Kannu Sahni (MPPM ’13) has built a career around showing up for his community—especially in moments of need. That commitment has now earned him regional recognition, as the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh named Sahni a 2025 Righteous Among the Neighbors honoree.
The annual Righteous Among the Neighbors list recognizes non-Jewish individuals in the Pittsburgh region whose leadership, allyship and actions have strengthened the Jewish community and advanced efforts to combat antisemitism.
“I'm most humbled and honored to be recognized and placed among these amazing neighbors, past and current, who are working tirelessly to help make our community better and stronger,” Sahni said of the honor on LinkedIn.
Sahni was nominated by Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) Chief Operations Officer Dana Gold. Gold first met Sahni as a client in JFCS’s career services program, but the pair would go on to become colleagues and good friends in the years to come. Sahni worked as an employment counselor and immigrant employment specialist from 2005-2007 and was eventually asked to serve as the organization’s first non-Jewish board member.
“He had been part of the JFCS community as a client, a colleague and a partner,” Gold said in the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle article announcing the honor. “When it came time to expand the board so that it reflected the diverse communities we serve, he was the clear and natural choice. He understood the mission because he had lived it.”
Sahni’s leadership was especially impactful in the aftermath of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in 2018. JFCS was a central organization supporting the community in the wake of that tragedy, and Sahni played an integral role managing difficult decisions, supporting the ongoing work of the organization, and encouraging those affected both inside and out of the Jewish community.
“I have always believed that if you are part of a community, then you show up for it,” Sahni said in the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle article. “I was supported by JFCS when I needed it. So when the community needed support, I showed up.”
A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA), Sahni earned his Master of Public Policy and Management degree in 2013. He serves on the SPIA Board of Visitors and is pursuing his PhD in public policy with a focus on human capital and workforce policy. Sahni is Vice President of Community Affairs at Highmark Health, where he leads initiatives in health equity, behavioral health, and chronic disease, advancing the organization’s mission to create remarkable health experiences. His prior service includes roles as vice chair of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian and Pacific American Affairs and as a founding member of the City of Pittsburgh’s Welcoming Pittsburgh council.
The Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh will formally recognize Sahni and the other 2025 honorees at a community event next month. More information about the honor and a full list of awardees can be found in the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle.