90.5 WESA's "The Confluence" for Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019

Preserving historical buildings and landmarks “can be a force for a renewal of spirit,” according to Matthew Craig, executive director of Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh.

The group encourages young people to contribute to conversations about historic resources in Pittsburgh.

Craig says he and other members of all ages want to ensure the future of Pittsburgh’s historical assets. Today on the show, he talks about incorporating preservation into economic development, knowing how to assess a space's merits for preservation and what it means to be a good steward for Pittsburgh's past.

Find more information about the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh on their Facebook page.

Elsewhere in the program:

The Pittsburgh Foundation announced yesterday that former Riverlife chief Lisa Schroeder would succeed current CEO Max King. Schroeder will return from Baltimore where she's served as CEO of the Parks and People Foundation. She will be the Pittsburgh Foundation’s sixth president overall and the first woman to serve in the role. She told The Confluence she wants to use her platform to affect change in Pittsburgh on a wider scale. “Community foundations, I believe, have a more important role in Pittsburgh and in this country than ever before,” she said.

The City of Pittsburgh’s six-year battle with billboard company Lamar proves that sometimes passing laws is not the end of an issue. 90.5 WESA’s Ariel Worthy reports on the ongoing and unsettled lawsuit between the city and Lamar over a 10 percent tax on billboard sales. Although the tax was approved by Pittsburgh City Council, state laws make it difficult to create real policy change locally, which some think may be an indicator of the end result of the council’s proposed gun legislation.

And Pittsburgh has long been home to some of the jazz scene's most influential artists, but modern enthusiasts don't always know where to go to enjoy their favorite tunes. 90.5 WESA’s Bob Studebaker talked to Thomas Wendt and Dr. Harry Clark, members of JazzPGH, a local coalition of musicians, educators, fans and venue owners. They discuss the upcoming Jazz Days of Winter, a week-long celebration of jazz starting Saturday in Pittsburgh, and their website, a hub for finding jazz events and performances in the Pittsburgh area. More information, including a full schedule, is available here.

The Confluence, where the news comes together, is 90.5 WESA’s daily news program. Tune in weekdays at 9 a.m. to hear newsmakers and innovators join veteran journalist Kevin Gavin, taking an in-depth look at stories important to the Pittsburgh region. Find more episodes of The Confluence here or wherever you get your podcasts.