Category: Programs

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.

Nonprofit Resilience Program celebrates five years, alumni reflect on lessons learned

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Above: Nonprofit Resilience Program alumni gather for a photo at the 2nd NRP Retreat in June 2024.

Five years ago, the Nonprofit Resilience Program (NRP) was established by The Partnership Network to strengthen the wellbeing of smaller nonprofit organizations and their leaders in the Pittsburgh region. 

The inaugural cohort launched in September 2020 with 11 participants amidst the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, nine cohorts and 80 participants have passed through NRP, and leaders continue to benefit from the tools and values established during the three month program. 

“We continue to look at how we’re working as an organization, especially as a nonprofit, and what our satisfaction is with work, home, and life,” said Denele Hughson, executive director of Grow Pittsburgh. “We focus on how we are living a life that leads to satisfaction and not just the idea of balance.”

Hughson joined the first cohort at a pivotal point in her career, as she was transitioning from Grow Pittsburgh’s Director of Farm Education to Executive Director. She entered the program focused on advancing her leadership skills, and how to strengthen her boundary setting and decision making. 

NRP offers one-on-one sessions with executive coaches, which Hughson utilized to reach her goals. It was the first time she had experienced coaching at this level and said it was invaluable to her professional development. Over the life of the program, NRP has provided 120 hours of one-on-one coaching sessions to participants. 

“I had to develop a plan of how to incorporate boundary setting into my leadership and staff, and set limitations on how much we’re giving to every one thing, and the knowledge that sometimes effort is based on your ability to show up and that’s okay,” Hughson said. 

There are three phases to NRP; the first is centered around learning about leaders and their needs, and the following phases are molded to support the individual. Nina Barbuto, executive director of Assemble and a participant in the second cohort, said the structure of the program promotes “intentional care” and “helps build support for folks who take their accountability to the community seriously.”

“There is a lot of perceived power, and a lot of the time, nonprofit leaders might feel powerless to all of the things coming at us [and our] organizations, as well as the community,” Barbuto said. “Supporting their resiliency is important because it strengthens their capacity to show up as accountable people who are learning. Resiliency is saying, ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I need help,’ versus, ‘Let me make a choice that could be harmful.’”

Also in the inaugural cohort was Andrea Matthews. She returned to Pittsburgh in 2019 and re-entered the nonprofit landscape as the Executive Director of The Brashear Association. After being gone a number of years, she said it was “extremely helpful to have an opportunity to sit with other nonprofit leaders who were very steeped in [the sector].”

During the program, Matthew’s executive coach surveyed the staff and board members of The Brashear Association about her leadership skills and the feedback was “eye opening.” 

“I learned things that I still carry with me to this day, like the need to slow down and bring accountability to the table,” Matthews said. “My staff would say, ‘You’re so busy,” but what that meant was that they didn’t feel seen or heard. So I started having one-on-one meetings with them, and they can request [a meeting] whenever they want.”

When participants complete NRP, they are awarded $2,000 to invest in sustaining self-care and capacity support. Since 2020, a total of $140,000 has been awarded with the majority of leaders choosing to continue executive coaching. 

Hughson said she believes that without NRP, there are professional connections that she wouldn’t have made otherwise, including her executive coach. 

“This cohort was about figuring out what I needed to be an effective and holistic leader, and just being open to learning more tools and systems that can be brought back and assimilated to my staff and beyond,” Hughson said. 

The program has continued to foster a community of care with the creation of the NRP Alumni Network in 2023. This initiative is driven by alumni and designed to meet the specific needs and preferences of participants, ensuring that the community and its offerings are aligned with the interests and challenges faced by its members.

Two new additions to programming include Community Pop-ups and Relax + Learn Workshops.

The Community Pop-ups aim to connect alumni, team members, and the community at casual, informal events where participants are invited to share what’s on their hearts and minds. In person and outdoors, weather permitting, the pop-ups are an opportunity for alumni to highlight the work they’re doing and get creative with how to promote self-care and well-being.

The Relax + Learn Workshops will be offered in a hybrid format and alumni will lead conversations on important topics that resonate with nonprofit leaders, provide valuable resources, and explore new partnerships and collaborations.

To learn more about upcoming programming or support NRP, email jamie@newsunrising.org

Investments in Public Health, Revitalized Economy Terminated by EPA

Posted on by Alyse Horn

New Sun Rising was notified on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 that the EPA has officially terminated funding for the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI) Thriving Communities Grantmaking program. This decision has forced GHHI to cease operations, disrupting the distribution of $500,000 in contractually obligated payments to New Sun Rising, including a $250,000 award to The Mon Water Project. Without this funding, community-led solutions to improve public health and revitalize economies throughout Greater Pittsburgh will suffer. 

GHHI is challenging the EPA’s decision to end this critical work, having already filed a dispute with the EPA and the Federal District Court of Maryland to overturn these decisions. These legal challenges join a national response to the Trump Administration’s wave of attacks on our air, water, land, economy, and nonprofit sector. Of the 141 Executive Orders issued in his first 100 days, many target people working to improve public health, protect the environment, and create economic opportunity in disinvested communities. 

For the past 20 years, New Sun Rising has consistently stood for the fair treatment of all people, communities and their right to live healthy lives with access to opportunity. The termination of this grant not only negatively impacts people’s health, but slows the economy of a region that has long struggled to grow. 

Over the last two decades, every $1 invested in New Sun Rising has generated an additional $8 of economic impact in 47 communities that have historically received the least but need the most. The rescinding of this funding is therefore not only a hit to New Sun Rising’s bottom line, this decision serves to impede an estimated $4,000,000 of economic impact for the region.

Due to the short-sighted action of the EPA, construction jobs for community centers and mixed-use development will be lost, and the small businesses employing them will be hurt. Fewer people will receive the career exposure and training necessary to lift them from poverty and create prosperity for their families. Utility bills will remain higher for the homeowners and community-based organizations who desire energy efficiency improvements and solar production. There will be fewer greenspaces, community gardens, and forests to protect us from flooding and to provide greater access to healthy foods. 

Sadly, the experience of the last several days is part of an ongoing pattern of destructive and inefficient decision making by the current administration. In January, our highly competitive $20 million proposal to catalyze sustainable development with 15 regional partners was similarly terminated by the EPA. What we have experienced this week is not a momentary blip or single data point. It is part of a systematic dismantling of the kind of community organizations, projects, and resources required to protect community health and generate economic revitalization at the grassroots level. 

While New Sun Rising and The Mon Water Project realize that we cannot rely on these federal grants at the present moment, we’re hopeful that legal challenges and the rising voice of our community will help to overturn these unjust decisions. If you agree, we ask that you join us in making it clear that all communities deserve to be vibrant by donating, helping spread the word, and engaging your elected officials and neighbors.

Today, strengthening local communities to lead into the future is more important than ever. In this season of uncertainty and unrest, know that New Sun Rising will continue doing all in its power to advocate for the communities we serve. 

Donate at www.newsunrising.org/ways-to-give

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

Posted on by Alyse Horn

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted on by Alyse Horn

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

Public transportation is more accessible.

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

 

Adults are less likely to complete high school.

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

 

Adolescent birth rates are higher.

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

 

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

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

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

Source: Vibrancy Portal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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.

NSR + RiverWise Announce Job Opportunities in Environmental Justice

Posted on by Scott Wolovich

Do you have a deep understanding of environmental justice and a commitment to community-led change?

New Sun Rising and RiverWise invite you to apply to join a newly established team supporting the implementation of the Justice 40 Opportunity Navigator. We are now accepting applications for shared positions including an Environmental Justice Coordinator, an Environmental Justice Project Manager, and Environmental Justice Grant Manager(s). 

These three positions will work collaboratively to help communities unlock the opportunities introduced by the Justice 40 Initiative. They will also coordinate efforts to support both existing and future environmental justice projects across New Sun Rising and RiverWise’s multi-county network of partners. 

Candidates should be focused on turning possibility into actionable strategy. They will be informed by a team of Environmental Justice Genius Advisors, which consists of representatives from frontline environmental justice communities who meet regularly to guide program design, participation criteria, and provide technical assistance to project leaders. 

The application deadline for these positions is February 16, 2024. Read the Description of Strategic Hires to learn about each position and how to apply.

Wells Fargo funds Clean Energy Workforce Program

Posted on by Alyse Horn

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

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

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

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

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

Summer Youth Guide for the Triboro Ecodistrict

Posted on by Alyse Horn

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Millvale

Happening at the Millvale Community Library, 213 Grant Avenue: 

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

Etna

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

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

At EcoPark, 37 Grant Avenue:

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


Sharpsburg

Happening at Sharpsburg Community Library, 1212 Main Street:

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

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

Waitlisted Camps:

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

Community events w/ library activity table:

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

Summer Reading program

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

Nonprofit program continues to build healthy, resilient regional leaders

Posted on by Alyse Horn

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beaver County residents utilize Innovate program to formalize entrepreneurial dreams

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Above: The second cohort of the Innovate program during a showcase in November 2022. Photo by Akyera Thompson. To view more photos from the event, click here.

During Christina Leeman’s time as a social worker, she became highly aware of the lack of affordable housing in Aliquippa.

According to the Vibrancy Index, there are 9,238 residents in the community and 56 percent of residents are homeowners compared to 71 percent in Beaver County.

“I never realized the problem and how hard it was to find safe housing,” Leeman said. “It was really put on my heart to pursue this, then Covid happened. But now doors are opening and now is the time.”

In November of last year, Leeman completed the Innovate program to help formalize her business Unique Grace Properties, which aims to connect rent burdened families with safe and affordable housing so they can thrive. The three month cohort is for early stage entrepreneurs with the goal of launching leaders in the direction of their dreams. 

Greenhouse Lab hosts Innovate, and Leeman learned about the program from its Executive Director John Jordan. 

“Innovate is specifically designed for people who are either starting new businesses and nonprofits, or who desire to get more serious about a side hustle they’ve been operating,” Jordan said.

Leeman currently has one house she and her husband are fixing up to rent with the vision of acquiring four more houses over the next two years. Through her involvement with Innovate, she was able to work individually with a coach who helped her hone in her business plan, and in group sessions she could talk through her ideas with the other 12 participants to get feedback.

Melissa A. Rhines during the November showcase presenting her business, Broken in2 Beautiful. Photo by Akyera Thompson.

Ferdinando Turkovich was in the latest cohort with Leeman for his business Crossroads Craftsmens Shoppe. He said the six group sessions and one-on-one coaching sessions worked out perfectly with his schedule and provided him with the direction he needed.

“Innovate helped me synthesize my dream and make it something more tangible,” Turkovich said. “I was able to process the information in my head in such a way that allowed me to put it on paper and see it as something that is obtainable instead of something that, in the mindspace, dies on the cutting board.”

Crossroads Craftsmens Shoppe is a custom woodworking shop with the goal to provide heirloom quality wood products at affordable prices, but the ultimate goal is to create a makerspace that provides access to professional tools, advice, and “allow individuals to explore their healing through tactile activities.”

Turkovich would like to work with adolescent kids who’ve experienced trauma and provide them with coping mechanisms through woodworking. Eventually, he would like to add metal fabrication and auto-body repair to the shoppe. 

“Those are the three main areas that if you learn one of those trades you are most likely to be successful, and when I say successful, I mean it’s something that you can rely on that ultimately gives you a [profession] and a way to escape the things that are going on around you in a healthy way,” Turkovich said. 

The Innovate program also included: Michelle M. Gabriel, Good Noodle Neighborhood; Stephanie Mason, Mason’s Delectable Delights; Karyn Stuart, The Sanctuary; Jamyra Harrell, Traveling Arrows; Melissa A. Rhines, Broken in2 Beautiful; Chynna Wilcox, The Table ESL Center; Lakeshia Tucker, B3 Women’s Empowerment Community; Erik Kerr, Getting Ahead Beaver County; Maximilian Elliot, The Lemonaide Lab; Marquay Priest, Priest Cleaning Solutions; Troi Moon, Moonlight Hair Co.

When Jordan co-founded Greenhouse Lab in 2020, he wanted to create a social impact incubator to help people start new businesses and nonprofits that would “revive and renew” the Aliquippa community. They offer five different services to leaders through a platform that builds on relational, practical experiences of the grassroots leaders in the area: strategic coaching, relevant trainings, marketing support, shared workspace, and financial management. 

Innovate is one of the two main programs offered by Greenhouse Lab, the second being Cultivate, which is designed for Innovate participants to continue receiving support as they implement their plans and launch their initiatives. Jordan said the development of these programs was largely based on materials from New Sun Rising’s Launch Incubator curriculum. 

“NSR said ‘Here is our stuff, adapt it if you need to,’” Jordan said. “Scott [Wolovich] and I have met pretty regularly for him to coach me through this and make sure we are adapting stuff well. I really value his input into the process and helping me think through things differently.”

The first session of Innovate was held in the early months of 2022 with seven participants, and the second cohort nearly doubled in size with 13 participants. The third cohort will begin February 2023 with a cap of 10-12 participants.

Jordan said the program is able to work at the capacity of how many coaches are available for the number of participants, which is volunteer based. When the second cohort concluded in November 2022, the program held a showcase for participants to present their full-formed ideas. 

“A lot of the coaches left saying, ‘If we could just bottle up that showcase and give that to people [to hold on to].’ It was a really cool night to experience what these folks represent in our community and what they’re bringing to our city and the cities around us,” Jordan said.

If you’d like to volunteer as a coach for the Innovate program, email john.jordan@greenhouselab.org.

If you’d like to learn more and support Unique Grace Properties, email celeeman75@gmail.com. For Crossroads Craftsmens Shoppe, email turkannacreations@gmail.com.