Apply for the 2026 Luminari Award Today! Every year, the Luminari Award invites students across our region to pause, reflect, and imagine a better world not in abstract terms, but through the power of their own lived experience. What began …
Apply for the 2026 Luminari Award Today! Every year, the Luminari Award invites students across our region to pause, reflect, and imagine a better world not in abstract terms, but through the power of their own lived experience. What began …
At Luminari, every summer is shaped by the people who lead our camps: creators, educators, chefs, musicians, and global thinkers who love helping young people stretch their imaginations. As we open registration for our 2026 Summer Camps, here’s a quick …
Meet the Luminari Team and Get Ready for Summer 2026 Read More »
by Dana Wineland O’Rourke, contributing writer There was nothing extraordinary about her. I can’t remember her face, but I do recall her hair was blond, her gown was baby- blue, her wings were white, and she was plastic. There was …
by Don Laird, contributing writer The promise of a new year can often arrive quietly, carrying equal parts hope and uncertainty. In a world that feels increasingly turbulent, shaped by rapid change, global conflict, and personal pressures, the idea of “new …
Wellness, Growth, and Flourishing in the New Year Read More »
On Tuesday, December 2, Luminari will join millions around the world in celebrating Giving Tuesday, a global movement that reminds us that generosity is not just about making a donation, but about making a difference. Whether it’s a kind word, …
Now Accepting Applications for the 2026 Luminari Award Our annual search for Pittsburgh’s next young luminare is officially underway, and applications are now open for the 2026 Luminari Award, a prestigious merit-based scholarship for students in grades 7–11. One exceptional …
Cruising Along: Even When It’s Not What You Planned by Dana Wineland O’Rourke, contributing writer Every day is a gift, and milestones should be celebrated. My husband, Tim, and I married September 30, 1978. We chose that as our wedding …
A Thanksgiving surprise, served with pasta and perspective by Margot Callahan, contributing writer What is it about being American that makes us think that we’re the center of the world? It’s an interesting psychological quirk, that fortunately, isn’t only American. …
by Beth Dolinar, contributing writer “For the shipwreck, start in a minor key.” That was the advice from a seasoned songwriter who was among a group of guitar players and singers in what’s known as Folk Song Circle. It’s a …
by Dana Wineland O’Rourke, contributing writer This summer, our nine-year-old granddaughter Gianna expressed how much she wanted to have an all-cousin sleepover at my house before everyone headed back to school. I never want to disappoint her but explained that …
