Executive director of the Eden Hall Foundation, Sylvia Fields is a champion for women leaders in Pittsburgh and oversees the allocation of more than $10 million annually in support of community and regional programs that address issues in Southwestern Pennsylvania. A founding member of the African-American Funders Group of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Sylvia received the Greater Pittsburgh Athena Award in October 2017. A native of Trafford, Sylvia and her husband, Fred, live in Monroeville and have two adult children.
The biggest challenge you’ll tackle this week?
I have an adult child who is moving back home from Atlanta, so my biggest challenge this week is setting up all of the rules and regulations and getting it all straightened out beforehand. It’s kind of like the roommate agreement on “The Big Bang Theory.”
The one upcoming Pittsburgh event you can’t wait to attend?
First Night in Downtown Pittsburgh on New Year’s Eve.
Best part of your job?
The best of my job is truly making a difference and having an opportunity to meet and work with fabulous people.
Write three words to describe Pittsburgh:
Smart, scrappy, my home.
What book is on your nightstand or in your e-reader right now?
There are two books on my nightstand: “Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic” by Sam Quinones, and “On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century” by Timothy Snyder.
Which Pittsburgh food truck do you want parked outside your house?
Roland’s BBQ.
What music in your playlist is on endless repeat?
The “Hamilton” soundtrack. A word to the wise: Get tickets for more than one show, because when the curtain goes down, you will want to see it again. I saw it in Chicago and it was fantastic (Editor’s note: Sylvia also recommends buying the soundtrack and downloading the lyrics).
We arrive for dinner. What’s on the menu?
My famous three-alarm chili.
Favorite Pittsburgh athlete, living or dead?
Roberto Clemente, Manny Sanguillén and Willie Stargell. As a kid, I remember that all three of them would reserve tickets for children at the field.
If you could expand the T to one neighborhood, where would it go?
Homewood.
Which Pittsburgh band would you like to play in your living room?
The Bill Henry Band.
Who should be the unofficial Mayor of Pittsburgh?
That would be me.
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