Downtown Neighbors Alliance Staff Highlight: Olivia Miller

By Layla Joseph

Olivia Miller not only creates content for Pittsburghers to read each week, but pulls the strings to put it all together.

Utilizing her education in marketing and accounting from Duquesne University, Miller said she employs both her right brain, unleashing her creativity, and her left brain, tying her to the task at hand.

With her detail-oriented and observant characteristics, Miller knows how to listen, absorbing information that may be useful. Outside work, she enjoys reading, writing and keeping up with her passion for fashion by shopping and browsing local boutiques.

Miller said that Downtown Neighbors Alliance allows her creative freedom to shine by writing about things she enjoys. Her enjoyment of art and fashion is sewn into articles, as she gets to interview local business owners, brands and write about Downtown’s latest shows.

“Writing has always been an outlet for me,” she said. “Now, I am able to do that on a grander scale.”

Since starting as a copywriting intern at DNA in January, Miller has grown into her position and the organization. Now, as the Newsletter Editor-in-Chief, she manages the writers, creates content and works her magic to compose thoughtful material that serves Downtown residents.

“I loved (working at DNA) from the first day,” she said. “I was already in the weeds, doing articles and interviews.”

As a Pittsburgh native, Miller knows a thing or two about the Steel City. She said that part of her love for Pittsburgh comes from its size and getting to experience an urban atmosphere in an environment that is small enough to be comfortable.

“It’s not daunting,” she said. “It’s not all concrete. I like the green spaces and that you can go to the parks Downtown and Point State Park, or you can drive 10-minutes out of the city and be in a completely different environment.”

Miller said because of Pittsburgh’s small size, you’d assume everyone would know everything about what the city offers, but hopes her writing at DNA gives residents knowledge they might not possess.

“I feel like there’s actually a lot of things that we write about that people wouldn’t know,” she said. “I did the Best Chef series, and a lot of people don’t know the face behind their food. Allowing people to learn something new, I think, really enriches their experiences.”