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WHEREAS, born in Pittsburgh and raised in Wilkinsburg, East Pittsburgh, Braddock, Turtle Creek, Wilmerding, North Huntington and Irwin, Ricco J.L. Martello attended Westmoreland Vocational Tech and currently lives in the City of Pittsburgh. The youngest of 4 boys, Ricco was a photographer and a deejay known as Swavay when he saw a need for positive community media coverage while on a mission to raise the money to replace stolen deejay equipment; and,
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WHEREAS, becoming more and more passionate about photographing events and people with inspirational stories, Ricco created a career through sheer determination and grit; and,
WHEREAS, Ricco has been a part of the New Pittsburgh Courier freelance staff for 13 years and a photojournalist for 15 years. His freelance resume includes the McKeesport Daily News, the Finleyville Messenger, the 51 Corridor, MSNBC's News Vine.com, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Soul Pitt, Whirl Magazine, Vector, Black Tie Magazine and the New Pittsburgh Courier. He was honored with the BME Award, the B-Pep Jazz Award and the MAASV Award for his quality work covering the community; and,
WHEREAS, Ricco Martello gives so much to his community, volunteering on nearly everything he can, including the extraordinary courage he displayed when he ran into the burning Midtown Towers and saved lives as he helped evacuate the elderly residents before firefighters arrived. He comes early to shoot events so he can help set up and stays late to tear down. He has volunteered at the North Versailles Soup Kitchen for 2 years, helps at church events, sweeps snow off neighbor's steps, takes their trash out, cleans their cars, helps elderly carry their grocery bags and teaches life skills and camera skills to youth.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize, commend and congratulate Ricco J.L. Martello for receiving the Young Professional Leadership Award from Nabhi Christian Ministries for b...
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