Author: Alyse Horn

Nonprofits ‘launch’ incubator program for local environmental-focused community projects

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Above: A Reforest Our Future tree planting at Brady’s Run Park. Photo by Rustbelt Mayberry Photography. 

New Sun Rising and RiverWise select 12 local projects for ‘Launch EJ Incubator’ cohort to support community, environment, and equity

 

SOUTHWESTERN, PA — Communities are rich with individuals who have ideas that can transform their environment, but there is a need for more spaces that support these community visionaries to cultivate their ideas into reality. 

That’s where the Launch Environmental Justice (EJ) Incubator comes in.   

Together, New Sun Rising and RiverWise sought out community projects across Allegheny and Beaver Counties that prioritize equity, energy, mobility, water, food, and air quality. Through this process, 12 projects were selected to join the Launch EJ Incubator, which will kick-off the six-month cohort on Thursday, August 22. 

“Launch EJ utilizes time-tested development phases created by New Sun RIsing’s Vibrant Communities Framework, which helps project leaders Ignite, Launch, and Grow their impact. The goal of this new initiative, in collaboration with RiverWise, is to use the existing model and apply an environmental justice lens,” said Tyler Schaub, Environmental Justice Project Manager for New Sun Rising and RiverWise.

The cohort will meet monthly and include workshops, educational speakers, and one-on-one technical assistance. The projects include: 

“Accessibility matters because it breathes life into the promise of belonging. It tears down walls, allowing every soul to contribute their light, weaving a tapestry where every thread is seen and valued. When barriers fall, a more profound, inclusive world emerges, where every spirit can rise and flourish,” said Tacumba Turner, Environmental Justice Community Coordinator for RiverWise and New Sun Rising.

The Incubator program supports the development, fundraising, and implementation of projects that exist within a federally-designated environmental justice census tract in Allegheny and Beaver Counties. These “EJ” areas are neighborhoods that have experienced historic disinvestment and have been impacted by past and present environmental harm. For a map of EJ census tracts and underlying conditions, visit the Vibrancy Portal.

To help fight against generational marginalization experienced by these communities, the Biden-Harris Administration created the Justice 40 initiative, which commits 40% of the benefits of nearly $2 trillion of certain federal investments — such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) — to flow into these “EJ” communities. 

In response, New Sun Rising and RiverWise co-created the Justice 40 Opportunity Navigator, which houses the Launch EJ Incubator, to increase the accessibility of these historic funds. This incubator builds upon the Ignite EJ Workshops held this past May.

New Sun Rising ​​collaborates with communities to build capacity, access funding, and embrace data-informed approaches towards their own vibrant future. For more information, visit https://www.newsunrising.org/. 

RiverWise organizes community power and voice so that residents of Beaver County can exercise greater agency over the future of their communities. For more information, visit https://www.getriverwise.com/. 

Community leaders supported to combat environmental injustice, improving health and climate resilience

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Above: Participants from the Ignite Environmental Justice Workshop – Monongahela Valley at Clairton Family Center on May 30. Photo by Rustbelt Mayberry Photography.

Aimed to educate and support community project leaders, the Ignite Environmental Justice Workshops concluded in May with over 30 participants attending the three workshops.

Strategically located in the Allegheny, Ohio, and Monongahela River Valleys, New Sun Rising and RiverWise hosted these events to help Environmental Justice (EJ) projects become better informed on how to develop and communicate their plans, and prepare to access federal Justice 40 grants. 

“I think the more education, the more people, the more language we put [into] it, the more tangible it starts to become,” said Amber Thompson, Ignite EJ – Allegheny Valley participant.

Environmental Justice communities are places that have experienced generational disinvestment – often alongside the consequences of polluting and extracting industries. The Justice 40 initiative is a historic commitment by the Federal government stating that 40 percent of the overall benefits of almost $2 trillion in certain federal investments, such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), flow into these communities. Improving climate resilience and health through projects that address energy, water, air, mobility, food, and economic opportunity are core to the initiative. 

Marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution, the federally designated EJ areas in Greater Pittsburgh have experienced the consequences of environmental injustice affecting nearly every aspect of their quality of life.

In Allegheny and Beaver Counties, there are 94 EJ census tracts that represent 233,852 residents and 16.8% of the total population. These residents, including a higher percentage of minority, racial and ethnic groups such as Black or African American, Asian, Hispanic or Latino, and Native American, face disproportionate economic and environmental challenges solely due to their location. Although minority groups represent 18% of the overall population in Allegheny and Beaver Counties, they make up 38% of the population residing in EJ communities. 

How are people living in EJ communities affected by their surroundings compared to Allegheny and Beaver Counties? 

 

Residents are less likely to own homes, but housing is more affordable.

Percentage of homeownership rates
—EJ Communities: 46.7%
—Allegheny & Beaver Counties: 63.8%

Percentage of housing affordability
—EJ Communities: 41.4%
—Allegheny & Beaver Counties: 34.7%

 

Public transportation is more accessible.

Percentage of access to public transit
—EJ Communities: 20%
—Allegheny & Beaver Counties: 11.7%

 

Adults are less likely to complete high school.

Percentage of adults who did not complete high school or the equivalency
—EJ Communities: 23.7%
—Allegheny & Beaver Counties: 17%

 

Adolescent birth rates are higher.

Percentage of adolescent girls between 15-19 years old who have given birth
—EJ Communities: 16%
—Allegheny & Beaver Counties: 4.9%

 

More women live below the poverty line, but the median earnings gap between men and women is smaller.

Percentage of women living below the poverty line
—EJ Communities: 27%
—Allegheny & Beaver Counties: 14%

Median earnings gap between men and women
—EJ Communities: -$5,722
—Allegheny & Beaver Counties: -$14,067

Source: Vibrancy Portal

The sources and history of environmental injustice in our region, possibly more than any in the nation, are deeply rooted in the United States’ industrial past. Through fossil fuel extraction and carbon-intensive practices, particularly in coal mining and steel production, the Greater Pittsburgh region became a world-renowned industrial hub. The result: extreme levels of air and water pollution. 

While strides have been made to improve the environment, the region still faces air quality challenges. In Beaver County, the ongoing industrial activities of the Shell Polymers Monaca plant continue to contribute to air and water pollution. The Shell plant, which opened in the fall of 2022, has faced 13 notices of violations and at least 26 malfunctions within a year. 

In Allegheny County, U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson Works has a decades-long history of clean air violations. Based on Toxic Release Inventory data, air pollution from the plant included 36,100 pounds of ammonia, 3,500 pounds of manganese, and more than 300 pounds of other toxic substances in 2016 alone. The ongoing contamination has led to various health problems for residents, including respiratory issues and increased cancer risks. 

General Sisters, a community and artist collective in North Braddock, can see the Edgar Thomson Plant from their building. Ginger Brooks Takahashi of General Sisters said in 2015, the threat of hydraulic fracturing came to their neighborhood and alongside community members they “fought and resisted the placement of well pads” in the land above their building.

“Through this fight, we learned more about the existing air quality in our neighborhood. This led us to work with Create Lab to host the Breathe Cam on our roof that monitors emissions of Edgar Thomson Works,” Takashi said. “The Breathe Cam provides 24-hour video monitoring of air pollution from multiple industrial sources in the Monongahela Valley and the larger region.” 

On May 30 at the Clairton Family Center, Takashi participated in the Ignite EJ Workshop and optional pitch competition where she won first place for her project General Sisters Environmental Study Center. The larger goal for the building is “to provide a space where we can gather with our neighbors and continue work… to advocate for our health in relationship to the legacy polluter in our neighborhood.”

The pitch winners for the Allegheny and Ohio Valley workshops, Ebony Evans of Out of the End Incorporated, and David Slebodnik and Tami Gilbert of Aliquippa Food Cooperative, focused on increased food access in their communities. 

In Allegheny County, 11.4% of residents face food insecurity, with the cost of a meal at $4.63, which is 14% above the state average and 16% above the national average. In Beaver County, 12.3% of residents are food insecure, with meal costs at $4.16, which is 2.7% higher than the state average and 4.3% higher than the national average.

Though EJ communities face heightened challenges compared to others within Allegheny and Beaver Counties, a detailed analysis of responses from Ignite workshop participants found that residents of Allegheny, Ohio, and Monongahela Valleys emphasized the strength, resilience, and supportive nature of their residents. 

“Environmental justice is about recognizing the sacredness and living quality of the land that we live on and there are obstacles to that reciprocity and sacredness. Those obstacles are injustices and our work is the work of repair, restoration and healing,” said Fitzhugh Shaw of Greater Valley Community Services and Ignite EJ – Monongahela Valley participant.

On August 1, the Launch EJ Incubator cohort began to support the development, funding, and implementation of 12 projects working within a federally designated EJ census tract in Allegheny or Beaver Counties. The program blends monthly cohort workshops, educational speakers, and individual one-on-one technical assistance including grant advisors, creating a robust environment to support EJ projects. This is the second stage of development within New Sun Rising’s Ignite, Launch, Grow framework. 

To learn more about environmental justice and to see if you live in an EJ community, visit the Vibrancy Portal and select “Show Federal Environmental Justice Tracts” below the map. Are you working on a community project that falls within these designated areas? Get support through the Justice 40 Opportunity Navigator (J40N) by filling out this intake form. Additional EJ education is available through our J40N training videos.

The EJ Workshops, Incubator, and J40N is an initiative of New Sun Rising and RiverWise, in partnership with regional networks and community-based organizations.

 

East Meets Midwest: How Pittsburgh Changemakers Found Kindred Spirits in Dayton

Posted on by Alyse Horn

By Brian Conway
This story first ran in the Pittsburgh Independent. New Sun Rising and Grassroots Grantmakers generously underwrote the cost of the trip for all participants, as well as the time to write this article. They retained no editorial control over its content.

Last month, a small convoy of status-quo-disrupting activists and entrepreneurs, led by New Sun Rising’s Scott Wolovich, departed Pittsburgh for Southwest Ohio to meet with Dayton Collaboratory, its founder, Peter Benkendorf, and his posse of righteous rabblerousers.

The goal: gather folks doing good work from places not so different, and see what sparks may fly.

Wolovich invited me one month prior over coffee at Grim Wizard, two blocks from the former “Work Hard Pittsburgh” freelancers cooperative where we first met. “Scott from NSR,” as our co-op’s fiscal sponsor, frequented the space and offered thoughtful counsel and a friendly smile to our scrappy, idealistic entrepreneurs.

I asked if he was interested in coverage of the journey. He said he wanted me present for the experience, to maybe take some notes, and after everything unfolded we could see if there was a story to be told.

I caught a ride westward with Laura Totin Codori, founder and CEO of compost startup Worm Return. Seated shotgun was her second-in-command, Jess Kusten, a ‘21 Carnegie Mellon grad and fellow true-believer in the importance of organic waste diversion. The pair kept a green bucket in the trunk for any apple cores and banana peels we might generate along the way–worm food for later, and the type of devotion to sustainability one would expect from people organizing Pittsburgh’s first green-collar cooperative.

Edgemont Solar Gardens. Photo by Glenna Jennings.

Frankie Harris and SaKyah Harris, of the Ujamaa Collective fair trade boutique, rode along with Scott, while Ron Gaydos, another Work Hard fixture and the cooperative development director with the multistate Keystone Development Center, rounded out the worm mobile.

Peter was calling this a “learning journey” for “positive deviants.” What I didn’t fully appreciate yet was that Peter and Scott began to use Positive Deviants as a label in 2022, as a framework to connect unconventional change agents and explore principles of community transformation.

In the meantime, I didn’t know what to expect.

“Are you ready to join the cult, Brian?” asked the worm lady, between drags of her American Spirit. We were running late, trying to tie up obligations so we could arrive unencumbered, ready to listen and learn. Whatever we were getting into, we trusted Scott’s intentions. If he thought there were good people we could learn from, we were in. And as we would hear so often in the coming days, things only move as fast as the speed of trust.

From L-R: Top Row: J. Thomas Agnew III – BOOM Concepts; Frankie Harris – Ujamaa Collective; Ron Gaydos – Keystone Development Center; Kelly Brown; Peter Benkendorf – Dayton Collaboratory; Brian Conway – Pittsburgh Independent; Sharon Hawkins – HEATT; SaKyah “Kyah” Harris – Ujamaa;  Taylor “TJ” Johnson – Healing Arts Dayton. Bottom Row: Scott Wolovich – New Sun Rising; Laura Totin Codori + Jessica Kusten – Worm Return; Dr. Karen Korn. Photo by Glenna Jennings.

We arrived in a city just as big as Pittsburgh but with half the population, and none of the hills. Peter and co. welcomed us to the Collaboratory with open arms and local beer, and in that downtown Dayton storefront, between bites of pizza, our communities collided.

The back half of the Collaboratory was filled with West African oil paintings reminiscent of Seurat, and whiteboards scrawled with words packed as densely as Ben Ibebe’s brushstrokes. Amid the flurry of text, a quote from R. Buckminster Fuller, which Pete says encapsulates their ethos: “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”

That sentiment was represented by Frankie and Kyah of the Ujamaa Collective marketplace and cooperative nonprofit for Africana women and artists. Kyah is their inventory specialist; Miss Frankie, her grandmother, explained that Ujamaa, the fourth principle of Kwanzaa, means “collective economics,” embodied by their motto: “we lift while we climb.”

J. Thomas Agnew, co-founder of Black arts collective BOOM Concepts, rounded out Pittsburgh’s contingent. He calls BOOM a “swiss army knife” for its versatility; coincidentally, it’s the same term Scott often uses to describe New Sun Rising. BOOM connects artists with resources and opportunities, he explained, while reflecting on ten years of advocacy, cultural disruption and placemaking, from the arts district storefront they aspire to purchase.

From Dayton: Glenna Jennings, the shutterbug, U. Dayton professor, and food justice advocate with Desert Kitchen Collective. We heard how Karen Korn made the leap from academia and anthropology into an online cannabis education. And Peter told us about the Collaboratory’s Community of Well-Being Initiative, which tracks and measures what it means to be a thriving community.

By the end of our roundtable, a template had emerged: Inequity exists and so I advance change in the manner I’m best suited for, in spite of the challenges, because people deserve better.

Or as Laura put it: “I got tired of complaining.”

Edgemont Solar Gardens. Photo by Glenna Jennings.

United over common cause, the conversation shifted to The Barrel House, at the suggestion of Richelle Brown, the sex educator with a shock of purple hair, who heads up LGBTQ+ Health Initiatives for Public Health of Dayton. She taught us about the Rubi Girls, the comedic drag troupe who raised $2 million for HIV/AIDS and LGBTQIA-related causes in Dayton, and the city’s legacy of redlining.

Friday morning began at the Edgemont Solar Gardens in historically disinvested West Dayton. “Black elders leading growth and community opportunities,“ Thomas posted on social media. Organized by the Greater Edgemont Community Council, the garden has been active since 1978. Today, with most volunteers past retirement age, the challenge becomes finding a new generation to carry on their greenhouse work.

From there, we traveled to Gem Street Market, where Lela Klein, co-founder of Co-op Dayton, showed us firsthand the potential and peril of community ownership. Opened in 2021, the co-op market has well over 5,000 paying members, and includes a deli, specialty and organic products coffee shop, even a teaching kitchen and community space in what was once a food desert. Our resident co-op guru, Ron, took special interest, having worked with groups in Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood and Homewood neighborhoods to pursue similar community-owned markets in food deserts.

Next we heard from Sharon Hawkins, a former nursing professor and community activist who who leads the Health Equity Activation Think Tank. Previously, she worked with Black doulas via the TRIBE Collective, a cooperative that seeks to improve birth and early childhood outcomes in the Dayton region, where just five years ago Black newborns and infants died at a rate twice that of white babies.

“Mama Sharon” says she takes inspiration from a Cornel West saying about listening first to the people most impacted by a problem when trying to better it. She called her fellow advocates a group of “misfits” whose bond only grew at “speed of trust.” A lifetime of Black women’s narratives and sagas being distorted led her to become skeptical of media coverage, and she said that it is incumbent upon white journalists to use their privilege to counteract ongoing biases and harmful narratives.

After lunch from the deli, we meditated at the House of Healing Arts and took group photos. Then, at Westside Makerspace, a “member-led, almost-cooperative,” we made mugs, and met the Irish journalist Stephen Starr, who spun up Dayton’s Journalism Lab with help from the Collaboratory, where he and other volunteers help community members hone and pitch their stories for local and national news outlets.

Photo by Glenna Jennings.

That evening, on the way to dinner at the cooperatively-owned Fifth Street Brewpub, we crossed paths with a man named Jim, out tending to his garden. As soon as the Collaboratory came up, Jim said “oh, you know Pete,” and presented us with flowers, roots and all, that he yanked right out of the ground.

For some, the night ended with a bourbon at The Century; others, a beer at Toxic Brew. We learned about DIY skateparks being done with Rhymesayers entertainment, funded by sales of the Aesop Rock single “Pumpkin Seeds.”  And we heard about the city’s critical role in the development of funk. Over those last few hours we met our new friends’ partners and children, and bid our first goodbyes.

No matter which side quests we took Friday night, all of us made it to breakfast early Saturday at 2nd Street Market. Kelly Brown, the Dayton-via-Chicago accountant who first joined us Thursday evening, said it was the best place in the city to people-watch. And as we checked out local farm stands and food stalls, while people from all walks of life went about their business, we reflected on our time together and some of the recurring themes we’d take away with us: empathy, solidarity, and humility, as we seek to uplift the well-being of our communities.

We hugged goodbye and vowed to return for another Collaboratory production, Dayton’s Porchfest, later this August, and there are already plans for a Dayton visit to Pittsburgh this fall.

Before we’d even left Ohio, Peter sent along a gracious email to thank us for our visit. He singled out Miss Frankie and some words she shared when we first met–“You are never too old to learn and never too young to teach.”

Demonstrate your organizational impact using Data Story Reports

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Above: Images of completed Data Story Reports that have been done for fiscally sponsored projects and partners. 

We know that data is raw information, and storytelling can synthesize data into a narrative that conveys the importance of the information.

Utilizing data in storytelling is powerful, and at New Sun Rising, we believe that data storytelling is mightier than the sword.

Research shows that social sector leaders who prioritize data have stronger operations and make an even greater impact. Unfortunately, we know that most small community-based organizations lack the experience or resources to do so. To assist organizations in showcasing their data, New Sun Rising provides technical support to collect and analyze information using the Vibrancy Portal platform to create a Data Story Report (DSR).

Part of New Sun Rising’s Power in Numbers initiative, a DSR demonstrates the impact of an organization in a comprehensive, shareable, and compelling format. 

Of those organizations that have completed a DSR, 78% increased their funding by at least $250,000 within six months and remained diligent in their fund seeking efforts. 

So, what do you need for your own DSR and what’s the process?

Step 1: Start with the idea.

What story do you want to tell and who are you trying to communicate with? Gather any materials and statistics you have to show your impact in the community/communities you serve: mission and vision statement, organizational goals, logo, color pallet, photos, the neighborhoods or regions you serve, testimonials, stakeholder feedback, services provided, number of people served, calls to action, etc.

 

Step 2: Begin drafting your story.

Fill out the data story wizard to get all of your information in one place and schedule a meeting with New Sun Rising to make sure we have everything we need to create an outline of your data story report.

 

Step 3: Are we missing anything?

Once we have a solid outline, we’ll reach out to you to fill in any copy or data gaps that will help weave your story together. One way to do this may be through a Community Voice Survey, which gets beyond the numbers and re-centers people in the process of civic democracy. After we’ve identified and collected the missing contextual and institutional data, you revise, review, and approve the final outline.

 

Step 4: Collaborate!

Using the finalized outline, we’ll begin to input your data, design, and visual assets into the layout of your report to tell the story of your community impact. As we’re drafting the final product, we’ll share each version with you for review and make any changes you see fit.

 

We understand there might be gaps in your data and we’re here to help identify and bridge the divide. Depending on your organization’s qualitative and quantitative data, we may determine that a Byte-Sized DSR is the right report for you. Smaller than a regular DSR, this report provides a snapshot of your organization’s impact.

NRP Byte-Sized DSR - v1a


“I don’t have to tell you how amazing New Sun Rising has been in this process. Thank you for being such an amazing resource for the city of Pittsburgh and for all of us who seek to make it better,” said Wayne Younger, Executive Director of Open Hand Ministries and coordinator of the Pittsburgh Coalition for Black Wealth project.

If you think a DSR would benefit your organization, first set up an account in NSR’s Vibrancy Portal. Once your account is set up, you’ll have the ability to complete the Organizational Assessment Tool (OAT) to get a 360-degree view of your organization’s current capacity through the OAT Score Card – a summary report identifying your strengths and challenges. This analysis serves as the jumping-off point to receive technical assistance from NSR for your DSR as well as planning with your internal team.

Do you have questions or need help troubleshooting? Email info@newsunrising.org 

Regional leaders, residents receive support to access environmental justice funding

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Above: Workshop participants Jazmyn Rudolph (left) and NSR Executive Director Scott Wolovich (right) talk through Rudolph’s project and prepare for the pitch competition at the Ignite Environmental Justice Workshop at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub on May 2.

The Millvale Food + Energy Hub was a conduit for Allegheny County residents and local leaders seeking support for their community projects on May 2, preparing them to access federal funding through the Justice 40 Initiative. 

The Ignite Environmental Justice Workshop – Allegheny Valley, the first of three, brought together organizers from 12 projects who shared the same goal: improve the health, climate resilience, and economic opportunity of our region. The workshop series was co-developed by nonprofits New Sun Rising and RiverWise to better inform residents about environmental justice and how it relates to their community projects, while receiving support to establish and communicate their plan.

“We can get overwhelmed thinking about applying for major grants and the more formal procedures that make ideas into tangible projects. Being able to create a space where there is no judgment, open lines of communication, and honest feedback is so important in project development because [these projects] affect people’s lives so intimately,” said Eric Macadangdang, director of collaboration & connectivity of SWPA Municipal Project Hub and workshop mentor.

Environmental justice (EJ) communities are places that have experienced generational disinvestment — often alongside the consequences of polluting and extracting industries. The government’s historic commitment states that 40 percent of the overall benefits of almost $2 trillion in certain federal investments, such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), flow to disadvantaged EJ communities. 

 

Tyler Schaub, environmental justice project manager for New Sun Rising, said it was encouraging to see the diversity of projects attending the workshop, and the commitment from leaders to execute their plans was “inspiring and impactful.”

Projects were in various stages of preparation, from concept or idea to early implementation, and ranged from training and workforce development for doulas, to the sustainable restoration of our rivers and increasing access to healthy and fresh foods.

Workshop participant Lisa Freeman, founder of Freeman Family Farm, spoke to the RiverWise Storytelling Team during the event and said in the past, marginalized communities haven’t been at the table to receive this kind of funding. 

“I knew of Justice 40, but I did not know how it was going to be implemented,” Freeman said. “We often wait for the trickle down effect, that eventually it will come to us, and now with this opportunity we don’t have to wait… we need to be at the table and engaging our residents and striking up that conversation.”

At the end of the workshop, project leaders were given the opportunity to participate in a pitch competition with the top three winners slated to receive support from the SWPA Municipal Project Hub and first place was given a guaranteed spot in the upcoming Launch Environmental Justice Incubator program. The pitch winners included: Ebony Evans of Farmer Girl Eb, Jazmyn Rudolph for agricultural-based education opportunities, and Annie Quinn of The Mon Water Project.

“Get it on paper and make this thing come alive,” said Tacumba Turner, environmental justice community coordinator at RiverWise. “Docketing, creating sophisticated processes, that won’t happen in one fell swoop, but these workshops can provide a solid foundation to build on. Regardless of doing the pitch, if this is a project you want to pursue, it will be a good touchstone to see where you’re at.”

There are two more workshops scheduled for this month: Wednesday, May 22 at Whitted Media Content House in Beaver Falls and Thursday, May 30, location TBD in Monongahela Valley. Both workshops run from 5-9 p.m. The deadline to apply for the May 22 workshop is Monday, May 20 at 8 p.m. The deadline to apply for the May 30 workshop is Tuesday, May 28 at 8 p.m.

Those interested in attending a workshop should apply via the Community Project Intake Form. Those interested in becoming a project mentor are encouraged to email tyler@newsunrising.org.

The Ignite Environmental Justice Workshops are part of the newly launched Justice 40 Opportunity Navigator, a joint initiative between New Sun Rising and RiverWise. 

Affordable housing initiatives ramping up in Triboro Ecodistrict

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Above: Houses along North Avenue in Millvale.

When people are safely housed, it sets the foundation for them and their community to thrive.

It’s something that the Triboro Ecodistrict understands deeply and, through its partnerships with the Millvale Community Development Corporation, the City of Bridges Community Land Trust, and the Henry L. Hillman Foundation, has been able to provide equitable and affordable housing to five families in Millvale thus far. 

Most recently, the Millvale Community Development Corporation (MCDC) and the Millvale Community Library (MCL) worked with City of Bridges to secure housing for a refugee family that moved to the borough in the fall of 2022. The family came to Pittsburgh from Tanzania with the help of JFCS Refugee & Immigrant Services, which connected with the MCDC and MCL to support their resettlement in the area. 

“My husband and I moved here a month after they did, so we were all new and the kids were actually the first to enroll in our music education program,” said Georgia English.

English and her husband run You Be You Inc., which takes systemic approaches to empowering diverse groups of students to express themselves fully through the global language of music. Through her role as an educator, involvement with Rivertown Kidz, and board member of MCDC, English has built a strong relationship with the family, and she isn’t the only one.

“The whole community truly fell in love with them,” English said. “The kids are Millvale kids through and through, and it’s been really fun watching them start to kind of take up some space. The whole family has a wonderful sense of humor that just transcends those cultural barriers in some cool ways.” 

Ed Nusser, executive director of City of Bridges Community Land Trust, said that while he hasn’t met the family yet, “there’s no way to exaggerate” how rewarding this type of work is. 

“Being able to be a small part of making sure that homes stay affordable in these neighborhoods that are so rapidly changing is critical,” Nusser said. 

Cleaning check list and information translated for the new residents at the Millvale Community Development Corporation affordable housing project that was done in partnership with City of Bridges Community Land Trust.

The house was purchased by MCDC with the help of a grant through City of Bridges Buyer-Initiated Program, which lowered the overall cost of the house and therefore lowered rent to an affordable rate for the family. Nusser said the goal is that within the next decade, the family will be able to purchase the house from the MCDC. 

The Buyer-Initiated Program works directly with homebuyers to provide a flexible grant towards their down payment, closing costs, or home repairs in exchange for signing a ground lease and becoming a part of the community land trust. Nusser said the agreement with MCDC was the first of its kind for the program.

“We were excited to pilot this long-term lease to purchase arrangement with Millvale CDC and keep this family in the neighborhood they know with the support they already have and rely on,” Nusser said. 

Millvale Community Development Corporation is also involved in renovating a home on North Avenue in Millvale that was purchased by the Tri-COG Land Bank after sitting vacant for nearly two decades. Brian Wolovich, MCDC board president, said during the two years of renovations, over 250 volunteers, including from University of Pittsburgh’s Habitat for Humanity, contributed to getting the house move-in ready. This home will be purchased in April by a family of long-time Millvale residents who have been renting a home in the community.

In Etna, City of Bridges is working on getting a handful of homes ready for sale, including new construction and rehabilitation. Megan Tuñón, executive director of Etna Community Organization (ECO), said there are four new townhouses being built and some abandoned homes that were transferred from Etna Borough to City of Bridges that should undergo rehabilitation soon “and become sage and lovely homes for two new families in Etna.”

“The borough will continue to work with our partners like [City of Bridges], Tri-COG Land Bank, and use the resources available to us to fight blight and bring more affordable housing and greenspace to the community,” Tuñón said. 

In Sharpsburg, Nusser said there is one project that they “hope to start this year.”

Future homeowner and Millvale resident Adam Willard (left) with State Rep. Lindsay Powell (right) working on an Millvale Community Development Corporation affordable housing project in fall of 2023.

Through their relationship with the community and partnership with Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization (SNO), Roots of Faith Pastor Scott Shaffer knows that affordable housing is a top priority for Sharpsburg residents. Primarily, he said he hears stories of people struggling with increased property taxes and rent. 

“We’re doing everything we can to help address their financial needs so they aren’t displaced,” Scott said. 

Roots of Faith offers a handful of programs and social services that allow residents to receive assistance for a variety of needs, including community dinners and free legal clinics, which falls in line with achieving equity in the Sharpsburg Ecodistrict and Triboro Ecodistrict. Equity is one of six quality of life lenses that have been identified by Triboro Ecodistrict residents as necessary for sustainable community development, and acts as an umbrella for food, water, energy, mobility, and air quality. 

These lenses were modified to fit each community and shared in 2016 through the Millvale Ecodistrict Pivot Plan 2.0, and in 2019 through the Sharpsburg Community Vision Plan and Etna EcDistrict Plan. Scott said the work between Roots of Faith and SNO aims to achieve their community plan, which highlights preserving affordability, building community wealth, and protecting existing assets. 

“Our big vision is to not only preserve affordability, but also take older buildings and make them more energy efficient and handicap accessible,” Scott said. 

In the last year, Roots of Faith was able to pick up a project that had been stalled by the pandemic and secure a privately owned building in the borough containing 10 apartment units. It’s still in the works, but Scott said they will be utilized for affordable housing. 

Aiming to assess the Triboro Ecodistrict as a whole, evolveEA is assisting the community with the  Triboro EcoHousing Plan, a two-part Workshop series that kicked off in January to develop an affordable housing toolkit that navigates future scenarios in the housing market through a resilience framework. 

The first workshop focused on identifying the driving forces behind positive and negative change in the boroughs, shared information on current housing trends in the Triboro Ecodistrict, and identified current and future uncertainties. The second Triboro EcoHousing: Scenario Planning Workshop will take place in March and focus on developing the narratives of potential futures, explore the implications of each, consider who and how to adapt, and identify the most robust actions and strategies to move forward. 

 

If you’d like to learn more about the programs and services Roots of Faith offers, call (412) 799-0111 or stop by their Sharpsburg location, 800 Main St.

If you’d like to volunteer in Millvale cleaning, painting, and preparing houses for habitation, contact Brian Wolovich: brian@triboroecodistrict.org or (412)977-7672. There are two work days coming up on Thursday, March 14 and Monday, March 25.

If you’d like to learn more about City of Bridges Community Land Trust Development Program or Buyer-Initiative Program, call (412) 621-1811 or visit their website.

The Triboro Ecodistrict is a fiscally sponsored project of New Sun Rising. 

“Her Dreams” Sheds Light on Maternal Health Disparities Faced by Black Women in Pittsburgh

Posted on by Alyse Horn

In Pittsburgh, as in many parts of the United States, maternal health disparities persist, with Black women experiencing significantly higher rates of maternal mortality and adverse birth outcomes compared to their white counterparts.

To shed light on this inequality faced by Black women, specifically in our region, Kangaroo Birthing & Maternity Concierge executive produced the documentary “Her Dreams- A Story of The Future of Black Birth.” This powerful and thought-provoking film will premiere at 6 p.m. on April 5 at Kelly Strayhorn Theater.

“As a birth doula, I found myself at the intersection of intimate narratives and systemic issues within the maternity care system, witnessing firsthand the disparities faced by women that look like me during their most vulnerable time. It was an inner call that the voices of Black women needed to be amplified,” said Syreeta Gordon, founder of Kangaroo Birthing & Maternity Concierge and Unshakeable Motherhood. 

The film, directed by Corey Lankford of CWL Creatives, delves into the lives of Black women in Pittsburgh as they navigate the challenges of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. Through intimate storytelling and candid interviews, “Her Dreams” brings to the forefront the alarming disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes that disproportionately affect Black women, highlighting the underlying social determinants of these disparities.

Kangaroo Birthing & Maternity Concierge, a birth and postpartum doula agency, executive produced the documentary with New Sun Rising and RiverWise using creative advocacy to grow the cultural capital of this project and build community power. Gordon’s first project, Kangaroo Birthing, was a fundraising project supported by the One Northside Mini-Grant program, which led to her founding Unshakeable Motherhood to improve the maternal health outcomes for Black women in Pittsburgh.

“It was truly an honor to not only participate in the Her Dreams documentary, but to support Syreeta + Corey behind the scenes as they shaped the documentary’s vision and purpose through their participation in our Creative Advocacy Initiative,” said Jamie Johnson, Director of Programs at New Sun Rising. “Syreeta’s dream for this documentary is a reality, and my prayer is that it speaks to the reality of change for Black birthing women in the Pittsburgh Region and beyond.”

The documentary showcases the resilience and strength of mothers, doulas and maternal health workers as they share their personal journeys, triumphs, and tribulations throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. 

Viewers will gain valuable insights into the complex factors that contribute to these health disparities, including systemic racism, lack of access to quality healthcare, socioeconomic barriers, and implicit biases within the healthcare system.

“Her Dreams” is a call to action, urging communities, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to address these disparities head-on and work toward equitable maternal and infant health outcomes for all. The film offers a platform for meaningful conversations and policy changes that can lead to better support, resources, and healthcare for Black women during their maternal journeys.

Tickets for the film are $10 and registration is required. Please consider adding a “Pay What Moves You” ticket value to support the “Unshakeable Motherhood Maternal Health Investment Fund” in their work to bridge the gap for pay equality for doulas and maternal health training for aspiring birth workers and aspiring midwives. 

Kangaroo Birthing & Maternity Concierge is a fiscally sponsored project of New Sun Rising. 

The Hub’s Resurgence: A Year of Hope, Resilience, and Community Strength

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Above: New Sun Rising Staff outside the Millvale Food + Energy Hub during the Vibrancy Awards for Opportunity on December 9, 2023.

Walk into the first floor of the Millvale Food + Energy Hub today and you may notice some initial changes.

Fresh coats of white and sage green paint cover the walls, and the gray and maroon floor tiles have been painted and sealed to match the light gray ceiling above. Entering the main hall, there is a new bar service area to the left of the entrance. New lighting lends a warmer, cozier vibe.

If you’ve visited the Hub before, you’ll notice that the kitchen area, seating, and other features are largely the same. It feels familiar. If you’re new to the space, it may be a stunning realization to learn that a fire occurred there last winter. 

“Once we got over the initial shock it became apparent that the fire recovery represented an opportunity,” said Scott Wolovich, executive director of New Sun Rising (NSR). “Our goal was not to simply come back as quickly and safely as possible. We wanted to understand how we could improve the physical space and operations in service to the Hub’s collective mission.”

The building, owned by Moose MODE Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of NSR, is a mixed-use facility serving as a home base for multiple organizations with food and energy-related missions, including: NSR, 412 Food Rescue’s Good Food Project, and Sprezzatura.

On January 30, 2023, an electrical fire occurred in the battery system of the lower level of the Hub, displacing tenants for nearly a year. Fundraising efforts began immediately and through community support, over $43,000 was raised to help with expenses outside of insurance coverage. This past November in honor of the reopening, NSR donated $5,000 from the fundraiser to the Millvale Borough Fire Department and held an appreciation dinner for first responders in the new space that was catered by Sprezzatura. 

A portion of the money was also awarded as a business recovery grant to Sprezzatura to help recover from the fire; what remains will be used for facility improvements that benefit 412 Food Rescue’s operations, and renovations including a shaded garden patio with stormwater capture on the side of the building next to Lyons Street.

“It’ll offer outdoor seating, and the pavilion itself will be solar panels that will generate energy for the building and be put back into the grid,” said Kayla Misera, community experience catalyst for the Hub. “There’s going to be a small garden, including a rain garden, around the patio and the water collected will go into a cistern.”

Wolovich said rainwater collected onsite will feed into a stormwater management system to slow its release into the flood prone Girty’s Run and be available for onsite use. If you didn’t already have an inkling from the name of the building, food and energy are the main pillars for the Hub, built on a foundation of equity, helping to achieve community goals in the Millvale Ecodistrict Plan. 

Sharing the kitchen space with Sprezzatura, 412 Food Rescue’s Good Food Project & Grocery Bagging Program takes surplus food that would otherwise end up in a landfill and transforms it into healthy, frozen meals to increase food access. They also take donations of fresh, frozen, and nonperishable items from donors throughout the region, repack, and distribute grocery bags of food for neighbors experiencing food insecurity.

This year, Greg Austin, director of distribution initiatives at 412 Food Rescue, said they’re aiming to distribute “40,000 prepared meals this year at the Good Food Project Kitchen.” 

A regular partnership exists between 412 Food Rescue, Sprezzatura, the Northern Area Boys & Girls Club, and Millvale Free Fridge to prepare and distribute food to individuals and families “who could use a delicious, nutritious meal,” according to Sprezzatura’s website. 

Jen Saffron, owner and head chef at Sprezzatura, believes that “everyone deserves a dinner – and the gift of flavorful and healthful food can be especially comforting at a time of need.” Along with the restaurant and catering services, and the aforementioned partnership, Sprezzatura offers meal sponsorships as an add-on through their online ordering system. Donations go towards their Community Meals, which generously feeds two to four people in need of a hot meal.

“Physical spaces reflect our cultural identity. We need to be intentional not only about how they look, but how they function. Sustainable buildings are less harmful to the environment and can also serve as onramps to opportunity for community members,” Wolovich said. 

One of the energy opportunities that aligns with community and regional priorities includes the Solar Installation Certification Program. In partnership with CCAC and the Triboro Ecodistrict, NSR will offer at least two training cohorts in 2024. This initiative provides financial stipends for 40 hours of education, hands-on experience with a solar training platform, and in the field installation opportunities. Community projects including solar sheds at the South Hilltop Men’s Group’s Beltzhoover Institute of Arts & Sciences Smart Lot and Millvale Playground, as well as the Millvale CDC’s Zero Energy renovation of 216 North Ave, are supported by NSR and will serve as field training sites.

While the lower level of the Hub nears completion, the first floor opened to the public on December 2 with a Jazz Night hosted by Sprezzatura. (They hold events on Friday and Saturday of every month like Dough 101: Focaccia, Hand Pies, and Pizzas.) On December 9, NSR celebrated the reopening by hosting the Vibrancy Awards for Opportunity and plans to present evening programs on Wednesday and Thursday. 

The newly renovated 10,000 square foot former social hall is available for rent to individuals and organizations for a wide variety of occasions, like musical performances, family gathering, presentations, or business events. There are two meeting rooms and the main hall available for rent on the first floor, and The Purple Onion flex room located on the lower level. During the day people are welcome to use the Main Hall as a remote workspace or community meeting place.

“I think for the community, this is a gathering space,” Misera said. “The intention behind the work of the tenants of the building makes what’s happening here special and there’s just a general sense of welcome-ness. I see a lot of hugs happening here in the morning, and I feel like that extends into the community.”

If you’re interested in renting the Hub for your next event, view the venue rental guide.

New Sun Rising and Moose MODE extend our deepest appreciation to the planners, contractors, and service providers who got us back on our feet and made the renovation possible:

Hilltop Rising, ServPro, Demarco Waste, Gateway Engineers, Safety Guard, Allen & Shariff, EvolveEA, PennHab Electrical, Architectural Lighting Sales, EIS Solar, R.D. Eikey Plumbing, BOSS Consulting, Floure Co. Design, Hassan Mada Construction, Eric Thorniley, Air Duct Maintenance, JA Saeuer, Allegheny Refrigeration, Patrinos Painting, Strong Ambitious Women, Enscoe Long Insurance Group, Professional Code Services, and the Borough of Millvale.

Zainab Jamal chosen as NSR Sustainability VISTA through Oct. 2024

Posted on by Alyse Horn

New Sun Rising is happy to announce that Zainab Jamal will serve as the Sustainability VISTA for the organization through October 2024. 

In this role, Zainab has a focus on community engagement and capacity building to advance projects within the Millvale Ecodistrict Collaborative’s plan including equitable food systems, clean energy, watershed management, air quality, mobility, business districts, and housing. 

“I hear about the previous VISTAs with NSR having a visible presence in the community that goes beyond their years, and I would like to have an impact in that way,” Zainab said. “I’m ready to absorb all the knowledge that I can and make this an experience that I can refer back to as my career progresses.” 

Zainab has a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Services Administration from the University of Central Florida with her eye on a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning. Previous to her position with NSR, she gained experience in community outreach with the Broader Impacts Group through AmeriCorps to help coordinate the SpectrUM Discovery Area in the Missoula Public Library and EmPower Place at the Missoula Food Bank and Community Center. 

She also engaged with children and teens through hands-on STEAM education within Montana schools on Blackfeet and Flathead Reservations, summer camps, after school clubs, and museum activities. 

“One of the things I’m looking forward to the most about this position is the connections I’ll develop with the community, as they have diverse lived experiences and I can learn so much from them,” Zainab said. 

Want to contact Zainab? Email zainab@newsunrising.org. 

New Sun Rising serves as a subsite for the Americorps VISTA program managed by PCRG (Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group)

Kayla Misera hired as Community Experience Catalyst for Millvale Food + Energy Hub

Posted on by Alyse Horn

New Sun Rising is happy to announce that Kayla Misera has been hired as the Community Experience Catalyst for the Millvale Food + Energy Hub.

In this role, Kayla oversees the operational and programmatic needs of the Hub. The building is a mixed-use facility, owned by Moose MODE Inc. and operated by NSR, and serves as a home base for multiple organizations with food and energy-related missions, including: 412 Food Rescue’s Good Food Project, Sprezzatura, The Food Trust, and FracTracker Alliance.

“I’m a big proponent of community led programming. I have experience with facility management, but I’m looking forward to stepping into the creative realm and pulling people into the space to create the programming that they want to see,” Kayla said. “For the people and led by the people.”

Kayla’s professional experience comes from her time as the Director of School Nutrition Programs for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, but more recently as the Director of Central Pantry for The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri where she ran a food-rescue program and development opportunities.

As the director of the food pantry, Kayla said she valued the compassionate side of the community-based work she was doing and knew she wanted to continue that work in the Pittsburgh region. 

“When I saw [the Community Experience Catalyst] position, I saw an opportunity to merge a lot of the things that I love, like food, green energy, culture, and the arts,” Kayla said. “I also live in Millvale, and I think it’s really special to work in the community that you live in.”

Do you have questions for Kayla or want to schedule an event at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub? Email kayla@newsunrising.org. 

Lack of affordable housing, reliable public transit tied to poverty, hunger in Allegheny County

Posted on by Alyse Horn

In August, a local nonprofit released a study detailing the rise of corporations and investors buying homes in the city of Pittsburgh, finding that these sales rose 10% over the past decade.

The report, released by the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group (PCRG), said in 2010, corporations or investors purchased 15.5% of the available housing market. In 2021, that rose to nearly 25%.

It also included that “corporate entities paid 70.2% of the average sale price, compared to all purchases in Pittsburgh, and 72.4% of the average sale price in the remaining parts of Allegheny County.” Many of the census tracts with a higher share of corporate sales were reflected in “historically Black and/or Low- and Moderate-Income (LMI) communities.”

According to data collected through New Sun Rising’s Vibrancy Index, 62.7% of Allegheny County residents are homeowners and 13.4% spend more than one third of their total income towards housing and utilities. 

Affordable housing falls under Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), as do transit issues such as walkability and bikeability, green space, and responsible planning. 

Focusing on affordable housing in our region, analysis shows that Southwestern PA communities that fall within the lowest 20% for SDG 11 also rank lower for No Poverty (SDG 1), Zero Hunger (SDG 2), and Life on Land (SDG 15). These communities with the lowest sustainable cities index scores have 5.65x the racial and ethnic diversity of those scoring highest.

There are a total of 17 SDG’s, which were created globally as a call to action to raise the quality of life for all people and preserve the future of our planet.

“[Investors] look at where there is economic value and what are the opportunities for development, and we’re forgetting [about the people],” said Becca Simon, former director of programming at Grounded. “There’s not a sense of urgency around the fact that in Allegheny County and in the city of Pittsburgh we’ve seen a major displacement of predominantly Black people in this area.” 

Grounded is based in Bakery Square and aims to improve the social, economic, and environmental health of distressed and transitional communities by building capacity to reclaim vacant and underutilized land.

Furthermore, through an assessment conducted by the City of Pittsburgh from 2015-2019, it was found that low-income renters, Black households, and Black homeownership declined over that five year period. 

In the same vein, the lack of access to reliable public transit weighs more heavily on diverse populations and LMI communities. 

A study done by Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT) and Carnegie Mellon University’s Tech4Society found that in 2022, 38 out of 105 Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) routes were below 50% reliability for at least one month. In June 2022 specifically, there was 8% less transit service across Allegheny County compared to October 2019. 

Another study done by PPT in 2018 found that 81% of PRT riders make less than $50,000 annually and 48% identified as people of color.

“Public transit in Allegheny County has always relied on low-income residents and Black riders as its primary constituencies,” according to the “No Greater Need, No Greater Opportunity” study from PPT.

The impacts of unreliable transportation and inadequate affordable housing contribute to the lack of progress on SDG11 and lowers our region’s overall Vibrancy Index score. 

“There needs to be a concerted effort if we are concerned about equitable transportation tied to equitable housing, and equitable housing is having access to the things that people get to enjoy or benefit from,” said Chris Sandvig, executive director of Mobilify Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Collectively, Sandvig said we need to change the way we think about housing and transportation, and move away from car-centered culture to increase vibrancy in our communities.

“Where are the [resources] that the most vulnerable communities need to get to in their lives, and to what degree are we concentrating those in such a way that they are along more resilient transit lines?,” Sandvig said. 

New Sun Rising supports multiple projects through our fiscal sponsorship program and partners with organizations that are uplifting sustainable cities and communities. Contact us to get informed, connected, or help resource the work of Millvale Ecodistrict Collaborative, Triboro Ecodistrict, Hazelwood Initiative, District PGH, and The Partnership Network.

This Power in Numbers data story is part of New Sun Rising’s commitment to using data, technology, organizing, communication, and creativity to help people advocate for the future they envision. Learn more about the Power in Numbers initiative and access the Vibrancy Portal platform. Is there something that you would like to share about health and well-being in your community? Contribute to the conversation through the Community Voice feedback form.

The Vibrancy Index helps people to understand conditions in their community through 50 institutional data points. The VI also generates sub-indices in Culture, Sustainability, Opportunity, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Department of Energy Awards Local Nonprofits $400,000

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Energy Efficiency Empowerment, Hazelwood Initiative chosen as Phase 1 winner

Pittsburgh, PA — The U.S. Department of Energy has announced Energy Efficiency Empowerment (E3), a fiscally sponsored project of New Sun Rising (NSR), and Hazelwood Initiative as one of 45 Phase 1 winners in the Buildings Upgrade Prize (Buildings UP) to receive $400,000. Buildings UP awards more than $22 million in cash prizes and technical assistance to teams developing scalable and replicable initiatives for widespread energy efficiency and efficient electrification building upgrades. 

The project by E3, and the team assembled for this application, seizes the opportunity to dramatically increase the energy efficiency of vacant homes undergoing renovations for the affordable housing market, and advance community-scale electrification and climate goals within the Justice40 framework. Current partners include: Rising Tide Partners, East Hills Consensus Group, CONNECT, Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization, and Mincin Insulation. 

“There is an amazing group of nonprofits in Pittsburgh that are renovating vacant homes to make them available at low-cost to families in need,” said Lucy de Barbaro, founder of E3. “This award will allow us to join these renovation efforts to provide additional energy efficiency improvements at a time when they are the least expensive to complete. Once renovated, these homes will further equity by providing reduced costs to future homeowners and advance the climate goals for our region through reduced carbon emissions.”

As proposed in the winning concept, the project will pair up with nonprofit home rehabilitation developers to provide technical assistance, performance measurement, and verification as well as additional funding to achieve 30% or higher improvements in energy efficiency. Nonprofit rehabilitation developers interested in participating in this initiative are invited to fill out this form.

The project was submitted under NSR and Hazelwood Initiative, with E3 receiving $300,000 under NSR’s fiscal sponsorship and Hazelwood Initiative receiving $100,000.  In Phase 2, teams will develop their concepts into executable pilot plans.  

 

About Energy Efficiency Empowerment: Energy Efficiency Empowerment’s (E3) mission is to Make Energy Efficiency Visible. Through our efforts, we hope to raise awareness, educate, and empower homeowners, contractors, and communities to embrace energy efficiency practices, ultimately contributing to a greener, more sustainable future for all.

About Hazelwood Initiative:  Hazelwood Initiative, Inc. is a community development corporation serving the Greater Hazelwood neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Dedicated to building a stronger Hazelwood through inclusive community development, HI is adding to its affordable housing and business district revitalization mission, a commitment to environmental justice and health.  E3 will help us integrate green and sustainable energy practices into our affordable housing programs, and help Hazelwood homeowners electrify their hot water heating and improve uninsulated attics.  

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 the Buildings Upgrade Prize: The Buildings Upgrade Prize (Buildings UP) provides more than $22 million in cash prizes and technical assistance to support the transformation of existing U.S. buildings into  more energy-efficient and clean energy-ready homes, commercial spaces, and communities. Buildings UP is an American-Made Challenge funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Building Technologies Office and administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Press release from the DOE.

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