OC Pittsburgh Team

Juanita Michelle Bryant is a 6 th grade English and Language Arts teacher. She is a 1988 graduate of George Westinghouse High School and received a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Pennsylvania State University in 1992. Ms. Bryant has a thirty-year work history in social work and education. Her work history in Pittsburgh includes being a caseworker for the Allegheny County Department of Human Services for 12 years, a Youth Development Specialist for Gwen’s Girls, a Youth Director for the Homewood-Brushton YMCA, and a full-time substitute teacher for Pittsburgh Public School. In addition, over a five-year period, she has worked with the elderly at the Jewish Association of Aging. Ms. Bryant is currently in her dream job teaching her 6 th graders. Her personal goals are to enhance the lives of students, and to be a positive role model in her family and community. She has a strong interest in new experiences, new opportunities, and loves working with people of all ages, and in all walks of life.

Ashley M. Bryant is a Community Liaison, Office of the Mayor for the City of Pittsburgh. She is a 2006 graduate of Westinghouse High School and received an associate degree in early education and child development from Community College of Allegheny County in 2019.

In 2016, she began working for the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police as a dispatcher for the Investigations Branch, which allowed her to connect, listen, and provide information and resources to victims and others affected by trauma throughout the Pittsburgh area. During her 5 years as a dispatcher, she wanted to do more within the community, so she began working with the Bureau’s Community Engagement Officers to help fulfil her desire to be an effective influence in the lives of citizens and youth residing in crime-ridden neighborhoods. As a mother, and someone who saw first-hand the impact of violence and trauma in the City, she knew there was more she could do to help advocate and educate residents around the city. Once she allowed God to guide her on this journey, she resigned from her desk job to be out in the community doing what she loves to do, helping others.

Tawna is a vibrant and versatile woman with a zest for life and a wide array of interests. Her lively spirit and endless curiosity infuse each day with excitement and adventure. Central to her dynamic personality is a deep commitment to family. Actively engaged in community service, Tawna plays a crucial role in the Allegheny County District Attorney's Project Lifesaver Program, aiding individuals at risk of wandering due to various conditions. With degrees in social work and human resource management, she dedicates herself to supporting those facing transitional housing challenges, particularly empowering single mothers. Her commitment extends to assisting homeless individuals through local nonprofits. With a decade-long tenure in the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Tawna has served in various roles, from patrolling as a Patrol Officer to aiding domestic violence victims as a Detective. Currently, she applies her investigative skills in the Office of Municipal Investigations, ensuring accountability and transparency by conducting background checks and handling employee complaints.

Adrienne McKinley is a graduate of Schenley High school located in Pittsburgh , Pa. She is also a veteran of the United States Navy where she served in Operation Desert Storm as a Hospital Corpsman. She received her early medical training at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda Maryland. Upon discharge she enrolled at the Community College of Allegheny County where she received a ASN degree in Nursing. Adrienne’s previous work experience includes working in the MICU ( Medical Intensive Care Unit) at UPMC Montifore Hospital. She also worked as a Detox Specialist at Pyramid Healthcare helping patients successfully detox off of drugs and enter rehab. She is also a member of the Public Safety Council in the Hill District. In addition to all of her experience, she also served as a Community Block Grant Leader for her community and has helped other communities set up and facilitate their own Block Grant programs. Adrienne now focus her time working in the communities doing grass roots work.

Dr. Ford, the founder of Kyle’s Hope is very well known for her expertise in Trauma Informed Care, Advocacy, and therapeutic approach to providing quality care for individuals with all needs. Understanding that trauma comes from numerous life situations, Dr. Ford has focused on her education and career over the years so that she would be able to effectively make a difference in quality-of-life care for all.

Dr. Ford went into the Navy after High School where she started her education to what was going to give her the most rewarding career that she could have. She quickly learned that serving others in time of crisis and in need was where her passion thrives. Dr. Ford did not make the Navy her career but instead became her education stepping stone. After the service she returned to Pittsburgh where she became a mother and that changed her life again. Dr. Ford had a son with a terminal disease. She was faced with having to provide support on a personal level instead of on a professional level. This was validation that her career was chosen for her. As she cared for her son she decided to go back to school so that she was able to communicate and understand what was going on with her son. During that time, she realized that there were other families that did not have anyone advocating for them.

Detective Dorothea Leftwich, a 17-year veteran of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, specializes in internal affairs investigations within the Office of Municipal Investigations. Her extensive tenure spans various units, including Narcotics/Vice, Burglary, Bicycle, and Patrol. Additionally, she served as a Recruiter for the Bureau of Police and is a Certified Polygraph Examiner, administering exams to potential police, firefighter, and EMT candidates. Beyond her law enforcement duties, Dorothea actively engages with the community. She mentors through the Middle School Mentoring Program and leads the Cops and Kids Summer Camps. She also collaborates with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Community Relations Unit, engaging with 9th grade students on the Polygraph Instrument and conducting acquaintance examinations.

Dorothea's commitment to health and wellness extends outside her career. As a Certified Spinning and Group Exercise Instructor since 1999, she has taught classes at various YMCA branches, organized competitive spinning teams, and conducted group fitness classes. Her voluntary fitness program for high school students, established in 2017 and paused due to COVID, provided free gym memberships, workout sessions, running program memberships, nutrition lessons, and meals from local establishments. Moreover, Dorothea contributes as a Big Sister in Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh. Her dedication to health and wellness remains a passion, with future plans to focus on this area during her retirement, aiming to inspire and support others on their wellness journeys.