Cultural festivals flourish through sustainable, collaborative values

Posted on June 21, 2022 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

When it comes to setting the culture of community events, artists hold power. They create opportunities for others to become immersed in their environment and help establish sustainable, equitable pathways for the future.

During the weekends of May 14th and 20th, Pittsburgh saw the kickoff of festival season around the city, three of which included the Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books (GPFB), Millvale Music Festival (MMF), and Pittonkatonk. GPFB and Pittonkatonk being fiscally sponsored projects of New Sun Rising (NSR) and MMF as a project of Millvale Ecodistrict partner, Millvale Community Development Corporation (MCDC).

This was the first year of the GPFB and founder Marshall Coehn said well over 2,000 people pre registered for programs, which were all free and spread across six venues in East Liberty.

“The poetry tent was filled. The children’s events were filled. Billy Porter’s event was filled within the first 20 minutes it was announced,” Cohen said. “The feedback we are getting has been really good and we are very pleased with the turnout.”

Cohen attended his first book festival around 30 years ago in New York City, and since then he and his wife have traveled far and wide to experience others. The two that stand out to him are held in Los Angeles and Boston, and as the GPFB grows, he hopes to emulate Boston’s model. Cohen said he is sending out a survey to those who registered, and will be accessible on the website for those who attended the festival, to collect data on the event that will be used to entice more publishers and authors to participate next year.

“We want to get more national authors here, but at the same time give more Pittsburgh authors national exposure,” said Coehn. “Pittsburgh is now able to say, along with Los Angeles and Boston and Miami and Chicago, ‘We too have a book festival, here’s what happened at it and you should think about coming to it.’”

From the beginning stages of planning, which started pre-pandemic, Cohen said NSR was a tremendous help in knowing that he didn’t have to “worry about the administrative side of things.” Fiscal sponsorship through NSR allows leaders to focus on project design and implementation while NSR takes care of compliance, and reduces friction between the work required to manage funds and implement ideas.

Pete Spynda, co-founder and co-organizer of Pittonkatonk, has been fiscally sponsored for nearly a decade and said he has grown considerably with NSR’s guidance. Held in the Vietnam Veterans Pavilion, this was the ninth year of the festival. Filled with Balkan brass, cumbia, hip-hop, and big bands, “Pittonkatonk is music in public spaces that belong to everyone, with no stage, no doors, and no right way to express yourself,” according to the website.

“Ten years ago I didn’t know how to write a grant, and now I can connect with the foundation and think about building a sustainable festival mostly through their mentorship and I’m very thankful for that and the resources they provide,” Spynda said.

Since 2018, NSR has collaborated with Pittonkatonk to run The Activist Greenhouse during the event, which is a community resources tent that connects people with social and environmental justice organizations. This year’s performers included May Day Marching Band, Casa San Jose, Afro Yaqui Music Collective, 1Hood Media, Sto-Rox Marching Band, Lemon Bucket Orchestra, Hugo Cruz and Caminos.

Spynda said there were around 10,000 people at the event this year, based on the estimate from Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC) after weighing the compost, recycling, and waste collected that day. Pittonkatonk and PCR have partnered since 2019 with the goal of making tonk a Zero Waste event. This year, Spynda said Pittonkatonk maintained an 83% diversion rate, meaning out of 827 pounds of trash, 274 pounds were composted and 370 pounds were recycled, and there were 40 pounds of reusable materials collected.

“The first couple years of the festival I had to rent a dumpster and hauling service to get rid of all the trash. It was a lot and hard to manage,” Spynda said. “Thanks to foundations like The Hillman Foundation, The Pittsburgh Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, and support of New Sun Rising we are able to pay for this resource and make the event even more sustainable.”

The Millvale Music Festival also went Zero Waste this year by partnering with PRC as well as NSR, Triboro Ecodistrict, and ZeroFossil. Melissa Mason, MMF organizer, said 90% of waste being diverted from the landfill is needed to consider an event Zero Waste.

“Last year we did pretty decent and it was our second year [going Zero Waste] so we had some numbers to compare it to,” Mason said. “In 2021 we were at 58% diverted and this year we were at 76% so that was a nice jump and the big difference was that we had compostable cups in all of our outdoor bars.”

The festival manages five bars and they also provided compostable cups to Grist House Craft Brewery. Mason said it was great to have NSR and the Triboro Ecodistrict stepping up to sponsor the Zero Waste initiative alongside PRC and ZeroFossil, because it showed the community’s support for going green.

This was MMF’s fifth year with 350 musical acts, over 40 visual artists, a mobile “stage” by Redfishbowl, and two new stages were added: The Purple Onion at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub, 112 E. Sherman St., and Distinctly U, 419 E. Ohio St.

“I was at both The Purple Onion and Sprezzatura stages [in the Hub] and it was awesome,” Mason said. “I love the swanky jazz club atmosphere at Sprezzatura, and The Purple Onion kind of had this kind of speakeasy vibe. I hope we can start having more music there regularly.”

Virtual retreat brings together leaders of community transformation, creative expression

Posted on June 2, 2022 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Above: “Short Break” by Wildstyle Paschall for All317HipHop. Paschall was a speaker during the first Positive Deviants Virtual Retreat in May.

When you think of Positive Deviants, what comes to mind?

“Disruptive. Creative. Persistent. Aren’t afraid of being on the outside, on the fringe.”

It is that question, and those answers, that kicked-off the inaugural Positive Deviants for Community Transformation event on Friday, May 6. The virtual half day retreat had attendees from across the country and world connecting with organizers, featured guests, and fellow participants to uncover new ways of thinking and doing and expand the practice of positive deviancy.

The idea for this pilot series came about when Positive Deviants in Dayton, Ohio, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania joined together for a conversation around shared values and discovered a bond beyond geography and regional challenges; there was a kinship found through the innovative and transformative work that grassroots change agents were doing in their communities, often without recognition or sufficient resources.

Retreat host James Saleem addressed the importance of the Positive Deviants approach to community transformation, saying, “In this moment, we have an opportunity for us to grow, trust, and build bonds with one another across these three regions and larger. It’s important to have a network of people who have the ability to open up certain doors that we can’t open up ourselves.”

DeAmon Harges, ABCD Institute faculty at DePaul University, founder of The Learning Tree in Indianapolis, and keynote speaker for the event, said “the most Positive Deviant thing we can do is be friends, and deviating from the status quo includes friendship.”

Speakers also included: Amaha Sellassie, peace builder, healer, practitioner scholar and co-founder of Co-Op Dayton and Gem City Market, a community-owned grocery store in Dayton; Jmar Bey, founder of South Hilltop Men’s Group in Pittsburgh; Wildstyle Paschall, musician, producer, and historian activist at All317HipHop in Indianapolis; and Glenna Jennings, photographer, associate professor of Art & Design, and creator of the Art and Social Practice course at the University of Dayton in Dayton.

Host James Saleem closed the retreat with a call to action: “”Please take this opportunity to broaden our reach by sharing your connections with us. Think about your communities. Nominate the positive deviants you know: deviant social workers, community workers, and artists- anyone breaking the mold to better our communities.”

This pilot series includes a total of three national conversations at the intersection of community transformation and creative expression, led by the people who are actually doing the work. The next two retreats will be held on August 12 and November 4. Register for the August retreat on EventBrite at this link. The Positive Deviants co-creation team is now accepting nominations for storytellers and artists for upcoming retreats, workshops, and social media boosts.

This series was co-created by The Collaboratory, New Sun Rising, and The Learning Tree. Join the community, access resources, and spark a conversation in the forum at wearepositivedeviants.org.

Funding was generously provided by Grassroots Grantmakers, a national membership organization comprised of place-based funders, advocacy organizations and community organizers that values and leverages resident and civic engagement as a catalyst for creating and driving sustainable community improvement strategies.

Triboro Ecodistrict Workshop brings together regional leaders interested in learning sustainability strategies

Posted on June 1, 2022 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

For well over a decade, Millvale, Etna, and Sharpsburg have been pursuing and implementing ecodistrict strategies, and on March 25-26 during the Triboro Ecodistrict Workshop, they were able to connect with regional and local leaders interested in pursuing ecodistricts in their own communities.

The two day workshop at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub included speakers from the Triboro Ecodistrict and partners that have been key to the success of obtaining Ecodistrict certification; conversations were facilitated around topics such as coalition building, accessing resources, lean canvas development, and ecodistrict mapping.

“It was interesting to learn about the activities, events and initiatives being spearheaded in these communities and how the ecodistricts work aligns directly with their work to create more partnerships, to work together with the municipalities, local nonprofits, and other individuals in the community,” said Andrew Johnson, director of community partnerships and sustainability at The Forbes Funds. “ It was very eye opening to see the good work being done.”

To help advance the Ecodistrict work being done by nonprofits and community members who attended the workshop, $1,000 mini-grant opportunities and technical support were made available through New Sun Rising and District PGH for five projects.

Applicants were asked questions around why climate action, resilience, and equity are important to their communities, and how the project will engage and educate residents around Ecodistrict quality of life areas (equity, food, energy, water, air, and/or mobility).

The communities awarded mini-grants include: Brackenridge, McKees Rocks, Meadville, Monaca, and Shaler.

Abbey Nilson, science teacher at Shaler Area High School, was able to attend the workshop on both days, and said the mini-grant will be used to explore making the school’s educational facilities more sustainable. For the Friday workshop, Nilson brought five students with her that helped brainstorm what they’d like to use the grant for.

“They really enjoyed the experience,” Nilson said. “A couple things they noted specifically was that they were treated like everyone else there and were able to converse about the topics at hand. It got them thinking about trying to take the model of an ecodistrict and applying it to our school.”

Nilson has been working with the Triboro Ecodistrict since she created the sustainability class in 2020 and said it has provided countless opportunities for her and her students to connect with community leaders on projects happening in the boroughs. Having the support of the Triboro Ecodistrict makes a bigger impact in the classroom by providing resources and an outlet for the students’ passion around equity and sustainability.

It’s that kind of grassroots level work that Johnson believes can create positive, transformational change throughout the region and beyond.

“The biggest thing I want to convey is that [the ecodistrict] model can change the world, and the work that is going on in the Pittsburgh region is attempting to change the world,” Johnson said.

On Friday during the workshop, Etna Community Organization received $100,000 in state funding from Rep. Sara Innamorato, which will be put towards work on the new Etna Center for Community.

Upcoming ONS Mini-Grant deadline June 2022

Posted on May 23, 2022 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Above: A student involved in the Believe & Achieve Learning Hub, which received mini-grant funding in 2020.

Pittsburgh, PA — The next One Northside (ONS) Mini-Grant application deadline is Thursday, June 30, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. Project applications submitted to New Sun Rising (NSR) by this date will receive a decision on Friday, July 29, 2022.

This will be the only round of mini-grants for this year and there are 15 award agreements available.

The mini-grant program awards Northsider’s up to $1,000 to support small-scale community projects that demonstrate pledged support of their neighbors, help strengthen connections, increase accessibility to resources, and/or activate significant places in their community.

For mini-grant applicants, the preferred method for submitting your application is to use the online form. Application must be received by the grant deadline.

In regards to community support, please have three different Northside residents or business owners email vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org with their name, the project they are supporting, their Northside address and their phone number; or have them call 412-407-9007 with the same information.

In pre-approved circumstances, project leaders may submit for additional mini-grants. Only one mini-grant per project leader may be active at one time. To close your open grant, please fill out the report online form. Please contact vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org for additional information.

About New Sun Rising: New Sun Rising supports nonprofits and small businesses to build vibrant communities through culture, sustainability, and opportunity. NSR believes that people and communities hold the knowledge and power to make positive change. We envision a future where regenerative community development practices create the conditions for true social, environmental, and economic justice.

About One Northside: One Northside is a community-driven initiative to improve the quality of life in all 18 neighborhoods of the Northside. Since early 2014, hundreds of Northside residents have engaged with local leaders and stakeholders in community-wide conversations to create a shared agenda for the revitalization of this vital component of the greater Pittsburgh region.

NSR project sites in Millvale, South Hilltop secure over $1.5 million in federal funding

Posted on April 29, 2022 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Above: A member of the South Hilltop Men’s Group working on phase two renovations at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub. Photo by Christian Nowlin.

Resilient communities are built upon years of trust between residents and the organizations that represent them, so when a threat or opportunity arises, they are able to mobilize and respond swiftly.

When the opportunity came to apply for Federal Community Project Funding, both the Millvale and South Hilltop communities were prime to pursue it.

“For us, I think it was really telling to get that level of support and confidence from local and state governments. The Beltzhoover Institute of Arts & Sciences is something that merits funding, and the reputation that we have accumulated over the years has really paid off,” said Jmar Bey, president of South Hilltop Men’s Group.

With $1 million in federal funding for South Hilltop projects, Bey’s organization along with New Sun Rising will co-develop 600 Beltzhoover Ave., resurrecting it into a hub for revitalization and local jobs while addressing environmental issues. Prior to obtaining the federal grant, the project had raised $381,500 for property acquisition and due diligence, engineering and architecture, and facility stabilization.

“We still had a big funding gap to take the project to completion, and getting this budget appropriation gives us the ability to create the institute the way we envisioned it,” Bey said.

The space will provide equipment, research, and education on urban environmental topics, focusing on green space management, and is located on the same block as the Lots of Pride experimental research garden where various methods for soil remediation are being tested. The building will also feature green infrastructure and sustainable technologies, like solar and a rooftop greenhouse used to incubate plants for the various community gardens.

The second South Hilltop location, 120 Millbridge St., will be renovated to support the creative, maker, and light manufacturing economies. The project envisions doubling as a space for deeper, and more meaningful community engagement. A place where people hone their creative practices while changing perspectives on how they contribute and participate in building community. Both projects were recommended and supported by Congressman Mike Doyle (PA-18) for Community Project Funding.

In Millvale for the borough’s Ecodistrict Clean Energy Initiative, two key sustainable development projects from New Sun Rising (NSR) and Millvale Community Development Corporation (MCDC), both members of the Millvale Ecodistrict Collaborative, received $584,322 in funding thanks to the support of Congressman Conor Lamb (PA-17).

“This is an example of the ecodistrict working at its finest and what it was designed to be, to help strengthen the pillar organizations to better serve the community,”said Jamie Hahn, MCDC vice president. “We’re better together than individually.”

The Millvale Food + Energy Hub, 112 E. Sherman St. and owned by NSR, will be improving its energy efficiency through better insulation, increasing stormwater retention, and expanding solar capacity with more panels, energy storage, and a car charging station.

For the second location, 216 North Ave. and owned by MCDC, they are working with evolveEA and have aspirations for it to be Net Zero with plans to shore up the building’s insulation and install solar panels and a small garden on the rooftop. Hahn said the inside of the building is still evolving, but it will be a community space with some offices for rent and will be accessible to the borough’s youth.

“The development of these two projects and the use of the funds is part of a community driven process based on local stakeholder engagement,” said Scott Wolovich, executive director at NSR. “The MCDC has their monthly meetings where residents and business owners engage around community priorities, and Ecodistrict architect partner evolveEA continues to involve the community in its design process for the building.”

Both South Hilltop and Millvale have received capacity building support and financial investment since 2015 through NSR’s Ignite workshop and Launch community incubator. An initial grant from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation led to developing the Vibrant Communities Framework, an adaptive set of 18 strategies designed to help people both lead and benefit from the future they envision. The catalytic Community Project Funding, collaborations, and infrastructure projects largely represent the Grow phase of this Framework, and are the by-product of dozens of grassroots leaders, nonprofits, local businesses, local, state, and national elected officials collaborating over many years towards sustainable, equitable development goals. .

Including these four project sites, two of NSRs partners also received federal funding: $894,941 went to RiverWise for the Franklin Avenue Park, an Ecodistrict catalytic project that will serve as a public gathering space for the benefit of all residents of Aliquippa and Beaver County; and $500,000 to McKees Rocks CDC to support the remediation and stabilization of a keystone facility in McKees Rocks at the former bank building at 602 Chartiers Ave. When the Community Project Funding opportunity was announced, NSR quickly organized this group of community leaders to support each other and create shared capacity which, along with the Etna Community Organization who has since received funding for the Etna Community Library, came to self-identify as the Rivertown Ecodistrict Alliance of PA (ReAP) during the process.

Etna-Sharpsburg Earth Day Challenge, Millvale Earth Day Clean-Up

Posted on April 15, 2022 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Friday, April 22 marks the 52nd anniversary of Earth Day with countless traditions being formed nationally and internationally over the years to commemorate the holiday.

For the past three years in the Triboro Ecodistrict, and specifically in Etna and Sharpsburg, a long held rivalry has given way for the lively and goodhearted Annual Etna-Sharpsburg Earth Day Challenge.

Taking place from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 23 this year, the litter clean-up challenge encourages residents to adopt streets in their neighborhoods to collect trash and beautify their borough.

“The Earth Day Challenge is a great opportunity for Sharpsburgers to get together to show how much we care about our town, clean up our streets, and outshine Etna in the process. I’m especially excited about the free tree giveaway this year through Tree Pittsburgh!” said Matt Briley from Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization.

The clean-up ends at 12 p.m. and will be followed by a celebration in Etna’s Riverfront Trail & Park with food trucks, beverage vendors, and a free concert featuring Sierra Sellers. The coveted Etna-Sharpsburg Earth Day trophy will also be handed off to the new reigning champion.

For Etna residents: the first 125 volunteers at the Etna Borough building, 437 Butler St., the morning of the clean-up will receive a free Etna-Sharpsburg Earth Day Challenge 2022 t-shirt. Supplies will be provided to volunteers and can be picked up at the borough building beginning at 8 a.m. Free saplings are also available from Tree Pittsburgh via this Tree Adoption form and can be picked up at the celebration in the park following the clean-up. Click here for the official sign-up sheet and to adopt a street.

For Sharpsburg residents: The first 50 volunteers to sign-up from Sharpsburg will receive a free Etna-Sharpsburg Earth Day Challenge 2022 t-shirt. Supplies will be provided by Sharpsburg Environmental Advisory Council and will be available at the Sharpsburg Borough building, 1611 Main St., the day of the event at 8 a.m. and in the days leading up to the event. Free saplings are also available from Tree Pittsburgh via this Tree Adoption form and can be picked up at the celebration in the park following the clean-up. Click here for the official sign-up sheet and to adopt a street.

Millvale will also be celebrating Earth Day beginning at 8 a.m. at the Millvale Community Center, 416 Lincoln Ave., and then divide volunteers into four groups to focus on: street clean-up, playground prep work, Millvale Community Library clean-up, and trail building in Girty’s Woods. Protective equipment, trash bags, and high visibility vests will be provided based on the project. At noon, volunteers will be invited to join a celebration of food, music, and vendors at the future site of the new borough playground.

Special thanks to Etna-Sharpsburg Earth Day Challenge donors: The AM Group, Rear End Gastropub & Garage, Garden of Etna, Cop Out Pierogies, Triboro Ecodistrict, NC Hair Studio, and Farine Lawn Care.

Triboro Ecodistrict businesses, nonprofits can save by going solar

Posted on March 24, 2022 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Whether it’s cutting down on costs or lowering your environmental footprint, there are many reasons more and more organizations are choosing to go solar.

G.E.T. Solar Communities: Triboro, a local committee of residents and municipal leaders, from the Etna, Millvale and Sharpsburg neighborhoods that supports the economic and environmental benefits of going solar, is partnering with nonprofit Pennsylvania Solar Center to host a free informational meeting to businesses and nonprofits who want to learn more about going solar and how it can save them money. The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6 at the Millvale Food+Energy Hub (112 E Sherman St).

The meeting will offer creative ways businesses and nonprofits can reap the benefits of solar energy. Attendees can expect to learn more about tax credits, financing programs and grants, technical assistance and how to select a qualified developer.

The PA Solar Center will also be issuing RFPs on behalf of interested businesses and nonprofits to solicit bids for the projects from qualified solar developers. They will review the bids with the businesses/nonprofits and help them understand each step of the way.

The PA Solar Center will even offer a free assessment of your company’s solar potential to those who attend. Those interested in attending should be sure to register here.

Contact Leo Kowalski at leo@pasolarcenter.org for more information.

Trade programs available for Triboro Ecodistrict residents

Posted on January 28, 2022 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Are you a Millvale, Etna, or Sharpsburg resident and looking to start your career in the trades or expand your education?

Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization is offer $100 per week stipends (for up to 10 weeks) to Triboro Ecodistrict residents attending the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh, Bidwell Training Center, CCAC, or other qualifying trade schools.

The goal is to help local folks find a good-paying, in-demand career that they enjoy. If you are interested in this opportunity and want to talk more about it, visit tinyurl.com/SbgTIP or call (412) 407-7661.

For the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh’s full-time masonry or carpentry programs, classes run from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and no drivers license or G.E.D is required. Along with the fundamentals of masonry or carpentry, students will learn job readiness skills and computer literacy, along with receiving one-on-one financial counseling, life coaching, and job placement assistance with jobs starting at $15+/hour. The Trade Institute of Pittsburgh is located near the busway in Homewood in the 7800 Susquehanna Building.

District PGH aims to assist regional communities, increase resilience through American Rescue Plan Act resources

Posted on January 28, 2022 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

The Sustainable Communities Resource Guide created by District PGH can help communities utilize ARPA funds

Pittsburgh, PA — With the creation of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), District PGH is positioned to assist communities in the greater Pittsburgh region to decide how to use Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CLFRF) for sustainable investments that build resilience.

The American Rescue Plan Act provides local governments with funding to address public health, advance economic stabilization and other local recovery needs incurred due to COVID-19. Since the program’s approval, over 2,445 of Pennsylvania’s 2,500+ municipalities have received $489.7 million in local recovery funding. ARPA funds are a one-time infusion being disbursed in two tranches; the first was released almost immediately after ARPA was signed into law on March 11, 2021. The final funding tranche is expected to be delivered during the summer of 2022. Local governments have until the end of 2024 to decide how to use their ARPA funds and until 2026 to actually spend them.

“The American Rescue Plan funds provide an opportunity to take stock in what your community has experienced over the last 18 months, determine how to help those who are still suffering, and prepare for future challenges,” said Jim Price, Senior Program Manager, Sustainable Pittsburgh.

While a number of recommendations and resources have been provided by Pennsylvania’s local government associations like the Pennsylvania Municipal League, Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, and the Local Government Academy, there still remain uncertainties on the regional best use of funds.

As a collaborative of nonprofit intermediaries committed to accelerating sustainable community initiatives in Southwestern PA, District PGH has announced the release of a Sustainable Communities Resource Guide. The guide includes example strategies offered by District PGH members that can help communities to utilize ARPA funds to:

Better understand the needs of vulnerable community members
Create plans to make communities healthier, more sustainable, and resilient
Collect data and communicate information
Improve the health and sustainability of new or existing buildings

An important component of CLFRF guidance is focused on transparency, public engagement, and ensuring fund delegation is an equitable and inclusive process.

A community that works together for a healthier, more equitable, and prosperous future will be better prepared for dealing with future issues that impact public health and wellness. Effective community resilience and long-term sustainability depends on meaningful, authentic, and equitable resident, business, and stakeholder participation and buy-in.

The recommendations outlined in the Recovery Plan Template include: Public Health, Negative Economic Impacts, Services to Disproportionately Impacted Communities, Premium Pay, Infrastructure, Revenue Replacement, and Administrative or other needs.

To read Sustainable Pittsburgh’s “The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: Guidance for Local Governments, click here.

To read District PGH’s Sustainable Communities Resource Guide, click here.

District PGH is a collaborative of local organizations working to accelerate neighborhood and district-scale sustainable development that promotes climate resilience and equity in the greater Pittsburgh region, and are available to assist community deliberation on how to use the funds for sustainable investments that build resilience.

Core members include evolveEA, The Forbes Funds, Green Building Alliance, New Sun Rising, and Sustainable Pittsburgh. To learn more, click here.

About

evolve environment :: architecture (evolveEA) is a multidisciplinary practice situated at the intersection of sustainability and the built environment. The firm’s nationally recognized ecodistrict planning work exemplifies its approach to helping communities and organizations pursue triple-bottom-line goals through strategic action.

The Forbes Funds advances the well-being of Southwestern Pennsylvania by helping human services and community-based nonprofits build their management capacity and increase the impact of their mission work. TFF works locally and globally to make the nonprofit sector more equitable, accessible, and sustainable, and envisions a SWPA nonprofit sector that is innovative, informed, engaged, and effective.Together with our partners, The Forbes Funds is leading transformational changes across the SWPA nonprofit ecosystem by increasing effectiveness of individuals, groups, human service and community-based organizations in an inclusive, collaborative, and thoughtful manner.

Green Building Alliance environment by empowering people to create environmentally, economically, and socially vibrant places. GBA envisions a world where every building and community is sustainable so that every person can thrive. GBA leverages a broad network of partners to drive sustainable practices at every scale of the built environment through expertise in performance standards, cross-sector collaboration, innovative learning, and data analysis to create the transformative solutions essential in advancing the region forward.

New Sun Rising supports nonprofits, social enterprises, and collaborations to build vibrant communities through culture, sustainability, and opportunity. NSR believes that people and communities hold the knowledge and power to make positive change. We envision a future where regenerative community development practices create the conditions for true social, environmental, and economic justice.

Sustainable Pittsburgh empowers decision-making that builds a fundamentally equitable, resilient, healthy, and prosperous region. It is our vision to see a thriving region where stakeholders are connected, sustainability knowledge is shared and applied, and all people can succeed. Our focus is to provide expertise, create strong communities of practice, help shape a positive narrative, and advance sustainability policy.

Millvale, Etna unite to create shared library system

Posted on January 3, 2022 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Above: Etna and Millvale representatives gathered in the “Purple Onion” event and performance space at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub on December 9 to sign the MOU to create a shared community library system for both boroughs. Photo by Robert Tuñón.

After nearly two decades without a library, the Borough of Etna entered an agreement with the Borough of Millvale on Dec. 9 at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub, solidifying their partnership to create a community library system.

The two boroughs, including representatives from Etna Community Organization and Millvale Community Library (MCL), signed a memorandum of understanding that was created after a year of research, community outreach, and planning meetings with Fourth Economy Consulting and Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA).

Amy Anderson, the Chief Executive Officer at ACLA, said “library services are vital to any community” and she is excited to work with the boroughs to ensure that Millvale and Etna have access to a plethora of amenities, “including not only books and movies, but computer and internet access and a vast array of programming to meet the needs of the communities.”

Etna has not had a library in the borough since 2004 and a Triboro Library System Feasibility Study conducted by Fourth Economy Consulting highlighted what Etna residents need in a library.

“Because we currently do not have a public library, it was necessary to do the study to discover the best path towards bringing library services to Etna,” said Megan Tuñón, executive director of Etna Community Organization (ECO). “There are a lot of large, regional libraries in the area that offer a multitude of services to neighboring communities, but the challenge for Etna residents is access to these regional libraries.”

Tuñón said through the study, the borough was able to learn important details about residents, like 10% of households do not own a vehicle and almost 26% are without internet access. By creating a small library that is accessible to all and has programming catered to community needs, they will be able to meet residents where they’re at.

Nora Peters, executive director of Millvale Community Library, said Allegheny County Library Association played a critical role in helping the organizations with the feasibility study, which was funded by The Forbes Funds.

The library itself will be inside a new community center, located at 341-343 Butler Street, and be a space for people and organizations to gather and hold meetings or events. Etna Borough Manager Mary Ellen Ramage said the location is walkable for “virtually the whole community.”

“Libraries used to be a place where you got shushed, and now it’s a place where people can go get help with their taxes… they’ve become so much more,” Ramage said. “While we are a little late to the game, so to speak, we have the benefit of having a good understanding of how to plan them from the beginning.”

The MCL is “still considered a young library in the ACLA system” having opened in 2013, but that works to Millvale and Etna’s advantage, Peters said.

“When we’re talking about staffing two libraries instead of one, and what that’s going to look like, those decisions are really informed by the successes of MCL,” Peters said. “This is an opportunity to take a step back and look at what we’ve done well and use that as a starting point for this new library system versus learning it through trials and tribulations.”

Peters said some of the things that makes the MCL great is the intimacy of the space and “the knowledge of the community that the staff has.”

“Those are things we’re not only looking to keep at MCL, but model and try to replicate for the Etna community.”

Specifics about logistics and planning are still being ironed out, and signing the agreement is “just the beginning of a multiyear process,” but Peters said she is keen on identifying how to translate programs and services to Etna while altering them to fit the community. Rather than have the same programs in both boroughs, she aims to have complimentary services that are “equally spread through Millvale and Etna.”

“I couldn’t be happier about collaborating with Millvale Community Library,” Tuñón said. “The work that they do is so inspiring. They really address the specific needs of the community.”

“It’s going to be a lot more than just a library. It’s going to be a huge asset for our community and I think it’s important that Etna has something like that, because people here shouldn’t be left behind because they don’t have access to resources that other wealthier communities have,” Tuñón said. “This is really to ensure that this is an equitable place to grow up and to live.”

The Sharpsburg community and its library were included in the research study and after it concluded, decided it best for them to stay within the Cooper-Siegel Community Library system for the time being.

Millvale, Etna to create shared community library system

Posted on December 21, 2021 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Pittsburgh, PA — Four organizations representing Millvale and Etna gathered on Dec. 9 at the Millvale Food + Energy hub to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU), thus beginning the multiyear process of creating a shared community library system between the two boroughs.

The Millvale Community Library, Borough of Millvale, Etna Community Organization, and Borough of Etna made the decision to proceed after a year of research, community outreach, and planning meetings with Fourth Economy Consulting and Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA).

“As Etna continues to grow and change, we need to make sure that we are bringing vital educational and social resources back into our community, so everyone who lives here can have access to resources, programs, and the technology that they will need to live productive lives,” said Etna Community Organization Executive Director Megan Tuñón.

Etna’s library, which will be housed inside a new community center, will be located at 341-343 Butler St.

Etna has not had a library in the borough since 2004 and a Triboro Library System Feasibility Study conducted by Fourth Economy Consulting highlighted what Etna residents need from a library in terms of programs and services. According to the study from Jan. 2021:

20% of households in Etna have children for a total of 640 children in the borough
0 child care centers in the borough
26% of households do not have access to the internet
10% of households do not have a vehicle

Millvale Community Library Executive Director Nora Peters said the completion of the MOU allows the borough to move forward with logistics and planning in 2022.

Contact

Nora Peters
Executive Director, Millvale Community Library
petersn@einetwork.net

Megan Tuñón
Director, Etna Community Organization
etnaeco@gmail.com

Mary Ellen Ramage
Manager, Borough of Etna
meramage@etnaborough.org

Brian Wolovich
Director, Triboro Ecodistrict
brian@triboroecodistrict.org

Etna celebrates long awaited Riverfront Trail & Park completion

Posted on November 19, 2021 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Above: Partners gather as Peter Ramage, president of Etna Borough Council, cuts the ribbon during the opening and dedication of Etna Riverfront Trail & Park.

October 22 was a momentous day for the Borough of Etna and community partners as they gathered to celebrate the completion of the Etna Riverfront Trail & Park with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

A decade ago, the Borough and residents began reimagining what the long industrialized riverfront could look like through the Allegheny County Community Trails Initiative. This trail and riverfront development plan includes 17 municipalities and aims to expand the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, which will connect Pittsburgh to Erie when completed.

“You didn’t just accept… that you couldn’t reconnect to the riverfront. You didn’t just accept that there was a horrible brownfield here that you were never going to get cleaned up. You really took your love for your community and stepped forward to make something great and I think that’s amazing,” said Lauren Imgrund, deputy secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources.

The park’s design elements include a stage, benches, greenspace, pavilions with picnic tables, a bike rack and repair station, all of which was decided upon by the community through public meetings with Environmental Planning & Design (EPD) and the Borough. When entering the park, there are bird houses and environmental signage provided by The Western Pennsylvania Audubon Society; along the perimeter are perforated metal panels with designs that tell a story of residents’ relationship with the riverfront and were created by EPD.

During the ribbon cutting ceremony, Mary Ellen Ramage, manager for the Borough of Etna, extended her gratitude to a plethora of partners that aided the community’s reconnection to the river, but the driving force behind the project was made clear.

“It did take so many partners working together, rowing together, but we wouldn’t really be there if it wasn’t for Mary Ellen. We wouldn’t,” said State Representative Sara Innamorato. “I am a proud member of her vortex, because you know what it’s like when Mary Ellen sucks you in, there’s no coming back out. [And] you know you’re going to… see things like this trail.”

Katie Kovalchik, director of landscape architecture and communication & technology manager for EDP, said Ramage is “a very strong-willed person” and recognized her trust in EDP with the creation of the perforated panels.

“She’ll laugh about how we brought the idea of doing the panels to her and she asked, ‘Have you done these anywhere else before?’ And we said, ‘Well, no, but we know it will work,’” Kovalchik said. “She’ll credit us pushing her to go further, but it was definitely a great working relationship.”

For area residents, they’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Beverly and Eugene Gazdik live in Millvale, but they grew up and spent their formative years in Etna and have family who still live there.

“We are so proud of what [Etna] has accomplished,” Beverly said. “Growing up in this area and seeing all the steel mills close… I still feel connected to Etna and proud of everything they’re doing here.”

“It’s exciting to see what the future holds for the next generation.”

The full list of partners include: Allegheny County, Friends of the Riverfront, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, McCollom Strategies, Darla Cravotta (Director of Community Relations & Special Projects to County Executive Rich Fitzgerald), RK Mellon Foundation, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Southwest Planning Commision, Colcom Foundation, Fugh Foundation, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Western Pennsylvania Audubon Society, Henry L. Hillman Foundation, Allegheny County Health Department, Environmental Planning & Design, HF Lenz Company, Frank J. Zottola Construction, Eisler Landscapes, and most importantly, the residents of Etna Borough.