By Stephanie Rex Published online on September 27, 2011.
Source: Forest Hills-Regent Square Patch
LionWorks Printing & Graphics is fostering both community relationships and hands-on experiences for students with a space that creates everything from local restaurant menus, to commercial jobs, to the Edgewood newsletter.
Established at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf around 1888, the print shop space started as a career base for many deaf people as the noise factor was never a problem. Ever since then, there has been a print shop of some sort at WPSD.
“Back in the day, printing equipment was very noisy and the deaf were ideal candidates—there wasn’t a lot of talking or communication—it was just work,” said Tom Gentile of Plum, manager of LionWorks. “It made a good fit.”
A goal at the school has always been to provide education that allows for people to go on and be successful in life, so the print shop gave those who were interested in the industry a trade.
LionWorks, located in the lower level of WPSD, opened in 2008 with all new equipment with the mission of creating a commercial business to fund the program and raise money for WPSD, along with a place to engage the students.
A full color digital print shop, LionWorks is equipped with all up to date machinery.
The children also benefit with access to on-the-job training along with two classes, including Print shop 101 and a yearbook class.
“They design the yearbook, do a lot of the photos, layout, help with the printing and the actual distribution of the yearbook itself,” Gentile said. “In printing, they learn basic computer and design skills, and then move into different projects.”
Students create business cards and more during the printing class.
“With the yearbook class, they take an active role in it and they take a lot of pride in that,” Gentile said.
Some students go on to study printing at trade schools throughout the region. In addition to giving the students a space for learning, LionWorks also is a competitive print shop for the Pittsburgh area.
The shop printed the menus for Dunning’s Bar and Grill in Regent Square, is the regular printer for the Edgewood borough newsletter, and also has done work with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Giant Eagle corporate, Duquesne University, the Environmental Charter School in Regent Square and a variety of other businesses and organizations.
All WPSD printing is provided by LionWorks as well, while profits from outside work come back to the school itself.
“Community relationships are important to us,” said Vicki Cherney of Forest Hills, marketing and public relations director for WPSD.
Gentile said being a member of the LionWorks team has been rewarding on many levels.
“You see so many kids who really do enjoy it and like it and want to get involved,” he said. “It’s nice also when we work hard for outside customers and we know it is benefiting the school in a lot of ways.”
For more information on LionWorks print shop, visit www.lionworksprint.com.
