Grow residency program provides support for established entrepreneurs

Posted on December 28, 2018 by Scott Wolovich

By Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Being an entrepreneur comes with the understanding that stepping stones are required to take an idea from business plan to earning a profit, and support throughout that process can be crucial to the survival of a business.

This is something that Leigh Solomon Pugliano recognizes. As the founder and director of her own business Barrels to Beethoven, she made her first project as the Director of Opportunity for New Sun Rising to create Grow, a residency program for established business owners and the third tier of support for entrepreneurs that builds on the nonprofits Ignite and Launch programs.

The first iteration of Grow was from May through November and included six established female business owners. The bulk of the program consisted of weekly individualized consulting sessions with Pugliano accompanied by three group meetings over the course of six months. Each business also received a $2,000 award for their participation.

Through her experience engaging with the startup and entrepreneurship community, Pugliano saw “what was missing not just for me, but for the entrepreneurs that don’t meet the [criteria] for [support from] established program[s].”

Grow resident Casey Droege, owner of Small Mall and founder of Casey Droege Cultural Productions, said Pugliano’s leadership was “invaluable” for her businesses and the group sessions gave her the “rare opportunity to have a group of women going through similar obstacles get together and share information.”

“I’ve been through a lot of entrepreneurial development programs and artist development programs, and with [Pugliano] and New Sun Rising, there is a level of follow through that doesn’t happen in other places,” Droege said.

Droege has utilized New Sun Rising for over three years to build her businesses “because it’s the only [organization] that has kept by my side,” and said the creation and execution of the Grow program is “changing the way that Pittsburgh” supports entrepreneurs.

Gabrielle Haywood, a Grow resident and founder of Virginia Dere Swimwear, was also a participant in the Launch Wilkinsburg program. Haywood said through the accountability and camaraderie she experienced in the programs, she has benefited exponentially from her partnership with New Sun Rising. In the Grow program specifically, the support from Pugliano was “absolutely amazing.”

“I don’t think I would have gotten as far without her input and meeting consistently,” Haywood said.

Haywood was also able to get funding through a Grow Loan from New Sun Rising’s Vibrancy Funds, which allowed her to take her business to the next level in terms of manufacturing. In addition to providing low barrier loans between $5,000 and $35,000, over 30 organizations have received Vibrancy Funds support through a number of grant, award, and loan programs throughout the year.

Pugliano said she is planning to begin the next Grow program in the spring. For more information, email leigh@newsunrising.org. In addition to Casey Droege Cultural Productions and Virginia Dere Swimwear, participants in the 2018 Grow Residency included Black Tech Nation, Pearl Arts Studios, Prototype, and Tupelo Honey Teas. The program was supported through a grant from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation.

Mini-grant expands afterschool reading program in Northside

Posted on November 29, 2018 by Scott Wolovich

Spring Hill Elementary School on Damas Street is bustling during afternoon dismissal. Through the chaos of kids getting ready to leave for the day, Stephen Weiss navigates the building up to the second floor to find a group of children waiting for him.

The kids are involved in the Comic Book Shop, an afterschool reading program for kindergarten to 5^th graders that is lead by the Northside nonprofit His Place Community Center where Weiss is employed and is the project lead for the program.

The idea came about last year when Weiss and his wife Melanie Sandoval, who also works at His Place, noticed some second grade boys who were struggling with their reading skills during the the existing afterschool program.

“It seemed to stem from disengagement from what they were reading [in class],” Weiss said.

Recalling when he was that age, Weiss remembered he was a big fan of comic books like Sonic the Hedgehog and decided to incorporate that into his nonprofits afterschool reading program in Spring Hill. To fund the first year of the Comic Book Shop, Sandoval said they applied for a One Northside Mini-Grant through New Sun Rising to “provide high-interest, developmentally appropriate graphic novels and comic books” for the kids.

“Having graphic novels [in the program] makes it engaging for a lot of students, which is the most important aspect of learning,” Weiss said.

Sandoval recalled one student in the program being very distracted during the afterschool program, and it was difficult to get him to read. After working with him one-on-one and reading graphic novels together, Sandoval said he is now reading books above his grade level.

“When you look down and see something growing up through the concrete, something breaking through a system that isn’t working… in education you don’t always feel hopeful, but when you see kids engaged in their reading and enthusiastic about it, especially those who are struggling, you think ‘Okay, there is some hope here,’” Weiss said.

Over 30 projects have also received the $1,000 mini-grant; many that have been awarded funding focus on education, employment, place, and health and safety.

The final application 2018 deadline for the One Northside Mini-Grants is Thursday, Nov. 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.

Author and Photo Credit: Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Placemakers find funding through One Northside mini-grant program

Posted on November 21, 2018 by Scott Wolovich

Photo: North Side Partnership Project celebrates its third Family Legacy Dinner

Much of the building that was McNaugher School in Perry Hilltop remains the same since its closure in 2012, but slowly it has started to breathe new life under the ownership of the North Side Partnership Project.

The nonprofit plans to use the space to implement STEAM labs (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) for students and families, and to lease space to individuals focused on community and social services.

It has also been available for community events, and in early November the North Side Partnership Project hosted its third Family Legacy Dinner with support from New Sun Rising’s One Northside Mini-Grant program. The grants have awarded $1,000 to over 30 projects that concentrate on education, employment, place, and health and safety.

Project Lead Eleanor Williams said the dinners have been funded by One Northside since they began, and were created to credit community members who respect family and want to elevate their neighborhood.

“You might have to dig deep to find it, but there is always something good going on within our families,” Williams said.

With past dinners, one family was chosen and awards were given out to each family member in categories like academics or performing arts, but this year the dinner was done a bit differently. Williams said the decision was made to bring together the Johnson, Gibson, and Humphrey families to celebrate the birth of the newest family member, Kyier Lee.

Williams said she sees a lot of negativity in the world, but believes if children and families are exposed to positive places and gatherings, their outlook on life will become more positive.

A similar idea backs Save Garvin Field, a project also funded by ONS, and is lead by Bonny Kwolek. The project will commence in the spring and clean up the the Observatory Hill park while also igniting the conversation of how to revitalize the space.

Because the space is physically unkempt and at the end of a dead end street, Kwolek said it is used as a meeting place for illegal activity “and we are trying to curb that.” The field was once owned by the Perry Athletic Association, but it is no longer in use.

Some ideas have been kicked around, like starting another baseball league or turning the land into a community garden like Ballfield Farm in Perry Hilltop, but will not be officially discussed until the spring.

Kate Kelley, one of four Street Team Ambassador’s for the program, said the mini-grants are a great opportunity for individuals and organizations to get funding for their projects.

Kelley received funding in the past from One Northside and became a Street Team Ambassador because she wanted to be more involved in letting other Northsider’s know about the mini-grant opportunity.

“It’s accessible for everybody and New Sun Rising is willing to help [you] flesh out the logistics for the grant application and support [you] through the implementation of your project,” Kelley said.

“You don’t need to be a professional. You can just be your own self with a great idea,” Kelley said.

The final application deadline of the year for a One Northside Mini-Grant is Thursday, Nov. 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.

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

Author + Photo Credit: Alyse Horn Pyatt

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.

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

Photo Credit + Author: Alyse Horn Pyatt

Galvanizing Energy Transition: Solar for Non-Profits (G.E.T. Solar) announces Request for Proposals

Posted on November 8, 2018 by Scott Wolovich

Tax-exempt [501(c)(3)] organizations located in western Pennsylvania in the West Penn Power
service territory or in Allegheny County are invited to submit applications to go solar through the
new G.E.T. Solar initiative. Selected organizations will receive a solar feasibility analysis from a
Penn State engineering class, assistance to select a qualified solar contractor as well as detailed
financial savings projections and links to investors to finance their projects. The process may enable
non-profit organizations to go solar with little or no upfront investment of funds through a power
purchase agreement (PPA), depending on current electricity price and solar installation
considerations.

The process for non-profit organizations to go solar with the best savings is time sensitive,
as the federal tax credit for private investors in non-profit projects begins to decline in
January 2020. G.E.T. Solar is attempting to assist non-profits to take advantage of this opportunity
and to install solar before the end of 2019.

The Pennsylvania Solar Center (PSC) is a project of the New Sun Rising (NSR), a 501(c)(3) non-
profit organization, and the Hot Earth Collaborative LLC. The mission of the Pennsylvania Solar
Center is to maximize the number of people, organizations and businesses who benefit from solar
energy in Pennsylvania. The G.E.T. Solar initiative is made possible through generous funding from
the West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund (WPPSEF).

Date RFP Released Thursday, November 1, 2018

Application Due Date Monday, January 8, 2019 at 5:00 PM

Eligible Applicants Tax-exempt organizations located in the West Penn Power service territory or in Allegheny County who are interested in going solar

To obtain the complete RFP with additional details or ask Application Questions, please email Sharon Pillar at info@pasolarcenter.org

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.

###

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

New Sun Rising Launches First Sustainability Cohort

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Scott Wolovich

Millvale, PA, October 2nd, 2018 – New Sun Rising announces their newest Vibrant Communities Incubator cohort: Launch Sustainability, serving the greater Pittsburgh area. The program will begin with the first of 6 monthly workshops on Wednesday, October 3rd. The 6 selected participants, including businesses, nonprofits, and community initiatives, will receive support to develop their ventures through monthly learning workshops with their peers, one-on-one mentoring, and access to funding to grow the impact of their work with customers and community.

The Vibrancy Funds support people building culture, sustainability, and opportunity within their community. New Sun Rising announced Launch Sustainability as a new funding opportunity for organizations and collaborations who build Vibrant Communities through sustainability, as defined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The program encouraged proposals which further promoted innovation, engagement, and equity in the Pittsburgh region. New Sun Rising sustainability programs empower the community software (people + connections) and hardware (physical infrastructure) to enhance natural systems and quality of life in the region. Six projects out of twenty-four applications were selected to receive $5,000 to $8,000 grants to help early stage projects improve sustainability in their community.

Leading one of the selected projects, Donna Pearson of Millvale is working with residents and businesses, in partnership with the Allegheny Watershed Alliance as a fiscal sponsor to launch the first ever Girty’s Run Watershed Association. “We applied for the grant to help build the foundation of the organization. This grant helps us to share information, raise awareness, and build capacity for change in unifying the six communities of the watershed. We hope to build upon the many opportunities, strengths, and resources already available in these strong communities,” said Pearson.

Launch Sustainability is a Vibrant Communities program of New Sun Rising, held in partnership with the generous support of the Henry L. Hillman Foundation.

Communities impacted by the selected project include: The City of Pittsburgh neighborhoods, Millvale, Wilkinsburg, Aliquippa, Shaler, Ross, West View, Penn Hills, Clairton, Homestead.

Selected Projects include:

Sustainable Packaging Group Purchasing Project; seeking to eliminate the use of non-recyclable food container use in small business district settings through cooperative purchasing to drive down individual business costs.

The Wilkinsburg Gateway Project; seeking to use creative placemaking, including public art, landscape design, and solar power, as a platform to build community pride and introduce tangible community sustainability concepts.

PearlArts Studios Extensions After School Programs; seeking to implement new after school outreach programs as in collaboration with Gwen’s Girls, MUSA, and the Wilkinsburg School District, challenging participating youth both mentally and physically, as well as introducing them to broader world views through dance.

Activating a Sustainable Bicycling Infrastructure in Downtown Aliquippa; seeking to activate an equitable and adaptive bicycling culture in the heart of Aliquippa through installing new bike racks and support a free bike sharing initiative, spurring inclusive mobility and economic activity in the heart of our downtown, in partnership with Communicycle Beaver County.

The Girty’s Run Watershed Association; seeking to launch a first of its kind watershed organization within the Girty’s Run Watershed, creating greater collaboration between residents, businesses, and municipal leaders and increasing opportunities for further implementation of community led educational programming and increasing funding opportunities for stormwater infrastructure.

The Regional EcoDistrict Collaborative; seeking to connect and strengthen Ecodistrict practitioners who have been discussing collaborative opportunities to leverage respective organizational strengths to accelerate the implementation of community scale sustainable development utilizing a locally defined version of the EcoDistricts Protocol.

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.

Transformative Teaching Artist Awards Selection

Posted on September 5, 2018 by Scott Wolovich

The New Sun Rising is pleased to announce the awardees of the Transformative Teaching Artist Awards. These awards are made possible through the generous support of The Heinz Endowments’ Transformative Arts Process (TAP). The goal of this initiative is to move towards a more Just Pittsburgh by invigorating the field of teaching artists and arts organizations that have a demonstrated practice of challenging structural inequities, bringing transformative arts centered experience to youth and teaching artists in and from traditionally underserved African American and black communities.

The Transformative Teaching Artist Awards from New Sun Rising believes that quality teaching artists should be recognized for the important work they do in Pittsburgh’s African American and black communities. Teaching artists play critical roles in the lives of the youth they serve, providing not only artistic skill building, but caring, support, and mentorship. Yet those teaching artists who have chosen this as their life’s work face great challenges in building teaching artist careers. Most of our teaching artists are underpaid and under-recognized. The delivery system for teaching artist instruction is fragmented; and arts instruction is often not assigned a high priority in public or out of school time programs.

All 23 applicants who were considered have an extensive track record of combining artistic skill and the complementary skills of an educator. The selection committee consisted of peer artists and determined the 10 finalists after a thorough review and discussion of their skills, eligibility, and dedication.

Congratulations to the Transformative Teaching Artist Award Recipients:
Sister IAsia
Khalillah Shabazz
Kontara Morphis
Brett Wormsley
Christian Nowlin
Junyetta Seale
Jayla Patton
Ira Cambric III
Geña (Maria) Escoriaza
Maggie Lynn Negrete

The ten award recipients will each receive an award of $5,000. These awards are recognition awards which may be used in any way the recipient deems fit. The Transformative Teaching Artist Awards add validation, strengthen networks, and increase visibility for the artists who choose to do this important work. It is our hope that these recognition awards can play a part in acknowledging teaching artistry as an impactful and recognized profession.

For more information please visit http://www.newsunrising.org/our-programs/vibrancy-funds

About New Sun Rising:
Since 2005, NSR has empowered more than 400 community leaders, supporting innovative organizations that create economic opportunity, solve social challenges, & strengthen the vibrancy of place. NSR’s vision is to promote equitable development in collaboration with the neighborhood partners we serve.

The New Sun Rising Vibrancy Fund invests in leaders through a series of targeted challenges. Funds are distributed through a number of flexible mechanisms, including: Traditional Grants and Awards, Recoverable Grants, Crowdsourcing Matches, and Loans. The Vibrancy Fund provides support for businesses, community projects, and collaborations with innovative solutions to our seven interrelated strategies for developing equitable, vibrant communities. New Sun Rising’s core strategies for building vibrancy include: Culture, Sustainability, and Opportunity.

About the Heinz Endowments:
The Heinz Endowments is devoted to the mission of helping our region prosper as a vibrant center of creativity, learning, and social, economic and environmental sustainability. Core to its work is the vision of a just community where all are included and where everyone who calls Southwestern Pennsylvania home has a real and meaningful opportunity to thrive.

Press contact Jamie Johnson, Manager of Performance Improvement, jamie@newsunrising.org, 412-407-9007

The Bright Spot: Kenny’s

Posted on July 9, 2018 by Scott Wolovich

Shining a light on the projects and businesses supported by the Vibrancy Funds

Neighborhood: Pittsburgh, Homewood

Program: Launch Culture

Grant Awarded: April 2018

A once vacant lot in the center of Homewood is now home to a vibrant, active space. Depending on the day of the week and time, you may find yogis lined up for a pay-what-you-can yoga session, a neighborhood birthday potluck for one of the young residents, or a late-night dance party with DJ spinning motown and local vendors selling their creative wares and art.

“Kenny’s exists to give residents a new and different experience while allowing people from outside the neighborhood an avenue to experience the greatness that is Homewood,” said Demi Kolke, the Founder and Owner of Kenny’s.

Demi built deep roots and connection with the community, through years of working with the local community development group, Operation Better Block. During her time working on various community development projects, she kept hearing the same thing from the residents of Homewood; they wanted to return their neighborhood to its former glory. They would reminiscence about the how Homewood used to be – a neighborhood with a thriving business district, strong community ties, and neatly maintained rowhomes.

The story of Homewood is not unique to the City of Pittsburgh. Currently, the neighborhood’s population is just 17% of its peak of 35,000, leaving nearly 2,000 vacant lots and 600 empty buildings in the majority Black neighborhood. The blight has been more persistent than in other neighborhoods due to structural racism, elevated crime activities, and lack of investment, leaving Homewood slower to rebound than other neighborhoods within the City.

That didn’t stop the neighbors from taking action on their own. Kenneth Stubbs was one such neighbor dedicated to changing the narrative of the neighborhood he was so proud of. At first, he was weary of Demi, a young woman originally from North Dakota. His hesitation soon faded and they formed a strong and unlikely friendship.

Tragically, that friendship came to an end when Kenneth was murdered in 2014.

In his honor, Demi purchased a vacant lot that he had owned and turned into a safe, accessible, informal outdoor gathering space: an idea born from countless conversations with him. She named it Kenny’s in his honor.

“I named the space Kenny’s to keep Mr. Stubbs’ dedication to the community giving and service alive,” explains Demi, “Every time a person asks me ‘Why the name Kenny?’ I get to tell them about my friend and they work he did in the community.”

Kenny’s website describes the space as a “community and cultural gathering space”. The intent is to give a platform for the great activities that are going on in the neighborhood.

One night in June, Demi’s former employer, Operation Better Block, hosted a summer kick off potluck. Residents brought dishes, kids chased each other on the grass and neighbors met one another, many for the first time.

For Robert Bey, resident and former friend of Kenneth, Kenny’s space means an opportunity to get to know his neighbors. He is thankful for the access to the space so he can program it for the kids in his neighborhood.

“If I want to host barbecue or something like that, all I have to do is contact Demi and ‘BOOM!’ – we bring the barbecue grills out here and cook hamburgers and hot dogs for the kids and have something for them to do.”

The Vibrancy Funds will be used to continue such programming the space throughout the summer so everyone will be able to participate in the events on site.

Kenny’s sits on a corner, with a bevy of energetic children to one side, and the older residents who remember what Homewood once was on the other. In addition to the Vibrancy Funds, Demi has secured funds from Lively Pittsburgh to offer additional programming centered around building connections between the generations.

Kenny’s is always going to be about resident-driven ideas and programming, Demi vows. It’s about giving the neighborhood a positive, open atmosphere to promote health and wellness, art and culture, entrepreneurs and existing businesses

Much like Mr. Stubbs himself, Kenny’s the space, is not there to work for the community, but rather with the community.

You can check out a full list of upcoming events at Kenny’s here.

—

The Vibrancy Funds are made possible by a gift from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation.

Interested in finding out how we can help bring your idea to life? Contact us.

New Sun Rising Supports Resident-led Projects through the One Northside Mini-grant Program

Posted on June 3, 2018 by Scott Wolovich

The One Northside Mini-grant Program, supported by The Buhl Foundation, will invest $50,000 in awards and development support for community-driven projects. The 2018 program seeks to strengthen connections and create opportunity throughout the 18 Northside neighborhoods, and was previously known as ‘Neighbor to Neighbor’ when managed by our friends at the The Sprout Fund.

One Northside Mini-Grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded for projects that enjoy the support of their community and advance the vision of One Northside – focusing on improving the Quality of Education, Employment, Place, Safety, and Health for all Northside residents.

Grant recipients will receive additional project development support through New Sun Rising and the Mini-grant Street Team Ambassadors. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and reviewed monthly with decisions announced around the end of each summer month (June, July, and August), as well as a winter cycle (October, November, December).

New Sun Rising, whose mission is to build vibrant communities through culture, sustainability, and opportunity, will facilitate the mini-grant program as a continuation of their Ignite Northside program. Joining them are the Mini-Grant Street Team Ambassadors including four residents (Kate Kelley, Maria Searcy, Ashlyn Taylor, Ginger Underwood) who received training from Levels Creative Empowerment + Consulting Group to recruit and support applicants for the duration of the mini-grant process.

While previous mini-grant recipients are encouraged to apply, New Sun Rising also seeks to broaden the support for long-time residents with projects, creatives, and business leaders making social impact. Applicants who live and work in underserved Northside neighborhoods are encouraged to submit proposals supporting One Northside’s expanded focus on Safety and Health, as well as those which strengthen connections, increase accessibility to resources, and activate significant places to build vibrancy with their neighbors.

Northside community projects seeking financial and development support are encouraged to attend an information session to learn more about the One Northside Mini-Grant process in advance of preparing an application. A public call for applications will be made in June and accepted on an ongoing basis until funds are expended. See www.newsunrising.org/project/ignite-northside for application details, meeting locations, dates, and times, or contact New Sun Rising staff by phone (412) 407-9007 or email info@newsunrising.org to request an informal meeting.

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.

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

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