Our Founding Story
“It all started with a shared Thanksgiving dinner and a vision to make Pittsburgh a more welcoming place for all.”
In 2016, Hello Neighbor began with a simple act of welcome. Our Founder and CEO, Sloane Davidson, had recently moved back to Pittsburgh with her husband and was pregnant for the first time. Inspired to connect more deeply with her community and moved to support our newest neighbors in the face of growing anti-refugee and immigrant sentiment on the rise after the 2016 presidential election, she reached out to a recently resettled Syrian family and invited them to share Thanksgiving dinner.
That one meal sparked an idea: what if every newly resettled refugee family had a neighbor to welcome them? Someone to answer questions, help navigate a new culture, and offer support during one of the most vulnerable transitions in life.
We launched our pilot in Pittsburgh in June 2017 with 25 refugee families and 25 local families matched in one-on-one mentorships. The goal was simple but powerful: build connection across lines of difference. Through practicing English, sharing meals, and exploring Pittsburgh, trust was built, resulting in an immediate and mutual impact.
Since that first year, Hello Neighbor has grown based on the direct needs expressed by the communities we serve. We now offer a connected pipeline of programs that support refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers from arrival through belonging.
Programs include our anchor program of directly matching caring neighbors with new neighbors, and we have grown to also include tutoring, English as a New Language classes, maternal health navigation and support, employment programs, legal services, food access, and Little Neighbors supporting our littlest new neighbors.
Since 2017, we’ve served over 4,000 individuals from more than 65 countries of origin and currently work with 1,000 clients a month across our programs in Allegheny and Washington Counties, while also supporting nonprofit organizations nationwide through our national program, the Hello Neighbor Network, to aid refugees and immigrants in their own communities.
What hasn’t changed is our belief in the power of kindness and authentic human connection. Hello Neighbor was built on the idea that welcoming isn’t just about policy; it’s about people. By showing up for our neighbors, we create stronger and more vibrant communities for everyone.