2017 Neighborhood Leader Award:
Sister Janice Vanderneck,
Executive Director, Casa San Jose

Sister Janice has tirelessly fought for, led, and comforted the growing Latino community in Pittsburgh. As the executive director of Casa San Jose, Sister Janice works at the intersection of advocacy, social services, and spiritual leader for Latinos of all walks of life. We look to her for wisdom and advice, for joy and for comfort. Under her leadership Casa San Jose has grown over the years to be the premier social service agency for Latinos. She has successfully built coalitions with other groups, effectively powerbuilding among the issues that affect us all, such as housing,
civil rights, economic justice, and immigration. As a nun from the order of the Sisters of Mercy, Sister Janice embodies the values of an ID work religion while bringing the fire to fight for all of humanity, no matter who you are.