Director of local nonprofit invited to speak at White House’s ‘United We Stand’ summit

PITTSBURGH — It’s been almost four years since the Tree of Life synagogue attack in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood.

In that time, the 10.27 Healing Partnership has helped countless people impacted by that tragedy.

On Thursday, the group’s director, Maggie Feinstein, was invited to speak at the White House’s “United We Stand” summit, an event aimed at overcoming hate in the U.S.

“All forms of hate fueled by violence have no place in America,” President Joe Biden said during his remarks.

On Friday, Feinstein spoke with Channel 11, reflecting on her trip to the nation’s capital.

“That was really a special experience that I’m so grateful for,” she said.

Feinstein’s work with the 10.27 Healing Partnership began in the wake of the October 27, 2018 attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue.

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Their efforts to help victims, their families, and the community at large cope with the tragedy continue to this day.

“When we started four years ago, there wasn’t really best practices, there wasn’t any kind of groundwork,” said Feinstein. “We have a responsibility to help anybody else who has to end up in our shoes.”

At Thursday’s summit, Feinstein joined community leaders who are working to overcome hate-fueled tragedies in cities including Buffalo, Atlanta, and El Paso.

“To be on a panel with them was really special and we had the chance to share our experience and to share the energy and exhaustion that comes from doing that work,” said Feinstein.

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Now back from Washington, Feinstein says she’s bringing newly gained knowledge to the Pittsburgh community.

“What I took away from yesterday is how important it is to continue to serve victims, to continue being people together so that survivors can really understand the experiences that other people have gone through,” said Feinstein.

For the four-year commemoration of the Tree of Life attack, the 10.27 Healing Partnership says it is planning a gathering that the whole community is invited to, and service projects across the city.

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