Pittsburgh students receive high marks for City Hall performance
Mike Nichols, a volunteer for Pittsburgh Public Schools, has escorted kids through the corridors of Pittsburgh City Hall for more than 20 years to give them a sense of how local government operates.
On Tuesday, Nichols brought in a violin ensemble from Westwood elementary into council chambers for a short performance in recognition of Black History Month.
“I read to kids on my days off, and I try to get kids to perform and learn city government,” Nichols said. “I want the city of Pittsburgh to know that we have decent kids who want to explore and get a tour of the mayor’s office. They always want to know when we’re going back to city council, and they’re excited about it. “
Marylou Bushyager, a music teacher for six city schools, said this is the third year in a row that Westwood kids have visited the City-County Building. The students performed a blues tune and fiddle song for council members.
“I just think it’s a great experience for the students because they get to see the city council, and they get to work and understand how it is to prepare a performance,” she said. “It was a great opportunity. We just love coming down and playing for Black History Month.”
Acting Principal David May credited Nichols with arranging the performance and tour.
“We were just happy to be a guest down here to celebrate today,” he said.
Nichols, 59, of Bloomfield, works as a laborer for the Pittsburgh Public Works Department and volunteers his time on days off for the district’s Guest Reading Program, in which local leaders and residents read to students.
He said he started in 1992. In May of that year, Nichols was cleaning streets in the Hill District and read to students at A. Leo Weil elementary during his lunch break.
“Something just drew me in, and it was like, ‘Let’s try this out,’ ” he said.
Nichols said he specializes in three children’s folk tales: “Pickin’ Peas,” a story of a girl who finds a rabbit eating in her pea patch; “Rap a Tap Tap,” describing the life of African American tap dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, and “Abiyoyo,” about a boy and his father meeting up with a man-eating giant.
“Abiyoyo” is a crowd pleaser, Nichols said.
“Kids look forward to seeing me,” he said. “I go to different schools every year and they want to hear the same stories. They tell me what they want and I give it to them.”
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