The United Somali Bantu of Greater Pittsburgh (USBGP) empowers Somali Bantu youth to become successful members of American society while retaining their individual cultural identity. Their programs promote understanding and honoring of Somali Bantu history and heritage while accessing opportunities to succeed academically and socially in a culturally responsive environment that engages entire families, advocates for students in their schools, and connects learners to resources available in the region.
Youth programs through USBGP also invite young people to be leaders, mentoring their younger siblings and neighbors and uplifting their unique ability to communicate across cultures in English and their mother tongues inside both contemporary American youth culture and the traditional Somali culture of their parents and grandparents. Youth are also given opportunities to design and create projects and performances that represent their cultural identity to a broader Pittsburgh audience.