Families and neighbors, church leaders and community organizers filled Saint Catherine of Siena Church in Beechview on Saturday, drawn by plates of free dishes from a range of cultures — and by a message that felt larger than the meal.
The gathering, organized by the Beechview Historical Society for World Refugee Day, brought people together in one of Pittsburgh’s most visible Latino neighborhoods at a time when immigrant communities face heightened fear from federal immigration enforcement and many families feel the strain of rising food costs.
For some attendees, the event was a rare chance to try diverse cuisines without worrying about the price. For others, showing up was a quiet act of solidarity with Pittsburgh’s immigrants and refugees.
“Everybody has to eat,” said John Beres, a member of the Catholic peace organization Pax Christi, who said he attends weekly vigils outside the ICE field office on the South Side. “It brings people together even for a short period of time.”
The event almost didn’t happen, according to Phyllis DiDiano, president of the Beechview Historical Society. As national immigration debates intensified, she said some food vendors expressed concerns about participating publicly, prompting organizers to hire private security.
Sampling fare, supporting neighbors
By Saturday, the worry had given way to a crowded church hall where attendees moved between tables of food, greeted neighbors and talked about the role immigrant communities play in Pittsburgh.
Among them was Methodist Pastor Michael Airgood, who said he recognized several attendees from the weekly South Side vigils.
“Seeing what’s going on with immigration in America right now is just so hard, because we’re all immigrants, we all have a history to celebrate,” Airgood said.
His partner, Dr. Alex Young, visiting from DuBois Pennsylvania, said the event felt especially meaningful in a moment when immigrants are often portrayed as a threat.
“Particularly in the time where we’re being told more and more to fear each other and that immigrants are diminishing the nation,” Young said, “this is a really relevant and really needed celebration of what brings us together.”
Alex Riverol, co-owner of Venezuelan and Mexican restaurant Pabellón, didn’t have to think twice about showcasing his restaurant. His table was lined with empanadas, corn pancakes and tequeños.
“We are very familiar with this area, because we have a lot of customers,” Riverol said. “It’s a great moment to introduce to more people our food, our culture.”
Democrat State Rep. Jessica Benham, of District 36, also stopped by for a bite. She said it is important to embrace the immigrant communities that make up the city.
“I love being out in the communities that I represent in the state house,” Benham said. “I always enjoy seeing folks, but it’s particularly meaningful when we’re coming together across cultural differences and we’re coming together over food.”
Rising food costs a barrier to quality
Some attendees said access to affordable and healthy food is limited in the city, and Saturday’s event brought a welcome change.
“We like events like this, especially because it’s free because it’s hard to try a lot of new food, especially with today’s day and age of expenses,” Knoxville resident Natasha Ross said. “To be able to experience other people’s culture through their food and be able to come to an event like this is definitely worthwhile, especially for us.”
Ross attended with her husband and son. They agreed trying food from diverse cultures is something they enjoy and prioritize as a family.
“The quality of food and the places that are available to people, especially when it comes to affordability, is very difficult,” Ross said, “and when you live in certain neighborhoods, there is a huge lack of availability of good quality food, or even good restaurants.”
The event was made possible by a grant from the Pittsburgh’s Food Justice Fund, developed in July 2023 to increase public investment in economically and environmentally sustainable food systems across Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods. The program distributed a total of $2.6 million to more than 30 organizations throughout 2024 and 2025.
DiDiano said she was glad Beechview was able to use the program to bring residents together around food and culture.
“It’s wonderful to see the community come out and be together,” DiDiano said. “I think it’s the start of something good.”
Cilia Catello is an editorial intern at Pittsburgh’s Public Source. She can be reached at cilia@publicsource.org.
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