Category: Events

250 Tables launches across Southwestern PA to build bridges for America’s 250th anniversary

Posted on by Scott Wolovich

The neighbor-led civic micro-grants program will fund shared meals that foster belonging and strengthen the building blocks of democratic infrastructure

Pittsburgh, PA — Today, as the United States prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, New Sun Rising announced the launch of 250 Tables with a goal of strengthening the social fabric of Southwestern Pennsylvania through the simple act of sharing a meal. The regional civic micro-grants program will fund bridge-building dinners that foster greater connection, belonging, and participation.

Several outreach partners have already announced their intent to join 250 Tables, including Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, Jewish Community Center (JCC), and PUMP, with Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh anticipated to follow. As established, highly trusted institutions, these partners play a key role in supporting table hosts to gather people from different experiences to break bread in known public venues, such as libraries, fire halls, and community spaces. 

“So many things are separating us from our neighbors, especially those with different life experiences”, said Scott Wolovich, Executive Director of New Sun Rising. “250 Tables is an investment in our social fabric, harnessing the relationships and civic solutions that will carry us into the next 250 years.”

Each table will have 6-10 guests with about half of them being people the host doesn’t already know or who come from different backgrounds. Hosts are identified by outreach partners and receive ‘green-light’ micro-grants to provide the meal and a modest honorarium for their time. Pilot ‘Test Tables’ will kick off in August and September. The full launch in October will run through April 2027 with a goal of hosting 250 dinners across the region. 

Leading outreach partners, communications, and program evaluation, New Sun Rising is the organizational home for 250 Tables and will provide micro-grants directly to the residents who host tables. A tiered Conversation Menu will help tables opt into more complex topics at their own pace. After dinner, the hosts will share primary discussion themes to produce a regional ‘Community Voice’ topic map. Table guests will also receive information on community resources to strengthen their own civic engagement.

“​As our nation recognizes 250 years, creative initiatives such as 250 Tables wonderfully reinforce the highest ideals of democracy through the value of every person and every voice.  The Heinz Endowments is honored to join with area peers in philanthropy to support bringing the harmony of these varied voices together across the Pittsburgh region,” said Chris DeCardy, President of The Heinz Endowments.

Support for 250 Tables is led by a coalition of regional funders including The Benter Foundation, Buhl Foundation, The Grable Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, Hillman Foundation, and an Anonymous Donor, with over $340,000 pledged to date. Initial program design and ongoing support are provided by Civic R&D Lab, a new community consulting group led by the founders of The Sprout Fund. It is inspired by similar successful programs from other communities and nationally, including The Longest Table (30+ cities across the country), On the Table (Chicago), The People’s Supper, and Inclusivv (formerly Atlanta Civic Dinners). 

For more information on how to host or attend a dinner, visit www.newsunrising.org/250-tables

About New Sun Rising: New Sun Rising envisions a future where all communities are vibrant places of culture, sustainability, and opportunity. NSR supports community leaders with the skills, funding, connections, and data to overcome the challenges of our time.

New Sun Rising announces 2025 Vibrancy Award Winners

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Community leaders & NSR’s 20th Anniversary to be celebrated on December 5

Pittsburgh, PA — The New Sun Rising 20th Anniversary Vibrancy Awards will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, December 5 at Kingfly Spirits with remarks by County Executive Sara Innamorato.

The Vibrancy Awards recognize individuals, projects, and organizations that exemplify what it means to build resilient and equitable communities. This year, New Sun Rising (NSR) will be awarding three alumni from the Nonprofit Resilience Program (NRP) in the categories of Culture, Sustainability, and Opportunity, including: Aquene Watkins-Wise (Culture) of Royally Fit, Raynise and TaRay Kelly (Sustainability) of Soil Sisters Plant Nursery, and Jasimine Cooper (Opportunity) of Landforce. Each awardee will receive a cash award.

“The Vibrancy Awards take on special significance in New Sun Rising’s 20th year,” said Justin Romano, Board Chair for NSR. “The throughline of the last two decades has been collaboration with leaders like Aquene, Raynise, TaRay, and Jasimine who are a driving force behind positive change in their communities.”

A silent auction is open for bidding through December 7 with proceeds supporting The Wellness Fund, which will provide mini-grants to NRP alumni and fiscally sponsored projects to implement self-care, well-being, or resilience programming. 

“It’s important to recognize the hard work and dedication of the individuals and organizations serving our community, and too often their efforts go unnoticed,” said Jamie Johnson, Director of Programs at NSR. “Prioritizing self-care and well-being is an ongoing process, yet funding for this vital work is frequently limited. We hope to help those we serve by providing access to funds dedicated to these programs, and we encourage others to do the same.”

New Oreleans-inspired fare, catered by Bouji Bites, will be served as a nod to NSR’s history. NSR’s inaugural fundraiser in 2005, the Cultural Gumbo, was created to support flood-impacted communities in Millvale and New Orleans following Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina. Music by DJ NiX P. General admission tickets are $30 and include two drinks.

For two decades, NSR has supported 500+ nonprofits, social enterprises, and funders to invest $20+ million in projects that develop Vibrant Communities across 75 neighborhoods in the Greater Pittsburgh region.

About New Sun Rising: New Sun Rising envisions a future where all communities are vibrant places of culture, sustainability, and opportunity. NSR supports community leaders with the skills, funding, connections, and data to overcome the challenges of our time. 

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Regional leaders, residents receive support to access environmental justice funding

Posted on by Alyse Horn

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Environmental Justice workshops geared towards building community resilience

Posted on by Scott Wolovich

The Ignite Workshops in May along Pittsburgh’s Three River Valleys seek to support environmental justice projects throughout the region

 

Southwestern, PA — Residents, nonprofits, municipal leaders, and more are invited to attend three opportunities throughout the month of May to receive support for developing their environmental justice-focused community projects.

Hosted by New Sun Rising and RiverWise, community development nonprofits based in Allegheny and Beaver counties, the Ignite Environmental Justice (EJ) Workshops are part of the organizations’ newly launched Justice 40 Opportunity Navigator (J40N).

The navigator seeks to support EJ designated communities in building the collaborative capacity necessary to fund and implement projects that improve their health, climate resilience, and economic opportunity. The Ignite EJ Workshops this May are opportunities for local leaders to do just that.

The Justice 40 Navigator was created in response to the federal government’s historic commitment to invest in disadvantaged communities in environmental justice census tracts through the Justice 40 Initiative. This commitment states that 40 percent of overall benefits of almost $2 trillion in certain federal investments, such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), flow to disadvantaged EJ communities.

“Environmental Justice” communities are places that have experienced generational disinvestment — often alongside the consequences of polluting and extracting industries. To learn about disadvantaged environmental justice communities closest to you, visit New Sun Rising’s Vibrancy Index map and select the EJ census tract layer here.

“Our environment determines so much. It is everything around us,” said Scott Wolovich, Executive Director at New Sun Rising. “Not all communities receive the investment necessary to create healthy places where people can thrive. We’re excited to partner with RiverWise and bring these shared resources to the region.” 

Participants in the Ignite EJ Workshops can expect the following:

  • Education: Gain knowledge about the concepts of environmental justice, resilience, and learn why Justice 40 opportunities are so important.
  • Mentorship: Receive guidance for developing and communicating your project plan.
  • Advocacy: Optional participation in a pitch competition to showcase your project while receiving feedback to strengthen your messaging.

Strategically located across the Greater Pittsburgh Area’s three river valleys, the workshops are May 2, 22, and 30 with the following details:

  • Allegheny Valley: Thursday, May 2 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub, 112 E. Sherman Street, Millvale, PA 15209.
  • Ohio Valley: Wednesday, May 22 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Whitted Media Content House, 507 Seventh Avenue, Beaver Falls, PA 15010.
  • Monongahela Valley: Thursday, May 30 from 5 to 9 p.m. Location TBD.

“Environmental justice generally does not just happen for disadvantaged communities without careful, deliberate, and strategic action,” said Daniel Rossi-Keen, Executive Director of RiverWise. “These workshops are focused on accelerating the capacity and vision of community leaders who want to encourage such action and bring about more just conditions for their communities and residents.”

Interested parties are encouraged to apply for the workshop in their region by completing the Community Project Intake Form.

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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. For more information, visit https://www.newsunrising.org. 

About RiverWise: RiverWise is working to organize community voice and power so that residents of Beaver County can exercise agency over the future of their communities. RiverWise does this through community informed storytelling, technical assistance, and collaborative project design and funding. For more information, visit http://getriverwise.com.

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

Posted on by Alyse Horn

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Local nonprofits to release “Boom & Bust,” a documentary posing questions about the future of petrochemicals in Beaver County

Posted on by Alyse Horn

AMBRIDGE, Pa. — It’s on the minds of many in the county, though some more overtly than others. 

After five years of construction, hype from government officials and pushback from environmentalists, Shell’s petrochemical complex in Potter Township is slated to open in the coming months. In January 2020, RiverWise, a Beaver County-based sustainable community development nonprofit, alongside community leaders, took a week-long trip to numerous petrochemical complexes along Louisiana’s Gulf Coast.

RiverWise, key stakeholders from Beaver County and members of Allegheny County-based nonprofit New Sun Rising journeyed to Louisiana to get better acquainted with some of the petrochemical mammoths of the south. Traveling more than 2,000 miles, learning from organizational leaders, environmental advocates, community organizers, politicians and everyday residents of the region, RiverWise observed, asked questions and filmed extensive portions of the trip.

On Thursday, July 28, RiverWise, in association with New Sun Rising, will release “Boom & Bust,” a documentary illustrating the journey from Beaver County to the Gulf Coast region. Filmed, produced and edited by local filmmaker Christopher Padgett, the documentary is intended to spur conversation, elevate awareness and mobilize residents to think critically and ask difficult questions about the future health and vitality of Beaver County. 

In creating “Boom & Bust,” Padgett, who serves as Director of Communication for RiverWise and is the owner of Human City Creative, hopes the film accurately represents the complexity and beauty of Beaver County — and its complicated past — and breathes new life into the value of community-centered listening, engagement and sharing.

“Taking this trip with such curious and genuine community leaders was a powerful experience,” said Daniel Rossi-Keen, executive director of RiverWise. “For years now, Beaver County residents and leaders have been assured that the arrival of Shell will inevitably transform the region for the better. Our trip suggests that the story is far more complex and nuanced than that. We returned from this trip realizing just how much we have to learn and do if we want to ensure that our communities meet the needs of future generations of Beaver County residents. We are hopeful that this film will help to illustrate some of that story and encourage ongoing conversation about our region’s future.”

Like Rossi-Keen, Scott Wolovich, executive director of New Sun Rising, is hopeful the film can serve as a vehicle for community conversation around a pressing topic with far reaching implications.

“Spending time alongside people living in a close relationship with large petrochemical facilities was a moving experience,” Wolovich said. “By sharing what we saw, heard, and learned through this film, we’re hopeful that people in our own region will become inspired to pursue a future that works well for all.”

“For me, Beaver County is a beautiful and complex area. One of the county’s stories is a story of loss, hope and the search for what new life looks like,” Padgett said. “By sharing this story, I hope it can be an invitation to enter into those conversations more and more as a community.”

The film will premiere at 7 p.m. July 28 at Iron Horse Theatre Company, 348 Maplewood Ave. in Ambridge. The evening will feature the first official release of “Boom & Bust,” followed by drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Space is limited and registration is required. To register for the event, visit here. Find the film’s preview here.

The July 28 release of the documentary is one of several to take place in the coming months. A second showing will take place in Beaver County during the second week of August. A third showing is expected to take place in Pittsburgh toward the end of August. A virtual showing of the documentary will also take place in the coming weeks. Those who are interested can stay connected with RiverWise and New Sun Rising by following @getriverwise and @newsunrisingpgh on social media for the official dates and times of later film screenings. 

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RiverWise employs sustainable development practices to create a regional identity around the rivers of Beaver County. At the heart of this work is a concerted effort to organize stakeholders to dream, learn, and collaborate about the future of our rivers and the communities that surround them. For more information, visit: http://getriverwise.com.

New Sun Rising supports the people building vibrant communities through culture, sustainability, and opportunity. They provide capacity building, accessible funding, data, and creative advocacy to help nonprofits, social enterprises, and collaboratives lead and benefit from the future they envision. For more information, visit: https://www.newsunrising.org.

Human City Creative uses story-telling to listen, share and preserve stories of people and cities in process; to connect community by seeking understanding, grace, empathy, and celebrate the value of one another. For more information, visit: https://www.humancitycreative.com.

Data + Creative Advocacy initiative launches to promote impact, social innovation

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Graphic by Hunter Smith

To support the data needs of under-resourced organizations and communities, New Sun Rising (NSR) launched the Power in Numbers (PiN) initiative in 2019.

At 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 29, Power in Numbers 2.0 kicked off with a virtual event to introduce two new resources, the Vibrancy Portal 2.0 data platform and the Creative Advocacy Playbook. The event, led by NSR Executive Director Scott Wolovich, had participants from the United Kingdom, California, and New York, among other locations. 

The Vibrancy Portal is a tool for nonprofit, social enterprise, and municipal leaders that aims to make data more actionable through greater access, insights, and integration. The new updates include a redesign of the user interface, more dynamic database structure, enhanced and expanded data sets, organizational ecosystem mapping, and the addition of Beaver County to the map.

“We know that for social innovation to grow, there needs to be investment in data and communications, and the ability to more effectively engage with the world around us,” Wolovich said. “Unfortunately, most small and community-led organizations lack this critical capacity.”

“Our own research showed that 80 percent of leaders placed high value on these things, but only 17 percent of them reported receiving related funding. This lack of investment really restricts their ability to compete for resources and grow their impact.”

The Portal serves to democratize data through two primary functions: a community data Explorer and organizational data Manager.

For the free and publicly available Explore website, NSR built upon work started with Carnegie Mellon University and participants in their own fellowship program to create a geo mapping application that is organized by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Although similar tools exist, most provide information at the county level and are not sensitive enough to show differing conditions between neighborhoods.

The Manager section of the website allows leaders to collect, analyze, and communicate data around 5 key areas: Issues, Capacity, Impact, Finances, and Reports. The site is password protected allowing teams to collaborate and encourage an actionable data model.

Lydia Moran of CONNECT, said they have been working with dozens of organizations over the last two years to create a multi-municipal climate action plan. During the Power in Numbers session, Moran also shared progress from the regional DISCOVER network. With so many different organizations involved across these efforts, a database like the Vibrancy Portal could make it easier to collect data and communicate regional impact.

“It’s really hard for us to talk about regional impact if we’re all measuring different things, and we’re not speaking the same language.” Moran said. “I’m very excited about this platform.”

The idea for the Creative Advocacy Playbook, which is being co-created with RiverWise, came from wanting to shift the paradigms and mindsets that hold existing systems in place and combat divisiveness while increasing engagement and awareness. The playbook will be publicly available and begin to support the launch of campaigns later this summer. While Wolovich admits there have been artists producing creative advocacy for years, “what makes this initiative unique is that it’s focused on building creative capital as an asset starting with the nonprofit and community itself.”

As far as the Vibrancy Portal goes, it is free, public, and ready to be explored. 

“It’s a dynamic ongoing project, and we’ll continue to build it out as we’re able to attract more resources,” Wolovich said. “We do have gaps in the data that we know are important for communities that we are working with, and welcome the help to identify or even think about different ways to approach those gaps.”

Although the initiative is in its early stages, one thing that has been made clear is that institutionally collected data largely shapes the narrative around communities. Power in Numbers helps under-resourced leaders work beyond the limitations of traditional data to more fully reflect, resource, and inspire the life of their community. 

Do you know an organization, issue, or community that would benefit from greater data utilization and creative advocacy? Email info@newsunrising.org to get involved.

Cultural festivals flourish through sustainable, collaborative values

Posted on by Alyse Horn

When it comes to setting the culture of community events, artists hold power. They create opportunities for others to become immersed in their environment and help establish sustainable, equitable pathways for the future.

During the weekends of May 14th and 20th, Pittsburgh saw the kickoff of festival season around the city, three of which included the Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books (GPFB), Millvale Music Festival (MMF), and Pittonkatonk. GPFB and Pittonkatonk being fiscally sponsored projects of New Sun Rising (NSR) and MMF as a project of Millvale Ecodistrict partner, Millvale Community Development Corporation (MCDC).

This was the first year of the GPFB and founder Marshall Coehn said well over 2,000 people pre registered for programs, which were all free and spread across six venues in East Liberty.

“The poetry tent was filled. The children’s events were filled. Billy Porter’s event was filled within the first 20 minutes it was announced,” Cohen said. “The feedback we are getting has been really good and we are very pleased with the turnout.”

Cohen attended his first book festival around 30 years ago in New York City, and since then he and his wife have traveled far and wide to experience others. The two that stand out to him are held in Los Angeles and Boston, and as the GPFB grows, he hopes to emulate Boston’s model. Cohen said he is sending out a survey to those who registered, and will be accessible on the website for those who attended the festival, to collect data on the event that will be used to entice more publishers and authors to participate next year.

“We want to get more national authors here, but at the same time give more Pittsburgh authors national exposure,” said Coehn. “Pittsburgh is now able to say, along with Los Angeles and Boston and Miami and Chicago, ‘We too have a book festival, here’s what happened at it and you should think about coming to it.’”

From the beginning stages of planning, which started pre-pandemic, Cohen said NSR was a tremendous help in knowing that he didn’t have to “worry about the administrative side of things.” Fiscal sponsorship through NSR allows leaders to focus on project design and implementation while NSR takes care of compliance, and reduces friction between the work required to manage funds and implement ideas.

Pete Spynda, co-founder and co-organizer of Pittonkatonk, has been fiscally sponsored for nearly a decade and said he has grown considerably with NSR’s guidance. Held in the Vietnam Veterans Pavilion, this was the ninth year of the festival. Filled with Balkan brass, cumbia, hip-hop, and big bands, “Pittonkatonk is music in public spaces that belong to everyone, with no stage, no doors, and no right way to express yourself,” according to the website.

“Ten years ago I didn’t know how to write a grant, and now I can connect with the foundation and think about building a sustainable festival mostly through their mentorship and I’m very thankful for that and the resources they provide,” Spynda said. 

Since 2018, NSR has collaborated with Pittonkatonk to run The Activist Greenhouse during the event, which is a community resources tent that connects people with social and environmental justice organizations. This year’s performers included May Day Marching Band, Casa San Jose, Afro Yaqui Music Collective, 1Hood Media, Sto-Rox Marching Band, Lemon Bucket Orchestra, Hugo Cruz and Caminos.

Spynda said there were around 10,000 people at the event this year, based on the estimate from Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC) after weighing the compost, recycling, and waste collected that day. Pittonkatonk and PCR have partnered since 2019 with the goal of making tonk a Zero Waste event. This year, Spynda said Pittonkatonk maintained an 83% diversion rate, meaning out of 827 pounds of trash, 274 pounds were composted and 370 pounds were recycled, and there were 40 pounds of reusable materials collected. 

“The first couple years of the festival I had to rent a dumpster and hauling service to get rid of all the trash. It was a lot and hard to manage,” Spynda said. “Thanks to foundations like The Hillman Foundation, The Pittsburgh Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, and support of New Sun Rising we are able to pay for this resource and make the event even more sustainable.”

The Millvale Music Festival also went Zero Waste this year by partnering with PRC as well as NSR, Triboro Ecodistrict, and ZeroFossil. Melissa Mason, MMF organizer, said 90% of waste being diverted from the landfill is needed to consider an event Zero Waste.

“Last year we did pretty decent and it was our second year [going Zero Waste] so we had some numbers to compare it to,” Mason said. “In 2021 we were at 58% diverted and this year we were at 76% so that was a nice jump and the big difference was that we had compostable cups in all of our outdoor bars.”

The festival manages five bars and they also provided compostable cups to Grist House Craft Brewery. Mason said it was great to have NSR and the Triboro Ecodistrict stepping up to sponsor the Zero Waste initiative alongside PRC and ZeroFossil, because it showed the community’s support for going green.

This was MMF’s fifth year with 350 musical acts, over 40 visual artists, a mobile “stage” by Redfishbowl, and two new stages were added: The Purple Onion at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub, 112 E. Sherman St., and Distinctly U, 419 E. Ohio St. 

“I was at both The Purple Onion and Sprezzatura stages [in the Hub] and it was awesome,” Mason said. “I love the swanky jazz club atmosphere at Sprezzatura, and The Purple Onion kind of had this kind of speakeasy vibe. I hope we can start having more music there regularly.”

Virtual retreat brings together leaders of community transformation, creative expression

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Above: “Short Break” by Wildstyle Paschall for All317HipHop. Paschall was a speaker during the first Positive Deviants Virtual Retreat in May.

When you think of Positive Deviants, what comes to mind?

“Disruptive. Creative. Persistent. Aren’t afraid of being on the outside, on the fringe.”

It is that question, and those answers, that kicked-off the inaugural Positive Deviants for Community Transformation event on Friday, May 6. The virtual half day retreat had attendees from across the country and world connecting with organizers, featured guests, and fellow participants to uncover new ways of thinking and doing and expand the practice of positive deviancy. 

The idea for this pilot series came about when Positive Deviants in Dayton, Ohio, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania joined together for a conversation around shared values and discovered a bond beyond geography and regional challenges; there was a kinship found through the innovative and transformative work that grassroots change agents were doing in their communities, often without recognition or sufficient resources. 

Retreat host James Saleem addressed the importance of the Positive Deviants approach to community transformation, saying, “In this moment, we have an opportunity for us to grow, trust, and build bonds with one another across these three regions and larger. It’s important to have a network of people who have the ability to open up certain doors that we can’t open up ourselves.”

DeAmon Harges, ABCD Institute faculty at DePaul University, founder of The Learning Tree in Indianapolis, and keynote speaker for the event, said “the most Positive Deviant thing we can do is be friends, and deviating from the status quo includes friendship.”

Speakers also included: Amaha Sellassie, peace builder, healer, practitioner scholar and co-founder of Co-Op Dayton and Gem City Market, a community-owned grocery store in Dayton; Jmar Bey, founder of South Hilltop Men’s Group in Pittsburgh; Wildstyle Paschall, musician, producer, and historian activist at All317HipHop in Indianapolis; and Glenna Jennings, photographer, associate professor of Art & Design, and creator of the Art and Social Practice course at the University of Dayton in Dayton.

Host James Saleem closed the retreat with a call to action: “”Please take this opportunity to broaden our reach by sharing your connections with us. Think about your communities. Nominate the positive deviants you know: deviant social workers, community workers, and artists- anyone breaking the mold to better our communities.”

This pilot series includes a total of three national conversations at the intersection of community transformation and creative expression, led by the people who are actually doing the work. The next two retreats will be held on August 12 and November 4. Register for the August retreat on EventBrite at this link. The Positive Deviants co-creation team is now accepting nominations for storytellers and artists for upcoming retreats, workshops, and social media boosts. 

This series was co-created by The Collaboratory, New Sun Rising, and The Learning Tree. Join the community, access resources, and spark a conversation in the forum at wearepositivedeviants.org.

Funding was generously provided by Grassroots Grantmakers, a national membership organization comprised of place-based funders, advocacy organizations and community organizers that values and leverages resident and civic engagement as a catalyst for creating and driving sustainable community improvement strategies.

Triboro Ecodistrict Workshop brings together regional leaders interested in learning sustainability strategies

Posted on by Alyse Horn

For well over a decade, Millvale, Etna, and Sharpsburg have been pursuing and implementing ecodistrict strategies, and on March 25-26 during the Triboro Ecodistrict Workshop, they were able to connect with regional and local leaders interested in pursuing ecodistricts in their own communities. 

The two day workshop at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub included speakers from the Triboro Ecodistrict and partners that have been key to the success of obtaining Ecodistrict certification; conversations were facilitated around topics such as coalition building, accessing resources, lean canvas development, and ecodistrict mapping. 

“It was interesting to learn about the activities, events and initiatives being spearheaded in these communities and how the ecodistricts work aligns directly with their work to create more partnerships, to work together with the municipalities, local nonprofits, and other individuals in the community,” said Andrew Johnson, director of community partnerships and sustainability at The Forbes Funds. “ It was very eye opening to see the good work being done.”

To help advance the Ecodistrict work being done by nonprofits and community members who attended the workshop, $1,000 mini-grant opportunities and technical support were made available through New Sun Rising and District PGH for five projects.

Applicants were asked questions around why climate action, resilience, and equity are important to their communities, and how the project will engage and educate residents around Ecodistrict quality of life areas (equity, food, energy, water, air, and/or mobility).

The communities awarded mini-grants include: Brackenridge, McKees Rocks, Meadville, Monaca, and Shaler.

Abbey Nilson, science teacher at Shaler Area High School, was able to attend the workshop on both days, and said the mini-grant will be used to explore making the school’s educational facilities more sustainable. For the Friday workshop, Nilson brought five students with her that helped brainstorm what they’d like to use the grant for.

“They really enjoyed the experience,” Nilson said. “A couple things they noted specifically was that they were treated like everyone else there and were able to converse about the topics at hand. It got them thinking about trying to take the model of an ecodistrict and applying it to our school.”

Nilson has been working with the Triboro Ecodistrict since she created the sustainability class in 2020 and said it has provided countless opportunities for her and her students to connect with community leaders on projects happening in the boroughs. Having the support of the Triboro Ecodistrict makes a bigger impact in the classroom by providing resources and an outlet for the students’ passion around equity and sustainability.

It’s that kind of grassroots level work that Johnson believes can create positive, transformational change throughout the region and beyond.

“The biggest thing I want to convey is that [the ecodistrict] model can change the world, and the work that is going on in the Pittsburgh region is attempting to change the world,” Johnson said. 

On Friday during the workshop, Etna Community Organization received $100,000 in state funding from Rep. Sara Innamorato, which will be put towards work on the new Etna Center for Community.

Etna-Sharpsburg Earth Day Challenge, Millvale Earth Day Clean-Up

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Friday, April 22 marks the 52nd anniversary of Earth Day with countless traditions being formed nationally and internationally over the years to commemorate the holiday.

For the past three years in the Triboro Ecodistrict, and specifically in Etna and Sharpsburg, a long held rivalry has given way for the lively and goodhearted Annual Etna-Sharpsburg Earth Day Challenge.

Taking place from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 23 this year, the litter clean-up challenge encourages residents to adopt streets in their neighborhoods to collect trash and beautify their borough.

“The Earth Day Challenge is a great opportunity for Sharpsburgers to get together to show how much we care about our town, clean up our streets, and outshine Etna in the process. I’m especially excited about the free tree giveaway this year through Tree Pittsburgh!” said Matt Briley from Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization.

The clean-up ends at 12 p.m. and will be followed by a celebration in Etna’s Riverfront Trail & Park with food trucks, beverage vendors, and a free concert featuring Sierra Sellers. The coveted Etna-Sharpsburg Earth Day trophy will also be handed off to the new reigning champion.

For Etna residents: the first 125 volunteers at the Etna Borough building, 437 Butler St., the morning of the clean-up will receive a free Etna-Sharpsburg Earth Day Challenge 2022 t-shirt. Supplies will be provided to volunteers and can be picked up at the borough building beginning at 8 a.m. Free saplings are also available from Tree Pittsburgh via this Tree Adoption form and can be picked up at the celebration in the park following the clean-up. Click here for the official sign-up sheet and to adopt a street.

For Sharpsburg residents: The first 50 volunteers to sign-up from Sharpsburg will receive a free Etna-Sharpsburg Earth Day Challenge 2022 t-shirt. Supplies will be provided by Sharpsburg Environmental Advisory Council and will be available at the Sharpsburg Borough building, 1611 Main St., the day of the event at 8 a.m. and in the days leading up to the event. Free saplings are also available from Tree Pittsburgh via this Tree Adoption form and can be picked up at the celebration in the park following the clean-up. Click here for the official sign-up sheet and to adopt a street. 

Millvale will also be celebrating Earth Day beginning at 8 a.m. at the Millvale Community Center, 416 Lincoln Ave., and then divide volunteers into four groups to focus on: street clean-up, playground prep work, Millvale Community Library clean-up, and trail building in Girty’s Woods. Protective equipment, trash bags, and high visibility vests will be provided based on the project. At noon, volunteers will be invited to join a celebration of food, music, and vendors at the future site of the new borough playground.

Special thanks to Etna-Sharpsburg Earth Day Challenge donors: The AM Group, Rear End Gastropub & Garage, Garden of Etna, Cop Out Pierogies, Triboro Ecodistrict, NC Hair Studio, and Farine Lawn Care.