July 15, 2025 • 16 mins
What makes Terry Smith with M-PowerHouse of Greater Pittsburgh a good neighbor?
Terry Smith has a vision for Pittsburgh's youth that extends far beyond traditional education. As founder of M-PowerHouse of Greater Pittsburgh, he's pioneering an approach that transforms how underrepresented young people engage with science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
What makes M-PowerHouse extraordinary is its recognition of the social, educational, and economic barriers that hold back untapped talent. Their solution? An "edutainment" model that makes learning both engaging and practical. This approach has proven so effective that Pittsburgh Public Schools granted students leave from traditional classrooms to participate in M-PowerHouse's hands-on programming for one week per month.
The impact is tangible across multiple disciplines. In healthcare, students put crickets to sleep with actual anesthesia and earn CPR certifications. Their drone program has produced Pittsburgh's first African-American FAA 107 certified drone pilot, addressing critical representation gaps in aviation. Through robotics, biomimicry, and partnerships with organizations like Space Force and Carnegie Mellon University, M-PowerHouse creates what Terry calls "mirror emulation" – showing young people professionals who look like them succeeding in fields they might never have considered.
The philosophy extends beyond technical skills to character development. As Terry eloquently puts it, "You can either fly with pigeons or soar with eagles." This mentality permeates everything at M-PowerHouse, where the ultimate goal transcends workforce preparation to create "healthy, productive adults" who will transform society itself. Terry's vision culminates in a powerful idea: "I am you, you are me, and we are one."
Ready to support this transformative work? Visit www.m-power-house.org or call 1-888-988-4346 to learn how you can help unlock the potential of Pittsburgh's youth and build pathways from cradle to career.
To learn more about M-PowerHouse of Greater Pittsburgh go to:
M-PowerHouse of Greater Pittsburgh
(412)515-5155
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Lila Carter.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Are you passionate aboutsupporting undisputed talent?
Today I am introducing yourgood neighbor, Terry Smith, with
Empower House.
Terry, how's it going?
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Very good, thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Awesome.
We are excited to learn allabout you and your business.
So tell us about Empower House.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Sure Empower House of Greater Pittsburgh.
We are a science, technology,engineering, arts and math
program.
We try to look at the social,educational and economic factors
that actually stop young peoplefrom achieving their goals,
those barriers.
So we're trying to actuallyfind that untapped talent and
(01:02):
look at creating programs thatare tech integrated.
We use what is calledentertainment, we educate and
entertain at the same time wealso work with Space Force, the
moonshot museum, carnegie MellonUniversity, the Carnegie's
(01:24):
Museum of Arts and ScienceCenter.
We're trying to unlock thatuntapped talent and build a
thriving pathway from cradle tocareer.
And what I mean by that is weactually want kids to reimagine
education.
For example, february, marchand April of this year, for the
(01:48):
first time ever, pittsburghPublic Schools actually granted
us with Macaulay Ministry, whereour grant came from, for one
week out of each month.
The young people left thatbrick-and-mortar environment and
tied in edutainment and alsohands-onortar environment and
tied in entertainment and alsohands-on experience to actually
look at various careers indifferent fields.
(02:11):
I myself used to work inanesthesia, so I have young
people working in healthcare,where we actually put crickets
to sleep using SIVO fluorine andreviving them.
We also work with the colonydoing CPR certification and stop
the bleed certifications, andalso, again, upmc and, in the
(02:35):
past, highmark work with us very, very closely.
One of our key components it isdrone technology.
We have the first drone FAA 107certification program here in
Pittsburgh that has anAfrican-American male that came
through the program.
There's a paucity of BlackAmericans in that space, and so
(02:59):
what we're trying to do withyoung people if it's either
drones, healthcare, robotics istake them from sight to vision.
And speaking of robotics, wehave a program called RAP like
RAP Music, r-a-p that stands forRobotics Neuronautical Program
and we're trying to get youngpeople to learn the basics and
(03:23):
then also introduce them to avariety of different careers so
that they can become healthyyoung adults who can meet the
future workforce needs of the21st century.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
What a unique niche to be in.
How did you get into thisbusiness?
I?
Speaker 3 (03:42):
used to be the chief anesthesia technologist years
ago with liver transplants andcardiac surgery, and during that
time there was a dome at thehospital and you could look up
and see a lot of young internsand children watching surgery,
and during that time I've neverseen one Black American child in
(04:09):
that dome, and so I actuallywas a little concerned and I
know that there was again ashortage even at that that time
of seeing black faces in thoseplaces, and so I reached out to
the healthcare institution.
They love the idea, as far asme, bringing in more young
(04:32):
people and this is where westarted using edutainment we
educate and entertain at thesame time where we would take
young people on tours of thehealthcare facilities and also
use shock reagents what I meanby that is using film and also
real life situations like flashmobs, et cetera, so they can see
(04:56):
themselves through their eyesand in a different lens.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
What are some myths or misconceptions in this
business space?
Speaker 3 (05:19):
The misconception really is that attitude about
robotics, ai, data science, allthese things that we provide A
lot of them.
If you don't know it, if youdon't know it, you can't become
it.
You know, and so we are lookingat ways to take away that
stigma and turn that bit ofpoison out of the end of the
(05:42):
roses.
How?
By letting kids see people wholook like them.
I call it mirror emulating,where you see someone who looks
like you in that health carespace, ai space, et cetera.
It doesn't just inspire you butyou inspire to become that
person.
All of that I love that.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
So you know that marketing is kind of how you get
your customers in the door.
So who are your targetcustomers and how do you?
Speaker 3 (06:12):
apply them.
So this is for some reason, youknow, god has been good to us.
A lot of individuals reach outto us.
We work with the Pittsburgh Zoo, an AI company called Xicom.
We work with the University ofPittsburgh.
(06:33):
We work with almost everyorganization in some shape, form
or fashion.
They actually are mentors to us.
And I say mentors, they bringtheir support by bringing
professionals to actually talkto our children, walk with our
(06:53):
children and teach our children.
And you know, and that'simportant, and it's from all
walks of life, all professions,and I think that's so valuable
because we're actually again,not just checking away that
stigma, but we're actuallyteaching young people.
What I call the three Ds arefirst you have to do it, develop
(07:19):
it, and then the providers Ifit's healthcare or AI or any
profession they bring aboutthose three Ws, which I call
wisdom, work and wealth.
And wealth is not always aboutmoney but just information being
shared, because our goal was tocreate a cadre of healthy,
(07:42):
productive adults who can meetthe future workforce needs of
the 21st century.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
So it sounds like there's a really strong
educational pillar to yourbusiness.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Have you ever thought about doing your own?
Speaker 2 (07:54):
podcast.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Actually, I've been looking at it and it was
mentioned to me, to be honest,over a dozen times and I just
actually I have thought about it, I have, and you know, with the
right support and the rightpeople I would love to actually
(08:18):
bring that into fruition.
Support and the right people Iwould love to actually bring
that into fruition.
We're currently working on aproject with South Africa.
Right now as well, I am in aprogram on biomimicry and if
you're not familiar withbiomimetics.
it says we're looking atteaching young people.
(08:39):
For example, if you look atapiary, the study of bees and
the study of ants, there's acorrelation between how their
work ethics are so closelyrelated to humans, and so we are
trying to teach communication,cooperation, cooperation.
(09:02):
And also, because withoutanimals we don't survive.
Everything, from the Keflarbulletproof vest that comes from
the spider web, the peregrinefalcon, they use the F-16 and
F-17 fighter jets and mimic themto actually create jets that
(09:23):
are more aerodynamic and fast,everything we do if it's
anesthesia, the food we eat, themedicine that comes from plants
that's now being used inpharmacies, everything comes
from biomimicry, which isanother term biomimetics.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Amazing.
So there's so many passionsthat you have within this
business.
Outside of work, what do you dofor fun?
Speaker 3 (09:50):
I actually I write fiction and non-fictional
stories around STEM and STEAMand having young people use
their imagination.
That's one of my past, one ofmy loves.
I love to do that.
I love to write stories andeverything from teaching young
(10:12):
people about one I've writtenthat talks about how young
people create robotic wells andthose robotic wells are going
out into the ocean and they getwhat is called DEHP or bisphenol
A, which are plasticizers, andthey collect them and those
(10:32):
wells dock quarterly and theytake the bisphenol A and the
diethyl ethyl ethyl phthalateanother plasticizer in our
oceans and they turn it intobeads Once they bring it to
shore.
It can be used for homes, forcars, and it can be recycled.
And by using those types ofways to look at how we can
(10:55):
preserve our earth, I'm tryingto get kids to think outside the
box and realize there is no box.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Right, wow, that's kind of a logical fallacy, right
.
Whenever you think about theconcept of thinking outside the
box but what if there is no boxto think outside the box, right,
absolutely, absolutely.
Let's keep gears here for asecond, terry.
Can you describe a hardship ora life challenge you overcame
(11:25):
and how it made you stronger?
Speaker 3 (11:27):
What comes to mind.
There are so many lifechallenges that I have overcome,
but one is just being resilient, and also that we all face.
You know I'm trying to think ofone story.
(11:51):
There's so many.
We all have different chaptersin our lives that actually make
us who we are, you know, and onethat made me who I am is just
watching young people achievetheir goals and seeing some
young people who are what I callyou can.
either you know again fly withthe pigeons or so are the e call
(12:11):
you can.
Either you know again, you canfly with the pigeons or store
the eagles, and you know I wasin both areas at one time.
You have to pick your friendslike you pick your fruit.
You know so.
At times when I was younger,growing up, you know I had to be
careful on who I surroundedmyself around, and but there was
a reason for that and a seasonfor that.
God plants us in those placesso that we can become better
(12:35):
stores of humanity, and sothat's why I always talk about
you can either fly with thepigeons or soar with the eagles,
and I try to implant in all ofour children's minds that they
are eagles and they have toovercome obstacles.
You know they have to.
You know, just again have thatI can, I will and I shall
(12:56):
attitude.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
I just got chills, Terry.
So please tell our listenersone thing that they should
remember and one thing thatshould stick with them about
Empty Hour House.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Okay, I won't use one word, I'll just try to be as
succinct as possible.
We not in powerhouse, we allhave to become change agents to
make this world a better place.
In some areas of the world,including our own, it's starting
to implode from within.
We have to realize that we needeach other, if it's through
(13:34):
economics, workforce development, all the biases.
It's our job to become stewardsof this country, of this nation
, and we can't do that if wedon't have young people who can
actually meet the workforceneeds to compete with other
countries.
(13:54):
My job and your job and all ofour jobs is to actually create
healthy, young, productiveadults who can meet the future
workforce needs of the 21stcentury but also make this world
a safer place, a more lovingplace and try to take away that
hatred and stigma, because wehave to get to the point in our
(14:18):
minds where you know where I am,you, you are me and we are one.
That way we all grow as acommunity and also as a nation.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
I love that.
So how can our listeners learnmore about Empower House?
Speaker 3 (14:35):
Sure, you can visit us at
wwwm-p-o-w-e-r-h-o-u-s-eorg.
H-o-u-s-e dot org and you cancall us at 1-888-988 4346, and
(14:59):
also, in regards to ourbiomimicry and our consultation,
you can reach out to wisdom,work and wealth at gmailcom.
And again, I truly appreciateyou having us on the show and
again, my goal is for us, youknow and I won't even say my, I
(15:24):
think all of us our goal is tomake sure that our children are
safe, are well educated and uhcan give back to uh, to our, to
our world and make it a betterplace.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Certainly, Certainly so well.
Terry, I really appreciate yourtime today and having you as a
guest on the show.
We wish you and your businessthe best.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
Oh, thank you so much .
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
Thank you and your business the best.
Oh, thank you so much.
Thank you for having me.
Thank you for listening to thegood neighbor podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to GNPPittsburghcom.
That's GNP Pittsburghcom, orcall 412-561-9956.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Lila Carter.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Are you passionate aboutsupporting undisputed talent?
Today I am introducing yourgood neighbor, Terry Smith, with
Empower House.
Terry, how's it going?
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Very good, thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Awesome.
We are excited to learn allabout you and your business.
So tell us about Empower House.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Sure Empower House of Greater Pittsburgh.
We are a science, technology,engineering, arts and math
program.
We try to look at the social,educational and economic factors
that actually stop young peoplefrom achieving their goals,
those barriers.
So we're trying to actuallyfind that untapped talent and
(01:02):
look at creating programs thatare tech integrated.
We use what is calledentertainment, we educate and
entertain at the same time wealso work with Space Force, the
moonshot museum, carnegie MellonUniversity, the Carnegie's
(01:24):
Museum of Arts and ScienceCenter.
We're trying to unlock thatuntapped talent and build a
thriving pathway from cradle tocareer.
And what I mean by that is weactually want kids to reimagine
education.
For example, february, marchand April of this year, for the
(01:48):
first time ever, pittsburghPublic Schools actually granted
us with Macaulay Ministry, whereour grant came from, for one
week out of each month.
The young people left thatbrick-and-mortar environment and
tied in edutainment and alsohands-onortar environment and
tied in entertainment and alsohands-on experience to actually
look at various careers indifferent fields.
(02:11):
I myself used to work inanesthesia, so I have young
people working in healthcare,where we actually put crickets
to sleep using SIVO fluorine andreviving them.
We also work with the colonydoing CPR certification and stop
the bleed certifications, andalso, again, upmc and, in the
(02:35):
past, highmark work with us very, very closely.
One of our key components it isdrone technology.
We have the first drone FAA 107certification program here in
Pittsburgh that has anAfrican-American male that came
through the program.
There's a paucity of BlackAmericans in that space, and so
(02:59):
what we're trying to do withyoung people if it's either
drones, healthcare, robotics istake them from sight to vision.
And speaking of robotics, wehave a program called RAP like
RAP Music, r-a-p that stands forRobotics Neuronautical Program
and we're trying to get youngpeople to learn the basics and
(03:23):
then also introduce them to avariety of different careers so
that they can become healthyyoung adults who can meet the
future workforce needs of the21st century.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
What a unique niche to be in.
How did you get into thisbusiness?
I?
Speaker 3 (03:42):
used to be the chief anesthesia technologist years
ago with liver transplants andcardiac surgery, and during that
time there was a dome at thehospital and you could look up
and see a lot of young internsand children watching surgery,
and during that time I've neverseen one Black American child in
(04:09):
that dome, and so I actuallywas a little concerned and I
know that there was again ashortage even at that that time
of seeing black faces in thoseplaces, and so I reached out to
the healthcare institution.
They love the idea, as far asme, bringing in more young
(04:32):
people and this is where westarted using edutainment we
educate and entertain at thesame time where we would take
young people on tours of thehealthcare facilities and also
use shock reagents what I meanby that is using film and also
real life situations like flashmobs, et cetera, so they can see
(04:56):
themselves through their eyesand in a different lens.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
What are some myths or misconceptions in this
business space?
Speaker 3 (05:19):
The misconception really is that attitude about
robotics, ai, data science, allthese things that we provide A
lot of them.
If you don't know it, if youdon't know it, you can't become
it.
You know, and so we are lookingat ways to take away that
stigma and turn that bit ofpoison out of the end of the
(05:42):
roses.
How?
By letting kids see people wholook like them.
I call it mirror emulating,where you see someone who looks
like you in that health carespace, ai space, et cetera.
It doesn't just inspire you butyou inspire to become that
person.
All of that I love that.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
So you know that marketing is kind of how you get
your customers in the door.
So who are your targetcustomers and how do you?
Speaker 3 (06:12):
apply them.
So this is for some reason, youknow, god has been good to us.
A lot of individuals reach outto us.
We work with the Pittsburgh Zoo, an AI company called Xicom.
We work with the University ofPittsburgh.
(06:33):
We work with almost everyorganization in some shape, form
or fashion.
They actually are mentors to us.
And I say mentors, they bringtheir support by bringing
professionals to actually talkto our children, walk with our
(06:53):
children and teach our children.
And you know, and that'simportant, and it's from all
walks of life, all professions,and I think that's so valuable
because we're actually again,not just checking away that
stigma, but we're actuallyteaching young people.
What I call the three Ds arefirst you have to do it, develop
(07:19):
it, and then the providers Ifit's healthcare or AI or any
profession they bring aboutthose three Ws, which I call
wisdom, work and wealth.
And wealth is not always aboutmoney but just information being
shared, because our goal was tocreate a cadre of healthy,
(07:42):
productive adults who can meetthe future workforce needs of
the 21st century.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
So it sounds like there's a really strong
educational pillar to yourbusiness.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Have you ever thought about doing your own?
Speaker 2 (07:54):
podcast.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Actually, I've been looking at it and it was
mentioned to me, to be honest,over a dozen times and I just
actually I have thought about it, I have, and you know, with the
right support and the rightpeople I would love to actually
(08:18):
bring that into fruition.
Support and the right people Iwould love to actually bring
that into fruition.
We're currently working on aproject with South Africa.
Right now as well, I am in aprogram on biomimicry and if
you're not familiar withbiomimetics.
it says we're looking atteaching young people.
(08:39):
For example, if you look atapiary, the study of bees and
the study of ants, there's acorrelation between how their
work ethics are so closelyrelated to humans, and so we are
trying to teach communication,cooperation, cooperation.
(09:02):
And also, because withoutanimals we don't survive.
Everything, from the Keflarbulletproof vest that comes from
the spider web, the peregrinefalcon, they use the F-16 and
F-17 fighter jets and mimic themto actually create jets that
(09:23):
are more aerodynamic and fast,everything we do if it's
anesthesia, the food we eat, themedicine that comes from plants
that's now being used inpharmacies, everything comes
from biomimicry, which isanother term biomimetics.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Amazing.
So there's so many passionsthat you have within this
business.
Outside of work, what do you dofor fun?
Speaker 3 (09:50):
I actually I write fiction and non-fictional
stories around STEM and STEAMand having young people use
their imagination.
That's one of my past, one ofmy loves.
I love to do that.
I love to write stories andeverything from teaching young
(10:12):
people about one I've writtenthat talks about how young
people create robotic wells andthose robotic wells are going
out into the ocean and they getwhat is called DEHP or bisphenol
A, which are plasticizers, andthey collect them and those
(10:32):
wells dock quarterly and theytake the bisphenol A and the
diethyl ethyl ethyl phthalateanother plasticizer in our
oceans and they turn it intobeads Once they bring it to
shore.
It can be used for homes, forcars, and it can be recycled.
And by using those types ofways to look at how we can
(10:55):
preserve our earth, I'm tryingto get kids to think outside the
box and realize there is no box.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Right, wow, that's kind of a logical fallacy, right
.
Whenever you think about theconcept of thinking outside the
box but what if there is no boxto think outside the box, right,
absolutely, absolutely.
Let's keep gears here for asecond, terry.
Can you describe a hardship ora life challenge you overcame
(11:25):
and how it made you stronger?
Speaker 3 (11:27):
What comes to mind.
There are so many lifechallenges that I have overcome,
but one is just being resilient, and also that we all face.
You know I'm trying to think ofone story.
(11:51):
There's so many.
We all have different chaptersin our lives that actually make
us who we are, you know, and onethat made me who I am is just
watching young people achievetheir goals and seeing some
young people who are what I callyou can.
either you know again fly withthe pigeons or so are the e call
(12:11):
you can.
Either you know again, you canfly with the pigeons or store
the eagles, and you know I wasin both areas at one time.
You have to pick your friendslike you pick your fruit.
You know so.
At times when I was younger,growing up, you know I had to be
careful on who I surroundedmyself around, and but there was
a reason for that and a seasonfor that.
God plants us in those placesso that we can become better
(12:35):
stores of humanity, and sothat's why I always talk about
you can either fly with thepigeons or soar with the eagles,
and I try to implant in all ofour children's minds that they
are eagles and they have toovercome obstacles.
You know they have to.
You know, just again have thatI can, I will and I shall
(12:56):
attitude.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
I just got chills, Terry.
So please tell our listenersone thing that they should
remember and one thing thatshould stick with them about
Empty Hour House.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Okay, I won't use one word, I'll just try to be as
succinct as possible.
We not in powerhouse, we allhave to become change agents to
make this world a better place.
In some areas of the world,including our own, it's starting
to implode from within.
We have to realize that we needeach other, if it's through
(13:34):
economics, workforce development, all the biases.
It's our job to become stewardsof this country, of this nation
, and we can't do that if wedon't have young people who can
actually meet the workforceneeds to compete with other
countries.
(13:54):
My job and your job and all ofour jobs is to actually create
healthy, young, productiveadults who can meet the future
workforce needs of the 21stcentury but also make this world
a safer place, a more lovingplace and try to take away that
hatred and stigma, because wehave to get to the point in our
(14:18):
minds where you know where I am,you, you are me and we are one.
That way we all grow as acommunity and also as a nation.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
I love that.
So how can our listeners learnmore about Empower House?
Speaker 3 (14:35):
Sure, you can visit us at
wwwm-p-o-w-e-r-h-o-u-s-eorg.
H-o-u-s-e dot org and you cancall us at 1-888-988 4346, and
(14:59):
also, in regards to ourbiomimicry and our consultation,
you can reach out to wisdom,work and wealth at gmailcom.
And again, I truly appreciateyou having us on the show and
again, my goal is for us, youknow and I won't even say my, I
(15:24):
think all of us our goal is tomake sure that our children are
safe, are well educated and uhcan give back to uh, to our, to
our world and make it a betterplace.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Certainly, Certainly so well.
Terry, I really appreciate yourtime today and having you as a
guest on the show.
We wish you and your businessthe best.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
Oh, thank you so much .
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
Thank you and your business the best.
Oh, thank you so much.
Thank you for having me.
Thank you for listening to thegood neighbor podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to GNPPittsburghcom.
That's GNP Pittsburghcom, orcall 412-561-9956.
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