Offroute Leadership
Learn more about who we are and why we do what we do.
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Founder & Executive Director
Kjerstin Pugh
Kjerstin (shir-stin) founded Offroute after working at a public arts high school for almost a decade. Many former students would visit and share how challenging post-high school life could be. Many felt disconnected from their identities as artists.
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Combining her backgrounds in education, community engagement, conflict resolution, youth & identity research, and administration, Kjerstin wanted Offroute to do something no one else is doing: display and sell artwork by emerging adults, no strings attached.
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Offroute serves as a foundation for young adults to feel supported and more connected to the communities around them. She hopes that Offroute can offer a bright spot in artists' lives always, but especially during the challenging times that come with navigating adulthood.
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Board President
Jaspar Leahy
Jaspar has always felt that art offers so much to the individual — both the artist creating their art and the people fortunate to view it — but also to society in helping it reflect on itself and imagine new possibilities. If we aren’t empowering the next generation of artists, we are missing out on inspiration for a better future.
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Jaspar works in the social impact sector, currently as the Program Manager at Forward Global. She has also worked in conflict resolution education and practice as well as in DEI consulting. In her free time, Jaspar enjoys spending time in her local community, supporting arts initiatives, playing music, and encouraging the next generation of youth to change the world.
Treasurer
Dasawn Gray
Dasawn Gray is the owner of Hazelwood Cafe, a community hub in Hazelwood, Pennsylvania. A lifelong resident of Hazelwood, Dasawn’s mission is to give back to the community that raised him, “one cup of kindness at a time.”
The cafe features Offroute art displays and events. Dasawn appreciates art and loves working with young adults in the community. He believes in collaboration and bringing people together to achieve bigger goals, while infusing positive energy into the neighborhood.
Dasawn loves nature, cooking/baking, & creating playlists!
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Board Member
Kimmy Rehak
Kimmy is an Instructional Designer, English Language Instructor, and Doctoral Student. She appreciates the symbiosis of Offroute’s mission:
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Emerging artists are given space to present, experiment, and benefit from their craft.
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Our community gets affordable art and an opportunity to patronize young talent.
One of Kimmy's favorite quotes is:
“Because love is an act of courage, not of fear, love is a commitment to others. No matter where the oppressed are found, the act of love is commitment to their cause--the cause of liberation.” ― Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Board Member
Elizabeth Rivera
Elizabeth is a Cyber Security Analyst who is also a big appreciator of the arts and jealous of those who can create magical pieces. She wants to
to support the development of art and artists in Pittsburgh. Elizabeth also believes strongly in the value of community and the power of a welcoming and uplifting community: "Don't underestimate the value of doing nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering. - Winnie the Pooh (A.A. Milne).
Board Member
Mitali Ray
Mitali Ray, the daughter of Bengali immigrants from Kolkata, West Bengal, grew up in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, immersed in the vibrant traditions of arts and culture celebrated by her community.
Indian culture, renowned for its artistic and cultural richness, encompasses visual arts, literature, music, and dance. Annual festivals
brought these traditions to life through performances and celebrations of various art forms.
A classically trained dancer, Mitali began practicing Bengali dance at age four and
training in Bharatanatyam—one of India’s oldest and most revered classical dance
forms originating in the south—at age five, continuing through adulthood. These early
experiences fostered her lifelong appreciation for the arts and a deep respect for diverse cultures.
Mitali’s creative roots complement her scientific pursuits. As an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh, she researches the interplay between chronic stress, racial disparities, and cardiovascular disease in the context of pregnancy. For her, consuming art is a vital practice that helps maintain authenticity and balance in her daily life. In her free time, Mitali enjoys exploring museums, supporting young artists through Offroute, and impromptu dance parties—a nod to the joy and creativity that continue to shape her journey.
Artist Consultant, Curation & Outreach
Allison Lento
Allison Lento is both a mixed media artist who utilizes recycled materials and a successful pet portrait artist who loves connecting with clients about their beloved animals. She is naturally drawn to people and has fallen in love ten times over with the Pittsburgh art scene. Offroute is the perfect organization for Allison to utilize her passion for event coordinating and gallery exhibitions. She has a blast networking with Pittsburgh businesses to display and promote our local young artists and loves watching Offroute continue to grow and have success.
Artist Consultant, Outreach
Max Richards
Max is a biology student as well as a mixed media and stained glass artist. Their study of ecology drives the nature-inspired themes of their work and their desire to be active in and support their community. Max was driven to join Offroute because they are passionate about supporting young artists and understand the importance of local communities, in particular the Pittsburgh arts scene. Max believes that strong interpersonal relationships and connections with nature are pivotal to cultivating creativity, resilience, and a deeper understanding of the world we live in.
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