Center of Life

Center of Life (COL) is a community-empowerment organization located in the Greater Hazelwood Neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA. Our programs focus on music and arts, athletics, and education.

Founded in 2002 by Tim Smith, COL stands with the people of Hazelwood as they strive to be strong and make their communities strong. With its roots planted deeply in the community and supported by extraordinary partners, COL serves Hazelwood and its surrounding communities with the rich academic out-of-school programs and outstanding experiences in music and arts. COL employs a holistic approach to community through all of its programs, believing that commitment to others is most productive when you walk with those served in their schools, homes and families.

Center of Life hosts multiple youth programs including The KRUNK Movement, Center of Life Jazz, Fusion, and Camp Hazelwood. These programs combine music, art, dance, academics, and athletics rooted in the academic content areas and curricula of the Pennsylvania Department of Education Academic Standards.

Center of Life also hosts community and family engagement to provide families and community members with the knowledge, tools, and strategies they need to move from surviving to thriving.

At Center of Life we believe "everything is about people."