Author: Alyse Horn

Team led by Energy Efficiency Empowerment wins $400,000 from DOE to increase affordable, green homes in the region

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Above: Looking at the rooftops of these homes, it is easy to see the houses without proper insulation. Courtesy of Lucy de Barbaro.

Energy Efficiency Empowerment is a new organization created to contribute to a greener, more sustainable future for all by embracing energy efficiency practices, and the team it formed just won $400,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to do so.

Buildings Upgrade Prize (Buildings UP) is a DOE prize designated to build capacity to accelerate equitable, widespread energy efficiency and efficient electrification building upgrades across the country. 

Over 360 applications were submitted and the team, led by Energy Efficiency Empowerment (E3), was chosen as one of the 45 Phase 1 winners from 32 states. In Phase 1, Buildings UP is set to distribute a total of $22 million in cash prizes and expert technical assistance. The winning teams will receive this support and are expected to advance through Phases 2-4 in the forthcoming years.

Founder of E3 Lucy de Barbaro’s winning concept, “Biggest Climate Impact for Least Cost,” is a multifaceted approach to address the unique challenges of aging, energy-inefficient housing stock, economic disparities, and environmental inequalities in the Pittsburgh region where 61% of the housing stock is over 100 years old. 

This leads to energy inefficiency and high maintenance costs due to aging systems, and as a result residents face substantially higher year-round energy bills compared to other areas in the Northeast. This issue is compounded by pockets of neighborhood poverty ranging from 22% to 40%, which creates a disproportionate energy burden.

De Barbaro said the project calls out the opportunity to dramatically increase the energy efficiency of vacant homes undergoing renovations for the affordable housing market across the region and in doing so advance the electrification and climate goals within the Justice40 framework. 

“The second pillar of our initiative is proposed at a neighborhood-scale, where the local community groups will help develop and implement energy use reductions tactics. We came up with an ‘energy audit’ of a whole neighborhood and plan to build out community groups’ capacity to do this work,” said de Barbaro. 

E3, a fiscally sponsored project of New Sun Rising (NSR), will pair up with interested nonprofit rehabilitation developers to provide technical assistance, home performance measurement and verification as well as additional funding to achieve 30% or higher improvements in energy efficiency. Mincin Insulation, one of the team members assembled for this initiative, will be involved in air sealing and insulating attics of homes that currently have no insulation.

The project was submitted under NSR and Hazelwood Initiative (HI), with E3 receiving $300,000 under NSR’s fiscal sponsorship and Hazelwood Initiative receiving $100,000.

“[This project] will give us invaluable tools to make our new vision a reality: collaboration, expertise, technologies and subsidies to ensure that our low-income homeowners can save money on their energy bills while the community becomes more environmentally healthy and ultimately makes a difference in fighting climate change,” Dave Brewton, senior director of real estate at HI, said in the letter of support. 

Other partners include: Rising Tide Partners, East Hills Consensus Group, CONNECT, and Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization. Nonprofit organizations interested in participating in this initiative are invited to fill out this form. 

In Phase 2, E3 will work with technical advisors and team members to develop their concept into an executable pilot plan. 

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.

Hilltop Rising secures funding for 744 E. Warrington Ave.

Posted on by Alyse Horn

URA provides $302,000 through Avenues of Hope, Pittsburgh Business Fund

Pittsburgh, PA — Hilltop Community Holdings LLC has received $302,000 from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to purchase 744 E. Warrington Ave. in Allentown. The space will be used for South Hilltop Men’s Group and Hilltop Rising’s workforce development training and certification programs, and content creation for Hilltop Media, which has a focus on working with youth in the area.

The funding was provided through two URA programs: $164,000 from the Avenues of Hope Commercial Real Estate Program and $138,000 from the Pittsburgh Business Fund.

“This collaboration extends beyond bricks and mortar. Hilltop Rising isn’t just about a building; it’s about building up a community. This project is set to catalyze the growth of multiple businesses, foster the creation of at least six new job opportunities, and provide two affordable apartments, breathing life into East Warrington Avenue,” said Siena Kane, Assistant Director of Commercial Lending, URA.

Hilltop Rising and South Hilltop Men’s Group (SHMG) have partnered with New Sun Rising (NSR) and Neighborhood Allies since 2015, receiving support through capacity building, professional development, and access to loans and grants. In 2017, NSR became the owner of 744 E. Warrington Ave. with a goal of transitioning the property to long-term community ownership and use.

“In this endeavor, the URA joined hands with Neighborhood Allies, our invaluable technical assistance partner, to ensure that this transformative vision becomes a reality. Together, we are planting the seeds of opportunity, growth, and prosperity, and we look forward to witnessing the vibrant impact that Hilltop Rising will have on the Allentown community and beyond,” Kane said.

About South Hilltop Men’s Group/Hilltop Rising LLC: Founded in 2015 by Jmar Bey and Christian Nowlin, the South Hilltop Men’s Group is a non-profit project of New Sun Rising working to support the responsible and inclusive revitalization of Pittsburgh. They provide job training, employment opportunities and promote environmental protection through community programs that teach sustainable practices.

About New Sun Rising: New Sun Rising envisions a vibrant and equitable future where communities are sustainable and have access to the resources necessary to thrive. We collaborate with communities to build capacity, access funding, and embrace data-informed approaches towards their own vibrant future. Learn more at newsunrising.org.

About Neighborhood Allies: Neighborhood Allies’ vision is for all neighborhoods to be resilient, thriving and equitable. Our mission is to engage Pittsburgh area residents and organizations with innovative tools that expand opportunity for transformative community change. We believe the elimination of barriers begins with uplifting creative community ideas. We promise to create pathways of opportunity that lead to healthy neighborhoods. For more information, visit: neighborhoodallies.org.

Hilltop Rising expands opportunities for South Hilltop residents with permanent home on Warrington Ave.

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Above: (Left to right) Zak Thomas, partner at STIKO BRUNO, LLC, Jmar Bey, co-founder of South Hilltop Men’s Group and Hilltop Rising, and Scott Wolovich, executive director at New Sun Rising, after closing on 744 E. Warrington Ave.

Pittsburgh hosts a handful of startup weekends every year, but the September 2015 Startup Weekend Civic in Allentown set in motion a series of events that, eight years later, would come back full circle. 

That startup weekend, hosted by Work Hard Pittsburgh cooperative, was focused on entrepreneurs who wanted to build data-driven businesses aiming to improve city government or impact the local community. Jmar Bey, cofounder of South Hilltop Men’s Group, was a member of Work Hard and heard about the event through another member. He said initially, he went for the free beer.

“Josh [Lucas, founder of Work Hard Pittsburgh] ended up getting me on the stage to pitch an idea. I didn’t feel like I had anything to say, but he told me, ‘you’re always saying stuff, get up there,’” Bey said. “So I got up there and I freestyled an idea I’d been thinking about, and it was great enough to get me selected as a finalist for the competition.”

Bey’s idea laid the foundation for the South Hilltop Men’s Group (SHMG), an organization that provides programming that encourages responsible entrepreneurism, workforce development, and case management support with a focus on building community. A year later, with support of the Launch Hilltop incubator, Bey established Hilltop Rising to provide employment opportunities for those who complete training and programs through SHMG. 

On October 4, 2023, SHMG and Hilltop Rising received $302,000 from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to purchase 744 E. Warrington Ave., the former location of Work Hard Pittsburgh, which started to wind down operations in 2021. The funding came through the URA’s Avenues of Hope Commercial Real Estate (ACRE) Program and the Pittsburgh Business Fund. New Sun Rising had been the previous owner of the building since 2017 with a goal of transitioning the property to long-term community ownership and use.

“The relationship with Work Hard and its leader was really catalytic, because if that [startup weekend] hadn’t happened the way that it did, we wouldn’t have developed relationships with some of our biggest supporters,” Bey said. 

The space will be used for workforce development training and certification programs like OSHA, deconstruction, demolition, safety, and job readiness. There is also a recording studio in the basement where Christian Nowlin, co-founder of SHMG and Hilltop Rising, will be running Hilltop Media with a focus on working with youth in the neighborhood to create podcasts, videos, and more. 

“We were essentially left with a business that just needed a bit of tweaking. Work Hard’s experience, knowledge, and data on what did and didn’t work in terms of the Hilltop gave us solid rock to build upon,” Bey said. 

Creating opportunities for employment in the Hilltop neighborhoods, Bey tends to operate on the prevailing wage standard and provides training, certification, and field experience in deconstruction, renovation, and similar pathways. According to the Vibrancy Index, the areas served by SHMG and Hilltop Rising have an average Work & Economic Growth Index of 61% compared to 71% for Allegheny County (Sustainable Development Goal #8).

“Equitable growth means that the people who are from the community get every opportunity to lead and benefit from the future that they envision,” says Scott Wolovich, executive director of New Sun Rising. “Since 2015, we have partnered with South Hilltop Men’s Group and Hilltop Rising through capacity building, bridge loans, and access to grants. Property ownership is the primary way that wealth transfers and communities are shaped in America. We couldn’t be happier for them to acquire this building and continue the entrepreneurial and community-building spirit of Work Hard Pittsburgh.”

Neighborhood Allies, a long time partner of NSR, provided support to SHMG and Hilltop Rising through their Community Leadership Forum, a Small & Simple grant, and making pivotal connections to resources. 

Zak Thomas, a partner at STIKO BRUNO, LLC, met Bey through Neighborhood Allies and was the attorney representing SHMG and Hilltop Rising for the acquisition of 744 E. Warrington Ave. He said it was “inspiring” to talk with Bey about the future of the building. 

“Jmar doesn’t really talk in terms of, ‘Here’s what we’re going to do in this space.’ He talks about, ‘Here’s how this impacts this part of the neighborhood and creates jobs for residents.’ It’s much more about the impact than simply what’s within the walls of the building,” Thomas said. 

Bey grew up in Beltzhoover, and prior to closing on 744 E. Warrington Ave., he and Nowlin were running SHMG and Hilltop Rising out of a rented office space at 831 E. Warrington Ave. for five years. Bey said he never thought they’d have the opportunity to own a building along the business district, given how property values have risen over the last decade.

“When I was a kid, there were very clear racial lines. We couldn’t go into Allentown, that was the white neighborhood,” Bey said. “Years later, a lot has happened culturally, societally, and for me personally. When I reflect on how I got here, I can’t help but to think that it’s providence.”

“It feels amazing, it feels meant, and it feels like it’s time.”

South Hilltop Men’s Group is a fiscally sponsored project of New Sun Rising. NSR was also the fiscal sponsor of charitable activities contracted through Academy PGH and Work Hard Pittsburgh, which included the purchase of 744 E. Warrington Ave. The intent of the acquisition was to provide financial security to Work Hard Pittsburgh. As such, the financial realities of the Work Hard Pittsburgh ecosystem during the pandemic made it necessary to sell the building, a decision that was ultimately made by NSR as the owner. Read more about NSR’s Real Estate Co-development Model here.

Program launches for environmental justice communities to organize, access generational funding opportunities

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Above: The SURJE Summit (Southern Unity for Racial Justice and Equity) in Memphis, Tennessee. Photo by Scott Wolovich.

Two trillion dollars is an impossible amount of money to wrap your head around. But that’s exactly what the Federal government has approved for community investment in recent years. What makes this different is that 40% of eligible funds will directly benefit disinvested and overburdened communities through the Justice40 designation – and $2,000,000,000,000 is a once in a generation opportunity.

At the other end of the spectrum are local organizations and resident leaders who have dedicated their lives to helping people thrive. They tend to be small, underfunded, and often volunteer-driven. The distance between these federal opportunities and the people best positioned to direct and benefit from them couldn’t be greater.

Last week, a group from Southwestern PA began their journey to help close this gap. Residents from environmental justice designated communities, community engagement professionals, a documentarian, and nonprofit leaders attended the first ever SURJE Summit (Southern Unity for Racial Justice and Equity) in Memphis, Tennessee. The trip, self-funded by New Sun Rising and RiverWise, offered a transformational opportunity to learn, connect, and begin designing resources that serve the multi-county Pittsburgh region.

Together, we learned about the lasting impacts of our nation’s history of stolen land and stolen labor. We met hundreds of inspiring leaders who are organizing power within their communities. And we heard the call for advocacy and capacity building to ensure that Justice40 funds and the implementation of programs are community-led. 

Our long-time collaborators at EcoDistricts also announced that they have officially rebranded and relaunched as Just Communities after joining the Partnership for Southern Equity.  On the final day, our learning journey concluded at the National Civil Rights museum located at the Lorraine Motel, the site of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination on April 4, 1968, the day after his famous “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech.

In the coming months, New Sun Rising will support the launch of a program whose goal is to support environmental justice communities to navigate Justice40 funding opportunities while building collaborative capacity for projects that improve their health and climate resilience. It will be designed in close collaboration with the Environmental Justice Genius Advisory Group, a team of community leaders which includes Mary Carey, Alyssa Lyons, Melanie Meade, Shawnta Reed, and Seth Whitted. Our partners at RiverWise, District PGH, the Center for Shared Prosperity Environmental Working Group, and an expanded national network from SURJE will continue to help shape and connect resources as it unfolds.

Together we are eager to unlock resources for projects that can advance environmental justice in our own communities and beyond. Learn more by exploring the new environmental justice layer on the Vibrancy Portal.

Interested to partner, fund, or support this program? Email info@newsunrising.org.

First user guide released to assist in Vibrancy Portal exploration

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Information and technology are important tools that can help organizations and communities define and reach their goals, but sometimes aggregating the data can be overwhelming.

To assist nonprofits, social enterprises, and local leaders in gathering data insights through the Vibrancy Portal, New Sun Rising has released an educational video to guide users through the community data Explorer. 

This function can help gain a better understanding of a community’s capital by providing access to actionable data insights and calculating indices. The overall Vibrancy Index is composed of 50 factors for equitable, sustainable communities, with sub-indices in Culture, Sustainability, Opportunity, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

“The Vibrancy Index shows specific needs in specific places, and if an organization is trying to align themselves with whatever they’re doing, that data is a really good place to start,” said Anthony Harper, co-founder and lead instructor at Beta Builders. 

Democratizing data can help underserved communities be more competitive for resources, and research shows that organizations and collaboratives with high data cultures benefit through increased funding, stronger internal and external relationships, and more effective operations. 

This is the first video in the Vibrancy User Guides series and gives a general overview of how to use Places, Indicators, and Analysis. Future videos will take an individual look at these three topics to provide a deeper understanding of each.

The Vibrancy Portal is part of New Sun Rising’s Power in Numbers initiative that combines data, technology, organizing, communication, and creativity to help people advocate for the future they envision.

Wells Fargo funds Clean Energy Workforce Program

Posted on by Alyse Horn

The Wells Fargo Foundation has granted New Sun Rising (NSR) $22,000 for the Clean Energy Workforce Program. 

The Clean Energy Workforce Program was established in 2021-2022 in part through seed support from the Wells Fargo Foundation. The program created a solar educational energy discovery zone with AYA Instruments, a solar installer certification curriculum which has trained 14 community members in partnership with the Community College of Allegheny County, and community projects for field training and public awareness including solar sheds at the Beltzhoover Institute of Arts & Sciences and Millvale Playground. The current funding will expand and deepen the program for 2023-2024.

“Our communities want clean and affordable energy choices,” said Scott Wolovich, executive director for NSR. “Solar adoption is growing rapidly, thanks to once in a lifetime investments like the Inflation Reduction Act. The questions we need to ask now are: who will get the opportunity to build this future and how will they benefit financially?”

This funding will help New Sun Rising increase the capacity of the Clean Energy Workforce Program and related community education through the hiring of a full-time Community Engagement Catalyst (CEC) at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub. 

It will also strengthen NSR’s ability to successfully manage the installation and design of the expanded solar capacity at NSR-owned and co-developed commercial facilities in Allentown, Beltzhoover, and Millvale, supported by alumni of the workforce program. People interested in participating in an upcoming 40 hr installer certification class, which includes a financial stipend upon completion, can fill out this brief interest form.

Applications open for Community Experience Catalyst at the Hub

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Above: Participants at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub in March 2022 for the Triboro Ecodistrict Workshop.

Are you a community oriented individual with facility management experience?

New Sun Rising (NSR) invites you to apply for the Community Experience Catalyst (CEC) position at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub. 

The Hub is a community center and event space located at 112 E. Sherman St. in Millvale, PA and the CEC will be required to attend to the operational and programmatic needs of the building. This mixed use facility, owned by Moose MODE Inc. and operated by NSR, serves as an office for multiple organizations with food and energy-related missions, as well as public space for meetings and remote work.

In the evenings and weekends, the Hub hosts performances and gatherings, as well as private rentals ranging from business meetings to bridal and baby showers. The facility is a sustainably-designed, adaptive reuse project working to support the Millvale Ecodistrict and Triboro Ecodistrict in achieving their community goals. 

Candidates must have the ability to maintain positive and effective working relationships with a diverse set of tenants, guests, and partners, and thrive in a team-based environment. This person is resourceful and figures out a way to get the job done: someone who likes to roll up their sleeves, do what is necessary, and have fun at work.

This full-time position requires flexibility and candidates must be able to work a variety of hours, including mornings/evenings and weekdays/weekends. Proficiency in Google Drive and creative marketing software like Canva (or the ability to learn this software) is required. 

Demonstration of a sincere interest and commitment to facility operations, sustainable design, food systems, solar energy, arts, and community-building is strongly desired. A minimum of three years related experience in a combination of these areas is preferred.

NSR and our subsidiary Moose MODE Inc. are committed to inclusion, diversity, and equity in the physical spaces we develop and the people who bring them to life. We value applicants with a wide range of experience, vision, and who have demonstrated commitment and responsibility in related projects and duties. 

For a full list of duties, responsibilities, and benefits, click here.

Applications open for NSR Sustainability VISTA

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Above: Robert Tunon of Etna (left) and Essifash Glah-Fisher (right), previous NSR Sustainability VISTA, working on the Etna Eco Park in 2021.

New Sun Rising is looking for a Sustainability VISTA to join our team!

In this position, the VISTA will support NSR projects in food systems, clean energy, watershed management, air quality, mobility, business districts, and housing.

The VISTA will primarily serve the Borough of Millvale and provide secondary support to neighboring communities. They’ll focus on outreach, volunteer coordination, and grant writing to further NSR’s sustainability initiatives. They’ll build capacity to implement Millvale’s new Ecodistrict plan and participate in meetings to continue collaboration with neighbors in Etna and Sharpsburg. Outreach activities will include managing and improving communications systems.

The VISTA will attend and present at community meetings and convene and participate in various meetings, training, events, and programs. The VISTA will recruit volunteers, map resources, and develop systems to increase the impact of the volunteer base. The VISTA will also collect data to track progress of sustainability initiatives.

At NSR, we provide capacity building, accessible funding, and data advocacy services that make positive change toward promoting vibrant communities. We are guided by our core value commitments to an equitable & inclusive society by using adaptive processes centered in asset-based practices.

As a member of the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group, NSR collaborates with community-based non-profits to achieve economic justice and racial equity through revitalization efforts. PCRG empowers community development organizations in the region, providing resources like the VISTA program, which enhances organizational capacity while cultivating leadership. The program has been successful in advancing the careers of VISTA members, who are given opportunities for professional development through classes, conferences, etc. 70% of VISTAs have gone on to positions at community non-profits, while 30% have pursued higher education, often supported by the end-of-service education award.

This is a full-time, yearlong position and applications will be accepted until October 31, 2023.

If interested in applying, click here.

Partnership with local foundation offers fiscal sponsorship support for community initiatives

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Above: Leon Ford (left), co-founder of The Hear Foundation, and Sergeant Tiffany Kline-Costa (right), Pittsburgh Police Bureau of Community Engagement Office, at an event in May announcing microgrant recipients for the second round of funding from The Hear Foundation. (Photo courtesy of The Hear Foundation.)

Twice a month during the school year, Sergeant Tiffany Kline-Costa and Officer Jonathan Bradford interact with 600 students throughout six Pittsburgh Public Schools with Youth Connections, a project of the Pittsburgh Police Community Engagement Office.

Youth Connections grants officers the opportunity to talk with 9th grade Civics students, share information about how to safely interact with police, and build relationships with each class.

Kline-Costa said they intercept a lot of questions from students about their experiences as police officers, a common first question being, “Do you like donuts?”

“That is always asked,” Kline-Costa said with a laugh. “Once they loosen up a little bit and get to know us, they’re really interested in police work and what we do.”

Pittsburgh Public School students during an event with the Pittsburgh Police Bureau of Community Engagement Office.

In May, Youth Connections was one of 15 local nonprofits that received a community microgrant from The Hear Foundation, the first and only nonprofit in Pittsburgh dedicated exclusively to collaborating with community leaders, Pittsburgh Police, residents and the City to create a safe, thriving community for all. 

Bradford said the funding will be used to provide food and supplies for the program to help create a positive space for relationship building. 

“We try to change the dynamic of police in the community and break that barrier while teaching them how to interact with law enforcement and to not be fearful of the police,” Bradford said.

The Hear Foundation was co-founded by Leon Ford and former Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert. In 2012, Ford was shot by a Pittsburgh police officer five times and paralyzed during a traffic stop after being mistaken for someone else. The experience led him to become an advocate for social justice, police reform and reconciliation between police and community. When he and Schubert met in 2020, their conversations around creating safe, thriving communities led them to establish the nonprofit.

“We’re a new organization and hadn’t run an open grantmaking round before, but it’s a core part of our mission,” said Kamal Nigam, executive director of The Hear Foundation. “We formed a partnership with New Sun Rising to facilitate our grant process because of their expertise in this area and knowing how to interact with grassroots leaders.”

The awarded grants will support work being done in Pittsburgh neighborhoods to foster strong, positive relationships between Pittsburgh Police and local residents; create safe communities; and bring opportunities for healing and support to those impacted by trauma and violence. 

Valerie Dixon, founder of Prevent Another Crime Today.

Youth Connections and Prevent Another Crime Today (P.A.C.T.), which also accepted a community microgrant, are receiving fiscal sponsorship through New Sun Rising. Valerie Dixon, founder of P.A.C.T., said the experience so far has been positive and she’s thankful for the connection.

“It’s truly a plus and I like [New Sun Rising] approach,” Dixon said. “I feel very confident of their support moving forward.” 

Dixon created P.A.C.T. after her son, Robert Dixon, was murdered in 2001. Separate from the police investigation, she began her own community outreach to find information on the person who killed her son and through that she connected with other mothers who were experiencing the same turmoil. To raise awareness, she created a website, secured billboard space, and received funding to reward anyone who could provide information to her or other families about who killed their loved ones.

The initiative has grown into a support system for people who have lost family and friends to violence. The community microgrant from The Hear Foundation will support P.A.C.T. ‘s Family Action Network (F.A.N.), which works to honor, support, educate, and guide families impacted by homicides. Families who wish to share their stories and experiences with youth programs, schools, community centers, and more can receive training to provide audiences with a clear picture of what trauma looks like and how crime affects individuals, families, and communities. 

“They are humbled to know that there is an outlet and a platform for them to speak [about their trauma] and learn what to say,” Dixon said. “They’re able to connect with families going through the same things, and there is camaraderie in knowing that they aren’t alone on this journey. They know it may not solve the case, but it gets them involved and pulled out of the darkness.”

If you would like to learn more about The Hear Foundation and how to support their mission, contact hello@hearfoundation.com.

 

New Sun Rising’s partnership with The Hear Foundation is the latest example of their Community Grantmaking Support Service, where NSR’s agile approach is designed to meet the unique needs of donors and foundations who want to offer more responsive and flexible grants, but do not presently have the infrastructure to administer themselves. Past Community Grantmaking Support Service programs have included Arts Equity Reimagined: Collective Action, One Northside Mini-grants & Rapid Response Funds, COVID Crisis Mitigation Response, and the Transformative Teaching Artist Awards.

Summer Youth Guide for the Triboro Ecodistrict

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Above: Kids participate in making crafts during Nature Night at Etna’s EcoPark. Photo courtesy of Etna Community Organization.

With school out for the summer, libraries and community organizations are making sure kids aren’t bored to pieces in the Triboro Ecodistrict. 

As a one stop resource for youth and teen activities, we’ve compiled a list of programs and events throughout Millvale, Etna, and Sharpsburg running in July and August.

The Sharpsburg Community Library (SCL) has a calendar of events with details on their programs and if they are full, if kids can sign up for a waitlist, or if there are still openings. Click here to view the full calendar. 

For a calendar of events hosted by the Millvale Community Library (MCL) and Etna Community Organization (ECO), click here.

We also have some information below on programs throughout the three boroughs. Keep scrolling to learn more. 

Remember to keep an eye out for Rivertown Kidz! They’ll be bringing movie nights to each borough. The first is on June 30 in the backyard of the Millvale Community Library. On July 21, they’ll be at the Borough Community Pool and Playground in Etna, and August 18 at Kennedy Park in Sharpsburg. Each movie starts at 7 p.m. Free transportation, snacks, and drinks will be provided.

Did we miss something? Let us know and we’ll add it to the list. Email alyse@newsunrising.org.

 

Millvale

Happening at the Millvale Community Library, 213 Grant Avenue: 

  • Every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. Grown up and Me Music Program is a partnership with You Be You Inc. providing music, stories, games and more for babies through preschool aged children. 
  • Every Wednesday at 12 p.m. All Bodies Welcome Yoga – Free Yoga on the Back Deck of MCL.
  • Every Thursday at 4 p.m. Kids of Steel is a youth group that focuses on athletic/exercise activities and meets in the BackYard of MCL.
  • On July 7 and August 4 from 4-6 p.m. Library Lego Hang where kids can come play with Legos at the Library! Unstructured, all ages table top play time.

Etna

Happening at the Etna Borough Pool and Playground, 2 Pine Street:

  • Etna Community Organization (ECO) has partnered with North Hills Cares to distribute free lunches to kids 18 and under at the Etna Pool and Playground each weekday from 12-1:30 p.m. They could use volunteers to help distribute the meals! Signup here.
  • Rivertown Kidz Movie Night: July 21 @ 7 p.m.

At EcoPark, 37 Grant Avenue:

  • Nature Nights at EcoPark each month through October. This is a fun environmental education program for kids where ECO provides free crafts, pizza and popsicles. Nature Nights will take place on June 27, July 25, August 22, September 26, and October 24 from 6-7PM.


Sharpsburg

Happening at Sharpsburg Community Library, 1212 Main Street:

Most summer camps at the library are full, but there are some programs that still have space available:

  • Chess Club for ages 6-11: first Saturday of the month @ 1-3 p.m.
  • Lavender Club for LGBTQ+ tweens/teens age 10-18: first Wednesday of the Month @ 6:30 p.m.
  • Wiggle Time for ages 2 and under: Tuesdays and Thursdays @ 10:30-11 a.m.
  • “Los Zorritos” Spanish Mini-Camp for ages 5-10: July 10-14, daily 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • STEAM Storytime for ages 2-5: Wednesdays and Fridays @ 10:30-11:30 a.m.
  • PreK Read & Play + Caregiver for ages 3-5: Fridays @ 1:30-2 p.m.
  • Chinese Play & Learn for ages 3-7: July 22, 2-2:45 p.m.
  • Make-n-Take for ages 5-12: Tuesdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
  • Teen Time for grades 7-12: Tuesdays @ 4:30pm
  • Tweentastic for grades 4-6: Thursdays @ 4:30pm

Waitlisted Camps:

  • Colorful Mini Camp for PreK + caregiver: 7/5 & 7/6, 12pm-1pm
  • Marvelous Mosaic Camp for age 6-12: 7/17-7/20, 12pm-2pm, snack provided
  • Community Art Camp for age 9-12: 7/24-7/27, daily 12pm-2pm, snack provided

Community events w/ library activity table:

  • Summer Finale Party: Tuesday 8/8, 5pm-7pm @ Allegheny RiverTrail Park, Aspinwall
  • Aspinwall’s Big Night Out: Thursday 8/10, 5pm-8pm @ Aspinwall Recreation Field

Summer Reading program

  • All ages
  • Earn raffle ticket for each day you read
  • Read anything! Books, comics, magazines, audiobooks, fan fiction, etc.
  • Log your days with the Beanstack app – choose Cooper-Siegel Community Library
  • Program dates: 6/3 – 8/5
  • Prizes include gift baskets from Spark Books (early childhood, school age, & teens), Pokemon basket, art basket, gift cards from Big Burrito Group, Beans & Cream, & more!
  • K-12 students will earn FREE Millie’s Ice Cream coupon
  • Kids may also earn a bead for their summer keychain/bracelet each week they check in

Nonprofit program continues to build healthy, resilient regional leaders

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Above: Mike Hiller (left), executive director of UpstreamPgh and a Nonprofit Resilience Program alumni, tabling at a 2023 Allegheny County Executive Candidate Forum.

Since its inception in 2020, the Nonprofit Resilience Program (NRP) has been lauded by nonprofit leaders as a cathartic experience to decompress, build relationships, and create routines that enable healthy habits within themselves and their organizations.

The program has hosted seven cohorts and supported 60 participants over the last three years with each group being nominated by The Partnership Network (TPN) and NRP alumni, and facilitated by Jamie Johnson, director of programs at New Sun Rising, based on their backgrounds. 

The two most recent cohorts focused on professionals in sustainability and members of TPN, which was integral in the creation of the program.

“It was important for the members of The Partnership Network to experience the program they helped create and advocate for,” Johnson said. 

Talia Piazza DePasquale, director of communications and storytelling at Neighborhood Allies, which is a member of TPN, said she had been involved in developing the language for the Nonprofit Resilience Program and understood it in theory, but found herself “caught off guard.” 

“Everybody was being so honest about what they were going through and the struggles they were having,” Piazza DePasquale said. “We had the space to come in and be completely vulnerable. I didn’t know I was going to be that honest when it started.”

UpstreamPgh Executive Director Mike Hiller participated in the sustainability cohort, but echoed Piazza DePasquale’s surprise and said he appreciated the “holistic way” participants showed up to the program.

“Jamie was able to bring people together in a way that allowed synergistic and empathetic conversations, because our experiences were so similar to each other,” Hiller said. “She put a lot of thought into this program and it came off as very genuine. I think that set the stage for the whole thing to be successful.”

Shequaya Bailey, director of operations at GroundedPGH, was also in the sustainability cohort and said she found a lot of value in the two professional development sessions with Kesi Howard. Howard worked with participants on personal growth and what that means for their professional life.

Recognizing the health of an organization and the mental and physical health of a nonprofit leader are intrinsically intertwined, the Staunton Farm Foundation recently granted the program $200,000 to continue supporting leaders throughout our region.

“We are grateful for the continual support of NRP,” Johnson said. “This year, we will be able to go deeper with our program alumni by hosting our first annual retreat. I am excited for them to connect, self-reflect, and be activated to continue their dedication to self-care for themselves, their teams, and the communities they serve.” 

The retreat will be held on Thursday, August 31 and will launch the NRP Alum Network and after-care program, which includes education, resources and opportunities in topics identified by NRP Alum. The network is an initiative that is led by program alumni with NSR support. 

If you believe in building resilience among the nonprofit leaders in our region, please consider sponsoring the NRP Retreat. For more information, click here. 

Vibrancy Index illustrates healthcare disparities among racial, ethnic groups in Southwestern PA

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Since 2014, thousands of civil lawsuits have been filed against four U.S. companies that produced prescription opioids, which local and state governments say fueled the ongoing opioid crisis throughout the country for decades. 

A settlement was reached in 2022 for $26 billion and Pennsylvania will receive more than $1 billion, which is intended to fund opioid remediation programs throughout the state. 

According to Spotlight PA, “For several years, Pennsylvania has had one of the country’s highest drug overdose death rates. In 2021, Pennsylvania had 5,350 fatal drug overdoses, and 78% of them involved fentanyl, state data shows.”

Deaths caused by drug and alcohol overdoses, suicide, or liver failure are known as “deaths of despair.” This cause of death in Allegheny County is 22.4% higher than the Pennsylvania average and 45.1% higher than the national average. 

According to data collected through New Sun Rising’s Vibrancy Index, the Black Community makes up 13% of the population in Allegheny County, but suffers 29% of overdose deaths in the area. 

“It starts off as recreational, as a means of escape from the everyday stress of just living life on life’s terms,” said Denise Zellous, director of Zellous Hope Project. “Living with generational poverty and getting up to another day of surviving versus living, it’s easy to get entrapped in something that gives you relief and drugs is something that does.”

  

Zellous Hope is based in McKees Rocks and provides a bridge over the holes in the road to better living by working with existing organizations to assist with what people say they need.

The high percentage of deaths of despair and the disproportionate effects of overdose deaths in Black Communities contribute to a lack of progress on Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being and lowers our region’s overall Vibrancy Index score. 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.

Analysis shows Allegheny County communities that fall within the lowest 20% for Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3) also rank lower for No Poverty (SDG 1), Zero Hunger (SDG 2), and Life on Land (SDG 15). Furthermore, these communities tend to be communities of color, with the non-white population being 2.7x higher in communities with the lowest health index score.

In 2021, 94.6% of county residents had health insurance, which is higher than the state and national average, but that doesn’t always equal adequate support. Zellous said most of the safety nets that are accessible for those who need help have holes where people can slip through, or don’t cover the basic needs necessary to stabilize an individual. And it is not only the affected residents who are impacted by these statistics.

Community leaders working with those who suffer from generational trauma or addiction can become burnt out physically and emotionally. This kind of exhaustion only became exasperated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and recognizing the lack of support for leaders in the area, the Nonprofit Resilience Program was developed through conversations between New Sun Rising, Neighborhood Allies, B.O.S.S Consulting, and other members of The Partnership Network who were concerned about the retention of nonprofit leaders.

“You talk about professional boundaries, but you’re human,” Zellous said. “It really takes a toll on you, because you can’t help but be emotionally moved by the fact that for every person you help, there are four to five more that you can’t reach.”

“And not only are you fighting to make a difference, but you’ve got policies in place that make it almost impossible to do that, because you’re fighting against laws that are outdated and counterintuitive to what it is that you’re trying to do.”

To learn more about how funds from the opioid lawsuit settlements will be distributed and to voice your opinions in the decision making, click here.  

New Sun Rising supports multiple projects and organizations through our fiscal sponsorship program that are elevating the health and well-being of Allegheny County, including: Pittsburgh Bridges OCD, Unshakeable Motherhood, Melanin Mommies, Flourish Ed, Birth Your Way, Visible Hands, and Grow Sto-Rox. 

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).  The Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3) Index includes five different indicators such as rates of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, substance abuse and addiction, and air quality.