C-clear Building Restoration Project

Established in 2009 by husband and wife team Curtis & Tracey Reaves, C-clear is a 501c3 non-profit community and economic development corporation. My wife and I share a collective passion and a vision for reimagining the possibilities for the blighted communities around us. We develop and implement initiatives that promote personal wealth and professional growth through entrepreneurial and creative projects.

The C-clear mission is to empower socially disadvantaged youth and adults in realizing their true potential and to develop economic growth and change in the community. We are working to break the cycle of generational poverty. C-clear will give aspiring entrepreneurs and local artists a platform to develop their products, create job opportunities, and strengthen the community, as well as the local economy.We work to Cultivate Communities, Leaders, Entrepreneurs, and Artists with a goal of community and economic Revitalization, hence the name C-clear.

My wife and I are working to transform our building located at 327-329 Shaw Avenue in McKeesport, into a central destination for training programs, creative projects and community gatherings. Our 6,000-sq. ft. building will be fully equipped with two-stories of office space, two storefronts, and an enclosed rear outdoor space. Once complete, our building will be a place for innovation and learning, along with a business incubator and event space for shows and exhibits. Our facility will also host a youth barista initiative in our coffee house named, “Urban Java.”

Many individuals and families residing in socially-disadvantaged communities, specifically the lower Mon Valley area (Duquesne, McKeesport, Clairton), have been riddled with violence, generational poverty, a lack of education, poor access to transportation, under employment, and more. Unfortunately, many of these critical issues are generational in scope. We have learned that “where” people live deeply impacts “how” people live. Residential proximity in relationship to socio-economics impacts individuals and families’ well-being and even their worldview. Throughout the City of Pittsburgh, there are a myriad of rich and meaningful community agencies and programs that provide services to address the critical issues of socially disadvantaged individuals and families. However, accessibility related to admission price, and proximity for these programs are particularly limited for those indigenous to economically disadvantaged communities. C-clear seeks to change that.

Specifically, C-clear will provide training programs surrounding multi-media arts including photography, video, silk-screening, robotics, and Gigapan technology, as well as entrepreneurial initiatives for youth and adults right in their own community. C-clear programs provide free and accessible exposure, and learning opportunities to support and strengthen whole family. We plan to give aspiring entrepreneurs and local artists a platform to develop their products, create job opportunities, and strengthen the community, as well as the local economy.