One Northside Mini-Grants fund community-driven projects

Posted on November 8, 2018 by Scott Wolovich

Photo: Syreeta Gordon, Unshakeable Motherhood Project

On Wednesday nights, the community gym in Northview Heights Estates is filled with kids. Boys and girls of all ages use the space, but during the middle of the week, about 20 elementary and middle school girls gather for dance rehearsal.

The Northview Heights Estate Dance Troupe has been practicing weekly since the beginning of October for their first performance in December. Project Leader Rev. Diana Marshall said after that performance, she believes more kids will be interested and want to join the program.

“This is going to grow,” Marshall said.

She wanted to bring the dance program to Northview Heights because she is familiar with the neighborhood and knew there were kids in the community who wanted to dance. She believes it’s a great outlet for them and a constructive way to get them focused on something positive and teaches discipline.

“They are able to all come together and learn how to react to each other,” Marshall said. “They learn to respect each other, and so far so good.”

Marshall received funding for the project through New Sun Rising’s One Northside Mini-Grant program. The $1,000 grants have funded dozens of projects thus far and encourage applicants to focus on four categories: education, employment, place, and health and safety.

The dance troupe falls under the health category, as does Syreeta Gordon’s project Unshakeable Motherhood. Gordon said the program has been a year in the making and will educate expecting mothers about doula’s and how they can help ease the birthing process. The program is split into four workshops, two of which will also talk about the dynamics of healthy relationships.

The “What Are Doula Services & How to Choose One” workshops will be held at the Woods Run Library, 1201 Woods Run Ave., on Wednesday, November 14 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Saturday, November 17 from 2-4 p.m.

The “Unshakeable Motherhood on Relationship Woes” workshops will be held at the Allegheny Library, 1230 Federal St., on Saturday, November 24 from 2-4:30 p.m. and Monday, November 26 from 6:30-8 p.m.

Gordon is a doula and was once a single mother, and she feels that her life experiences with postpartum depression and finding the right partner can help other women not feel so alone.

“[You] can feel isolated, depressed, friends go to the wayside. It drives you crazy and if you’re not connected with the right people it can be bad,” Gordon said.

She also said that working with a doula could help pregnancies go much smoother, even if a mother is not giving birth for the first time. Being well supported and writing a birth plan can make a huge difference, Gordon said, especially for women of color who have a greater risk of dying during childbirth.

“I’m passionate about this work and I know that it’s needed,” Gordon said. “This is where I’m supposed to be.”

Gordon found out about the mini-grant program through a friend who asked her to attend one of the information sessions held over the summer. To get the word out, Street Team Ambassadors were also deployed throughout the Northside to help residents develop their projects and secure additional resources.

Maria Searcy is one of four Street Team Ambassadors, and said for her it was a great opportunity to be out in the community and talk with people about how to use the mini-grant program to get their ideas funded.

Searcy said the mini-grant program can open doors for further funding from organizations like ioby, a crowdfunding platform that partners project leaders with coaches to create effective fundraising campaigns.

The final One Northside Mini-Grant deadline of 2018 is on Thursday, November 29. Printed applications are accepted at the Allegheny and Woods Run Carnegie Libraries during normal business hours and by postal mail addressed to New Sun Rising, attn. One Northside Mini-Grant, P.O. Box 58005, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15209.

You may also submit your application here or send as attachments to vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org. Contact New Sun Rising staff with inquiries or other questions by phone (412) 407-9007 or email info@newsunrising.org.

New Sun Rising’s One Northside Mini-Grant Program is made possible through support by The Buhl Foundation.

Photo Credit + Author: Alyse Horn Pyatt

SVP Full Circle Program Partners with New Sun Rising to Accelerate Non-profit Impact

Posted on October 30, 2018 by Scott Wolovich

Social Venture Partners (SVP) Pittsburgh has partnered with New Sun Rising to manage operations of their core program, the Full Circle Nonprofit Impact Accelerator.  The program provides support for the region’s most innovative nonprofits through engaged philanthropy, where SVP Partners contribute their expertise, skills, networks, and finances to help tackle our community’s greatest challenges.

Starting with the Fall 2018 cohort, management of the SVP Full Circle program will officially transition to New Sun Rising. The two organizations have worked together to empower nonprofit sustainability and innovation since their first workshop together in 2015.

Leigh Solomon Pugliano, SVP Full Circle Program Manager and New Sun Rising’s Director of Opportunity, says, “I am very excited to manage the Full Circle program.  New Sun Rising will provide an additional layer of support to SVP and the nonprofits they support. We hope to increase the awareness and accessibility of the program, as well as connect networks of communities and organizations that may otherwise be operating in silos.”

Each Fall and Spring, a Full Circle cohort accelerates five nonprofits through an intensive 14-week program of workshops, seminars, networking, and pitch events. Participants are paired with teams of SVP Partners, who are private sector leaders serving as executive coaches and working directly with them throughout the program.

Cynthia Closkey, an SVP Partner and chair of the organization’s board, says, “SVP is working to help nonprofits in our region increase their effectiveness and capacity, so they in turn can help people in a range of ways in the community. Each SVP Partner has the chance to engage with the nonprofits they coach, and with all the nonprofits we work with. It’s a focused, intensive opportunity to make significant impact on the problems that matter most. I find it the most rewarding way possible to give back.”

The current Full Circle cohort kicked off on September 22nd during a workshop at Ascender and includes Neighborhood Legal Services Association, No Crayon Left Behind, Orenda Health, Providence Connections, and Ruth’s Way. The public is invited to learn more about the mission and impact of these organizations during a pitch event on December 12th. More details will be announced soon.

For more details on how to become an SVP Partner, upcoming opportunities to accelerate your nonprofit, or to financially support Full Circle, please email leigh@svppittsburgh.org.

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About Social Venture Partners Pittsburgh

Social Venture Partners (SVP) Pittsburgh is a community of engaged philanthropists who contribute their expertise, skills, networks and finances to grow the impact of nonprofits and tackle our community’s greatest challenges. SVP Pittsburgh’s core program is the Full Circle impact accelerator, which connects SVP Partners as executive coaches to accelerate the impact of Pittsburgh’s most innovative nonprofits. For more information, visit SVPPittsburgh.org.

About New Sun Rising

New Sun Rising  (NSR) is an innovative 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to build vibrant communities through culture, sustainability and opportunity. NSR provides programs and services that create equitable opportunity, solve social challenges, and strengthen the vibrancy of place. Each year, over 150  individuals, organizations, and funders work with NSR to launch their nonprofit projects, social businesses, and economic development initiatives throughout the Greater Pittsburgh region. For more information, visit NewSunRising.org.

Contact

Leigh Solomon-Pugliano, Full Circle Manager, leigh@svppittsburgh.org

Scott Wolovich, Executive Director, New Sun Rising, scott@newsunrising.org

One Northside Mini-Grant Program Accepting Applications Through November

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Scott Wolovich

October 2, 2018

Pittsburgh, PA – With support from The Buhl Foundation, New Sun Rising’s One Northside Mini-Grant Program awarded $1,000 to 20 projects over the summer that focus on empowering community engagement and social impact in Northside neighborhoods. Grants are available for 30 more projects with two upcoming application deadlines this year: October 25 and November 19.

The Mini-Grant Program supports projects that strengthen community connections and increases accessibility to resources with the potential to become larger initiatives. Those submitting applications are encouraged to focus on elevating the Quality of Education, Employment, Place, and Safety and Health for fellow Northside residents, and previous mini-grant recipients are welcome to apply.

Ginger Underwood says the reason she joined the One Northside Mini-grant Street Team Ambassadors, “is to make more people aware of what’s going on over here on the Northside, and to promote the great work that is being done to help make the quality of lives better for each person, whether you are a child, teenager, adult or senior citizen. We have great assets and people have great ideas to share. The mini-grant program is a great way to put these ideas in motion. We all depend on each other to make this a great community, and the more engagement we have from residents, the better our community will be for all who live, work, and play, here on the Northside.”

Some current projects funded through the program include: Senior Citizens Craft Education, an initiative to combat social isolation and reconnect older adults through development of floral crafting skills, and The Comic Book Shop, an afterschool reading program that incorporates graphic novels every week to master reading fluency during the 2018-2019 school year.

Applicants are able to receive support during and after the application process from Street Team Ambassadors and New Sun Rising, who are available to schedule informal meet-ups in community locations as requested. The team is comprised of four Northside residents who received training from Levels Creative Empowerment + Consulting Group and are qualified to assist with project development and secure additional resources.

Printed applications are accepted at the Allegheny and Woods Run Carnegie Libraries during normal business hours and by postal mail addressed to New Sun Rising, attn. One Northside Mini-Grant, P.O. Box 58005, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15209.

You may also submit your application here or send as attachments to grants@newsunrising.org. Contact New Sun Rising staff with inquiries or other questions by phone (412) 407-9007 or email info@newsunrising.org.

New Sun Rising is committed to supporting leaders of community projects to create local, sustainable and measurable impact, and the mini-grant program is the continuation of the organizations Ignite Northside program. The One Northside Mini-Grant Program was previously managed by The Sprout Fund and known as the Neighbor to Neighbor grant program.

About One Northside Mini-Grants
To support community members in their efforts to advance the One Northside vision, One Northside Mini-Grants of up to $1,000 (taxable if not a 501(c)(3) are awarded to support small-scale community projects.

About One Northside
One Northside is a community-driven initiative to improve the quality of life in all 18 Northside neighborhoods of Pittsburgh. Since 2016, through the support of The Buhl Foundation, New Sun Rising has helped 92 Northside residents and community members put their ideas into action through the One Northside Consensus Plan’s focus on Quality of Education, Employment, Place, Health, and Safety. For more information, visit OneNorthsidePGH.org.

About New Sun Rising

New Sun Rising  (NSR) is an innovative 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to build vibrant communities through culture, sustainability and opportunity. NSR provides programs and services that create equitable opportunity, solve social challenges, and strengthen the vibrancy of place. Since 2005, over 400 individuals, organizations, and funders have worked with NSR to launch their nonprofit projects, social businesses, and economic development initiatives throughout the Greater Pittsburgh region with $5 million of support. For more information, visit NewSunRising.org.

Contact:

Scott Wolovich, Executive Director, New Sun Rising, scott@newsunrising.org

Daniel Striker, Director of Culture + Operations, New Sun Rising, dan@newsunrising.org

NSR Seeks Applicants for Equity + Capacity VISTA Position

Posted on April 11, 2018 by Scott Wolovich

New Sun Rising is now accepting applications for their 2018-19 AmeriCorps VISTA program. The NSR Equity + Capacity VISTA will help improve conditions which alleviate poverty by supporting local leaders who build culture, sustainability, and opportunity in their neighborhood. NSR encourages emerging leaders who value innovative, creative thinking in a flexible team dynamic while achieving their own professional and personal development goals to apply by contacting us at info@newsunrising.org. Candidate selection deadline is June 18th for a start date of August 2, 2018.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

New Sun Rising’s Vibrant Communities program promotes culture, sustainability, and opportunity in underserved neighborhoods throughout the Pittsburgh region. Program participants include social entrepreneurs, non-profit, and main street business leaders who catalyze regenerative community development grounded in equity, entrepreneurship, and place. Program investments are led by the community voice to ignite, launch, and grow organizations and collaborative initiatives. Core strategies include planning, connectivity, and resources to promote an authentic civic identity.

New Sun Rising programs support mission aligned partners in order to activate the vision and plans of underserved communities. Mounting evidence demonstrates that community revitalization does not typically benefit legacy stakeholders. By connecting and training local leaders, New Sun Rising helps the community prepare to benefit from the opportunities resulting from development.  The Vibrant Communities program focuses on building the software of communities, people and connections, in order to create economic opportunity. New Sun Rising and our network of partners create the following outcomes towards equitable community revitalization: increased skills and knowledge, financial resources, leadership capacity, support networks, cultural and sustainability impacts, and a replicable and scalable model for authentic community revitalization.

MEMBER DUTIES

The New Sun Rising Equity + Capacity VISTA will

1. Research and develop methods for measuring and communicating program impact
2. Research and submit grant applications for current and future poverty reduction programs
3. Assess Vibrant Communities partners through analysis and asset mapping
4. Develop systems and programs to build organizational capacity of small businesses and community organizations
5. Develop systems and programs to engage and support community residents

REQUIREMENTS

Education level: College Graduate

Desired skills: Recruitment , Fundraising/Grant Writing , Non-Profit Management ,  Writing/Editing , Leadership, Business/Entrepreneur , Community Organization , Communications , Public Speaking , Computers/Technology, Teamwork

The New Sun Rising VISTA program is supported by the Henry L. Hillman Foundation and held in partnership with Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group.

Manufacturing Vibrancy

Posted on December 3, 2017 by Scott Wolovich

Preparing for crisis is 90% psychological. Experts say that developing a plan, gathering resources, and communicating with others in advance are common sense strategies to increase your chance of survival. Assuming that you’re paying attention in the first place.

The check engine light is on

As living organisms we’re predisposed to work towards balance or homeostasis. So why aren’t we acknowledging indicators which predict a less certain future? It’s like we’re watching a movie, where the inhabitants of a blue marble speeding through the galaxy are heading towards disaster of their own making. You’re yelling to the one person that can save them, but she can’t hear you.

In our hyper-connected, accelerating, Darwinian society; survival of the fittest leaves the majority of our neighbors behind. Together, the world’s 8 richest people now hold more wealth than the 3.6 billion people representing the bottom half of our global village (Oxfam). The gap in economic opportunity between prosperous and distressed communities continues to grow.(Economic Innovation Group). And, the number of startup companies has decreased 48% in the midst of a 30 year decline in the US (Kaufmann Foundation).

Read our entire article on Medium to learn why social equity, entrepreneurship, and a renewed sense of place are critical for our survival

New Sun Rising Announces Director of Sustainability

Posted on November 9, 2017 by Scott Wolovich

New Sun Rising is excited to welcome Zaheen Hussain to his new position as Director of Sustainability. Still serving as the Millvale Sustainability Coordinator, this position will continue to fill the role as a shared community resource working to implement Millvale’s EcoDistrict Pivot Plan with the Millvale EcoDistrict Collaborative (Millvale Community Library, Borough of Millvale, Millvale Community Development Corporation, and New Sun Rising).

Previously sponsored through a Neighborhood Allies Catalytic Grant, his work at the Millvale Community Library over the years has also been funded by the Hillman Family Foundation and the Heinz Endowments. The transition to New Sun Rising from the Library has been seamless and continues to facilitate his ability to serve the collaborative partners, as has been the case since his start in June of 2015. Hussain has studied Environmental Science and Natural Resource Economics and is excited to be given the opportunity to implement “big picture” approaches to sustainability in his new position.

Hussain first came to love Millvale in 2012 when he was working for GTECH Strategies and partnered with Millvale to develop a comprehensive energy efficiency outreach plan through a neighborhood Ambassador program. In this role, he partnered with residents to develop educational programming surrounding energy efficiency and provided residents with tools to improve their own personal and household energy efficiency. During this time, there was a competition between neighborhoods in their pursuit of efficiency; Hazelwood, Homewood, and Millvale all participated and Millvale wound up winning the competition. As a result, they were awarded funds which were then used to create an outdoor kitchen at the Millvale Community Library that is now free for all neighborhood residents to use.

Hussain’s first big project when he started working in Millvale was the recalibration of the EcoDistrict plan. When he started, Millvale had already accomplished ~70% of the goals that they had set out to achieve in the areas of Food, Water, and Energy. It was a time to celebrate those accomplishments but also to revisit the EcoDistrict Pivot Plan. It was then that they added the areas of Air, Mobility, and Equity and extended the pursuit of these goals to 2030. The success of these early initiatives started small, were attained, and paved the way to take the community planning to a much larger scale, a task that Hussain is poised to facilitate. A number of the milestones and programs that Hussain has been elemental in the attainment of are listed below, by area:

Food – Partnership with the Pittsburgh Food Bank and the Green Grocer weekly market presence at GAP park, as well as the Launch Millvale Food Systems incubator with NSR

Water – The State of the Watershed meetings in which neighborhood partners from communities upstream combined efforts to alleviate the effect of stormwater runoff on Girty’s Run.

Energy – The solar array installation on the Millville Community Center; The installation of solar panels on the Millvale Community Library (managed by Brian Wolovich over the course of 3 years, resulting in a now self-sufficient building); The Millvale Teen Solar Fellowship.

Air – The collection of a baseline spread of air-quality data that was then compared to regional averages. It was found that industry activity in other neighborhoods has a direct impact on local air quality in Millville. That data is now being put to use in a partnership with Heinz to communicate these findings. Additionally, to pursue proactive steps to reduce the impacts on individuals through low cost and accessible interventions.

Mobility – Working with the Millvale Borough Bike-Ped committee for safer connectivity and to improve transportation options within the neighborhood and facilitating better connectivity to communities outside of Millvale.

Equity – Efforts to increase fairness in the future development of Millvale; to be sure that those who have been living in the community longest are not pushed or priced out. Teaching local teens new technology in an evolving industry landscape (the Solar Teen Fellowship, for example), affordable housing initiatives and the creation of partnerships with neighborhoods and organization outside of Millvale in the pursuit of this goal.

Sustainability is one of NSR’s core Vibrant Communities strategies, along with Culture and Opportunity.  Since joining the NSR team Zaheen has already accomplished a handful of great steps forward. He has been instrumental in the Millvale EcoDistricts being awarded a Heinz grant that will fund educational initiatives, proactive interventions, and public visibility projects surrounding the area of air quality. Additionally, we were honored to host the regional EcoDistrict Training Conference at the Moose and also received a grant to reconvene the Millvale EcoDistrict team in the near future — Hussain was indispensable in the coordination of this programming. The team is comprised of resident leaders, all focusing on the 6 different planning areas (Food, Water, Energy, Air, Mobility, Equity). The Millvale residents will be meeting to come up with strategies to attaining the goals set forth in each of those areas while also partnering with nearby communities (Etna and Sharpsburg) as a part of the Triboro Ecodistrict initiative. Through this work, Hussain hopes to better poise Millvale to be connected to regional initiatives that deepen his work here through the augmentation of shared resources.