dispositions to get something different happening if it's not working, right?" I see a bunch of kids that maybe had no idea that they could create or be engaged with technology realize that they can find meaning and they can find a, a future and a path [00:04:00] forward because of having a fun project to work on, where they get to make LEDs turn on or build something- Yeah
create something, and, and take some pride, and, and, and get some excitement out of it. And to have your ideas actualized- Yes ... and to actually be able to share them, even if it's like, "I'ma make it out of a prototype or a model of it out of cardboard and add some LEDs," or, "Am I gonna actually use that to scaffold to start programming something and hardwiring it?"
And, and/or, like, how does that then become something that I sell, or how does that become something that transforms into something else? Exactly right. Oh, my goodness. And so I think to myself, over 15 years, it's become a generational thing now. Oh, my gosh. I mean, rumor has it you've had some folks working for you now- Working at Assemble ... that were part of the program, working at Assemble now. Some that have had children since then. Yes, they have. And it's, it's oh, my- I feel so old. You said you're like, "Oh, my God," "I remember when you were this tall." And now you have kids. And now you have someone that's this tall.
Yeah, exactly. Okay. But I just love it 'cause you're seeing them, they're in the community, [00:05:00] and I'm- I just know for a fact that you've made a difference- In their lives, right? And that's- Yeah, and I'm excited to see the differences that they make. You know, like- Yeah ... when it's like the, the ripple effect.
We're seeing the ripple go through- Exactly ... fabric of time. Yeah, I love that. That's a- You know? It's yeah ... yeah, you drop that stone, and now the ripples have been going out, and , we're seeing how that's making some things do some fun stuff along the way,
so, how many lives have you guys- Oh, man ... impacted over the years? Just, I think some cool numbers here- Yeah ... I'm pretty excited about. So I was just looking at these numbers. They, so of folks that we have interacted with from stuff at Unblurred or the First Friday Art Walks-
to every program that we've done over the last 11 years that we've been able to get all our numbers- ... in for it's been over 107,000- Oh, my goodness ... people. And for kids alone, for programs that we have, like registered programs or, like we're coming- Yeah ... in a school to do something- ... it's been over [00:06:00] 30,000-
youths over the years. Yeah. That's crazy. I equate that to lots of little LEDs, pipe cleaners, and Spax pizza. Yes, so much Spax pizza. Shout out to Pizza Fiesta too, but so much Spax. And Pizza Fiesta, your, your current- Oh, man ... I just remember back in the day visiting you- So much Spax ... and there was always Spax pizza- It was always Spax
around. I was like, "Man, they eat a lot of pizza here." The kids eat a lot of pizza. Yes, they do. I love it. Like I said, I just feel like you've created this space where, where kids could come and discover something about themselves maybe they wouldn't have. Yeah. And it empowers them to do something moving forward, which to me is just so important, 'cause we need more of that here in Pittsburgh, and you're the pioneer in that.
Thank you, Jonathan. Yeah. And I'm so grateful to have all the many people who've worked with us along the years- ... be a part of that in their making and breaking and re-orchestrating- Yeah ... all the things from our programs at Assemble and the programs that we do in schools and across the city.
Yep. Oh, my goodness, and so with 15 years, we have this very special [00:07:00] Unicornapalooza. Yes. It's September 19th. September 19th. Oh, my goodness, it's right around the corner. Oh, my gosh. There's no messing around, Nina. Uh-oh. It's, it's full, you know, full charge ahead unicorns. Yes. Let's go. Absolutely. So tell us about the event And how special it's gonna be.
It's gonna be happening, There's a VIP event from 5:00 to 6:00, so there's some extra drinks and things. And then we have from 6:00 to 9:00, the whole ordeal, and this will be at the WBU, which is in Spring Hill.
So at the event, we are gonna have a bunch of different stuff happening. One of the new things that we're doing versus what we've done in the past, like Maker Date-
where it's a date auction, we're gonna have a carnival of games where people can interact and talk with each o- each other and da da da da. Okay. But imagine instead of bidding to spend time with someone to learn from them, you'll be able to spin the wheel- Okay. ... and be like, "I'm gonna win this," or maybe it's a gift card.
I'm gonna, you know, like- Sure ... I'm gonna go and hang out with this artist, maker, technologist to go learn how to make something. And then [00:08:00] we also have tattoos and body art happening. Okay. So there's a flash tattoos experience of unicorn tattoos, some of the unicorns that the kids have drawn over the years.
Really? There's one eating- Yeah ... a pizza that I am... I'm like, "I need to get that tattoo at some point in time." Hmm. But, Interesting. Yeah Unicorn eating a Spatz pizza pie. Yeah. I'm like, "Yes." It's perfect. The big, big thing is our Unicorny Awards. Tell me about this. Oh, yeah. This is very exciting 'cause this is the first time you're recognizing some of the key folks that have been just absolutely crucial to Assemble's success to date.
Yes. Yeah. And we've never done an awards thing before. Yeah. Okay. So we're like the Grammys, the Emmys, and we're like the Unicornys. So we've got four Unicorny Awards that we are giving out to folks that have been very influential in our- Coming of being in everything from- Yeah ... funders to folks who worked at to assemble makers, and also folks that have made changes in the world that we are teaching [00:09:00] about, right?
Love it. And so, the four awards are going to our fabulous funder, Greg Baer, of the Grable Foundation- Awesome ... which they were one of the first grantors to really believe in us, that helped us to get things- Yeah ... really happening. Also, too their work within the Remake Learning world and Sprout.
Shout out to Sprout, RIP, and Kids in Creativity Network, and just really making it a great city- Yeah ... for people who are doing things with youth in this town. So shout out to Greg Baer. Very cool. Big shout out to him. Good choice for your first award. Yes. I, I, I, I approve. And he's just, you know ... I know he's gotten some other awards.
I hope this one will- I think this one's gonna be pretty near and dear to his heart, 'cause I know this was a lot of a passion project for him- Yeah ... in many ways. So I, I'm feeling like, man, he's gonna be pretty stoked. And I'll- Yeah ... wait till I tell you what the actual awards ... I'm- Okay ... I'm gonna put that aside for a second.
Okay. Sure. But we are celebrating, Representative Latasha Mayes as our Afrofuturism [00:10:00] activist- Whoa ... for her work with making the CROWN Act- ... a real deal in- Tell us more about what that is, 'cause when we were first talking about this, I wasn't sure. And now that I know, I'm like, "This is pretty cool."
Folks might not know that this is still the case in many states, but one can be fired for their hairstyles, especially if they are someone- Yeah ... from the African diaspora- Yeah ... or, you know, if they have Black hair, right? Yeah. And not just the color black- Yeah, but yeah ... but, you know, with the texture, as well as if you have dreads, if you have braids, if you're wearing your hair in a fro.
Like- Right ... what or if you have locks Whatever it could be, you can be fired for your hairstyle in the state of Pennsylva- Well, not anymore- Not anymore because of- ... in the state of Pennsylvania ... yes. But in other places you can. And so, thinking about what laws do we still carry that are contradicting the-
values of actual equality- ... that we're striving for. . This what do we have to do to make that change? She has done the work to make that change with the state of Pennsylvania. Awesome. And it has officially passed. So, it [00:11:00] went- Okay ... through all the processes. . There's different companies out there that are trying to help push the CROWN Act as well to be like it...
And it's really just you know, how do you feel pride for what you have- Yeah ... on your head oh, my goodness, wow It's- What a great way to honor someone who, who's done something very substantial like that. And we teach about that. We teach about the CROWN Act in our Afrofuturism curriculum that we bring into schools- Sure ... for hair pride, as well as just other folks who have dreamt of the future that they- Okay
wanted to see, and then they make it happen. Love it. Right? Very cool. So that we can all be futurists together. What a great way to have someone stop by so you can say, "This is someone who's done this." They're- Yeah ... they're a regular person, but they- Put a lot of effort and care and made something happen, you can too.
You can too. Right? Yeah. It's that- Okay ... Mr. Rogers moment, right? Exactly. Be like- Right ... learn from your neighbors and go get it. And go get it. So shout out to Rep Mays, and we are also celebrating a magical maker- ... that is Miss Junietta Seale. Miss [00:12:00] Junietta has been such a hero of community at Assemble and across the board.
She does a lot of work at the Emerald City space downtown- ... Greenwood Plan- Yeah ... working with youth that are unhoused, doing financial literacy and art and sewing and costumes- Okay ... and just is an epic maker, and she is a elder in our community, and just- Awesome ... shout out to her e- every day, all day.
. And then we have our unsung unicorn. All right. And this is, you know, to give... there's been many people who've been assembling over the years. Yeah. It's not just me, guys. It just, you know, it's a- Of course ... it isn't a- But you've, but you've been at the tip of the spear in many ways.
I'm pushing. Yes. I'm behind. Of course. You know, I'm more of the Carol Burnett with the broom at the end of
the episode. You're like, "Oh, God. Man, there's some pizza crust over there." It's like, "Oh, man, let's clean up all those crunched up Goldfish." But You know, so if like I, yes, I started Assemble. I've been getting all the people excited about it, and there's been many people who've come through over the years.
But [00:13:00] if I'm was number one, number two would be Jess Gold. Jess Gold, who was one of our first teachers. Again, early on we just did contracting. It was all volunteer-run until 2014. Okay. We didn't have like- Yeah. Oh, yeah. I was like, "Well, so we can-" Yeah. Could you please donate your time to help us get this done?
Exactly, yeah. And we can pay you a little bit here and there. If we're getting paid, you can get paid. Right. You know, like doing that kind of stuff. But then she created and really developed a lot of the programming that we still continue from our Saturday Crafternoons. Love that. She ran the first summer camp in 2013.
Jeez. Right? And like she also helped with birthday parties and helped with our Girls Maker Night which we partnered with Darren Guler of Technicio, which was a sewable circuit, like a tech company that started out of Pittsburgh and partnered with Ellis and folks to do stuff with Hummingbird Robotics and the kids.
And that has since continued with our programs. Amazing. How cool is that? It's- You can actually honor this [00:14:00] person- Ugh ... who's been just giving their all for this amount of time and have a little thank you. And, and Jess worked with us until 2018 and like- ... you know, what a good time. And also to see still like the projects that she helped to formulate over the years.
Yep. And still we were just talking about how she's run into people and they have kids that we used to work with- Yeah ... but they were kids, and you're just like, "Oh my gosh, this- It's- ... when do your babies come to us too?" And it's been so... I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to celebrate someone like Jess, who- Exactly
still is working with many families- Of course, yeah ... in, at different organizations. Gotcha. If people go to assemblepgh.org. Yes, and you'll see something that says about Unicornpalooza at the top. Yeah. Also, if you Google Unicornpalooza- I'm sure you're gonna find it pretty easily ... Pittsburgh, it's, it's gonna happen.
Yeah. Oh, I just, I love the way you're doubling down on the unicorns. And, and you know, it's our, our, it's our mascot that was designed by Brenna Thummler in 2016. Okay. And it's a robot unicorn in outer space, and why not have it all if [00:15:00] you, if you can dream it all, right? There's nothing better than robot unicorns in outer space, and just encourage everyone, I mean, y'all to get tickets.
Yes. Come to the event. This is what funds you guys, right? Oh my gosh, so important. We are still looking for sponsorship, and Duolingo is one- Very cool ... of our big sponsors, and they have been amazing. Nice. And we also have sponsorship from Shell Games, CMU School of Art and the Heinz Endowments has also sponsored it as well, and some other sponsors such as Kindling, Kindling
May things. Yeah. Our guys, Nathan- We love Nathan ... and Miriam. Absolutely, man. Very cool. We know them very well. And Nathan's on our board, and he's been an- Awesome ... amazing board member, too. That's great. What an amazing story. And we- I absolutely love it ... we're also producing a video With great archives that will be-
released at the event. Re- oh, fantastic. That does a quick recap of the 15 years, Is it gonna start with you riding down the Tech Council offices on your bike? You know, we missed that opportunity- Damn. ... to film that, but next [00:16:00] time we'll come to you. I still see it in my head. I really remember that.
I'm not kidding. Oh, my goodness. We'll make the TikTok together, Jonathan. How's that? Perfect. Oh, my goodness. It's just an amazing story for Pittsburgh, and you've just been an amazing citizen of Pittsburgh to make this happen. Thank you. I know the Tech Council, all of our staff here who've known you over the years, we're just in awe with what you've done, 'cause it's tough work.
But man, you're having a good time doing it, and you're impacting so many lives. We're, we're trying, and you know, you gotta keep doing something different, and- Yes ... there's been some, there's been some hardships- ... for sure, but we as, as Tech Council members since 2011- I know. Absolutely ... since the c- Since the very beginning.
Very beginning. It, it has... We are so grateful to you for the Tech Council support- Oh, happy to ... for Audrey's support- Yep ... and for different members everybody over the years. Kim, shout out again. Yes. Maria, and everybody, and it's so great to have a resource like the Tech Council- Thank you
to support- No, for this ... not just for-profit businesses, but nonprofit businesses. Yeah. And, like, how are we [00:17:00] helping the different generations get this and really benefit from shifts in technology together? Yeah. Absolutely. Oh, my goodness, Nina. I'm so much... I'm so sad it's over, but- But- But absolutely ... just the interview, but- Exactly.
No ... the, the party's still to come. The party is still to come. No, seriously, like I said, just a joy talking to you. Seriously, you charge me up because I just see the positive work you're doing. You bring positive vibes wherever you go. We need more of that in Pittsburgh. So if we ever have a Tech 50 and we have a Positive Vibes Award, Oh, my God, please
I'm gonna, I'm gonna nominate you for it. Oh, thank you. So just saying. Gotta... As my friend Kim Moses says, you gotta stay positive. You gotta stay positive. It's the battle cry. Exactly right. Oh, my goodness. Thank you so much for being here, hanging out with me at the Huntington Bank Studios. And you out there, go assemblepgh.org.
Get some tickets. Check it out. Come on, man. Robotic unicorns in outer space. Count me
in. Tattoos. Body art. Everything. Snacks, food. All the things. All the things. And maybe a Spack's pizza or two. Also, costumes encouraged. Oh, costumes encouraged. Yeah. Well, even better [00:18:00] yet. Oh, my goodness. Good times. Nina, you're the best. This has been Jonathan Kersting with the Pittsburgh Tech Council. Oh, my goodness.
You want content like this, keep on coming back. We have so many stories just like it. Nina, you're the best. Thank you, Jonathan. You are, too.