The Private Industry Council (PIC) was pleased to serve as a valued partner to the Western PA Operating Engineers, beginning with preparation coursework on January 10th & 17th, 2026 and concluding with testing held from January 21st - 27th. Operating engineers are...
The Private Industry Council (PIC) Afterschool Program, funded through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative, and administered by the state of PA made a meaningful impact on students and families in Fayette and Westmoreland...
The holiday season is a time of joy. However, it also comes with busy schedules, gift shopping, and year-end deadlines. Taking care of yourself is essential not just for your well-being, but so you can truly enjoy the holiday season. Here are some cheerful self-care...
Families enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start of Fayette County were invited to “Alphabet Safari” held at the Lemont Furnace Head Start Center on November 19, 2025. The theme of the event was to focus on language and literacy skills from the program’s school...
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Head Start / Early Head Start FAQs The Private Industry Council discusses frequently asked questions for Head Start and Early Head Start students. Private Industry Council operates the Head Start / Early Head Start program for Beaver and Fayette Counties in the...
L. Michelle Ferguson (DADS MATTER Project Manager) & Daniel J. Bell (DADS MATTER Database Specialist) submitted a proposal that was accepted for presentation at the 12th Annual National Alliance for Relationship Marriage Education (NARME) Summit in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 11-13, 2022. The topic “That’s My Culture: An Introspective Exploration of Awareness and Sensitivity of Diverse Family Backgrounds” examined how a person’s experiences and worldview are significantly shaped by their family history and culture, which also extends to how life challenges are approached. Participants discussed the importance of cultural awareness and sensitivity by sharing their viewpoints and experiences with their own and others’ cultures. Discussion also included similarities and differences surrounding experiences and the impact they had on shaping who you are.
Participants in attendance were from a diverse range of cultures and backgrounds, including military, Asian, Pacific Islander, Marshallese, and various regions of the United States. It was very exciting to experience the interaction from participants and how they embraced the sensitive nature of the topic with open engagement. For those of you who know my office personality, it should come as no surprise of how natural it was to engage people, bringing lots of laughter and giggles as I candidly shared my experiences about childhood board games, toys, favorite foods, cotton candy, and Christmas holiday traditions. Dan on the other hand, maintained his calm, observant demeanor as he engaged the audience with multigenerational and cultural pictographs while overseeing role-playing and simulations of the various groups.
It was our goal to have participants obtain an enhanced appreciation for how culture shapes values and families’ interactions. Based upon positive feedback from participants immediately following our presentation and throughout the duration of the conference week…Mission accomplished! We look forward to sharing this presentation with our PIC family and community partners!
Wishing you continued Awareness and Sensitivity! 😊
L. Michelle Ferguson (DADS MATTER Program Manager)
&
Daniel J. Bell (DADS MATTER Database Specialist)
724-836-2600