Ignite Vibrancy: Collective Impact pitch winner reflects on year of programming support

Posted on October 21, 2020 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Above: A group of girls who participated in Open Field’s 2020 summer program.

Last September during New Sun Rising’s Ignite Vibrancy: Collective Impact, over 30 community leaders representing 10 collective impact projects were given the opportunity to pitch for $30,000 in total grants during the one-day workshop supported by the Henry L. Hillman Foundation.

The three pitch winners were: Coraopolis Community C.A.F.E (Coraopolis Alliance for Excellence), SURGE Braddock, and C.H.A.M.P.S Northview Heights + Crafton (Change Agents Mentoring Peers in Sport). In addition to funding, each received ongoing technical support from New Sun Rising’s GIT-COL initiative (Growing Impact Through Data + Collaboration).

We were able to catch up with Justin Forzano, Founder & CEO of Open Field, and part of the C.H.A.M.P.S partnership that also includes JFCS Pittsburgh, Somali Bantu Community Association of Pittsburgh, ARYSE, Youth Places, and the Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh.

Forzano’s partnership received $5,000 to help support their programming, which utilizes the global game of soccer to promote social cohesion, increase life skills education, and improve the health and well-being of young people in Northview Heights and Crafton Heights.

Boys playing soccer during Open Field’s 2020 summer program.

“Attending the workshop with NSR and our communication with [former Director of Opportunity] Leigh [Solomon Pugliano] was helpful because it forced us to get out of the day-to-day and think about the bigger picture,” Forzano said. “It was nice to do not only for the sake of our organization, but do it in consideration and collaboration with other organizations to see where our future goals align.”

With C.H.A.M.P.S working in two different neighborhoods, Foranzo said they had always held separate meetings with a couple community organizations in each area to take care of planning for that neighborhood, and the Ignite Vibrancy: Collective Impact workshop was the first time representatives from each neighborhood came together around a table to identify common issues.

“That was an unexpected surprise, because I hadn’t really thought about doing that before,” Forzano said.

In particular, Open Field’s work with youth in Northview Heights promotes physical activity, life skills, and leadership in a deeply disinvested community. Residents earn a median income that is only 30 percent of the Pittsburgh average and 90 percent identify as Black, a population that is reflective of those hit hardest by the COVID-19 crisis. According to NSR’s Vibrancy Index, the community ranks worse than 96 percent of census tracts in Allegheny County on Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities, due to racial segregation and income distribution. Through collaborations like C.H.A.M.P.S, Open Field and their partners are helping residents to lead and benefit from initiatives, which improve Health (SDG 3), Education (SDG 4), and Employment (SDG 8).

“We are a pretty unique organization in how our intervention is sport based, specifically soccer… so one of the things we noticed is that all of these other organizations are providing a lot of wraparound services, and our interventions help address a lot of things they’re working on. So a consensus of us all talking together is ‘look at all these things we identify as issues that are common in both communities; look at all these things and all the ways an intentional sport for social impact program can address them; let’s work together to address these issues.”

Pittsburgh and a Global community will celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Open Field, during “A Taste of Africa at Home” on October 24, 2020. Although the virtual event is sold out, you can still show your support through their online auction or by making a donation.

Nonprofit Resilience Program focuses on leaders wellbeing to create trust, connectivity and build capacity

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Pittsburgh, PA — Eleven nonprofit executives have been selected as the first cohort to participate in a three month resiliency program to address personal and organizational pressures that have been exacerbated by COVID-19.

The program began on September 1, 2020 and will conclude on November 23, 2020.

Hosted by New Sun Rising in partnership with Neighborhood Allies, The Partnership Network, The Forbes Funds, and made possible with support from The Staunton Farm Foundation, the Nonprofit Resilience Program creates a resource that assesses individual leaders and provides them tools for personal healthy mental habits. It also addresses the overall health of the organization and provides capacity building tactics and tools to better understand the symbiotic relationship between the two.

“Seeing the impact of COVID-19 and the ever present history of our country’s issues around racism, it is time to find a way for our nonprofit leaders to identify the tools and skills that fill them back up so they can continue to pour out,” said Jamie Johnson, Manager of Performance Improvement at New Sun Rising.

The Partnership Network, a group of intermediary funders and capacity building organizations mobilizing the community and economic development sectors to solve complex community challenges, have identified four goals for this program: Develop Healthy Leaders, Create Trust and Connectivity, Build Organizational Capacity, and Strengthen the Talent Pipeline. These goals have been broken down into phases and will be addressed over the program’s timeline.

Phase 1: Healthy Leaders: Acknowledge and support the needs of people as individuals. Research shows that higher emotional intelligence facilitates stress resilience. An online Emotional Intelligence Assessment will be administered and Development Sessions are created based on the results.
Phase 2: Stronger Connectivity: People need to heal from past trauma in order to actualize their own potential and ability to support others. Collective experiences will be promoted based on empathy and honesty. Participants will develop trust and strengthen peer relationships in new ways to help them better manage adversity in the future.
Phase 3: Building Capacity: A leader’s health, mental and physical, and the health of their organization are interrelated. Gaining a greater understanding of operational strengths and weaknesses helps professional service contractors address and organization’s most urgent needs

“As public servants and dedicated leaders, we can often be so driven by our passions that the personal health of a non-profit director is often secondary to the work. Over time, this can lead to burnout, exhaustion, and institutional knowledge loss in the system,” said Stephanie Chernay, Chief Operation Officer at Neighborhood Allies. “This program is designed to center the leader and their needs to accomplish both their personal and organizational goals.”

Program participants include: Andrea Matthews – Brashear Association; Jason Flowers – Omicelo Cares; McKees Rocks CDC; Emily Mitchell – Urban Redevelopment Authority; Joanna Deming – Perry Hilltop Citizens Council; Jordan Coughlen – Alpha House; Amber Epps – Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation; Ariam Ford – Grounded Strategies; Denele Hughson – Grow Pittsburgh; Jona Reyes – Neighbors Helping Neighbors North Braddock; Alyssa Lyons – Green Building Alliance.

Co-developer of this initiative, Terry Doloughty of Boss Consulting, will also be one of the technical assistance providers working with non-profit leaders to help them establish strong personal and organizational health habits.

Developing resilience is a transformational process that occurs over time through a multifaceted approach. By strengthening individual leaders and their relationships with peers, this initiative will ultimately improve organizational sustainability and help to achieve greater impact. This program recognizes the health of the organization and the mental health of nonprofit leaders are intrinsically intertwined.

—

CONTACTS:

Jamie Johnson, Manager of Performance Improvement, New Sun Rising
jamie@newsunrising.org

Stephanie Chernay, Chief Operating Officer, Neighborhood Allies
stephanie@neighborhoodallies.org

About New Sun Rising
New Sun Rising supports nonprofits and small businesses to build vibrant communities through culture, sustainability, and opportunity. NSR believes that all 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 Neighborhood Allies
Neighborhood Allies’ mission is to support the people, organizations and partnerships committed to creating and maintaining healthy neighborhoods. They strive to support this mission by creating community partnerships, connecting distressed and transitioning communities with valued/vetted resources, and communicating and celebrating progress and success.

About The Partnership Network
The Partnership Network (TPN) is a group of intermediary funders and/or capacity building organizations working to mobilize the community and economic development sectors in the Pittsburgh region. TPN creates the conditions for change by collaborating to solve complex community challenges at the macro, meso, and micro levels of our communities. Collectively, TPN is focused on capacity building for the Community Development System to reach the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). TPN members are committed to being people-centered while implementing the following practices: Aligning Resources, Creating Transparency, and Articulating Shared Outcomes. Partner organizations include Allegheny Conference, The Forbes Funds, Grounded Strategies, Neighborhood Allies, NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania, and New Sun Rising.

About The Forbes Funds
The Forbes Funds advances the well-being of our region by helping human service and community-based nonprofits build their management capacity and increase the impact of their mission work. They support these nonprofits both as individual organizations and as a unified coalition of leaders, funders, and advocates working collaboratively throughout southwestern Pennsylvania.

Allegheny, Beaver County artists to be featured in virtual event hosted by New Sun Rising, RiverWise

Posted on September 15, 2020 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Pittsburgh, PA — A virtual gallery opening will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29 for the six artists selected to participate in the Exploring COVID-19 Impacts Through Visual Art program, which provided $2,500 of direct financial support for each artist to create visual art reflecting the effect of COVID-19 on their community.

During the event, the artists will talk about their work and thought process on the creation of their individual pieces. Two artists will also be announced as overall winners and their work will be displayed via wallscapes at two public locations: Millvale Food + Energy Hub and a site to be determined in Beaver County.

More event information can be found here.

“The experience of COVID-19 has taught all of us that we are deeply connected to another,” said Daniel Rossi-Keen, Executive Director of RiverWise. “This project is a great way of increasing connectivity between artists throughout Allegheny and Beaver County, while also showcasing how art can be a powerful way of responding to the many challenges we are facing as a region and a human race.”

The Allegheny County Artists include: Janel Young (JY Originals), painter and muralist; Juliandra Jones (PBJ Customs), painter and digital artist; and Natiq Jalil (The Art of Natiq), watercolor artist. The Beaver County artists include: Erin Ninehouser (The Listening Library), photographer; Marlon Gist, fine artist; and Katie Stone, ceramics sculptor.

“Hearing the stories of how artists are coping during this pandemic is as powerful as the art that has been created for this program,” said Dan Stiker, Director of Operations at New Sun Rising. “The virtual gallery opening will give us the chance to listen and learn from their experiences.”

The program is a partnership between New Sun Rising and RiverWise, supported by The Pittsburgh Foundation’s Emergency Action Fund.

Contact

Dan Stiker, Director of Operations, New Sun Rising
dan@newsunrising.org

Daniel Rossi-Keen, Executive Director, RiverWise
daniel@getriverwise.com

About New Sun Rising

New Sun Rising supports nonprofits and small businesses to build vibrant communities through culture, sustainability, and opportunity. NSR believes that all 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 RiverWise

RiverWise employs sustainable development practices to create a regional identity around the rivers of Beaver County. At the heart of this work is a concerted effort to organize stakeholders to dream, learn, and collaborate about the future of our rivers. They encourage this process in two primary ways. First, they have formed ecodistricts in three communities (Aliquippa, Monaca, and Beaver Falls). Second, they are engaged in a growing list of projects aimed at activating community ideas and bringing sustainable development to life throughout Beaver County.

Triboro Ecodistrict businesses adapt under Covid-19

Posted on August 25, 2020 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Above: Outdoor patio seating at Double L bar in Millvale that was added to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions.

Over the last five months, coronavirus cases have fluctuated throughout Pennsylvania and small business owners have had to adapt to changing regulations instituted by the state to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Guidance for retail and businesses in the restaurant industry is provided on Governor Tom Wolf’s website, which has been helpful for many, but the transitions are difficult nonetheless.

“It sucks. I don’t know how else to say it,” said Linsey Marie Thomas, owner of Double L in Millvale.

Her father bought the bar in 1984, and after his unexpected death, Thomas took over. She lived above the bar from the age of two to 19 and said she is a “born and raised bar brat.” When she began running the business, she wanted the atmosphere to be a step above a dive, but have the nostalgic, hometown bar feeling and she believes she’s achieved that.

Before the pandemic, Double L closed for renovations and reopened as a non-smoking bar, and they are also a designated Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurant.

Since March, Thomas has continued to adjust with the regulations and closed the bar for a short time in July when the virus was spiking. They are currently open for dine-in or takeout options and have indoor and outdoor patio seating.

“It makes a difference to support smaller local places,” Thomas said. “Everyone that works in my bar lives in the neighborhood and the area, so you’re not just supporting me, you’re supporting them, too.”

For businesses opening during the pandemic, like 2 Sisters 2 Sons in Sharpsburg, it hasn’t required as many modifications considering they built their food business around takeout-only. Co-owners Denise Joseph and Marlene Siddo opened the location with their sons Michael Brown and Kwasi Prince on July 6 and have experienced a healthy flow of customers every day since. They were previously located in Wilkinsburg, but closed in 2015 due to building issues and have been mobile until now.

Brown said customers from around the city and county have stopped in for food with some coming as far as Ohio.

“There was at least a minimum of one person a day opening the door to ask if we were open yet and wanting to place an order, so we knew that we were going to get consistent traffic, but we didn’t know it would be like this,” Brown said.

Joseph and Siddo are the head chefs, while Brown and Prince focus on keeping the daily operations running smoothly. Joseph said she is elated with their new location and that the Sharpsburg community has been very welcoming. Her family is close-knit, and she can tell the borough is, too.

“I want to say thank you to everyone supporting us, we appreciate the love,” Joseph said. “Keep coming and we will make sure we work with you and that everybody is happy.”

They are working on getting multiple phone lines to take more orders over the phone, which take about about 15-25 minutes to cook, because as Joseph said, “you don’t want to rush good food.”

Similarly, it’s best not to rush quality fashion. Kiya Tomlin’s retail business in Etna produces everything in-house, which she said gives her and her staff control over clothing quality and the ability to personally manage inventory, so they aren’t producing items “that nobody wants or having to meet other factories production minimums.”

“It allows us to be more resourceful with our fabric waste so we’re not just throwing it out and can use it towards other things, whether it’s making samples or donating or creating other things with it,” Tomlin said.

For now, the space is open by appointment only, but when the shut down order was enacted in March and Tomlin closed up the shop, she was committed to keeping her team paid and employed. After the first week of the shelter-at-home order, Tomlin said she received a text message from a friend about a hospital system in Indiana asking for home sewers to make masks because they were experiencing a shortage.

“That hadn’t been on the radar in Pittsburgh yet, but it was starting to come about in other areas so when I saw that I thought that is something we can do,” Tomlin said.

She was connected to Allegheny Health Network and began producing 400 masks a day to donate to support staff individuals and those not in direct contact with COVID-19 patients. Tomlin said they kept this up “for a good month or two” until masks became more available.

Tomlin said those masks were also donated to Triboro police, firefighters, and neighboring businesses, and she is thankful for how proactive the borough has been in releasing information helpful for small businesses.

“I think we normally intentionally support each other, but there was even more of an incentive to make sure we supported one another through this, all being small businesses, to stay afloat,” Tomlin said.

Due to Tomlin’s donated mask production, she was contacted by Highmark and her team is one of several other businesses contributing to Highmark’s initiative of donating 1 million cloth face masks to the Highmark community.

One Northside 2019-2020 Mini-Grant Showcase, upcoming mini-grant deadlines

Posted on August 10, 2020 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Pittsburgh, PA — At 12 p.m. on Monday, August 24, New Sun Rising (NSR) and One Northside (ONS) will host a showcase of resident-driven mini-grant projects that have been completed in 2019 through August 2020.

The event will be virtual and hosted via Facebook Live. Attendees should visit this link and RSVP to receive reminder notifications from Facebook.

The upcoming application deadlines for the rest of the 2020 ONS Mini-Grants are:

Friday, August 21 at 11:59 p.m.
Friday, October 16 at 11:59 p.m.
November 20 at 11:59 p.m. (pending fund availability)

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and reviewed bi-monthly.

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.

In lieu of the 15 required signatures for applications, grantees must have three references email vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org or call NSR at (412) 407-9007 to give their full name, Northside home or business address, and the name of the project they are supporting. References cannot be from the same Northside home or business address.

If you are working towards COVID relief projects, please reach out to vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org for an application noting what your project will help.

Contact

NSR encourages prospective applicants to email vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org with any questions or concerns about the mini-grant process in advance of preparing their application.

For mini-grant applicants, the preferred method for submitting your application is to use the online form accessible at: www.newsunrising.org/project/ignite-northside/

Printed applications are accepted by postal mail. You may also submit your applications as attachments to vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org. Postal mail submissions should be addressed to New Sun Rising, Attn. One Northside Mini-Grant, P.O. Box 58005, Pittsburgh, PA 15209 and must be received by the grant deadline. All projects must be completed by August 31, 2020.

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. 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.

Honoring Triboro Ecodistrict Essential Workers

Posted on July 31, 2020 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

To honor some of its most caring and hardworking community members, the Triboro Ecodistrict asked residents to nominate someone they saw within Millvale-Etna-Sharpsburg going above and beyond to provide essential services to their communities during this pandemic.

From volunteer firefighters and postal workers, to restaurant owners and professional distillers, these are the individuals working and living in the Triboro Ecodistrict, and chosen by their community, to be recognized for their continued commitment to helping others.

Millvale

Aisha Al-Zahrani, Registered Nurse

Aisha Al-Zahrani chose to become a Labor and Delivery Nurse because she wanted to advocate for women’s health and “support patients during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives.”

“It has been a scary and unsettling time for parents to be bringing life into the world during a pandemic,” Al-Zahrani said. “Just taking the time to make them feel safe and comfortable while also taking extra precautions that the hospital has set in place has been helpful in reducing their anxiety.”

Al-Zahrani lives in Millvale and said the borough has been amazing and has given residents some kind of stability during uncertain times. Specifically, the Millvale Community Share Table, New Sun Rising’s free produce box distributions through Farmers to Families, and the collaboration between Sprezzatura and Tupelo Honey Teas has been “incredible” to see.

“You can tell the sense of community we have here. Everyone has come together and supported each other.”

Jacqlyn Boggs, Outreach Manager at North Hills Community Outreach, Millvale Satellite

For Jacqlyn Boggs, being able to make a difference in someone’s life, whether that be tangible help, providing resources, or just an ear to listen, was her inspiration to become involved in community outreach.

The person who nominated Boggs to be honored as a Triboro Ecodistrict Essential Worker said Boggs “and her team have gone above and beyond to make sure the citizens of Millvale area have access to food, emergency assistance, etc. You won’t find a harder working individual serving Millvale right now.”

When Boggs looks around the Millvale community, she applauds and is in awe of others who stepped up to take care of their neighbors.

“I watched Boys & Girls Club with Shaler School District work together to provide lunches for students, local businesses donating to make sure anyone hungry could get a meal, local churches provide gift cards/bags of food to those in need, residence stepping up to be buddies to each other, [New Sun Rising] setting up produce distributions, and Shaler High School Seniors holding a food drive to support local food pantries. It makes me proud to be working in Millvale,” Boggs said.

Gabe Cetra, Letter Carrier for the United States Postal Service

Gabe Cetra said he was never meant to sit behind a desk, and his decision to work as a letter carrier for the USPS was one of the best decisions he’s ever made.

The most rewarding part of the job?

“Without a doubt, it’s the people that I serve,” Centra said. “Being able to connect them with each other, and with family and friends all over the world, is kind of mind blowing when you think about it. Birthday cards, letters, holiday greetings, Christmas gifts, and so much more are trusted to me every single day. I’m honored to serve a community like Millvale and grateful for the kindness that they show me day in and day out.”

During this pandemic, Centra said he has been inspired by how Triboro residents have supported one another and he is proud to be contributing to the sustainability of small businesses as they continue to expand “their mail order opportunities.”

James Machajewski, Assistant Chief of Millvale Volunteer Fire Department, Emergency Management Coordinator of the Borough of Millvale, Borough of Millvale Council President, Electrophysiology Nurse at UPMC Shadyside Hospital

There are two things that inspired James Machajewski’s professional and volunteer endeavors: the urge to help others and the pride he has for Millvale. He has been with the Millvale Volunteer Fire Department since 1989, a registered nurse since 1994, served as the Borough’s Emergency Management Coordinator since 2007, and he was elected to council in 2009 and has served as president since 2013.

“Knowing that I can make a difference is the most rewarding part of my jobs,” Machajewski said. “Whether it is physically helping out, providing information, or just lending an ear to listen, you know you can make a difference that can mean a lot to someone in need.”

This pandemic has sparked familiar feelings for Machajewski, similar to those felt when Millvale has gone through other difficult times.

“It may sound strange to some, but my experience in Millvale during this pandemic has once again made me feel Humbled, Honored and Proud to be a part of our town. Just like some other unfortunate events that have disrupted our normal daily lives in the past, the residents and businesses in Millvale have found ways to come together to protect and help each other in a time of need.”

Millvale Community Share Table

The Community Share Table in Millvale is a partnership between the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania’s Northern Area Clubhouse and Shaler Area School District to provide youths ages 18 and younger grab-and-go meals for breakfast and lunch. With volunteers from Northern Area Boys & Girls Club, Millvale Community Library, and Millvale Youth Dance, the table also holds free food and other items for all ages. These are the four volunteers associated with the Share Table that were nominated as Triboro Ecodistrict Essential Workers.

Roman Benty, Youth Program Director at Millvale Community Library, Millvale Youth Dance Chaperone, Celebrated Talent Show Judge

“I think it was a great way to get to know people I’d always seen around town, but never got the chance to talk to. COVID has forced us all to slow down and reexamine different practices and processes in our lives,” Benty said.

“The share table ended up being a space where folks could come together over food and share their hopes, gripes, fears, and reflections. Millvale is the kind of town where people like to talk, and we saw that in full effect. In some ways, I think people gained as much from the social interactions with neighbors and friends as they did from what was actually on the table. I will forever have a very special place in my heart for my fellow lunch ladies from the Boys & Girls Club and Millvale Youth Dance.”

Kate Davis, Program Manager at Northern Area Boys & Girls Club, Volunteer at Millvale Youth Dance, Borough Christmas Carnival and Bingo at Lloyd McBride Court

“I feel the share table was a great way to bring so many different organizations together to help out the community. I met many amazing people that I call friends now,” Davis said.

“Not only was it the [Millvale Community Library], Northern Area [Boys & Girls Club], and [Millvale] Youth Dance, but we worked with a few of the churches, borough, [Millvale Community Development Corporation], 412 Food Rescue, and many of the local establishments such as Cousins Lounge, Sprezzatura, and Jean Marc Chatellier’s.

It also gave many people a chance to meet people in the community they could go to for outreach if they need help. Sometimes it is hard to make those connections on our own.”

Sue Goetz, Branch Director at Northern Area Boys & Girls Club, Volunteer at events for Millvale Volunteer Fire Department, Millvale Music Fest, Millvale Days, and the VFW

“[The most rewarding part of my job is] how great our community comes together. They always want to help each other in times of need and are very generous. They even made sure, many times, that we were OK and offered to help volunteer if we needed them,” Goetz said.

Jenny Mendak, Director of Family and Youth Development at Millvale Community Development Corporation, Body Piercer at Three River Tattoos, Volunteer at numerous Millvale events

“I believe the share table brought the community closer in ways of allowing us to help each other and also meet [people in] the community we never met before. My experience was rewarding and sometimes I felt guilty for enjoying the Share Table, because it was a thing of [need] for people, but I always tried to make it fun, kind, and as uplifting as possible,” Mendak said.

Lucky Sign Spirits: Matt Brudnok and Christian Kahle, Professional Distillers

The satisfaction of developing new spirits and perfecting others is one of the reasons Matt Brudnok and Christians Kahle decided to build a business around their love for strong drink.

They said anytimes they’ve needed assistance during the pandemic, someone in the community has been able to lend a helping hand. In return, Brudnok and Kahle used their distillery to create sanitizer for essential workers and keep helping hands clean.

“We both realized during the beginning of the pandemic that we had the technical ability and access to make Hand Sanitizer. Even though it nearly bankrupted us we went ahead as it was more important to help those on the front line,” Kahle said.

Lucky Sign Spirits made and distributed 2,500 bottles of hand sanitizer for free to first responders throughout the region.

Etna

Carl Funtal, Retired Shaler Police Officer, Current Chief Pierogi Officer at Cop Out Pierogies

It’s his love for good Polish food, and people, that led Carl Funtal to open Cop Out Pierogies. The joy he’s able to bring his customers by providing a quality product and customer service, as well as giving back to the community, is the most rewarding part of his job.

Funtal said he, along with “many groups and individuals” that helped him with these endeavors, provide meals for Emanuel Lutheran Church and have donated a portion of Cop Out Pierogies Lenten Fish Dinners to the Etna Volunteer Fire Department and Shaler Hampton EMS. Funtal is also a board member of the Etna Economic Development Corporation (EEDC).

During this pandemic, Funtal said the support he’s received from the Etna community, including the Borough of Etna and organizations like the EEDC and Etna Community Organization “has been outstanding.”

“As well as the love and support of so many loyal customers and friends.”

Rev. Jonathan “JJ” Lynn, Pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Etna

Rev. JJ Lynn said it’s impossible for him to pick out one aspect of his work being more valuable than another, but it is clear to him that all of the work he does is “based on good relationships.”

“The gift to witness the miracle of relationships built on respect and love for one another overcome obstacles and bridge cultural divisions to empower unity; the gift to be a part of the realization of the abundance of life that is around us and see us harness our individual gifts and skills to work for the common good of the community and world; these are probably the top three aspects that bring me the most gratitude,” Rev. JJ said.

The person who nominated Rev. JJ Lynn to be honored as a Triboro Ecodistrict Essential Worker said from the very beginning, Rev. JJ jumped into action to ensure both children and adults in the community did not go hungry. He opened the doors of Emmanuel Lutheran Church to serve lunches and joined others in the Borough to assure the Bread of Life Food Pantry had enough food and volunteers.

“He made himself and Emmanuel available in whatever capacity was needed.”

Tina Olzak, Staffing Manager at Harmar Village Care Center

At the end of the day, Tina Olzak said the most rewarding part of her job is knowing that she has helped care for the residents at Harmar Village Care Center “by providing them with them with the best staff.”

Olzak was nominated as a Triboro Ecodistrict Essential Worker by someone in her community due to her 25 years in the healthcare industry and “risking her life every single day” to take care of her residents.

Sharpsburg

Scott Bailey, School Police Officer for Fox Chapel Area School District

As a fifth generation Law Enforcement Officer, police work is a family tradition for Scott Bailey. He feels an immense amount of gratification helping others and takes pride in the lessons he learns from his son’s who are both autistic, and he looks to them for inspiration on how to educate the law enforcement community about proper procedures when interacting with autistic citizens.

Throughout this pandemic, Bailey said it’s been difficult not having contact with some of the students who teachers and other administrators haven’t heard from. “But in Police work, you have to adapt, overcome and re-evaluate the situations. That is exactly what I did,” Bailey said.

Bailey has helped facilitate weekly meal distributions, connected with teachers and staff about students that need to be checked on and if they need food, technology, clothing, etc. For families with unreliable transportation, Bailey has been able to deliver what the students need to their homes and was involved in distributing laptops to students at the start of the shutdown.

“Working with the students and providing for their needs, to be a mentor and be there to listen without judgment, and to just be that friendly face that any student can depend and count on. To make all students feel safe while obtaining a quality education, these are the most rewarding parts of my job.”

Lauren Broyles, Second Harvest Board Member + Representative to the Triboro Ecodistrict Advisory Council, Roots of Faith, Market Garden, and S. Vincent de Paul Volunteer, Professional Grant Consultant

To allow her more time and energy to get involved within the community, Lauren Broyles made some lifestyle changes several years ago that have enabled her to bridge her hobbies with her professional life. Then in 2019, her “doorway into Sharpsburg” opened when Bonnie DeMotte, executive director of Second Harvest, “reached out looking for folks to help with a new thrift store.”

“The most rewarding aspects of volunteering in Sharpsburg have been making new friendships and the opportunity to connect with other people around growing new things — food, gardens, programs, and a new store and community asset in Second Harvest.”

The time she has spent volunteering during the pandemic has led her to find innovative ways to engage with the community, like her work coordinating the Bloom Where You Are Planted container garden program, which gave Triboro residents a tomato or strawberry plant, soil, and five-gallon bucket to grow their own food over the summer.

“My experience has overwhelmingly been watching people stepping up to the plate, and finding practical and creative ways to help and connect during the economic stresses and isolation,” Broyles said.

Bonnie Demott, President and Executive Director of Second Harvest

Bonnie DeMotte said from its inception, Second Harvest’s desire was to make an impact on the community. Therefore, when the shutdown began, it was inevitable that the organization would step in to meet the needs of the borough.

“When we saw that the pandemic was greatly exacerbating the existing food insecurity problem, the Board agreed that we should help in any way that we could. We partnered with Roots of Faith, Fox Families Care, Backpacks For Hunger and The Sharpsburg Neighborhood organization to deliver bags of groceries to seniors and other vulnerable populations within our community. We also created the Dinners For Friends program to support local restaurants and residents with prepared dinners for pick up. Overall, we distributed over $120,000 worth of groceries, and close to $30,000 to local restaurants.”

The gratitude expressed by the people served through these programs has been heartwarming for DeMotte, and she has been grateful for the volunteers that “come out religiously for months every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday” to transport groceries from Butler to Sharpsburg, pack, and deliver the food. She is also thankful for the donations Second Harvest received to support their pandemic work.

“The way everyone rallied in their own way to make sure our neighbors were fed was truly moving. It was a privilege to be a part of it.”

Father Michael Decowicz, Senior Parochial Vicar of the Lower Allegheny Valley parish grouping and Director of Addiction Recovery Ministry in Pittsburgh

For 41 years, Father Michael has been a Catholic priest, a profession he was inspired to pursue unsurprisingly by his faith, but also his commitment to serving others.

To bring comfort to individuals during the pandemic, he has been posting weekly video presentations on Facebook and on the Addiction Recovery Ministry Pittsburgh website that cover a variety of topics “to help those in need during this time of isolation” and “to those struggling with the disease of addiction.”

“I have discovered once again a real sense of neighborhood and community in Sharpsburg that makes this town a very special place,” Father Michael said. “Walking through Sharpsburg, I have been able to talk with the wonderful people that live here and hopefully have been a source of comfort and hope.”

Rosemarie Haas, Administrative Assistant for Saint Juan Diego Parish of the Lower Allegheny Valley parish grouping and for the Addiction Recovery Ministry

Rosemarie Haas has lived in Sharpsburg all her life, and she considers it “an honor and a privilege” to help those within her community. Whether it be the smiles, tears, or words of thanks from those she assists, she said it fills her “heart with joy.”

When Haas saw how individuals and families were impacted by the pandemic, especially by food insecurity, she knew that she had to step in and help in some way.

“I saw people in Sharpsburg and throughout our nation lining up to receive free food, and after our food pantry donated all they had, I knew I had to help restock their shelves,” Haas said. “Since I am a little familiar with social media, I thought reaching out and asking for donations of food and money was a small way to help restock the shelves. I am so grateful to all those who responded so generously with their donations.”

Douglas Lane, Electrician, Volunteer Firefighter for the Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Department

Douglas Lane’s grandfather was a firefighter and president of the Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Department from the 1950s to the 1980s. A few years ago, Lane said his brother Dennis joined the department and he decided to follow suit.

“Being a part of the solution to any problems that arise [is the most rewarding part of volunteering],” Lane said. “I’ve volunteered in the past in a few capacities for a few different Sharpsburg organizations. I like helping people and serving the community.

Since the pandemic began, Lane said there have been a lot of new regulations that keep first responder safe, which he has been following closely to keep himself, his family, and his community safe from spreading the virus.

Lane said it’s been difficult to see Sharpsburg businesses closing their doors due to the pandemic, but he knows it’s a temporary setback.

“The Borough has shown strong leadership and I’m proud to be able to continue to serve the community despite everything.”

Kathleen Stanley, Director of Outreach at Faith United Methodist Church/Roots of Faith

Kathleen Stanley said Sharpsburg feels like her second home and getting to know the people and their stories, anad be part of the great things happening in the borough, is part of what keeps her coming back day after day.

“It sounds silly, but I get great joy when I’m out in the community and someone recognizes me and they say, ‘Hey Kathleen, how are ya, how’s the kids?” It makes me feel like part of the community.”

When asked about her experience working in Sharpsburg during the pandemic, community was also the first word that came to her mind.

“People from all walks of life pulled together to help each other, no one cared about race, ethnicity, religion, social status, or our economic differences. For a brief moment in time, we were all united, we each brought our unique gifts to the project and we got it done.”

Stanley said Roots of Faith created a project called “Sharing the Harvest” where they and about 30 volunteers gathered, cleaned, packaged and delivered or handed out almost 500 bags of groceries every week for three months. Roots of Faith also kept its social services open to assist people with paying utilities, filing for unemployment, connecting to medical professionals, and provided COVID-19 resources.

New Sun Rising, RiverWise announce financial support for artists to visually explore COVID-19 impacts

Posted on July 1, 2020 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Pittsburgh, PA — Exploring COVID Impacts Through Visual Art is a program that will provide $2,500 of direct financial support for artists (up to 6 nonprofits, individuals, or small businesses) to create visual art reflecting the impact of COVID-19 on their community.

Interested applicants must complete an initial application by July 3, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Applications received by the deadline will be notified of their status within one week.

Successful applicants will receive funds and technical assistance to support their project and must agree to the following conditions, which can be found here. If selected to participate in the program, artists must complete their artwork by July 24, 2020.

“Artists’ work often moves people to reflection, hope, and action. We are not merely viewing art, we are experiencing it. Like most of the workforce, creative’s livelihoods have been affected drastically. Our program hopes to provide some relief to the current pandemic and come together as a community,” said Dan Stiker, Director of Operations for New Sun Rising.

Nonprofits, individuals, and businesses in Allegheny and Beaver County are all eligible to apply. Applications to the Fund are to be completed online at this link or, if technology creates a barrier, through an application interview scheduled by emailing vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org.

All applicants will be vetted by a diverse Fund Committee, composed of New Sun Rising, RiverWise, and community representatives, following the established Selection Criteria, which can be found here.

“There is a growing spirit of cooperation taking place between Beaver County and Allegheny County,” explains Daniel Rossi-Keen, Executive Director of RiverWise. “We are increasingly realizing that our experiences and opportunities are very similar. And, more than ever, COVID-19 reminds us that we’re all in this together. So, we’re excited to see that reflected in art from around the region.”

The program is a partnership between New Sun Rising and RiverWise, supported by The Pittsburgh Foundation’s Emergency Action Fund.

Contact

Dan Stiker, Director of Operations, New Sun Rising
dan@newsunrising.org

Daniel Rossi-Keen, Executive Director, RiverWise
danielkeen@hotmail.com

About New Sun Rising

About RiverWise

Justice, Race, and Responsibility

Posted on June 24, 2020 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Above: Photo from the NEXTpittsburgh article, “More than 30 Pittsburgh environmental groups stand behind this statement on justice, race, and responsibility,” published on June 18, 2020.

During the COVID-19 crisis, the people of southwestern Pennsylvania have learned much about who we are, who we want to be, and the need for unity and leadership in the face of loss and uncertainty. The pandemic continues to cause great change, even as we navigate what it means to reopen. Recent events in Minneapolis and across the nation are reinforcing the critical need to intentionally address racism and develop systems that work for everyone.

This turbulent time presents a unique opportunity to rebuild a stronger, more resilient region together. A responsible recovery from COVID-19 and from our legacy of racism begins with addressing the essential challenges before us and planning our best next steps. Now is the time to build a society that is truly founded upon justice for all, and comes from understanding and respecting the interconnectedness of all people, our health, our environment, and our prosperity.

Tragedy has caused the nation to focus on rectifying discrimination in the criminal justice system that unfairly targets Black and Brown America. This type of discrimination is not the only evidence of structural racism in our society. We must acknowledge that racial justice is interwoven through all conversations, including those about health and the environment. For example, as we have seen from CDC data, COVID-19 is widening existing racial gaps in health equity. Similarly, vulnerable populations are disproportionately impacted by pollution. A responsible path forward, and likewise, a responsible recovery, takes information like this into account, and makes sure that workplace and governmental policies support, not hinder, our ability to be healthy and to fix our systems and communities so they are fair for everyone. Our organizations stand aligned with all who are committed to building on this moment of anguish toward a just future.

A responsible path forward intentionally strengthens the resilience of our natural world and ensures a healthier region, including clean air, clean water, access to outdoor green spaces, and a stable climate—for all. Reductions in carbon emissions and increases in clean energy usage will help curb the increasing extreme weather impacts already being experienced in Pittsburgh, like flooding and poor air quality—also disproportionately felt.

A responsible path forward means, too, an investment in a sustainable, equitable economic future. Responsible stimulus investments in infrastructure, transportation, food systems, energy, etc. are tools to simultaneously advance our well-being, environmental performance and economic prosperity. Clean energy jobs are an important driver of regional job growth of which we should take full advantage. However, to realize this promise, it is required that we remove barriers and be deliberate about an effort to ensure that Black and Brown residents, and others who have been excluded from full participation in the economy, are included.

Our organizations will use the wealth of knowledge and the resources we have to make connections, listen to community voices and priorities, and help create a responsible recovery from COVID-19 and from the terror of racism. This is a critical moment for the region, one where our moral path forward and practical measures for rebuilding align. As organizations dedicated to promoting the conservation of this region’s natural assets and protecting the future of the people living in it, we urge other leaders in the region to be proactive in their planning. We have the tools to meet the challenges before us. Together, we will rebuild a more resilient, even greater Pittsburgh region, for all.

Signed by:

Allegheny CleanWays, Myrna Newman, Executive Director

Allegheny Land Trust, Chris Beichner, President & CEO

Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, Jim Bonner, Executive Director

BikePGH, Scott Bricker, Executive Director

Breathe Project, Matthew Mehalik, Executive Director

Center of Life, Tim Smith, Executive Director

Communitopia, Katie Modic, Executive Director

Conservation Consultants, Inc., Jeaneen A. Zappa, Executive Director

Construction Junction, Mike Gable, Executive Director

Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, Emily A. Collins, Executive Director and Managing Attorney

Friends of the Riverfront, Kelsey Ripper, Executive Director

Group Against Smog and Pollution, Rachel Filippini, Executive Director

Green Building Alliance, Jenna Cramer, Executive Director

Grounded Strategies, Ariam Ford-Graver, Executive Director

Grow Pittsburgh, Jake Seltman, Executive Director

Homewood Children’s Village, Walter Lewis, President & CEO

Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance, Matt Elliott, Executive Director

Landforce, Ilyssa Manspeizer, Executive Director

New Sun Rising, Scott Wolovich, Executive Director

Nine Mile Run Watershed Association, Brenda Lynn Smith, Executive Director

PennFuture, Jacquelyn Bonomo, President and CEO

Pennsylvania Resources Council, Justin Stockdale, Managing Director

Pennsylvania Solar Center, Sharon (Pillar) Grace, Founder and Director

Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, Richard V. Piacentini, President and CEO

Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Catherine Qureshi, Acting Chief Operating Officer

Plant Five for Life, Christine Graziano, President

Riverlife, Matthew Galluzzo, President & CEO

RiverWise, Daniel Rossi-Keen, Executive Director

Student Conservation Association, Jennifer Meccariello Layman, Regional Vice President

Sustainable Pittsburgh, Joylette Portlock, Executive Director

The Forbes Funds, Fred Brown, President and CEO

Tree Pittsburgh, Danielle Crumrine, Executive Director

Triboro Ecodistrict, Brian Wolovich, Director

UrbanKind Institute, Jamil Bey, President

Venture Outdoors, Valerie Beichner, President & CEO

Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Thomas D. Saunders, President and CEO

Women for a Healthy Environment, Michelle Naccarati- Chapkis, Executive Director

Millvale Ecodistrict Achieves Nationally Recognized EcoDistricts™ Certification, Second in the World

Posted on May 27, 2020 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

A catalyst for the region and a role model for the world

Pittsburgh, PA — The Millvale Ecodistrict has been recognized with EcoDistricts Certification, joining the neighboring Etna EcoDistrict to become the second community in the world to attain this certification. To be eligible for EcoDistricts Certification, communities must fulfill the rigorous requirements outlined in the EcoDistricts Protocol, a framework to guide neighborhood development that prioritizes Climate Protection, Resilience, and Equity.

The Protocol and Certification are administered by a Portland, Oregon based nonprofit organization called EcoDistricts. Certified communities must commit to Equity, Resilience, and Climate Protection at the heart of every decision; form collaborative governance; create an implementation roadmap to guide projects and programs; and track and measure impact over time.

The Millvale Ecodistrict was established in 2012 to improve quality of life for residents while reducing the community’s environmental impact. Community leaders and multiple community based organizations came together to research and better understand how to create positive growth after decades of economic and environmental hardship. This led to the creation of the Millvale Ecodistrict Collaborative, consisting of the Borough of Millvale, the Millvale Community Development Corporation, the Millvale Community Library, and New Sun Rising. Together, these four organizations, alongside other local and regional partners work to implement the vision that was created through extensive community feedback.

“Millvale was an early pioneer in the concept of ecodistricts with support from evolveEA. Since 2012, Millvale has been committed to triple bottom line development, prioritizing economy, environment and equity. This certification is an international level validation of what community leaders had already seen as Millvale’s opportunity to grow into the 21st Century and beyond.” — Zaheen Hussain, Millvale Sustainability Coordinator, New Sun Rising Director of Sustainability

“Working with the Ecodistrict Collaborative over the past 8 years has been a fulfilling experience. The organized collaboration has been invaluable in advancing the Ecodistrict program throughout Millvale. Together we have created projects, acquired funding, and created excitement around community involvement. We look forward to eight more years of collaboration and community growth.” — Eddie Figas, Millvale Borough Manager

“Millvale has always been a resilient community, priding itself on partnerships within the Borough to meet its residents’ needs. Millvale’s EcoDistrict Declaration of Collaboration and Roadmap lay out a framework on continuing these efforts while equitably focusing on projects and programming related to Water, Food, Energy, Air Quality, and Mobility. These focus areas were identified not only by community leaders but also by the folks who live, work and play here, attesting to the fact that the Borough of Millvale is ready for the next level collaborations being a Certified EcoDistrict will bring.” — Melissa Mason, Millvale Community Library President

“As an owner of a Funeral Home that is trying to raise awareness of Green Burial, I am delighted to be a part of a community of like minded individuals who are striving to leave the place we call home a little better than we found it. As President of the MCDC, we are proud to be a pillar organization, along with the Borough, New Sun Rising, and the Millvale Library. It is proof that when we work together for the greater good everyone benefits from it.” — Jaime Hahn, Millvale Community Development Corporation President

evolveEA has enjoyed being a partner of the Millvale Ecodistrict from the beginning, including creating the Millvale Pivot 1.0 Ecodistrict Plan, Millvale Pivot 2.0 Ecodistrict Plan, and Breathe Easy plans, as well as being involved in the design and implementation of many projects. The EcoDistricts Certification effort was led by Millvale Sustainability Coordinator Zaheen Hussain and was supported by evolveEA. The nationally acclaimed Millvale Pivot 2.0 Ecodistrict Plan laid the foundation for the Ecodistrict Roadmap, and was updated to include specific 2030 indicators in 20 priority areas, a baseline energy performance assessment, and the carbon impact of various strategies proposed in the Millvale Pivot 2.0 Ecodistrict Plan, which outlines a path to carbon neutrality by the year 2050.

“Millvale leaders have created a stronger and more resilient community through ecodistrict planning and many people have contributed to this well-deserved recognition. We’ve enjoyed working with the Millvale team, advancing their community vision and ecodistrict practices across the country.” — Christine Mondor, evolveEA Principal

The Millvale Ecodistrict focuses their planning and strategic action on six quality of life issue areas, a regional ecodistricts approach that was co-created with evolveEA. This approach has now been adopted by their partners in the Triboro Ecodistrict, an initiative that was established in 2016 to share knowledge and resources, and scale up their impact. With Etna and Millvale becoming the first two certified EcoDistricts in the world, Sharpsburg is now working to become the third.

“I admire the Millvale Ecodistrict for establishing ambitious environmental goals while always striving to become a more equitable community. From planning, to project implementation, to certification, it has been a pleasure to join them for the journey to make their ambitions a reality.” — Anna Rosenblum, evolveEA Associate

The Millvale Ecodistrict Collaborative consists of four founding members: the Borough of Millvale, Millvale Community Development Corporation, Millvale Community Library, and New Sun Rising. The partners have committed to meet regularly, coordinate activities, and share resources to achieve the goals set forth in the Millvale Pivot Plan 2.0 Ecodistrict Plan. Funding for the Millvale Ecodistrict is provided through the Triboro Ecodistrict grant by the Henry L. Hillman Foundation.

###

Contact

Daniel Klein
Senior Communications Designer, evolveEA
daniel@evolveea.com
(412) 362-2100

Zaheen Hussain
Director of Sustainability, New Sun Rising
zaheen@newsunrising.org

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.

New Sun Rising (NSR) 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.

Creating food equity through action in the Triboro Ecodistrict

Posted on May 1, 2020 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

The Triboro Ecodistrict has had its fair share of challenges in its mission to increase sustainable community development; with six shared lenses of promoting equity, food, water, energy, air quality, and mobility, the initiative has made significant strides improving Millvale, Etna, and Sharpsburg’s quality of life.

But the COVID-19 crisis has brought new, and amplified existing, difficulties for the three boroughs, the foremost of each being access to food. Therefore, these communities are leveraging years of collaboration to create equity through action.

When Pennsylvania’s first shelter-at-home order was put into place by Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine on March 23, seven counties, including Allegheny, were forced to close nonessential businesses. All 67 counties were under the order by April 1.

In the last five weeks, 1.5 million Pennsylvanians have filed for unemployment.

Physical distancing is the only proven way to slow the spread of COVID-19 and “decrease the anticipated spike,” which would overwhelm hospitals and significantly weaken healthcare workers ability to provide adequate medical care to individuals, according to the American Medical Association.

Sheltering at home is saving lives, but an afflictive side effect for nonessential workers is that most are not receiving steady income.

“A lot of people will say to me, ‘My neighbor just lost their job,’ and I tell them to come up to the food bank. They don’t need to be registered with us right now. Just come in and we will feed you, that’s what we’re here for,” said Alexis Weber, Pantry Manager at Bread of Life Food Pantry in Etna.

Weber said during a regular month the food pantry will serve 105 families. During April they served 134 including 37 new families. In an effort to reduce exposure, grocery items are prepackaged and brought out to the car. Each box is assembled with the intention to create a well rounded selection for families including canned food but also fresh fruits, eggs, meats and cheeses.

The Boys & Girls Club in Millvale has been catering to a younger audience and has a bit of a different set up for individuals, but Youth Development Coordinator Kate Davis said it is working out well.

Seven days a week from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. the Boys & Girls Club has a share table setup with groceries and other items that anyone in need can take, and breakfast and lunch grab bags are available for any child under 18.

“Shaler [Area School District] has been bringing 125 meals a day and all of them are being taken,” Davis said. ‘These lunch ladies [making these meals] don’t get credit because they’re not in the public eye, but they are amazing.”

The Boys & Girls Club have received donations for local businesses regularly in the past, and some have been able to give more in recent weeks, like Sprezzatura, Jean-Marc’s Bakery, and 412 Food Rescue. Davis said those donations are added to the share table or the kids meal bags.

“Businesses have been reaching out every few days to check in,” Davis said. “Millvale is a very strong community, and you notice that from all of the floods and how it just seems to come together [in a time of need].”

Bonnie DeMotte, Executive Director of Second Harvest in Sharpsburg, said the strength of the Triboro communities, individually and together, has been a silver lining during the response to the pandemic.

“Before this, I don’t think all the different leaders of these groups knew each other as well and certainly we are now all more aware of each [organization].” DeMotte said. “Now we can really help each other in these unprecedented times.”

DeMotte has partnered with Roots of Faith Director Kathleen Stanley to assist in food distribution to those in need and it is the only site currently in the borough. The extension of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in Sharpsburg is connected to St. Vincent DePaul, which is part of the Catholic Diocese and closed indefinitely due to COVID-19.

Second Harvest and Roots of Faith are also working with Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization Executive Director Brittany Reno who has been writing grant applications in order to get more resources to the program.

Every week, DeMotte said they have been providing over 100 bags of food for individuals who are able attend the walk up distribution. They have also been delivering 300 bags to seniors and at-risk residents, as have Bread of Life Food Pantry and the Boys & Girls Club.

“It’s people helping people, you know?” said Weber. “You just don’t know how strong and caring you are until you get in a crisis like this and everyone comes out. It’s like both sides of the coin. The people who can give, give. The people who need to receive, receive.”

“We’re all praying for this virus to be over, but it’s going to be a long haul.”

Each organization is in need of food or monetary donations to keep up with demand. If you are able, please send checks or drop off donations to the locations below. If you are in need of food, there are resources below for meal distribution dates. If you are in immediate need of food, please call Alexis Weber at (412) 721-3343.

Bread of Life Food Pantry in Etna

Food donations:

Monday’s from 2-4 p.m.
Wednesday’s from 6-8 p.m.
Friday’s from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

All Saints Activities Building
Church Alley between Wilson Street and Dewey Street
Follow Dewey St from Grant Ave, making a right on Wendlin Street, a Right on Wilson Street, and a Right on Church Alley.

Monetary donations:

94 Locust St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15223

Boys & Girls Club in Millvale

Food and monetary donations:

100 Howard St.
Millvale, PA 15209

Second Harvest + Roots of Faith in Sharpsburg

Food donations:

(Anytime)
101 Cabin Lane
Pittsburgh, PA 15215

(Wednesday’s only from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.)
800 Main St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15215

Monetary donations:

800 Main St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15215

Christ Lutheran Church in Millvale

Monetary:

Online or sent to 917 Evergreen Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15209

North Hill Community Outreach

Food donations:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
1975 Ferguson Road, Allison Park, PA 15101

Monetary donations:

Online or call Lin Kostura at (412) 487-6316, opt. 1 x 3131

Resources for residents in need:

Dinners for Neighbors

Wednesday
5-6 p.m.
Fugh Hall
27 Crescent Ave.
Etna, PA 15223

Dinners for Friends

Tuesday
5:30-6:30 p.m.
Blawnox Fire Department
376 Freeport Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15238

Wednesday
5:30-6:30 p.m.
The Sharpsburg Family Worship Center
200 8th St., Sharpsburg, PA 15215

Bread of Life Food Pantry Etna

Wednesday, May 13
10 a.m.- 12 p.m.

Wednesday, May 20
1-3 p.m.

Wednesday, May 27
6-8 p.m.

94 Locust St. Etna, PA 15223

Boys & Girls Club

Meals for children under 18

Share table with groceries and other items for anyone in need

Monday-Sunday
11 a.m.-1 p.m.

100 Howard St. Millvale, PA 15209

Second Harvest & Roots of Faith

Every Wednesday
Delivery to seniors and at-risk residents (email kathleen.stanley@faithfoxchapel.org)

Every Thursday
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
800 Main St. Pittsburgh, PA 15215

Christ Lutheran Church

917 Evergreen Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15209
Call 412-821-4300 or email Christlutheran917@gmail.com for mask and food distribution information

North Hill Community Outreach

Wednesday, May 20
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
416 Lincoln Ave. Millvale, PA 15209
(Serves the 15209 zip code)

Celebrating Earth Day’s 50th solar return

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Above: Millvale neighbors work together in the community garden.

By Zaheen Hussain, Director of Sustainability

The first Earth Day was celebrated 50 years ago today. With COVID-19, I think we can all agree that this is perhaps one of the strangest Earth Weeks in the all the years we have observed this occasion.

Many of us with the privilege of being able to telework are settling into our routine after a month. Many of us who cannot work at home are counting our blessings and heading into our workplace in protective clothing, knowing we must fulfil our roles as essential workers with full courage on display. Then there are many of us who neither have the privilege of telework nor the status of essential worker, and with very limited aid, are struggling to make ends meet and are reliant on the goodwill of our neighbors to be able to put food in our bellies. Times are tough and Earth Day is the last thing on many of our minds.

While it feels like the fabric of our global society is being stretched to its furthest limits and the impact of this virus leaves a sense of walls closing in around us, fear not, for there are lessons to learn from the rock we call Earth, our home.

The biggest lesson the Earth can teach us in this moment is resilience. Okay, okay, I know, for those of us in the sustainability field, resilience carries an air of cliché. This next part gets a little dense, but bear with me.

*The solar panels on top of the Millvale Community Center.*

It is irrefutable that in the past ~200 years of our ~300,000 year existence, humans have created a shocking amount of environmental damage. We have left behind the Holocene, the epoch in which we developed as a species, and have entered a whole new epoch, the Anthropocene, characterized by both anthropogenic climate change as well as the geomorphological traces we will leave behind alongside our fossil record (roads, skyscrapers, mines, houses, you get the picture).

Despite this, scientists can say with confidence that human impact pales in comparison to the experiences our planet touts on its resumé. Earth has been a ball of fire. Earth has been a ball of ice. There have been extinction level volcanic explosions. There have been extinction level asteroids. Earth may have even been crashed into by another planet, the satellite remnants of which we can still see every day, lovingly calling it Moon.

All this to say, every time the earth has been knocked down, it has gotten back up, bold and beautiful, steadfast in its journey around the Sun and the Universe. It takes its punches, recalibrates and keeps moving, often in an existence that shares little resemblance to its prior state.

On this historic Golden Jubilee Earth Day, we can all learn from Earth’s lesson on resilience. When it feels like all the world’s weight is on our shoulders; when it feels like a cosmic body is smashing through our lives like a bull in a china shop, remember that we are all interconnected as a part of this world and we all share the spirit of resilience, baked into our existence.

Earth Day, after all, is more about us than it is about Earth. It’s about making sure that we respect and contribute to the balance of our ecosystems, not just because it’s “good for our planet,” but because if we don’t, we will work ourselves out of the environment in which we came to be, no longer able to survive as a species.

In that same spirit, let’s continue to be there for each other in our time of need, because our individual resilience is woven into the fabric of our societal resilience. When one of us falls, we all fall a little bit. When we lift up those around us, we all rise a little bit.

Donate to your local food pantry if you can. Volunteer from physical distance if you can. If you have a friend or neighbor in need, check in on them; see if there is something you can do to help them move through the storm. Make some masks if you can. Share some good news when you find it. Most importantly, take care of yourself. Go for a walk. Cook a delicious meal. Take a breath of fresh air (at least six feet away from a stranger though). Enjoy a hike in a nearby park. Go stargazing — with everyone driving less and there being less smog, the stars are brighter than ever! Ultimately, here’s to you, our resilient neighbor!

From the New Sun Ring team, we wish you all a great Earth Day today and every day!

New Sun Rising announces 2020 Vibrancy Awardees

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

This year, New Sun Rising’s (NSR) Vibrancy Awards will honor Brown Mamas, Triboro Ecodistrict, and South Hilltop Men’s Group/Hilltop Rising LLC for cultivating Culture, Sustainability, and Opportunity in their communities.

Each will receive $5,000 in unrestricted funds to be used to support their continual work and create stability within their communities as they cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our administrators are brainstorming some ways to help Black mothers in the wake of COVID-19. Right now, we’d really like to focus on first responders and moms who’ve lost employment,” said Muffy Mendoza, Executive Director for Brown Mamas.

Honorees were selected from a list of nominees by a committee of NSR staff and board. Having begun in 2019, the awards support the exceptional work of organizations evaluated by the criteria of New Sun Rising’s Vibrant Communities strategies. This year’s awardees were also chosen based upon their history of meeting critical needs of vulnerable populations.

“The three awardees are nothing short of community heroes. They fearlessly take on risk and put in the work, time and ingenuity to inspire lives and places that have faced marginalization. By relating their own lived experience and talents to their respective causes, they are champions and leaders of their communities that will have a lasting impact,” said Katie Grimm, Board of Directors Vice Chair of New Sun Rising.

Last year, over 170 nonprofit and small business leaders benefited through the capacity building support of NSR’s Ignite workshops, Launch incubators, and Grow residency programs. NSR also made $1.9 million of critical, early stage funding more accessible through fiscal sponsorship, grant, loan, and award programs.

Recently, NSR provided up to $5,000 to 24 small businesses and nonprofits that demonstrated critical economic needs due to COVID-19 through the Crisis Mitigation Relief Fund, thanks to $100,000 in seed funding from the Hillman Foundation.

Due to social distancing precautions, NSR is evaluating options for the annual celebration and fundraiser, which was originally scheduled for the summer solstice on June 20 this year. The 2020 Vibrancy Awards are made possible through the support of our Impact Award Sponsors: UPMC Center for Engagement and Inclusion, BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern PA, and Jack Buncher Foundation.

About New Sun Rising

About Brown Mamas

Brown Mamas is a brand, a blog and a community that reaches over 5,000 women in the Pittsburgh region and more than 10,000 women nationally. It was created by Muffy Mendoza in 2012 to provide positive socialization opportunities to Black mothers and connect moms with resources and information that helps them raise happy, healthy adults.

About Triboro Ecodistrict

A partnership between New Sun Rising, Etna Economic Development Corporation, and Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization, the Triboro Ecodistrict promotes coordinated sustainable community development throughout the Boroughs of Millvale, Etna and Sharpsburg. With over 10,000 residents combined, these Allegheny River Towns are building on a strong collaborative history to promote sustainable community development through the shared lenses of: Equity, Food, Water, Energy, Air Quality, and Mobility.

About South Hilltop Men’s Group/Hilltop Rising LLC

The South Hilltop Men’s Group is a non-profit project of New Sun Rising, directed by Beltzhoover native Jmar Bey. The organization was founded in 2015 by Jmar and Christian Nowlin. They provide job training, employment opportunities and promote environmental protection through community programs that teach sustainable practices. Since 2015, the South Hilltop Men’s Group has been working to support the responsible and inclusive revitalization of Pittsburgh. The organization’s mission statement is, “Creating hope and opportunity for those who have little.”