ImageboxSite LogoLeft ArrowPrevious ItemNext ItemRight ArrowBlog PostEventGrowIgniteLaunchLocationXMenuQuoteSearchGoogle PlusYoutube
New Sun Rising
Menu
Close
  • How We Work
    • Overview
    • Impact
    • Implementation
  • Our Programs + Services
    • Capacity Building
      • Nonprofit Resilience Program
    • Accessible Funding
      • Fiscal Sponsorship
    • Data + Creative Advocacy
  • Projects We Support
  • Resources
    • Vibrancy Portal
    • Food + Energy Hub
    • Tools + Knowledge
  • About Us
    • We Stand Against Racism + Hate
    • We Hear You
    • History
    • Team
    • Jobs + Opportunities
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Ways To Give
New Sun Rising
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Ways To Give
  • How We Work
    • Overview
    • Impact
    • Implementation
  • Our Programs + Services
    • Capacity Building
      • Nonprofit Resilience Program
    • Accessible Funding
      • Fiscal Sponsorship
    • Data + Creative Advocacy
  • Projects We Support
  • Resources
    • Vibrancy Portal
    • Food + Energy Hub
    • Tools + Knowledge
  • About Us
    • We Stand Against Racism + Hate
    • We Hear You
    • History
    • Team
    • Jobs + Opportunities
The Blog of NSR

Category: Projects

Wells Fargo grants fund NSR green workforce projects

Posted on October 19, 2022 by Alyse Horn

Above: Pictured are graduates of the first Solar Workforce Training program cohort in partnership with South Hilltop Men’s Group.

Green Collar Job Pathways in Ecodistrict and Solar Workforce Program receive $22k

 

Pittsburgh, PA — The Wells Fargo Foundation has granted New Sun Rising (NSR) $12,000 for the Green Collar Job Pathways in Ecodistrict Neighborhoods and $10,000 for the Clean Energy Workforce Program. 

The Green Collar Job Pathways in Ecodistricts seeks to address the loss of income and housing instability that worsened during COVID-19, disproportionately impacting Black and low-to-moderate income (LMI) communities, and will provide community members with onramps in related fields focused initially on solar. 

The Clean Energy Workforce Program was established in 2021-2022 in part through support from the Wells Fargo Foundation. The program created a solar training and educational discovery zone facility, a solar installation curriculum and certification with Community College of Allegheny County, and a pipeline of community solar projects for field training and awareness. The current funding will expand and deepen the program for 2022-2023.

“As climate-related impacts become more frequent and intense, Pittsburgh has the opportunity to lead the way towards a more resilient, equitable future. We believe that begins by preparing our residents and small businesses to benefit from large investments spurring new economies like solar energy,” said Scott Wolovich, executive director for NSR.

Both grant programs will focus support with Ecodistrict communities such as Millvale, Etna, and Sharpsburg, as well as Beltzhoover, Knoxville, and Allentown in the City of Pittsburgh.

 

About New Sun Rising: New Sun Rising supports nonprofits, small businesses, and collaboratives 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 Wells Fargo Foundation: Wells Fargo is committed to building an inclusive, sustainable recovery for all through a focus on opening pathways to economic advancement, championing quality, affordable homes, empowering small businesses to thrive, and enabling a just, low-carbon economy.

##

Posted in ProjectsTagged opportunity, sustainability

MCDC seeking Request for Proposals for 216 North Avenue

Posted on July 26, 2022 by Alyse Horn

The Millvale Community Development Corporation (MCDC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is seeking a qualified construction firm to provide reconstruction cost estimating services for 216 North Avenue, a mixed-used certified green building redevelopment in the heart of Millvale’s business district. The 216 North Avenue Mixed Use Hub will provide a home for MCDC operations and shared office, arts, meeting, and small business incubation space.

Due date for Request for Proposals (RFP) is Friday, August 5, 2022 at 5 p.m. via email to Brian Wolovich, project manager. Submit to brianwolovich@gmail.com

For the full RFP, click here. To view the project sheet, click here.

Posted in ProjectsTagged millvale ecodisrict

Cultural festivals flourish through sustainable, collaborative values

Posted on June 21, 2022 by Alyse Horn

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted in Events, ProjectsTagged culture, opportunity, sustainability

Upcoming ONS Mini-Grant deadline June 2022

Posted on May 23, 2022 by Alyse Horn

Above: A student involved in the Believe & Achieve Learning Hub, which received mini-grant funding in 2020.

Pittsburgh, PA — The next One Northside (ONS) Mini-Grant application deadline is Thursday, June 30, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. Project applications submitted to New Sun Rising (NSR) by this date will receive a decision on Friday, July 29, 2022.

This will be the only round of mini-grants for this year and there are 15 award agreements available.

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. 

For mini-grant applicants, the preferred method for submitting your application is to use the online form. Application must be received by the grant deadline. 

In regards to community support, please have three different Northside residents or business owners email vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org with their name, the project they are supporting, their Northside address and their phone number; or have them call 412-407-9007 with the same information.

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. To close your open grant, please fill out the report online form. 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.

##

Posted in Programs, ProjectsTagged One Northside

NSR project sites in Millvale, South Hilltop secure over $1.5 million in federal funding

Posted on April 29, 2022 by Alyse Horn

Above: A member of the South Hilltop Men’s Group working on phase two renovations at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub. Photo by Christian Nowlin.

 

Resilient communities are built upon years of trust between residents and the organizations that represent them, so when a threat or opportunity arises, they are able to mobilize and respond swiftly. 

When the opportunity came to apply for Federal Community Project Funding, both the Millvale and South Hilltop communities were prime to pursue it.

“For us, I think it was really telling to get that level of support and confidence from local and state governments. The Beltzhoover Institute of Arts & Sciences is something that merits funding, and the reputation that we have accumulated over the years has really paid off,” said Jmar Bey, president of South Hilltop Men’s Group.

With $1 million in federal funding for South Hilltop projects, Bey’s organization along with New Sun Rising will co-develop 600 Beltzhoover Ave., resurrecting it into a hub for revitalization and local jobs while addressing environmental issues. Prior to obtaining the federal grant, the project had raised $381,500 for property acquisition and due diligence, engineering and architecture, and facility stabilization. 

“We still had a big funding gap to take the project to completion, and getting this budget appropriation gives us the ability to create the institute the way we envisioned it,” Bey said. 

The space will provide equipment, research, and education on urban environmental topics, focusing on green space management, and is located on the same block as the Lots of Pride experimental research garden where various methods for soil remediation are being tested. The building will also feature green infrastructure and sustainable technologies, like solar and a rooftop greenhouse used to incubate plants for the various community gardens. 

The second South Hilltop location, 120 Millbridge St., will be renovated to support the creative, maker, and light manufacturing economies.  The project envisions doubling as a space for deeper, and more meaningful community engagement. A place where people hone their creative practices while changing perspectives on how they contribute and participate in building community.  Both projects were recommended and supported by Congressman Mike Doyle (PA-18) for Community Project Funding.

In Millvale for the borough’s Ecodistrict Clean Energy Initiative, two key sustainable development projects from New Sun Rising (NSR) and Millvale Community Development Corporation (MCDC), both members of the Millvale Ecodistrict Collaborative, received $584,322 in funding thanks to the support of Congressman Conor Lamb (PA-17).

“This is an example of the ecodistrict working at its finest and what it was designed to be, to help strengthen the pillar organizations to better serve the community,”said Jamie Hahn, MCDC vice president. “We’re better together than individually.”

The Millvale Food + Energy Hub, 112 E. Sherman St. and owned by NSR, will be improving its energy efficiency through better insulation, increasing stormwater retention, and expanding solar capacity with more panels, energy storage, and a car charging station.  

For the second location, 216 North Ave. and owned by MCDC, they are working with evolveEA and have aspirations for it to be Net Zero with plans to shore up the building’s insulation and install solar panels and a small garden on the rooftop. Hahn said the inside of the building is still evolving, but it will be a community space with some offices for rent and will be accessible to the borough’s youth. 

“The development of these two projects and the use of the funds is part of a community driven process based on local stakeholder engagement,” said Scott Wolovich, executive director at NSR. “The MCDC has their monthly meetings where residents and business owners engage around community priorities, and Ecodistrict architect partner evolveEA continues to involve the community in its design process for the building.” 

Both South Hilltop and Millvale have received capacity building support and financial investment since 2015 through NSR’s Ignite workshop and Launch community incubator.   An initial grant from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation led to developing the Vibrant Communities Framework, an adaptive set of 18 strategies designed to help people both lead and benefit from the future they envision. The catalytic Community Project Funding, collaborations, and infrastructure projects largely represent the Grow phase of this Framework, and are the by-product of dozens of grassroots leaders, nonprofits, local businesses, local, state, and national elected officials collaborating over many years towards sustainable, equitable development goals. . 

Including these four project sites, two of NSRs partners also received federal funding: $894,941 went to RiverWise for the Franklin Avenue Park, an Ecodistrict catalytic project that will serve as a public gathering space for the benefit of all residents of Aliquippa and Beaver County; and $500,000 to McKees Rocks CDC to support the remediation and stabilization of a keystone facility in McKees Rocks at the former bank building at 602 Chartiers Ave. When the Community Project Funding opportunity was announced, NSR quickly organized this group of community leaders to support each other and create shared capacity which, along with the Etna Community Organization who has since received funding for the Etna Community Library, came to self-identify as the Rivertown Ecodistrict Alliance of PA (ReAP) during the process.

Posted in ProjectsTagged Vibrant Communities

District PGH aims to assist regional communities, increase resilience through American Rescue Plan Act resources

Posted on January 28, 2022 by Alyse Horn

The Sustainable Communities Resource Guide created by District PGH can help communities utilize ARPA funds

Pittsburgh, PA — With the creation of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), District PGH is positioned to assist communities in the greater Pittsburgh region to decide how to use Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CLFRF) for sustainable investments that build resilience. 

The American Rescue Plan Act provides local governments with funding to address public health, advance economic stabilization and other local recovery needs incurred due to COVID-19. Since the program’s approval, over 2,445 of Pennsylvania’s 2,500+ municipalities have received $489.7 million in local recovery funding. ARPA funds are a one-time infusion being disbursed in two tranches; the first was released almost immediately after ARPA was signed into law on March 11, 2021. The final funding tranche is expected to be delivered during the summer of 2022. Local governments have until the end of 2024 to decide how to use their ARPA funds and until 2026 to actually spend them. 

“The American Rescue Plan funds provide an opportunity to take stock in what your community has experienced over the last 18 months, determine how to help those who are still suffering, and prepare for future challenges,” said Jim Price, Senior Program Manager, Sustainable Pittsburgh.

While a number of recommendations and resources have been provided by Pennsylvania’s local government associations like the Pennsylvania Municipal League, Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, and the Local Government Academy, there still remain uncertainties on the regional best use of funds.

As a collaborative of nonprofit intermediaries committed to accelerating sustainable community initiatives in Southwestern PA, District PGH has announced the release of a Sustainable Communities Resource Guide.  The guide includes example strategies offered by District PGH members that can help communities to utilize ARPA funds to:

  • Better understand the needs of vulnerable community members
  • Create plans to make communities healthier, more sustainable, and resilient
  • Collect data and communicate information
  • Improve the health and sustainability of new or existing buildings

An important component of CLFRF guidance is focused on transparency, public engagement, and ensuring fund delegation is an equitable and inclusive process.

A community that works together for a healthier, more equitable, and prosperous future will be better prepared for dealing with future issues that impact public health and wellness. Effective community resilience and long-term sustainability depends on meaningful, authentic, and equitable resident, business, and stakeholder participation and buy-in. 

The recommendations outlined in the Recovery Plan Template include: Public Health, Negative Economic Impacts, Services to Disproportionately Impacted Communities, Premium Pay, Infrastructure, Revenue Replacement, and Administrative or other needs. 

To read Sustainable Pittsburgh’s “The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: Guidance for Local Governments, click here. 

To read District PGH’s Sustainable Communities Resource Guide, click here.

District PGH is a collaborative of local organizations working to accelerate neighborhood and district-scale sustainable development that promotes climate resilience and equity in the greater Pittsburgh region, and are available to assist community deliberation on how to use the funds for sustainable investments that build resilience. 

Core members include evolveEA, The Forbes Funds, Green Building Alliance, New Sun Rising, and Sustainable Pittsburgh. To learn more, click here.

 

About 

evolve environment :: architecture (evolveEA) is a multidisciplinary practice situated at the intersection of sustainability and the built environment. The firm’s nationally recognized ecodistrict planning work exemplifies its approach to helping communities and organizations pursue triple-bottom-line goals through strategic action.

The Forbes Funds advances the well-being of Southwestern Pennsylvania by helping human services and community-based nonprofits build their management capacity and increase the impact of their mission work. TFF works locally and globally to make the nonprofit sector more equitable, accessible, and sustainable, and envisions a SWPA nonprofit sector that is innovative, informed, engaged, and effective.Together with our partners, The Forbes Funds is leading transformational changes across the SWPA nonprofit ecosystem by increasing effectiveness of individuals, groups, human service and community-based organizations in an inclusive, collaborative, and thoughtful manner.

Green Building Alliance environment by empowering people to create environmentally, economically, and socially vibrant places.  GBA envisions a world where every building and community is sustainable so that every person can thrive. GBA  leverages a broad network of partners to drive sustainable practices at every scale of the built environment through expertise in performance standards, cross-sector collaboration, innovative learning, and data analysis to create the transformative solutions essential in advancing the region forward.

New Sun Rising supports nonprofits, social enterprises, and collaborations 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.

Sustainable Pittsburgh empowers decision-making that builds a fundamentally equitable, resilient, healthy, and prosperous region. It is our vision to see a thriving region where stakeholders are connected, sustainability knowledge is shared and applied, and all people can succeed. Our focus is to provide expertise, create strong communities of practice, help shape a positive narrative, and advance sustainability policy.

##

Posted in Projects, ResourcesTagged District PGH

Millvale, Etna unite to create shared library system

Posted on January 3, 2022 by Alyse Horn

Above: Etna and Millvale representatives gathered in the “Purple Onion” event and performance space at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub on December 9 to sign the MOU to create a shared community library system for both boroughs. Photo by Robert Tuñón.

After nearly two decades without a library, the Borough of Etna entered an agreement with the Borough of Millvale on Dec. 9 at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub, solidifying their partnership to create a community library system.

The two boroughs, including representatives from Etna Community Organization and Millvale Community Library (MCL), signed a memorandum of understanding that was created after a year of research, community outreach, and planning meetings with Fourth Economy Consulting and Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA). 

Amy Anderson, the Chief Executive Officer at ACLA, said “library services are vital to any community” and she is excited to work with the boroughs to ensure that Millvale and Etna have access to a plethora of amenities, “including not only books and movies, but computer and internet access and a vast array of programming to meet the needs of the communities.”

Etna has not had a library in the borough since 2004 and a Triboro Library System Feasibility Study conducted by Fourth Economy Consulting highlighted what Etna residents need in a library.

“Because we currently do not have a public library, it was necessary to do the study to discover the best path towards bringing library services to Etna,” said Megan Tuñón, executive director of Etna Community Organization (ECO). “There are a lot of large, regional libraries in the area that offer a multitude of services to neighboring communities, but the challenge for Etna residents is access to these regional libraries.”

Tuñón said through the study, the borough was able to learn important details about residents, like 10% of households do not own a vehicle and almost 26% are without internet access. By creating a small library that is accessible to all and has programming catered to community needs, they will be able to meet residents where they’re at.

Nora Peters, executive director of Millvale Community Library, said Allegheny County Library Association played a critical role in helping the organizations with the feasibility study, which was funded by The Forbes Funds. 

The library itself will be inside a new community center, located at 341-343 Butler Street, and be a space for people and organizations to gather and hold meetings or events. Etna Borough Manager Mary Ellen Ramage said the location is walkable for “virtually the whole community.” 

“Libraries used to be a place where you got shushed, and now it’s a place where people can go get help with their taxes… they’ve become so much more,” Ramage said. “While we are a little late to the game, so to speak, we have the benefit of having a good understanding of how to plan them from the beginning.”

The MCL is “still considered a young library in the ACLA system” having opened in 2013,  but that works to Millvale and Etna’s advantage, Peters said.

“When we’re talking about staffing two libraries instead of one, and what that’s going to look like, those decisions are really informed by the successes of MCL,” Peters said. “This is an opportunity to take a step back and look at what we’ve done well and use that as a starting point for this new library system versus learning it through trials and tribulations.”

Peters said some of the things that makes the MCL great is the intimacy of the space and “the knowledge of the community that the staff has.”

“Those are things we’re not only looking to keep at MCL, but model and try to replicate for the Etna community.”

Specifics about logistics and planning are still being ironed out, and signing the agreement is “just the beginning of a multiyear process,” but Peters said she is keen on identifying how to translate programs and services to Etna while altering them to fit the community. Rather than have the same programs in both boroughs, she aims to have complimentary services that are “equally spread through Millvale and Etna.”

“I couldn’t be happier about collaborating with Millvale Community Library,” Tuñón said. “The work that they do is so inspiring. They really address the specific needs of the community.”

“It’s going to be a lot more than just a library. It’s going to be a huge asset for our community and I think it’s important that Etna has something like that, because people here shouldn’t be left behind because they don’t have access to resources that other wealthier communities have,” Tuñón said. “This is really to ensure that this is an equitable place to grow up and to live.”

The Sharpsburg community and its library were included in the research study and after it concluded, decided it best for them to stay within the Cooper-Siegel Community Library system for the time being. 

Posted in ProjectsTagged culture, Etna, millvale, Triboro ecodistrict, Vibrant Communities

Millvale, Etna to create shared community library system

Posted on December 21, 2021 by Alyse Horn

Pittsburgh, PA — Four organizations representing Millvale and Etna gathered on Dec. 9 at the Millvale Food + Energy hub to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU), thus beginning the multiyear process of creating a shared community library system between the two boroughs. 

The Millvale Community Library, Borough of Millvale, Etna Community Organization, and Borough of Etna made the decision to proceed after a year of research, community outreach, and planning meetings with Fourth Economy Consulting and Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA). 

“As Etna continues to grow and change, we need to make sure that we are bringing vital educational and social resources back into our community, so everyone who lives here can have access to resources, programs, and the technology that they will need to live productive lives,” said Etna Community Organization Executive Director Megan Tuñón. 

Etna’s library, which will be housed inside a new community center, will be located at 341-343 Butler St.

Etna has not had a library in the borough since 2004 and a Triboro Library System Feasibility Study conducted by Fourth Economy Consulting highlighted what Etna residents need from a library in terms of programs and services. According to the study from Jan. 2021:

  • 20% of households in Etna have children for a total of 640 children in the borough
  • 0 child care centers in the borough
  • 26% of households do not have access to the internet
  • 10% of households do not have a vehicle

Millvale Community Library Executive Director Nora Peters said the completion of the MOU allows the borough to move forward with logistics and planning in 2022.

“When we’re talking about staffing two libraries instead of one, and what that’s going to look like, those decisions are really informed by the successes of MCL,” Peters said. “This is an opportunity to take a step back and look at what we’ve done well and use that as a starting point for this new library system versus learning it through trials and tribulations.”

The Sharpsburg community and its library were included in the research study and after it concluded, decided it best for them to stay within the Cooper-Siegel Community Library system for the time being. 

 

Contact

Nora Peters
Executive Director, Millvale Community Library
petersn@einetwork.net 

Megan Tuñón
Director, Etna Community Organization
etnaeco@gmail.com

Mary Ellen Ramage
Manager, Borough of Etna
meramage@etnaborough.org 

Brian Wolovich
Director, Triboro Ecodistrict
brian@triboroecodistrict.org 

Posted in ProjectsTagged Triboro ecodistrict

One Northside Mini-Grants close out 2021 with 20 funded projects

Posted on September 8, 2021 by Alyse Horn

Pittsburgh, PA — The 2021 One Northside Mini-Grant’s have come to a close with a total of 20 funded small-scale community projects that demonstrated support of their neighbors, helped strengthen connections, increased accessibility to resources, and activated significant places in their community. 

Including these projects, the total number of those completed since 2018 is 161.

This funding year challenged mini-grantees to create projects that adhered to COVID-19 guidelines while still supporting and interacting with their communities. 

One project, Community Breakfast, was led by Victoria Tyus and they served hot food to the homeless and anyone in need of a meal. During the pandemic, they have fed over 825 families monthly.

Tyus wrote, “Every first Tuesday, every fourth Wednesday, and every fourth Saturday, food [was] given out of the door of the church… We have been doin this for a long time but the only challenge is getting funds to keep purchasing food and supplies.” 

Another project, Daniel’s Den Cancer Foundation, has been in operations for 13 years and supports cancer patients and families. Their goal is to continue to reach out to the cancer community that is searching for support, financial help, and informative medical literature. 

Led by Roxanne Robinson, the foundation built on what they historically offer, and supplied cancer patients with stipends for $500 and gathered information to help patients with their diagnosis and proposed avenues to get additional help. They have a yearly luncheon coming up this October to help draw more support towards their cause.

Both Community Breakfast and Daniel’s Den Cancer Foundation were previously funded by a ONS Mini-Grant.

A new project during 2021 included Women’s Way: Stories of Motherhood in the Time of Covid, led by Sloane Davidson and Hello Neighbor. The project has partnered with other local nonprofits including City of Asylum, Sharing our Story, and Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation to facilitate digital storytelling workshops for refugee and immigrant mothers and U.S. born mothers to share their experience of navigating motherhood in the time of COVID.

The event is scheduled to occur in 2022, and it is simultaneously being planned to be held virtually depending on the status of in-person events due to the pandemic. 

The complete list of 2021 ONS Mini-Grant projects include: 

  • Art From The Heart – Sheila D. Collins
  • Bee-Loved Bees – Mercedes Velasquez
  • Brighton Arts – Puppets and Poetry – Char Fields
  • Cedar Point – Char Fields
  • Community Breakfast – Victoria Tyus
  • Daniel’s Den Cancer Foundation -Roxanne L Robinson
  • Eat, Play, Love – A Family’s Journey to Wellness on the Northside – Gorman Gregory Searcy and Maria T. Searcy
  • Family Support Center – Stephen Weiss
  • Fierce & Fabulous Fashion Sewing Design Club – Ruby Helvy
  • Financial Literacy Workshop – Jamara White
  • Granny Tees and Things – Marlo Jones
  • Pittsburgh VegFest 2021 Northside – Leila Sleiman Head
  • Pjs Playhouse – Patricia Morgan
  • Spring Hill Community Garden – Melanie Sandoval
  • Spring Hill Gateway – Ruth Ann Dailey
  • Spring Hill Greenway Entrance – Karen Lucarelli Braden
  • Tabitha’s Daughters, LLC/A Day of Mindfulness & Kindfulness Too! – Maxine Garrett
  • The Garden Circle – Rose Thompson
  • Women’s Way: Stories of Motherhood in the Time of Covid – Sloane Davidson
  • Write Pittsburgh Online Journal – Vivian Lee Croft

For more information about ONS Mini-Grants, click here.

 

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.

Posted in ProjectsTagged culture, Ignite Northside, One Northside, opportunity, sustainability

Triboro Ecodistrict’s Free Little Libraries, Pantries, and Art Gallery

Posted on June 14, 2021 by Alyse Horn

Above: One of the Free Little Libraries in Etna, located at 19 High St. Photo courtesy of Megan Tuñón.

It’s the little things that can put a spring in our step, the tiny stuff that can make life less gruff. 

Little libraries, and pantries, and art, are some of those things, that when you see them it feels like your heart has grown wings.

For this feature, the Triboro Ecodistrict would like to recognize the Free Little Libraries + Pantries + Art Gallery throughout the three boroughs. They provide residents of all ages with access to books, food, and artwork, and can let people know that their community is looking out for them.

To view all of the locations, click here. Did we miss a library or pantry, or do you have more information you’d like to add to the map? Email alyse@newsunrising.org.

 

Millvale

Outside of Tupelo Honey Teas, 211 Grant Ave., sits a Free Little Pantry that is stocked by shop owner Danielle Spinola and generous volunteers like Mary Miller, who focus on providing neighbors with easy meals like canned pastas, soups, and vegetables.

“Every time [Mary] walks by, she looks inside the pantry to see if it needs to be filled. She collects a lot of food from the Holy Spirit [Parish] and she will bring boxes and boxes of food,” Spinola said. “If someone wants something, Aunt Mary makes sure they get it.”

Spinola said when stocking the pantry it’s important to think about the accessibility of the items, like if the food can be cooked without a stove, or the price of ingredients required to make something like mac and cheese with powdered cheese, because milk and butter is needed. (Easy Mac with cheese sauce is preferred.)

She’s also run into the issue that some residents don’t have can openers, or she receives food items that are well past their expiration date. Spinola said someone once donated an item that expired in 1999.

Over the winter, Spinola partnered with Pure Grub 412 to have a cooler outside the shop as well where people could grab prepared meals and dried goods. The cooler wasn’t fully insulated, so as the weather has gotten warmer, Tupelo and Pure Grub have paused the prepared meals.

This is where Millvale Community Library enters the scene. Nora Peters, executive director at MCL, said the library received grant funding to purchase and install a Free Community Fridge in the back of the library. The fridge should be up and running by mid-June.

“The fridge will be available to the community 24/7, and will be stocked with fresh produce prepared meals, frozen meals, and meal kits, prepared by local restaurants and food partners,” Peters said.

There is also a Free Little Pantry located at the Gardens of Millvale.

The gardens, Tupelo, and Pure Grub 412 are three of seven Free Fridge project partners. The others include 412 Food Rescue, Christ Lutheran Church, Sprezzatura, and Duncan Street Sandwich Shop.

If you would like to volunteer to be a Fridge Steward for the Free Fridge project, contact petersn@einetwork.net. If you’d like to help stock the Little Pantry at Tupelo, contact danielle@tupelohoneyteas.com about what items are needed.

 

Etna

Spooky Free Little Library in Etna. The book selection at this location changes with the seasons. Photo courtesy of Megan Tuñón.

Megan Tuñón, executive director of Etna Community Organization, put up the first Free Little Library in her borough in August 2019, located at 19 High St. 

“It’s a central point where people can meet,” Tuñón said. “I love looking out my window and seeing little kids peeking in [the library], and I talk to them and their parents. Meeting neighbors that way is really nice.”

The library is made out of an old china cabinet that someone in the neighborhood had put out to the curb, and the glass etching on the front was done by a local artist. It reads: 

“Etna Little Library
Free Community Resource
Take a Book, Return a Book”

Tuñón said she has a basement full of books that people have donated, and sometimes she comes home to find a bag of them left at the library. She likes to sort the books into three sections: children, young adult, and adult, and she’ll curate the selection to fit the season.

When the pandemic hit last year and food insecurity was exacerbated, Tuñón said she converted the library into a food pantry and was filling it a couple times a week with nonperishable items like canned beans and rice.

“I didn’t always see people [using the pantry], but I would fill it up a couple times a week, and it would be almost empty the next day,” Tuñón said. “Neighbors really stepped up and donated a lot to help keep it full.”

The pantry was recently converted back into a little library, and Etna residents should keep an eye out for a new Little Library and a Little Pantry at ECO Park on the corner of Wilson Street and Grant Avenue.

Etna also has a Free Little Pantry at Etna Community Garden, and several Free Little Libraries. Click here for the map.

 

Sharpsburg

The Free Little Art Gallery in Sharpsburg. Photo courtesy of Nanci Goldberg.

A Free Little Art Gallery made its debut in Sharpsburg on May 22 this year during the Sharpsburg Art Adventure. Housed next to Gino Brothers, 713 Main St., it was built out of repurposed and recycled materials by a local handyman who goes by the name of “Scrappy.”

Inside the little gallery, residents can leave art they’ve made and art supplies, or they can take art home with them, or both. No even exchange is required. Follow @FLAGsharpsburg on Instagram to see what people are adding to the gallery.

Nanci Goldberg, owner of Ketchup City Creative, said the Free Little Art Gallery is co-founded and run by Susan Adams and her son Caleb of O’Hara Township. Caleb was really keen on starting a Little Art Gallery, so he reached out to Goldberg via zoom and the rest is art history.

“We were very fortunate to have a supportive member of the community, Ferdi Baylassin, owner of Gino Brothers Pizza, who was willing to give us space for this fun and creative adventure,” Goldberg said. “The arts really need a supportive community for them to grow and thrive. We see that starting to happen in Sharpsburg and it’s very exciting. We feel like art can be very placemaking and give people a sense of community pride. So far, we can’t keep up with the amount of art that’s coming in and going out, and it’s really exciting!”

The Free Little Pantry outside of Sharpsburg Community Library. Photo courtesy of Sara Mariacher.

Outside the Sharpsburg Community Library, visitors will find a Free Little Pantry that was installed this past February. Sara Mariacher, SCL director, said earlier this year the library received a sizable donation in honor of a patron’s 50th birthday to help those experiencing food insecurity. 

“We typically fill it three days per week,” Mariacher said. “One day per week we put out toiletry products. Otherwise, the pantry is for food. [It] usually empties within several hours of us filling it, but we cannot sustain daily fillings based on our donation intake.”

If you’d like to make a donation to this Free Little Pantry, Mariacher asked that items be dropped off with library staff during library hours.

Sharpsburg also has a Free Little Library located at Marion Gerardi Memorial Park.

Posted in Projects, ResourcesTagged Etna ecodistrict, millvale Ecodistrict, Sharpsburg ecodistrict, Triboro ecodistrict

Sto-Rox collaborative’s strength-based strategies aim to support, maintain community growth

Posted on May 31, 2021 by Alyse Horn

Above: Community leaders take part in the Launch Sto-Rox Incubator: Remixer event

To open an NAACP chapter, one hundred signatures are needed, each accompanied by $30 for the annual membership fee.

In distressed communities that membership fee can become the reason why a chapter doesn’t open, as opposed to lack of interest. For over 80 McKees Rocks residents, the Grow Sto-Rox collaborative is covering the cost.

“This is a real way to get people involved, and the first thing we’ve put our names on as Grow Sto-Rox,” said Taris Vreck, Executive Director of McKees Rocks Community Development Corporation. 

The Grow Sto-Rox collaborative includes: Communities in Schools of Pittsburgh Allegheny County (CISPAC), Focus on Renewal (FOR), McKees Rocks Community Development Corporation (MRCDC), Sto-Rox School District (SRSD), and Zellous Hope Project (ZH).

Albeit this is their debut as one entity, the organizations that are Grow Sto-Rox started to coordinate their efforts in 2014 when SRSD Superintendent Frank Dalmas called on local leaders to support critical youth and family programming. 

“I always thought of that as the beginning of what has become Grow Sto-Rox,” Vreck said.

Today, the collaborative exists to improve the quality of life of Sto-Rox residents through programs which are trauma informed, strength-based, and create equitable economic impact. The programs are continually molded by data gathered from community surveys and in person feedback, but an initial survey taken six years ago is regarded as the eye-opener for understanding the challenges Sto-Rox residents face.

–

In 2015, MRCDC and FOR partnered with New Sun Rising (NSR) to administer a community survey by a resident-led outreach team that identified the challenges and needs of the community, as well as the public’s perceptions of FOR and its programming.

“Oh my God, did we learn a lot,” said Cindy Haines, Executive Director of FOR.

Around 200 people completed the survey. For Black residents, their top three concerns were Violence, Transportation, and Food Security. For white residents, their top three concerns were Transportation, Creative/Social Connections, and Economics/Financial.

“Even if they were neighbors, it just showed that when you walk out your door, are you going to be afraid of gun violence? [For many people], it’s the way you wake up in the morning,” Haines said. 

Community members led the Sto-Rox survey, identifying their assets, needs, and opportunities

According to 2020 US Census data, the total population of McKees Rocks is 5,919 with 55.5 percent identifying as white and 33 percent identifying as Black. In Stowe Township, the total population is 6,197 with 69 percent identifying as white and 23 identifying as Black.

Violence in a community has detrimental impacts on residents of every age. Since January of this year, there have been over 30 shootings in the area. Bridget Clement, executive director of CISPAC, said a lot of students don’t feel safe walking to school, so they don’t go.

Another piece of the puzzle is understanding how stress at home hinders a student’s ability to learn, said Sto-Rox School Board President Samantha Levitzki.

“We can’t serve our students to their full potential when their moms and dads are struggling,” she said. “If the guardian is stressed out and worrying about money, lack of healthcare… it filters into the kiddo and we want to alleviate that stress so they can grow.”

According to the Vibrancy Index, 27.5 percent of the Sto-Rox population live in poverty and median household income is $37,084 which is 62% lower than the Allegheny County average. Index scores for Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty and 8: Work & Employment are worse than 90% and 81% of the County, respectively.

Through critical needs programs, Zellous Hope and FOR have been able to provide immediate assistance to families and individuals unable to meet basic needs.

Haines said that Sto-Rox is a designated food desert and about 40 percent of residents don’t own a car. In the initial survey, when asked about where they got their groceries, some responded by saying that FOR’s pantry was their primary food source. Of the some 1,500 students at SRSD, 100 percent of them qualify for free-and-reduced price lunch. Grow Sto-Rox partners collaborated on food distribution throughout the pandemic, led by FOR. They’re also working with Grounded Strategies to bring a community garden and collective healing program to fruition. 

What ZH is able to offer is emergency funds that help people cover urgently important bills, such as an automotive expense that could keep someone from getting to their job. Both ZH and FOR offer services that provide the community with diapers, feminine hygiene products, cleaning supplies, and other necessities. Located inside the Father Ryan Arts Center, FOR shares the building with the Sto-Rox Public Library and is able to offer additional support and programming like Positive Parenting and Family Foundations Early Head Start.

Denise Zellous, executive director of ZH, said it’s important to move away from the “cookie cutter” approach of assuming what residents need, and instead asking them directly through conversations, phone calls, videos, and surveys what they need to improve their lives. Her “Things to Know Show” via Facebook Live has quickly become a reliable place to learn about the opportunities being coordinated in response by core members of Grow Stow-Rox. 

“What is most important to [Grow Sto-Rox] is that people know our main goal is to bring a strength-based approach to this community and not just put a bandaid on addressing the symptoms of what we believe is wrong, but get to the root cause,” Zellous said.

The collaborative understands they face the significant challenge of unraveling generational poverty, and that their efforts need to be trauma informed. As a group, they’ve attended trainings and learned different types of interventions to use when engaging with the community that can help people through the “trauma block,” Vreck said. 

Launch Sto-Rox Showcase + Celebration in 2019.

To implement this in a meaningful way, the anchor organizations need to continue the slow process of building relationships and transferring power to residents. Vreck said he knows the community is distrustful because “they hear about millions of dollars coming in [to Sto-Rox] and they don’t see a difference.” So, the collaborative decided that one of the first steps to strengthening their relationship with Sto-Rox would be to put the decision making power for investments into the hands of community members. 

The Community Investment Fund was launched in partnership with New Sun Rising and seeded by the Wells Fargo Foundation, offering $2,500 grants to micro businesses and nonprofit organizations serving Sto-Rox with less than five employees and an annual revenue less than $100,000. The deadline to apply closed on May 7, 2021. 

“This is a small pilot program, but the idea is putting authority and control of the funds into the hands of residents and letting them start to make the choices.” Vreck said. “They can show an impact on the ground that builds trust and encourages people to get involved.”

There have also been serious discussions of building a multipurpose campus in Mckees Rocks, similar to Bidwell Training Center in Manchester or 7800 Susquehanna in Homewood. The development of a campus within walking distance for residents would provide incredible opportunities for adults and older teens in the community. 

That, tied in with plans for the Sto-Rox Junior/Senior High School to become an after hours learning hub for kids and adults, is helping individuals “get into positions where they can hold their families together,” Levitzki said.

“We want to make sure that our students and parents are comfortable, and their living to a successful standard,” she said. “We want to make sure they have all the access and resources, and that’s what we’re trying to rebuild here in our community.”

–

After completing a strategic framework and initial operational plan made possible by a grant from The Forbes Funds, the most significant challenge the collaborative currently faces is finding and funding dedicated capacity to backbone the cause. Right now, each of the five organizations is stretched to their limit.

Haines said that “Grow Sto-Rox has been training, learning, coalescing, monitoring, and cementing the five relationships,” and together they hope to raise dedicated funding that can support a shared staff member who will maintain and build upon the momentum. In May, the collaborative was approved for inclusion in New Sun Rising’s fiscal sponsorship program. 

With the right support, the ability to communicate, engage, and encourage the talents of residents at this level would be revolutionary. 

To learn more about the goals and guiding principles of Grow Sto-Rox, click here. 

Posted in Featured, ProjectsTagged grow Sto-Rox, New Sun Rising, sustainable development goals, vibrancy index

2021 One Northside Mini-Grant Deadline June 13

Posted on May 17, 2021 by Alyse Horn

Pittsburgh, PA — The next One Northside (ONS) Mini-Grant application deadline is June 13, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. Project applications submitted to New Sun Rising (NSR) by this date will receive a decision in July 2021. 

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. 

Since 2018, there have been 141 completed ONS Mini-Grant projects. To view past projects, click here.

For mini-grant applicants, the preferred method for submitting your application is to use the online form, but 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. 

In regards to community support, please have three different Northside residents or business owners email vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org with their name, the project they are supporting, their Northside address and their phone number; or have them call 412-407-9007 with the same information.

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. 

For more information about ONS Mini-Grants, click here.

 

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.

Posted in ProjectsTagged culture, Ignite Northside, New Sun Rising, One Northside, opportunity, sustainability, Vibrant Communities

Posts navigation

Older posts

Categories

  • Events
  • Featured
  • General Information
  • Programs
  • Projects
  • Resources

Archives

Tags

  • culture
  • opportunity
  • sustainability
  • Vibrant Communities
  • Triboro ecodistrict
  • New Sun Rising
  • millvale Ecodistrict
  • One Northside
  • Sharpsburg ecodistrict
  • Vibrancy Funds
  • Etna ecodistrict
  • Ignite Northside
  • equity
  • covid-19
  • millvale
  • vibrancy index
  • sustainable development goals
  • Nonprofit Resilience Program
  • EcoDistricts
  • Homewood
  • Power in Numbers
  • RiverWise
  • Arts Equity Reimagined
  • vibrancy portal
  • neighborhood allies
  • grow Sto-Rox
  • ignite
  • #Grow
  • Etna
  • the partnership network
  • Wilkinsburg
  • Positive Deviants
  • mckees rocks
  • District PGH
  • Impact
  • Ignite Workshops
  • Launch Sto-Rox
  • Collective Action for Re-Imagining
  • launch sustainability
  • Launch Wilkinsburg
  • Ignite Vibrancy: Collective Impact
  • Larimer
  • The Staunton Farm Foundation
  • Sharpsburg
  • millvale ecodisrict
  • vibrancy awards

Keep up with New Sun Rising

New Sun Rising PO Box 58005
Pittsburgh, PA 15209
 USA

Email:

info@newsunrising.org

New Sun Rising is a GuideStar
Gold Participant

Connect with Us

© 2023 New Sun Rising. All rights reserved.

Website by Imagebox

Skip to content
Open toolbar Accessibility Tools

Accessibility Tools

  • Increase TextIncrease Text
  • Decrease TextDecrease Text
  • GrayscaleGrayscale
  • High ContrastHigh Contrast
  • Negative ContrastNegative Contrast
  • Light BackgroundLight Background
  • Links UnderlineLinks Underline
  • Readable FontReadable Font
  • Reset Reset