Sport for Good: Open Field promotes collective impact to achieve Sustainable Development Goals

Posted on October 21, 2020 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Above: A group of girls who participated in Open Field’s 2020 summer program.

Last September during New Sun Rising’s Ignite Vibrancy: Collective Impact, over 30 community leaders representing 10 collective impact projects were given the opportunity to pitch for $30,000 in total grants during the one-day workshop supported by the Henry L. Hillman Foundation.

The three pitch winners were: Coraopolis Community C.A.F.E (Coraopolis Alliance for Excellence), SURGE Braddock, and C.H.A.M.P.S Northview Heights + Crafton (Change Agents Mentoring Peers in Sport). In addition to funding, each received ongoing technical support from New Sun Rising’s GIT-COL initiative (Growing Impact Through Data + Collaboration).

We were able to catch up with Justin Forzano, Founder & CEO of Open Field, and part of the C.H.A.M.P.S partnership that also includes JFCS Pittsburgh, Somali Bantu Community Association of Pittsburgh, ARYSE, Youth Places, and the Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh.

Forzano’s partnership received $5,000 to help support their programming, which utilizes the global game of soccer to promote social cohesion, increase life skills education, and improve the health and well-being of young people in Northview Heights and Crafton Heights.

Boys playing soccer during Open Field’s 2020 summer program.

“Attending the workshop with NSR and our communication with [former Director of Opportunity] Leigh [Solomon Pugliano] was helpful because it forced us to get out of the day-to-day and think about the bigger picture,” Forzano said. “It was nice to do not only for the sake of our organization, but do it in consideration and collaboration with other organizations to see where our future goals align.”

With C.H.A.M.P.S working in two different neighborhoods, Foranzo said they had always held separate meetings with a couple community organizations in each area to take care of planning for that neighborhood, and the Ignite Vibrancy: Collective Impact workshop was the first time representatives from each neighborhood came together around a table to identify common issues.

“That was an unexpected surprise, because I hadn’t really thought about doing that before,” Forzano said.

In particular, Open Field’s work with youth in Northview Heights promotes physical activity, life skills, and leadership in a deeply disinvested community. Residents earn a median income that is only 30 percent of the Pittsburgh average and 90 percent identify as Black, a population that is reflective of those hit hardest by the COVID-19 crisis. According to NSR’s Vibrancy Index, the community ranks worse than 96 percent of census tracts in Allegheny County on Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities, due to racial segregation and income distribution. Through collaborations like C.H.A.M.P.S, Open Field and their partners are helping residents to lead and benefit from initiatives, which improve Health (SDG 3), Education (SDG 4), and Employment (SDG 8).

“We are a pretty unique organization in how our intervention is sport based, specifically soccer… so one of the things we noticed is that all of these other organizations are providing a lot of wraparound services, and our interventions help address a lot of things they’re working on. So a consensus of us all talking together is ‘look at all these things we identify as issues that are common in both communities; look at all these things and all the ways an intentional sport for social impact program can address them; let’s work together to address these issues.”

Pittsburgh and a Global community will celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Open Field, during “A Taste of Africa at Home” on October 24, 2020. Although the virtual event is sold out, you can still show your support through their online auction or by making a donation.

Nonprofit Resilience Program focuses on leaders wellbeing to create trust, connectivity and build capacity

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Pittsburgh, PA — Eleven nonprofit executives have been selected as the first cohort to participate in a three month resiliency program to address personal and organizational pressures that have been exacerbated by COVID-19.

The program began on September 1, 2020 and will conclude on November 23, 2020.

Hosted by New Sun Rising in partnership with Neighborhood Allies, The Partnership Network, The Forbes Funds, and made possible with support from The Staunton Farm Foundation, the Nonprofit Resilience Program creates a resource that assesses individual leaders and provides them tools for personal healthy mental habits. It also addresses the overall health of the organization and provides capacity building tactics and tools to better understand the symbiotic relationship between the two.

“Seeing the impact of COVID-19 and the ever present history of our country’s issues around racism, it is time to find a way for our nonprofit leaders to identify the tools and skills that fill them back up so they can continue to pour out,” said Jamie Johnson, Manager of Performance Improvement at New Sun Rising.

The Partnership Network, a group of intermediary funders and capacity building organizations mobilizing the community and economic development sectors to solve complex community challenges, have identified four goals for this program: Develop Healthy Leaders, Create Trust and Connectivity, Build Organizational Capacity, and Strengthen the Talent Pipeline. These goals have been broken down into phases and will be addressed over the program’s timeline.

Phase 1: Healthy Leaders: Acknowledge and support the needs of people as individuals. Research shows that higher emotional intelligence facilitates stress resilience. An online Emotional Intelligence Assessment will be administered and Development Sessions are created based on the results.
Phase 2: Stronger Connectivity: People need to heal from past trauma in order to actualize their own potential and ability to support others. Collective experiences will be promoted based on empathy and honesty. Participants will develop trust and strengthen peer relationships in new ways to help them better manage adversity in the future.
Phase 3: Building Capacity: A leader’s health, mental and physical, and the health of their organization are interrelated. Gaining a greater understanding of operational strengths and weaknesses helps professional service contractors address and organization’s most urgent needs

“As public servants and dedicated leaders, we can often be so driven by our passions that the personal health of a non-profit director is often secondary to the work. Over time, this can lead to burnout, exhaustion, and institutional knowledge loss in the system,” said Stephanie Chernay, Chief Operation Officer at Neighborhood Allies. “This program is designed to center the leader and their needs to accomplish both their personal and organizational goals.”

Program participants include: Andrea Matthews – Brashear Association; Jason Flowers – Omicelo Cares; McKees Rocks CDC; Emily Mitchell – Urban Redevelopment Authority; Joanna Deming – Perry Hilltop Citizens Council; Jordan Coughlen – Alpha House; Amber Epps – Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation; Ariam Ford – Grounded Strategies; Denele Hughson – Grow Pittsburgh; Jona Reyes – Neighbors Helping Neighbors North Braddock; Alyssa Lyons – Green Building Alliance.

Co-developer of this initiative, Terry Doloughty of Boss Consulting, will also be one of the technical assistance providers working with non-profit leaders to help them establish strong personal and organizational health habits.

Developing resilience is a transformational process that occurs over time through a multifaceted approach. By strengthening individual leaders and their relationships with peers, this initiative will ultimately improve organizational sustainability and help to achieve greater impact. This program recognizes the health of the organization and the mental health of nonprofit leaders are intrinsically intertwined.

—

CONTACTS:

Jamie Johnson, Manager of Performance Improvement, New Sun Rising
jamie@newsunrising.org

Stephanie Chernay, Chief Operating Officer, Neighborhood Allies
stephanie@neighborhoodallies.org

About New Sun Rising
New Sun Rising supports nonprofits and small businesses to build vibrant communities through culture, sustainability, and opportunity. NSR believes that all people and communities hold the knowledge and power to make positive change. We envision a future where regenerative community development practices create the conditions for true social, environmental, and economic justice.

About Neighborhood Allies
Neighborhood Allies’ mission is to support the people, organizations and partnerships committed to creating and maintaining healthy neighborhoods. They strive to support this mission by creating community partnerships, connecting distressed and transitioning communities with valued/vetted resources, and communicating and celebrating progress and success.

About The Partnership Network
The Partnership Network (TPN) is a group of intermediary funders and/or capacity building organizations working to mobilize the community and economic development sectors in the Pittsburgh region. TPN creates the conditions for change by collaborating to solve complex community challenges at the macro, meso, and micro levels of our communities. Collectively, TPN is focused on capacity building for the Community Development System to reach the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). TPN members are committed to being people-centered while implementing the following practices: Aligning Resources, Creating Transparency, and Articulating Shared Outcomes. Partner organizations include Allegheny Conference, The Forbes Funds, Grounded Strategies, Neighborhood Allies, NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania, and New Sun Rising.

About The Forbes Funds
The Forbes Funds advances the well-being of our region by helping human service and community-based nonprofits build their management capacity and increase the impact of their mission work. They support these nonprofits both as individual organizations and as a unified coalition of leaders, funders, and advocates working collaboratively throughout southwestern Pennsylvania.

Public Art and Communities Program Releases Call for Organizations

Posted on August 19, 2020 by Scott Wolovich

Office of Public Art, Neighborhood Allies, and the Borough of Millvale launch new program connecting artists and communities

Release Date: August 13, 2020

Pittsburgh, PA – Office of Public Art and Neighborhood Allies, in collaboration with the Borough of Millvale, are seeking four partnering organizations who are addressing public health needs to participate in a program to collaboratively develop temporary works of public art with artists.

The Public Art and Communities program (PAC) will support the development of creative place-based strategies, as well as four temporary artworks in Pittsburgh communities. The projects will respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and address its intersection with other public health issues. PAC will engage artists to collaborate with communities to address their needs through public art and creative placemaking practices. The target geography for the program includes: Hilltop (including Allentown, Beltzhoover, Knoxville, and Mount Oliver); Hill District; Wilkinsburg; Homewood; Larimer; Lincoln-Lemington; and the Triboro Ecodistrict (Etna, Millvale, and Sharpsburg). At least one of the selected organizations will serve the communities of the Triboro Ecodistrict; the other three organizations will serve one or more of the communities in the target geography.

For more information and to submit an online application please visit https://pittsburghartscouncil.submittable.com/submit. An online information session will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2020 from 4 – 5 PM via Zoom. Registration for the information session can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/PAC-Info-1. The deadline for Organizational Applications is Monday, September 21, 2020 at 11:59 PM. A separate call for artist applications will be released at a later date.

“Our most vulnerable populations are already subject to a myriad of public health risks. By mobilizing artists to collaborate with these communities, we can enhance connection, coping, and wellbeing and create new tools and methods for addressing the current challenges. We can strengthen our communities’ responses and build their resilience.” reads the call for organizations.

Qualified organizations are community-based organizations (CBOs) or other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that address one or more public health needs, including, but not limited to: mental health; racism; food insecurity; housing instability; environmental injustice; and social isolation and exclusion, and are serving communities in the target geography. Organizations are not required to have an art program or experience working with artists and are not required to be located in the target geographic area, but must have a demonstrated track record of working within the neighborhood.

“Before COVID-19, the communities we work in were already experiencing high levels of concentrated poverty, racial segregation and separation from economic opportunity, and now the crisis has only helped to exacerbate these very serious situations. From the “Pittsburgh’s Inequality Across Gender and Race” report and many other accounts, we know that Pittsburgh is less livable for African-Americans compared to other groups based on a number of quality of life and economic indicators such as: high levels of maternal mortality, low labor force participation, disproportionately high poverty rates, low average income and others” said Chelsea Contino, Communications and Outreach Program Coordinator at Neighborhood Allies. “As an organization, we know that public art and creative placemaking projects can be a successful strategy to achieve community goals and objectives, including public health objectives, and we are eager to support collaborative efforts of organizations with artists in our communities to obtain equitable and healthy neighborhoods.”

After the organizations are selected, they will serve on a panel to choose the artist with whom they will collaborate. Organizations will work with their selected artist to assist in the development of a proposal for a work of temporary public art. Each collaboration will result in a temporary public artwork with an expected lifespan of 1 – 2 years. Each organization will receive an honorarium of $10,000 to participate in the program to support staff time for the program, including outreach and engagement efforts. Artwork budgets will be $35,000, which includes the artist fee. The Call for Artists will be released later this year.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented public health crisis that has overturned lives around the world. We have seen that arts and culture projects can play a powerful role in shaping our response and addressing the vast needs that have been exposed.” said Sallyann Kluz, Director of the Office of Public Art. “The Public Art and Communities program, which builds on the Temporary Public Art and Placemaking program that we piloted with Neighborhood Allies in 2016, will provide training for artists and communities to work together, build collaboration in support of community needs, and create partnerships for the future.”

Public Art and Communities is a collaboration between the Office of Public Art, Neighborhood Allies, the Borough of Millvale, Millvale Community Library, and the Triboro Ecodistrict. The program is funded through the generous support of The Heinz Endowments, the Henry L. Hillman Foundation, and the Our Town program of the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

For more information and to submit an online application, please visit https://pittsburghartscouncil.submittable.com/submit.

###

About the Office of Public Art

The Office of Public Art (OPA) envisions a region in which the creative practices of artists are fully engaged to collaboratively shape the public realm and catalyze community-led change. OPA builds regional capacity for this work through technical assistance, public programming, artist resources, and civically engaged public art projects. Located at the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, OPA serves the thirteen county region of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Learn more at publicartpittsburgh.org.

About Neighborhood Allies

Neighborhood Allies’ mission is to support the people, organizations and partnerships committed to creating and maintaining thriving neighborhoods. They strive to support this mission by creating community partnerships, connecting distressed and transitioning communities with valued/ vetted resources, and communicating and celebrating progress and success. For more information, visit: neighborhoodallies.org.

About the Millvale Community Library

Established in 2007 and opening in 2013 after years of resident volunteer efforts, the Millvale Community Library is more than a library – it is an agent for positive change. In 2012, the Millvale Community Library hosted and helped create the Millvale Ecodistrict community education and engagement program to build capacity and leadership. Today over 20,000 annual visitors of all ages enjoy free resources, literacy, arts, and making programs. http://www.millvalelibrary.org/

About the Borough of Millvale

Established in 1868, the Borough of Millvale is a municipality immediately adjacent to Pittsburgh and located on the Allegheny River. The Borough works closely with individuals and organizations to advance projects and ideas for the benefit of its community members, and regularly partners with neighboring communities on inter-municipal planning and development initiatives. In 2013, the Borough of Millvale launched the Millvale Ecodistrict Pivot Plan, a community revitalization strategy that includes the development of regenerative infrastructure, education, and art to create and enhance sustainable planning and development solutions. https://www.millvalepa.com/

About the Triboro Ecodistrict

The Triboro Ecodistrict promotes coordinated sustainable community development throughout the Boroughs of Millvale, Etna and Sharpsburg. With over 10,000 residents combined, the Triboro builds on a strong collaborative history to promote equitable, sustainable community development through the shared lenses of: Equity, Food, Water, Energy, Air Quality, and Mobility. The Triboro Ecodistrict is a collaborative project of New Sun Rising, Etna Economic Development Corporation, Etna Community Organization (ECO), and Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization. https://www.newsunrising.org/project/triboro-ecodistrict/

New Sun Rising to support newly launched Arts | Equity | Reimagined Fund

Posted on August 13, 2020 by Scott Wolovich

The Covid-19 Arts Working Group (CAWG), a collaboration of 15 foundations and a private donor in the Pittsburgh metro area, announces the Arts I Equity I Reimagined Fund, in response to the unprecedented and ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the region’s arts and cultural sector. The fund is intended to foster collective action and identify creative solutions to operating challenges as nonprofit arts organizations navigate these uncertain times. While the fund is open to all arts and cultural organizations, in recognition of long-standing disparities in funding, it will prioritize small to medium-sized arts organizations and those that serve or are led by historically marginalized communities in southwestern Pennsylvania, whether they be urban or rural in location.

New Sun Rising is pleased to support the design and development of the program, as well as implement the Collective Action for Reimagining grant program of the fund.

Details about the Arts I Equity I Reimagined Fund, including eligibility requirements, deadlines, FAQs, the application process and guiding principles can be found at www.artsreimagined.org or by calling (412) 219-6584‬. More information can also be found on the NSR website.

One Northside 2019-2020 Mini-Grant Showcase, upcoming mini-grant deadlines

Posted on August 10, 2020 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Pittsburgh, PA — At 12 p.m. on Monday, August 24, New Sun Rising (NSR) and One Northside (ONS) will host a showcase of resident-driven mini-grant projects that have been completed in 2019 through August 2020.

The event will be virtual and hosted via Facebook Live. Attendees should visit this link and RSVP to receive reminder notifications from Facebook.

The upcoming application deadlines for the rest of the 2020 ONS Mini-Grants are:

Friday, August 21 at 11:59 p.m.
Friday, October 16 at 11:59 p.m.
November 20 at 11:59 p.m. (pending fund availability)

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and reviewed bi-monthly.

The mini-grant program awards Northsider’s up to $1,000 to support small scale community projects that demonstrate pledged support of their neighbors, help strengthen connections, increase accessibility to resources, and/or activate significant places in their community.

In lieu of the 15 required signatures for applications, grantees must have three references email vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org or call NSR at (412) 407-9007 to give their full name, Northside home or business address, and the name of the project they are supporting. References cannot be from the same Northside home or business address.

If you are working towards COVID relief projects, please reach out to vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org for an application noting what your project will help.

Contact

NSR encourages prospective applicants to email vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org with any questions or concerns about the mini-grant process in advance of preparing their application.

For mini-grant applicants, the preferred method for submitting your application is to use the online form accessible at: www.newsunrising.org/project/ignite-northside/

Printed applications are accepted by postal mail. You may also submit your applications as attachments to vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org. Postal mail submissions should be addressed to New Sun Rising, Attn. One Northside Mini-Grant, P.O. Box 58005, Pittsburgh, PA 15209 and must be received by the grant deadline. All projects must be completed by August 31, 2020.

In pre-approved circumstances, project leaders may submit for additional mini-grants. Only one mini-grant per project leader may be active at one time. Please contact vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org for additional information.

About New Sun Rising

New Sun Rising supports nonprofits and small businesses to build vibrant communities through culture, sustainability, and opportunity. NSR believes that people and communities hold the knowledge and power to make positive change. We envision a future where regenerative community development practices create the conditions for true social, environmental, and economic justice.

About One Northside

One Northside is a community-driven initiative to improve the quality of life in all 18 neighborhoods of the Northside. Since early 2014, hundreds of Northside residents have engaged with local leaders and stakeholders in community-wide conversations to create a shared agenda for the revitalization of this vital component of the greater Pittsburgh region.

New Sun Rising, RiverWise announce financial support for artists to visually explore COVID-19 impacts

Posted on July 1, 2020 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Pittsburgh, PA — Exploring COVID Impacts Through Visual Art is a program that will provide $2,500 of direct financial support for artists (up to 6 nonprofits, individuals, or small businesses) to create visual art reflecting the impact of COVID-19 on their community.

Interested applicants must complete an initial application by July 3, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Applications received by the deadline will be notified of their status within one week.

Successful applicants will receive funds and technical assistance to support their project and must agree to the following conditions, which can be found here. If selected to participate in the program, artists must complete their artwork by July 24, 2020.

“Artists’ work often moves people to reflection, hope, and action. We are not merely viewing art, we are experiencing it. Like most of the workforce, creative’s livelihoods have been affected drastically. Our program hopes to provide some relief to the current pandemic and come together as a community,” said Dan Stiker, Director of Operations for New Sun Rising.

Nonprofits, individuals, and businesses in Allegheny and Beaver County are all eligible to apply. Applications to the Fund are to be completed online at this link or, if technology creates a barrier, through an application interview scheduled by emailing vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org.

All applicants will be vetted by a diverse Fund Committee, composed of New Sun Rising, RiverWise, and community representatives, following the established Selection Criteria, which can be found here.

“There is a growing spirit of cooperation taking place between Beaver County and Allegheny County,” explains Daniel Rossi-Keen, Executive Director of RiverWise. “We are increasingly realizing that our experiences and opportunities are very similar. And, more than ever, COVID-19 reminds us that we’re all in this together. So, we’re excited to see that reflected in art from around the region.”

The program is a partnership between New Sun Rising and RiverWise, supported by The Pittsburgh Foundation’s Emergency Action Fund.

Contact

Dan Stiker, Director of Operations, New Sun Rising
dan@newsunrising.org

Daniel Rossi-Keen, Executive Director, RiverWise
danielkeen@hotmail.com

About New Sun Rising

About RiverWise

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. They encourage this process in two primary ways. First, they have formed ecodistricts in three communities (Aliquippa, Monaca, and Beaver Falls). Second, they are engaged in a growing list of projects aimed at activating community ideas and bringing sustainable development to life throughout Beaver County.

The GROW Residency

Posted on April 6, 2020 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Above: From left to right, Elysia Newman, Lucinda Wade, Jamie Johnson, Leigh Solomon Pugliano, Dawn Lehman, Connie Capiotis, and Brittney Thieroff.

By Leigh Solomon Pugliano, Director of Opportunity

The GROW Residency Program is an eight month incubator style program developed to provide long term support for growth stage businesses, nonprofit projects, and collaborative initiatives that are under resourced or may face barriers to success and sustainability. GROW Residents receive access to a dedicated number of individual consulting hours per month, group workshops, and a financial award for acceptance into the program.

I designed the GROW Residency Program to provide founders and leaders with individualized growth strategies, leadership training, and professional development. It was also important to create a space for the participants to connect and share ideas, challenges, and best practices with others in leadership.

The most valuable aspect of this program for me is the personal support I’m able to give to the women in the program. I like to build a relationship and get to know folks on a personal level before attempting to give them advice or strategic support. It’s important for me to understand the personal needs of the individuals I’m working with in order to give advice and strategies that work best for them and what they’re building. I’m very proud of this program and all of the accomplishments, friendships, and success that has grown from it. Here are the 2019-2020 GROW Residents, in their own words.

Collective Change Partners

Dawn Lehman, Founder

The most fulfilling experiences in my life have involved working in partnership with others who shared similar values, including the desire to be the best that we can be, while contributing to the well-being of others. These relationships were grounded in a respect and trust that allowed for reflection, learning, and growth. While some of these relationships happened spontaneously, others were the result of conscious intention and effort. The aim of my business is to support others, individually and collectively, to live with intention in their deepest values.

Because I am committed to living with integrity, I couldn’t just go to a conventional business consultant and force myself to do the prescribed steps. My attempts to do so haven’t felt right for me. I needed a process that worked with me as a whole person, and recognized that my work does not fit the typical mold. Just as my coaching work supports people to find their own voice and path, I needed support from someone who could nudge me in the right direction while letting me find my own approach, which Leigh did.

My professional work includes facilitation, training, and coaching, all of which are fundamentally collaborative endeavors. Starting a business, in contrast, has been largely an independent process, often pushing me to develop skills that are outside of my comfort area. Leigh’s first challenge to me was to consider how I could market my business in a way that conveys the relational nature of my work. By selecting the name Collective Change Partners, I not only have a more effective brand but also a touchstone for the aspiration I have in doing this work.

Throughout the GROW experience I faced many challenges. Completing and launching my website involved many obstacles. There are aspects of business development and maintenance still feel mysterious and distant to me, but I have a solid foundation. Through my relationship with Leigh, and my cohort peers, I know that I am not alone. I know that many others have pushed through these same obstacles and that we have one another for support.

My hope is that Collective Change Partners can be a support to groups and organizations who see the effectiveness of our work is not just in the skills we bring to the table, but in how we show up for one another.

Digital Bridges

Connie Capiotis, Founder + Executive Director

I started Digital Bridges in 2017 with a lot of passion and an idea. I wanted to help people by teaching them the technology and business skills that would make a difference in their life no matter their situation or circumstance. I had a background in business development and technology, but zero experience in the nonprofit world. No connections. No history. Yet with typical entrepreneurial passion, I jumped in. I founded Digital Bridges Pittsburgh as a fiscally sponsored nonprofit with New Sun Rising.

By the time I entered the GROW Residency program I had some major accomplishments with our programs in Hazelwood supported by the Heinz Endowments, successfully participated in the Lively Pittsburgh Age-Friendly Challenge and actively ran both our own curriculum and taught the SMARTER Robotics program, and obtained a Google IT Support Certification Programs in partnership with Auberle. With those accomplishments came a few stinging lessons as well; I was smack dab in the thick of growing pains.

The GROW Residency program was exactly what I needed. The ability to connect with other business owners, in that same place of balancing exciting successes with the challenges of being a new business, helped me to find community and much needed support in what can be a lonely journey. Right now I am a team of one with an advisory board; the work is all on me. Having the support of other entrepreneurs and the guidance from Leigh, someone to bounce ideas off of and ground me when those growing pains became overwhelming, without fear of judgment, is valuable beyond words.

From a productivity standpoint, I’m proud to report that the organization has moved forward according to the roadmap that we set in the beginning of the program. I am pleased with the progress that was made in further shaping our programs and the focus we are taking on matching our work to the PA Standards for Entrepreneurship including our signature technology programs. I’ve also begun offering coaching services to earn additional revenue. There have been more professional gains than I can put into an already lengthy story, it’s suffice to say we accomplished our goals and then some. I can attest that the content presented by Leigh and the speakers throughout the program is of high value. I am a firm believer that you can never stop learning.

That said, I want my final thought to be clear: the greatest value is in the human connection that the GROW Residency provided and the value of working with other entrepreneurs cannot be overstated. My greatest need as an entrepreneur is human support from like-minded individuals. That is the beauty and the greatest benefit of the GROW Residency, and I am forever grateful for it.

If you would like to support Digital Bridges Pittsburgh, I am always open to like-minded support in any form. You can email me directly at connie@digitalbridgespgh.org, or visit our website www.digitalbridgespgh.org.

Style 412

Elysia Newman, Executive Director

Moving to Pittsburgh from China nearly 10 years ago I fell in love with the city and its vibrant lifestyle, but one thing was noticeably lacking: there was no robust fashion industry and the opportunities to work creatively within it were few and far between. For years as I completed my college degree, I scoured the city seeking ways to work in fashion, trying everything from modeling to styling to starting my own e-commerce businesses. It was not easy and — while I faced the challenges of being a small business owner — I also faced the challenges of being a small retail business owner in Pittsburgh, which were far greater. These were my personal challenges with being a fashion creative in Pittsburgh and the conversation that I started, which later became Style412, is what sparked it.

Style412 began as a discussion by the fashion community, for the fashion community. Since 2017, it has existed as the only non-profit dedicated to fashion in Pittsburgh with a board of industry veterans fueled by the passion to see the industry grow. It exists to fill a void, one that we believe can be filled through educational programming and building a support system to connect existing and emerging professionals.

I would use one word to describe the GROW residency: clarity. For the past year, Leigh has helped me build a better roadmap for the organization and challenged me to better shape my goals. I feel lighter and more confident having gone through the program. Meeting and learning how other fellow cohort members navigate the growth of their organizations has also been a most cherished and valuable experience.

For those interested in being part of the fashion community in Pittsburgh, or those who simply want to see it evolve, they can support Style412 by joining our inclusive membership network, Playground at www.style412.com. Other ways you can be a part of our community is by subscribing to our newsletter at www.style412.com/frow or giving us a follow at @style412.

Coraopolis Youth Creations

Lucinda Wade, Executive Director

When I arrived in Coraopolis over 15 years ago, there was no community center, rec center or Boys and Girls Club within walking distance. We started offering “Friday Fun Night” in the small basement of the Church of God where kids received a hot dinner, played games, and went on occasional field trips. Before we realized what was happening, we went from doing what we can to help fill the gaps in our community to becoming change agents. We started a small after-school program, began offering free summer lunch, and the Annual Back 2 School Bash became our signature community event.

In 2016 we launched the Community Youth Center (CYC): a safe gathering space for the under-served community of Coraopolis that houses youth programs, classes, family activities and events. Our vision is to create a vibrant community hub where the community members are empowered to take ownership and are active in making it a great place to work, learn, connect and serve.

Through this residency I was able to connect with other non-profit directors and entrepreneurs who, like me, wear many hats. The experience allowed us to discuss our challenges, share resources, encourage and support one another. Like most executive directors, I have the responsibility of performing many roles within my organization and it is easy to get overwhelmed and distracted. Working with Leigh provided the accountability and strategic tools that I needed to stay on track. One of the main things that she helped me accomplish was to set and develop challenging, but attainable, goals with measurable and trackable deadlines.

We are currently recruiting “Community Champions” to provide professional expertise through teaching, mentoring, or serving on our board of directors. We also need donors and sponsors to support the development of the Coraopolis Community Hub through in-kind and financial donations.

To learn more about the GROW Residency Program, visit our website or contact info@newsunrising.org for more information. You can reach Leigh Solomon Pugliano at properleigh@gmail.com | IG @properleigh.

Makeup: Sarah Jenkins

sarajenkinsmua@gmail.com | IG @sarajinkies_mua

Photography: Joe Lowrey

joelowrey@gmail.com | IG @joelowreyphoto

Shoot Direction: Brittney Thieroff

IG @scoutmebt

ONS Mini-Grants ’empower’ community members, support projects

Posted on January 7, 2020 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Above: Marlo Jones helps women learn how to crochet at a senior citizens home on the Northside.

Northside neighbors with small-scale projects are able to utilize the One Northside Mini-Grant program to get their ideas off the ground, with the next application deadline being January 30, 2020.

The program awards Northsider’s $1,000 for their projects that demonstrate pledged support of their neighbors, help strengthen connections, increase accessibility to resources, and/or activate significant places in their community.

Cecelia Ware has been an advocate for the mini-grant program since she began applying for different projects several years ago, and believes that community members can feel “empowered” by engaging with their neighbors in this way.

“If you’ve got something that you want to share with the community, why not apply for a mini-grant and go ahead and do it?” Ware said.

The mini-grants were first supervised by The Sprout Fund, and when the nonprofit sunset, New Sun Rising took over the process in 2018. Ware applied for funding with both organizations, initially because she “needed to do work in [her] community” and wanted to help kids that may be navigating difficult experiences.

Ware has been awarded several mini-grants over the years, her first being the Saving Our Sons and Daughters after school program at Propel Northside that focuses on violence prevention and coping skills for high school students. Her current mini-grant project is an extension of the first, and is a Teen Drop in Center at 3577 McClure Ave. to ensure that students are supported beyond the school year. She said they are always looking volunteers, and those interested can email infinitelifestylesol@gmail.com.

“We still focus on violence prevention, but also social justice and African American history as well as leadership skills,” Ware said. “We provide the kids with a free meal, and we have a food bank and clothing bank so they can take those things home if needed.”

For Marlo Jones, this was the first year she applied for a mini-grant. As a talented crocheter, Jones wanted to share her craft through The Crochet Group, where she visits senior citizens each week and teaches them the basics of crocheting to create a beginner scarf or hat.

Jones said the mini-grant has helped her cover the costs of supplies, so each participate can choose and take with them several different yarn colors and their own pair of needles. She also uses a projector to present the different crochet techniques in an easy to digest fashion. She said the experience has been great for those involved.

“This is a safe environment, and people can talk and share what’s been going on in their lives” Jones said. “ It’s therapeutic… to start from nothing and create something beautiful with your hands.”

Project applications submitted to New Sun Rising by January 30, 2020 will receive a decision in February 2020. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the mini-grant funding pool is depleted, and the next mini-grant deadline is March 31, 2020.

The preferred method of submitting applications it to use the online form accessible at: www.newsunrising.org/project/ignite-northside/. Printing applications are accepted by postal mail, or via email attachment sent to vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org. Postal mail submissions should be addressed to New Sun Rising, Attn. One Northside Mini-Grant, P.O. Box 58005, Pittsburgh, PA 15209 and must be received by the grant deadline. All projects must be completed by August 1, 2020.

EcoDistricts distributes first Citymakers Awards at Summit in November

Posted on December 2, 2019 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

During the 10th Annual EcoDistricts Summit in Pittsburgh last month, the organization initiated the first EcoDistricts Citymakers Awards on November 4 at Phipps Conservatory where key individuals, organizations, and neighborhood projects were recognized for fueling the EcoDistricts movement.

The awards, presented by EcoDistricts CEO Rob Bennett and Brionté McCorkle, ED of Georgia Conservation Voters, acknowledged and celebrated the work done by sustainable development leaders and catalytic district- and neighborhood-scale projects that are working towards a more equitable and sustainable future in urban communities.

“The EcoDistricts movement is led by an inspiring number of urban changemakers. The work is hard and takes time. The work is critical to the future of our cities, communities and planet,” said Bennett. “I’m thrilled to acknowledge their relentless effort and commitment, much of which is done quietly and behind the scenes on behalf of their communities.”

Among a select number of awardees included:

The Borough of Etna for becoming the World’s First Certified EcoDistrict in October of this year. The borough completed a rigorous verification process that assessed the Borough’s project governance, integrated implementation roadmap, and commitments to equity, resilience and climate action. Etna EcoDistrict receives support from New Sun Rising through the Triboro Ecodistrict and Sustainability VISTA.

“Being an outlying borough with a long history of environmental/economic traumas, this moment to be recognized for something positive, as a leader, and the first Certified EcoDistrict is so rare, so special, and so meaningful to us,” said Robert Tuñon, a district leader in Etna’s planning and community engagement process.

Millvale Ecodistrict for the formation of its award-winning EcoDistrict Pivot Plan, which led to a broader partnership between Sharpsburg and Etna, and the creation of the Triboro Ecodistrict. The Borough, Millvale Community Library, Millvale Community Development Corporation, and New Sun Rising have committed a tremendous amount of time and energy to Millvale and EcoDistricts by hosting and planning trainings including the EcoDistricts Incubator this past April that was held at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub. The borough is currently pursuing EcoDistrict certification.

Christine Mondor, Principal at evolveEA, for her work creating the EcoDistrict Protocol and shaping the EcoDistricts Incubator program. Mondor is one of the leading EcoDistricts practitioners in the county and helped Millvale develop its award-winning Ecodistrict Pivot Plan as well as helped Etna attain Ecodistrict Certification.

The City of Pittsburgh for leadership in advancing neighborhood and district-scale equitable and sustainable development throughout the city and fostering growth for areas like Larimer, Uptown, Homewood, Millvale, Etna, Sharpsburg, downtown, and the Lower Hill District. Recently, the City has deepened its commitment to sustainability by becoming the first city in the United States to officially adopt the EcoDistrict Protocol to guide further neighborhood planning.

“The EcoDistricts Protocol helps sharpen the City’s commitment to bringing racial equity and environmental sustainability to all Pittsburgh neighborhoods. We are proud to be an EcoDistricts leader and hope our commitment inspires other cities to follow suit,” said Grant Ervin, City of Pittsburgh Chief Resilience Officer.

SVP Pittsburgh Announces Nonprofits for Special Alumni Fall Pitch Event

Posted on November 29, 2019 by Scott Wolovich

Pittsburgh, PA: Today SVP Full Circle, Pittsburgh’s impact accelerator for nonprofits, announced the five Pittsburgh-based nonprofit organizations that were selected for their Fall pitch event on December 18, 2019 from 5:30 to 8:00 PM at The Alloy Studios (5530 Penn Ave).

RSVP for the SVP Full Circle Alumni Pitch

The nonprofits selected for this special alumni edition include:

Allegheny Youth Development has a mission is to educate, equip and empower our inner-city youth to reach their God-given intellectual, social, physical and spiritual potential. (2015 SVP alumni)
Assemble envisions diverse neighborhoods of empowered people who create, connect, learn, and transform together. Assemble builds confidence through making by uniting communities of artists, technologists, makers, and learners. (2017 SVP alumni)
Hope Haven Farm rescues abused and neglected farm animals and educate the public on animal welfare. (2017 SVP alumni)
Never Fear Being Different (NFBD) NFBD’s mission is leverage the shift in modern media to amplify social impact in the digital. (2017 SVP alumni)
Providence Connections strengthens families and enriches lives through comprehensive education and developmental opportunities for parents and children. (2018 SVP alumni)

Leigh Solomon Pugliano, SVP Pittsburgh’s Full Circle Nonprofit Accelerator Manager shares that, “The Alumni Pitch Event is an opportunity for us to provide a platform for nonprofit leaders to share their stories, advocate for their mission, and gain the additional resources needed to do their best work.”

Attendees will learn about the impact that these innovative nonprofits are having on their communities and opportunities to support their work. The SVP Pittsburgh Board of Directors will share a brief update on the strategic direction of the organization. There will also be plenty of time to network with SVP Partners, who are private sector professionals that contribute their skills, expertise, networks and finances to enhance nonprofit impact.

About SVP Pittsburgh: Social Venture Partners (SVP) Pittsburgh is a growing community of engaged philanthropists who contribute their expertise, skills, networks and finances to grow the impact of nonprofits and tackle our community’s greatest challenges. SVP Pittsburgh is committed to prioritize Inclusion, Collaboration, and Impact in all of their work.

Managers passion for inclusion reflects dedication to diverse programming

Posted on November 2, 2019 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Programs that connect people with resources and inspire action are an essential step to building more vibrant communities; more importantly are the programs co-created by the community the organization serves.

It’s the programs that are about inclusion that Jamie Johnson, Manager of Performance Improvement at New Sun Rising, has a real passion to support. At NSR, Johnson leads risk management, program evaluation, and process assessment to improve the outcomes of the organization, but her keenness for doing so comes from her own experiences with Youth Places at the age of 15.

“We pretty much internally ran an organization as youth for our own community and it was a great experience,” Johnson said. “I feel like it taught me about nonprofit process and program development, but also taught me a lot about leadership.”

Johnson went on to serve her community through AmeriCorps before and between attending Edinboro University for psychology and sociology, and earning a Master’s of Education in Marriage and Family Therapy from Duquesne University.

It was at Edinboro where Johnson met Ebony McQueen-Harris. The two stayed connected, and later during their careers McQueen-Harris told Johnson about NSR and Ignite Northside, an accelerator program that supported entrepreneurs from idea to action in support of the goals of One Northside. At the time, McQueen-Harris was the program manager.

“I was a behavior specialist for an after school program at Faison [Arts Academy] and then I fully moved into social services and worked for an organization called Touching Families,” Johnson said. “I became the program director there, but [Ebony] knew I always had an interest in starting my own business.”

That nudge resulted in Johnson founding Build You Up!, a business based on applying her counseling skills to entrepreneurs and “being able to help business owners and leaders work on themselves internally, so they grow and become their best selves for their organization.”

By the time Ignite Northside 2.0 launched, McQueen-Harris had brought Johnson on board to help facilitate the program. Anne George was a program participant during that time and had regular meetings with Johnson and McQueen-Harris to pin down her business goals. George created the app iXMessage, designed for tween girls to socialize online in a trusted environment.

“[Johnson] really helped me step out of my shell,” George said. “Here is a person who has never worked with someone like me before, in that field, and she wasn’t daunted by it at all. She helped me advocate for myself and did that when no one had a product like mine; I just think that speaks to how good they are and how they know what to do for people to get their business started.”

There is a sincere commitment that Johnson has to the people she works with, and that was on full display during Ignite Northside where she helped participants like George dig into who they are as individuals and find out how that connects them to the work they do. This commitment, along with her passion for process and performance, come together to provide unique benefits to those she supports.

“She is a very [strategic] and detailed person,” said Brettney Duck, Executive Director of G.O girls, a nonprofit that serves young women transitioning out of foster care into adulthood.

Duck was a caseworker at Touching Families when she met Johnson, who was program director at the time. After Johnson left to join New Sun Rising, Duck soon followed suit to create her own venture: G.O girls. Because of Johnson’s inherent ability to lead and direct, she was the first person Duck thought of when creating the board of directors for her organization and asked Johnson to be the president.

Both Johnson and Duck work together facilitating My Place, a program created by ACTION-Housing for young adults between 18-24 who have aged out of the foster care system and need assistance. Earlier this year, NSR was contracted to build upon the success of the program and provide increased support for residents’ employment stability, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

“We don’t want to be another program offering services to young people who have gone through the system,” Duck said. “We are very intentional about that and always ask ‘What are you getting from this program?’, and the feedback we get is, ‘You make us feel comfortable.’”

“Jamie is a good partner to have, because she doesnt take over. I’m the lead consultant for the program and she gives me my room; it’s always nice to have those types of [allies].”

It’s through the lens of inclusion, performance improvement, and a genuine commitment to meet people where they are at that she shares her appreciation of professional awakening with business and nonprofit leaders.

“I want people to know that they can establish things for themselves and they can make an impact in their communities, they don’t have to wait,” Johnson said. “They can do it now.”

Sustainability director raises bar for environmental quality of life

Posted on September 3, 2019 by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Above: Zaheen Hussain (left) speaks on a panel discussion during the Climate Change Town Hall event hosted by Congressman Mike Doyle at Soldiers & Sailors Hall in August.

It can be extremely overwhelming for an individual to sit and think about the impacts of climate change. With the hottest June and July ever recorded alongside two of the wettest years in Pennsylvania history, we see and feel it happening. (Que existential dread.)

But with these mountainous challenges come the challengers invested in inspiring others and generating positive environmental impacts, one being Zaheen Hussain, Director of Sustainability at New Sun Rising.

Named one of NEXTpittsburgh’s “25 Essential Pittsburghers” for “his groundbreaking work building the Triboro Ecodistrict,” Hussain said his dedication for environmentalism and climate change was instilled in him at an early age.

Hussain immigrated from Bangladesh to the United States in the 1990s with his family in part due to the growing climate crisis. Even then, his father was aware of the position Bangladesh would be put in 100 years in the future: under water.

“The climate change conversation today in America is where the rest of the world was in the early 90s,” Hussain said. “The Rio [de Janeiro Earth] Summit, the Kyoto Summit… America committed to taking action on slowing down climate change and building resiliency, and then that went away.”

Bangladesh has a population of around 165 million people and as Hussain put it, is “about the size of Wisconsin,” which has a population of around 6 million. Alongside impending climate change and to increase the access to opportunity and quality of life for their family, Hussain’s parents applied for the Diversity Visa Program and began the process of emigrating to the US.

In high school and throughout college, Hussain studied environmental technology, environmental science, and natural resource economics, “but the policy and economic side really spoke” to him. After graduating college, Hussain worked as a park ranger at Harkness Memorial State Park and William A. Niering Nature Preserve in his home state of Connecticut. It was then that he started searching the country for sustainability work around policy and economics, and applied for a number of Student Conservation Association Green Cities fellowships here in Pittsburgh.

“I didn’t get any of them, but the program manager opened my eyes to an opportunity with GTECH [now Grounded] Strategies for the Green Economies Initiative,” Hussain said. “I moved to Pittsburgh in February of 2012 thinking I’d be here for 10 months to build experience and go back east, but seven and a half years later here I am.”

Hussain said a large part of his professional journey has been the implementation of the Millvale EcoDistrict and Triboro Ecodistrict initiative in Millvale, Etna, and Sharpsburg that for him began in 2015 when he was hired as Millvale’s Sustainability Coordinator. The Millvale EcoDistrict Pivot Plan began in 2013, “which looks at Millvale’s economic development through the lens of sustainability in food, water, energy, air quality, mobility and equity,” Hussain said.

Christine Mondor, Principal at evolveEA, met Hussain after he was hired as sustainability coordinator and said literally and figuratively he was a “breath of fresh air for [Millvale’s] efforts.” Mondor said the two specifically did a lot of work together monitoring air quality, and that Hussain is “passionate and nerdy about it in the best way possible.”

“He’s curious, so he’s always trying to understand what things mean,” Mondor said. “He knows [the science] behind what’s happening and that’s important. He’s also really good at making people feel comfortable and bringing people into the conversation.”

In 2017, Hussain became Director of Sustainability for New Sun Rising while continuing his work as Millvale’s Sustainability Coordinator and “implement[ing] the Ecodistrict plan with attention towards leadership development,” Hussain said. “[Therefore], community organizations and individuals can become more empowered to be the leaders of the work and rely less on outside capacity.”

In his position with New Sun Rising, Hussain advocates for the Vibrant Communities Framework and heads Launch Sustainability cohorts that provides coaching, project development resources, and support to strengthen business plans or grant proposals. He also spends time creating partnerships with organizations like the Green Building Alliance, Allegheny County Conservation District, and Sustainable Pittsburgh. Hussain said it’s these partnerships that help grow NSRs Vibrant Communities framework, which encompasses creating a more sustainable and equitable Pittsburgh.

Rebecca Bykoski, Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurant Program Manager, met Hussain when he was hired as Millvale’s Sustainability Coordinator and joined the Sustainable Pittsburgh Board of Directors. Bykoski said for the time that she has known Hussain, she has noticed that he has “helped create a culture change.”

“Sustainability isn’t always about being green,” Bykoski said. “He’s good at making sure equity and the needs of disadvantaged communities are part of the conversation and that the development that’s happening is equitable.”

With Pittsburgh being one of the worst cities in the country for air pollution and related deaths, Hussain said he is concerned by the continued investment in fossil fuel economies in the region and how that will negatively impact the progress made in the area involving environmental quality and quality of life.

“As a general philosophy, I think that people can’t look at human systems and infrastructure as something outside of nature,” Hussain said. “What people need to realize is that humans are part of natural systems like any other animal. The more we look at ourselves as something outside of nature, the easier it becomes for us to destroy the environment around us because we don’t see it as something impacting our lives.”

That kind of meaningful and cogent argument is a genuine sentiment from Hussain that encourages individuals, communities, and organizations to do better.

“He’s a very inspirational person and he makes you care more and want to do more,” Bykoski said. “The world would be better if it were full of Zaheen’s.”