Blog
Community Changemaker Spotlight: Jeron X. Grayson Community Center
More than 26 years ago, Pastor Glenn Grayson opened the doors of his church and encountered four young men who were simply looking for connection. They had no structured programs, no safe spaces, and few opportunities for mentorship. That moment planted the seed for what would eventually become the Jeron X. Grayson Community Center, a cornerstone of opportunity and support in Pittsburgh’s Hill District.
In recognizing the unmet needs of those young men, Pastor Grayson saw both a challenge and an opportunity to build something lasting for the community. That simple desire to meet a need in his community led him to create CARES — Children and Adult Recreational and Educational Services. What started as an effort to provide fellowship and safe spaces for just a few youth evolved into a faith-driven mission focused on enriching young people’s lives, offering guidance, and cultivating leadership skills for the next generation. For Pastor Grayson, faith has always been the compass guiding every decision and initiative.
What began with just four young men eager for fellowship has grown into an organization serving more than 200 students daily across five sites. CARES now provides a spectrum of programs ranging from academic support, mentorship, and recreational activities to enrichment in music, arts, and leadership development. The focus holistically addresses the intellectual, social, and emotional growth of each child and young adult.
“From four young men who were eager to just have fellowship and something to do, it gave life to where we are today.”
Pastor Grayson
CARES operates in multiple locations throughout Pittsburgh’s Hill District, including Warren Church, Wesley Center Church, Arlington Heights, U Prep, and the Grayson Center itself. Each site is carefully designed to serve students at every stage of development, from kindergarten through high school, reflecting Pastor Grayson’s commitment to meeting young people where they are and giving them opportunities to thrive.
Faith is not just the foundation of the Jeron X. Grayson Community Center; it is the driving force behind its growth and sustainability. Pastor Grayson describes the organization as faith-based and faith-led, emphasizing that his work is guided by what he believes God has placed on his heart. His belief that “what God ordained, He will sustain” reinforces the Center’s long-term vision and commitment to serving the community.
This faith-based perspective extends to the Center’s future goals. One of the most exciting initiatives is the House of Notes, a project designed to honor the building’s historic roots in music education while creating new opportunities for creativity, artistic growth, and cultural enrichment. Inspired by the former Ozanam Strings program, this vision aims to reconnect youth with the arts and build on a legacy that has enriched the community for decades.
Even after more than two decades, Pastor Grayson remains deeply motivated by the impact he witnesses daily. He sees young people making better choices, growing in confidence, and discovering their own potential. He sees staff who are passionately invested in the mission — sometimes even more than he is. These moments of transformation remind him why the work matters and why perseverance is essential.
“I still see lives being enhanced and changed and transformed.”
Pastor Grayson
His energy, vision, and dedication continue to inspire staff, volunteers, and the broader community. For Pastor Grayson, every positive outcome, whether a child is finding their voice, a teen is avoiding harmful influences, or a family feels supported, is proof of faith-driven service work.
For those looking to create sustainable, community-led change, Pastor Grayson stresses the importance of collaboration over solo effort. He emphasizes the need for like-minded individuals and organizations to come together, assess community needs collectively, and leverage each other’s strengths. Strong communities flourish when multiple programs, leaders, and solutions coexist, giving youth and families real options for support and engagement.
“I think collaboration is very important. I think today it’s hard to do it solo. Collectively, we do better.”
Pastor Grayson
Pastor Grayson’s advice highlights a key principle: sustainable impact requires unity. No single organization can address all challenges alone, and by working together, organizations can multiply their effectiveness and reach.
Reflecting on the current moment, Pastor Grayson spoke about resilience, faith, and the necessity of shared responsibility. He believes that the Hill District, and Pittsburgh more broadly, are in a season where the community must rise together to meet challenges and seize opportunities for positive change.
“A lot of our strength came from our pain, and we have to turn pain into power.”
Pastor Grayson
For Pastor Grayson, this season is about turning adversity into momentum, pain into possibility, and collaboration into collective action. Through unity, shared vision, and faith-guided service, the work happening at the Jeron X. Grayson Community Center can continue to transform lives, neighborhoods, and futures.
At A Second Chance, Inc., we believe that strong communities are built through collective care, shared responsibility, and the leadership of those closest to the work. We are inspired by changemakers like Pastor Glenn Grayson who turn faith into action, invest in young people, and remind us that when we show up for one another, families and futures are strengthened for generations to come.