PDP Staff Spotlight: Lesalle Thompson, Outreach Specialist

Meet Lesalle Thompson, the new Outreach Specialist for our Outreach Program. The PDP Outreach Team focuses on addressing and managing panhandling and homeless issues Downtown. Lesalle works to connect individuals with the local social service outreach programs, organizations, and agencies within the boundaries of Downtown’s Business Improvement District. 

What drew you to the PDP?

Coming from Mercy Behavioral Health, I was a Program Assistant and wanted to service the same population and when I found out it would be outreach, I jumped at the opportunity. 

What does a typical day look like for you?

A typical day for me is usually an unpredictable day. Being in this business you try to prepare for the unexpected and usually that’s what you get but it’s very exciting and also a challenge that I love impressing.

What are you most excited to do in your role?

The most exciting thing about the job is changing people’s situations around and showing people that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

What is your favorite thing about the PDP?

So far being that I’m still pretty new, I can say my favorite thing about PDP is my coworkers. Everybody works together well and tackles situations as a team.

What would people never guess you do in your role?

I don’t believe people would guess how many miles I pile up doing this job I usually average about six miles a day which is about thirteen thousand steps a day.

What is your favorite thing to do Downtown?

My favorite thing to do downtown is eat, there are so many cool and new restaurants to eat at and dine in.

Favorite restaurant in the neighborhood?

As far as my favorite restaurant, I would say Sammy’s Corn Beef Shop.

Words to live by? Favorite quote?

My favorite quote is “proper planning prevents poor performance”.

Tell us three things most people don’t know about you….

Three things people may not know about me is, one my favorite sport is hockey. I love 80’s rock music and I use to play football with Rob Gronkowski.

If you had one piece of advice for someone new to Pittsburgh, what would it be?

If I had one piece of advice to anyone new to Pittsburgh it would to be prepared for the up and down weather. One day, it can be 70 degrees with sunshine, the following day it can be 32 with six inches of snow coming along, but Pittsburgh is great place to live and to be from. 

Thanks, Lesalle! Learn more about our Clean & Outreach services (including how you can volunteer) here.