Category: Projects

Class sparks environmental activism to Save Girty’s Woods

Posted on by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Above: students with Shaler Area Middle School teacher Chris Lisowski (center) at a fundraiser for Girty’s Woods hosted by Sprezzatura in September 2020. Photo courtesy of Lauren Powell.

Girty’s Woods has been getting a lot of attention lately.

With Allegheny Land Trust approaching the March 31 acquisition deadline to preserve the 155-acre woodlands, and around $32,000 left to fundraise and secure the deal, the efforts of supporters over the last year will peak this St. Patrick’s Day at the Girty’s Woods Get Down.

The event, hosted by New Sun Rising and Mr. Smalls Theatre, will be an evening of live streamed music, a 50/50 raffle, and more to help raise the remaining funds to garner the $704,626 toal and purchase the land.

The importance of conserving Girty’s Woods from development for not only recreation opportunities and to protect native flora and fauna, but for the lands ability to absorb heavy rains that would otherwise flood Girty’s Run watershed, has inspired many within Millvale, Shaler, and Reserve Township to advocate for the purchase. 

It has also become an elemental part of a new sustainability class being taught by science teacher Abbey Nilson at Shaler Area High School.

“It’s a really cool coincidence that the class started at the same time there is this great need to preserve this forest in our district,” Nilson said.

The year-long class has around 70 Shaler juniors and seniors in the class, with that total being split into three sections. Around 50 of the students are taking the course for college credits through the University of Pittsburgh who partnered with Nilson and helped her create the curriculum for the class.

Nilson said the students in the class are taught to think critically about sustainability issues, like food production and energy consumption, by challenging them to change their lifestyle choices for a short time and document the experience. 

The support around Girty’s Woods, however, was refined over the summer when Nilson connected with Shaler Area Middle School teacher Chris Lisowski.

“He’s very into sustainability, and he told me about this grassroots group that was starting to meet over the summer regarding the preservation of Girty’s Woods,” Nilson said.

It was during these meetings that Nilson began to envision the role students could play in the preservation of the woodlands. In the classes she has taught over the years, it wasn’t uncommon for her to grow plants from seed, and when Nilson learned about logging in Girty’s Woods, she began to think about and research what it would take for her students to germinate and grow trees.

Lauren Powell, senior at SAHS, is in Nilson’s inaugural sustainability class and said the growing process has been “very interesting.”

“We are growing Kentucky Coffee Trees, Black Birch, and several other types [of trees]. The Kentucky Coffee Trees have been the most successful thus far, and germinated well,” Powell said.

After some months passed and it was clear to Nilson that the project was a success, she created a Go Fund Me campaign to sell the trees for a minimum donation of $15 to Allegheny Land Trust and raise money to help Save Girty’s Woods.

“It’s been going really well,” Nilson said. “Some students promoted it over social media and reached out to KDKA; they were interviewed by the local news. They’ve been getting businesses to post about it, and their efforts reaching out to the community have gone really well.”

Nilson said one of the first assignments she gave the class last fall was to visit Girty’s Woods, and she believes that initiated students’ connection to the land and gave them a sense of investment in the issue.

Powell said this class has inspired her to pursue a career in sustainability and she will be attending Point Park University this coming fall with a major in biological and environmental science, as well as interning for the Triboro Ecodistrict this summer.

“Mrs. Nilson has made this class more than anybody could have imagined. I thought I knew a lot about sustainability, and going into this class it has grown dramatically,” Powell said. “Her lessons are so fascinating… and I think she really highlights the importance of sustainability by making it fun for her students to get involved and positively help our climate.”

Mini-grantees adapt projects to meet Northside residents needs

Posted on by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Above: a student working at the Believe & Achieve Learning Hub in Spring Hill.

Sometimes, a little bit of funding can go a long way.

For those who live or work on the Northside, $1,000 is available to create projects that empower their communities and increase their quality of life.

Many of the programs this year had to rework their original projects to adhere to Covid-19 restrictions, but were able to overcome the challenges and meet the needs of both adult and youth residents. We talked to three current mini-grantees about how they adapted their projects and the importance of community during uncertain times.

Have an idea to better your community? The next deadline to apply for a mini-grant is November 20, 2020.

 

Photo courtesy of Ebony Lunsford-Evans

Growing with Farmer Girl Eb – Ebony Lundsford-Evans
Instagram @FarmerGirlEb

Gardening started as something to do with her children, and after successfully growing 30 varieties of produce and teaching other youth in the neighborhood to grow their own food, Ebony Lundsford-Evans developed the nonprofit 1sound for the continuation of providing thriving skills to communities.

This year she applied for a One Northside Mini-Grant to host youth and adult programming around how to successfully grow vegetables, fruits, and herbs, but had to change direction due to Covid-19. 

“I was stuck on what to do and then one of the senior citizens I had been working with in this program reached out to me during the pandemic,” Lundsford-Evans said. 

The individual was unable to access fresh food without putting themselves at risk by getting on a bus to go to the grocery store, so Lundsford-Evans decided to use her mini-grant to buy the supplies needed to build a raised garden bed outside of the Northside seniors home. After that, someone else asks Lundsford-Evans for help building raised beds outside of her church, which led to another community member walking up to Lunsford-Evans and asking how to garden.

“And that’s how it grew into 10 families,” Lunsford-Evans. “I had to put a cap on it.”

She said the ONS Mini-Grant has been “really great” in giving her the opportunity to educate first time gardeners and for others to learn about her nonprofit; she is currently looking for funding to expand the program and help people in other communities learn how to grow their food.

Her advice to gardeners?

“First and foremost, share anything that you learn with other growers,” Lunsford-Evans said. “Also, if you make a mistake don’t let that be so discouraging. You can sometimes throw seeds in the ground and grow a whole lot of something, but sometimes you put a lot of work into something and get nothing. Don’t let that defeat you; use it as a tool to keep going because eventually if you keep going, you’ll keep growing.”

 

Image courtesy of Theodora Cotten

PREP – Theodora Cotten

Being a certified reading specialist with a doctorates degree, Theodora Cotten is highly aware of the impact Covid-19 is having on children, especially those in kindergarten and first grade.

“My experience with [this age group] is when they miss out at the beginning, they have a hard time catching up later on,” Cotten said. “I like to see them get a firm foundation right at the beginning so they do well as they go through school.”

To ensure young students are getting enough interactive reading material, Cotten applied for a One Northside Mini-Grant to purchase a one year subscription of Highlights High Five Magazine for 25 children ages 5 and 6 years old. She said her project, PREP, “encourages and empowers parents to help their children with literacy.”

The colorful magazine includes stories, puzzles, cartoons and hidden pictures that aim to get children excited about reading, and because Cotten is purchasing so many subscriptions with the grant, Highlights is able to give her a discount allowing her to reach more students. 

During her career, Cotten has made a point to give books to preschoolers and newborn babies, once passing books out at Allegheny General and McGee-Womens Hospital in the maternity ward. She strongly advises parents to begin reading to their children at birth, because regardless of the baby not being able to understand what the parent is saying, “the baby learns speech from [the parent] and the baby will learn to like reading if [the parents] do.”

“This time I’m giving out books because [children] aren’t getting the firm foundation they normally get when they go to school and I don’t want any child to fall behind if I can help it,” Cotten said.

 

Photo courtesy of Stephen Weiss

Believe & Achieve Learning Hub – Stephen Weiss

Stephen Weiss, executive director at His Place, is no stranger to One Northside Mini-Grants. His organization has been able to utilize the opportunity for a handful of projects over the years like the implementation of their Peace Room, which is a dedicated space for students to decompress and learn different strategies of social emotional regulation. Or the Comic Book Shop, an after school reading program to enhance student literacy.

“It’s a fairly small investment in terms of grants, but it’s still able to have a really profound impact,” Weiss said.

This year, Weiss applied for a mini-grant to create the Believe & Achieve Learning Hub in Spring Hill where 10 elementary and middle school students are able to safely and virtually attend class during the weekdays with Weiss and His Place Data Analyst Melanie Sandoval standing by for support. When the kids get breaks between their class assignments, Weiss and Sandoval hold “multiplication ninja’s” and test the kids for fact fluency. Once they’ve mastered a different fact family they get a ninja belt, which is “surprisingly motivating,” Weiss said. 

The learning hub builds off of the organization’s after school and summer programs, which some of the students have been attending for almost nine years. 

“We wanted to be able to support them as much as possible with their school work, but also with the educational priorities we have set for kids,” Weiss said. “We have 12 different key outcomes for the kids in that program based on the data for what kind of academic, social, and emotional metrics coordinate with students succeeding later in life, especially students who are underserved.”

Alternations needed to be done to the space before allowing children in the hub, like purchasing individual desks and adding ventilation, but the mini-grant was used to help cover supplies for the students like headphones and the addition of a second interest line and boosters to keep all the kids online. Weiss said the learning hub has a capacity of 25 students, which they hope to reach once they have sufficient and stable internet connections. 

“From the administrative side, it’s relief to know we have a little cash to help cover the expected and unexpected expenses,” Weiss said.

 

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

Triboro Ecodistrict businesses adapt under Covid-19

Posted on by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Above: Outdoor patio seating at Double L bar in Millvale that was added to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions.

Over the last five months, coronavirus cases have fluctuated throughout Pennsylvania and small business owners have had to adapt to changing regulations instituted by the state to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Guidance for retail and businesses in the restaurant industry is provided on Governor Tom Wolf’s website, which has been helpful for many, but the transitions are difficult nonetheless.

“It sucks. I don’t know how else to say it,” said Linsey Marie Thomas, owner of Double L in Millvale. 

Her father bought the bar in 1984, and after his unexpected death, Thomas took over. She lived above the bar from the age of two to 19 and said she is a “born and raised bar brat.” When she began running the business, she wanted the atmosphere to be a step above a dive, but have the nostalgic, hometown bar feeling and she believes she’s achieved that. 

Before the pandemic, Double L closed for renovations and reopened as a non-smoking bar, and they are also a designated Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurant. 

Since March, Thomas has continued to adjust with the regulations and closed the bar for a short time in July when the virus was spiking. They are currently open for dine-in or takeout options and have indoor and outdoor patio seating.

“It makes a difference to support smaller local places,” Thomas said. “Everyone that works in my bar lives in the neighborhood and the area, so you’re not just supporting me, you’re supporting them, too.”

For businesses opening during the pandemic, like 2 Sisters 2 Sons in Sharpsburg, it hasn’t required as many modifications considering they built their food business around takeout-only. Co-owners Denise Joseph and Marlene Siddo opened the location with their sons Michael Brown and Kwasi Prince on July 6 and have experienced a healthy flow of customers every day since. They were previously located in Wilkinsburg, but closed in 2015 due to building issues and have been mobile until now.

Brown said customers from around the city and county have stopped in for food with some coming as far as Ohio.

“There was at least a minimum of one person a day opening the door to ask if we were open yet and wanting to place an order, so we knew that we were going to get consistent traffic, but we didn’t know it would be like this,” Brown said. 

Joseph and Siddo are the head chefs, while Brown and Prince focus on keeping the daily operations running smoothly. Joseph said she is elated with their new location and that the Sharpsburg community has been very welcoming. Her family is close-knit, and she can tell the borough is, too. 

“I want to say thank you to everyone supporting us, we appreciate the love,” Joseph said. “Keep coming and we will make sure we work with you and that everybody is happy.”

They are working on getting multiple phone lines to take more orders over the phone, which take about about 15-25 minutes to cook, because as Joseph said, “you don’t want to rush good food.”

Similarly, it’s best not to rush quality fashion. Kiya Tomlin’s retail business in Etna produces everything in-house, which she said gives her and her staff control over clothing quality and the ability to personally manage inventory, so they aren’t producing items “that nobody wants or having to meet other factories production minimums.”

“It allows us to be more resourceful with our fabric waste so we’re not just throwing it out and can use it towards other things, whether it’s making samples or donating or creating other things with it,” Tomlin said.

For now, the space is open by appointment only, but when the shut down order was enacted in March and Tomlin closed up the shop, she was committed to keeping her team paid and employed. After the first week of the shelter-at-home order, Tomlin said she received a text message from a friend about a hospital system in Indiana asking for home sewers to make masks because they were experiencing a shortage.

“That hadn’t been on the radar in Pittsburgh yet, but it was starting to come about in other areas so when I saw that I thought that is something we can do,” Tomlin said. 

She was connected to Allegheny Health Network and began producing 400 masks a day to donate to support staff individuals and those not in direct contact with COVID-19 patients. Tomlin said they kept this up “for a good month or two” until masks became more available. 

Tomlin said those masks were also donated to Triboro police, firefighters, and neighboring businesses, and she is thankful for how proactive the borough has been in releasing information helpful for small businesses.

“I think we normally intentionally support each other, but there was even more of an incentive to make sure we supported one another through this, all being small businesses, to stay afloat,” Tomlin said.

Due to Tomlin’s donated mask production, she was contacted by Highmark and her team is one of several other businesses contributing to Highmark’s initiative of donating 1 million cloth face masks to the Highmark community.

Honoring Triboro Ecodistrict Essential Workers

Posted on by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

To honor some of its most caring and hardworking community members, the Triboro Ecodistrict asked residents to nominate someone they saw within Millvale-Etna-Sharpsburg going above and beyond to provide essential services to their communities during this pandemic.

From volunteer firefighters and postal workers, to restaurant owners and professional distillers, these are the individuals working and living in the Triboro Ecodistrict, and chosen by their community, to be recognized for their continued commitment to helping others.

 

Millvale

Aisha Al-Zahrani, Registered Nurse

Aisha Al-Zahrani chose to become a Labor and Delivery Nurse because she wanted to advocate for women’s health and “support patients during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives.”

“It has been a scary and unsettling time for parents to be bringing life into the world during a pandemic,” Al-Zahrani said. “Just taking the time to make them feel safe and comfortable while also taking extra precautions that the hospital has set in place has been helpful in reducing their anxiety.”

Al-Zahrani lives in Millvale and said the borough has been amazing and has given residents some kind of stability during uncertain times. Specifically, the Millvale Community Share Table, New Sun Rising’s free produce box distributions through Farmers to Families, and the collaboration between Sprezzatura and Tupelo Honey Teas has been “incredible” to see.

“You can tell the sense of community we have here. Everyone has come together and supported each other.”

 

Jacqlyn Boggs, Outreach Manager at North Hills Community Outreach, Millvale Satellite 

For Jacqlyn Boggs, being able to make a difference in someone’s life, whether that be tangible help, providing resources, or just an ear to listen, was her inspiration to become involved in community outreach.

The person who nominated Boggs to be honored as a Triboro Ecodistrict Essential Worker said Boggs “and her team have gone above and beyond to make sure the citizens of Millvale area have access to food, emergency assistance, etc. You won’t find a harder working individual serving Millvale right now.” 

When Boggs looks around the Millvale community, she applauds and is in awe of others who stepped up to take care of their neighbors.

“I watched Boys & Girls Club with Shaler School District work together to provide lunches for students, local businesses donating to make sure anyone hungry could get a meal, local churches provide gift cards/bags of food to those in need, residence stepping  up to be buddies to each other, [New Sun Rising] setting up produce distributions, and Shaler High School Seniors holding a food drive to support local food pantries. It makes me proud to be working in Millvale,” Boggs said.

 

Gabe Cetra, Letter Carrier for the United States Postal Service

Gabe Cetra said he was never meant to sit behind a desk, and his decision to work as a letter carrier for the USPS was one of the best decisions he’s ever made. 

The most rewarding part of the job? 

“Without a doubt, it’s the people that I serve,” Centra said. “Being able to connect them with each other, and with family and friends all over the world, is kind of mind blowing when you think about it. Birthday cards, letters, holiday greetings, Christmas gifts, and so much more are trusted to me every single day. I’m honored to serve a community like Millvale and grateful for the kindness that they show me day in and day out.”

During this pandemic, Centra said he has been inspired by how Triboro residents have supported one another and he is proud to be contributing to the sustainability of small businesses as they continue to expand “their mail order opportunities.”

 

James Machajewski, Assistant Chief of Millvale Volunteer Fire Department, Emergency Management Coordinator of the Borough of Millvale, Borough of Millvale Council President, Electrophysiology Nurse at UPMC Shadyside Hospital

There are two things that inspired James Machajewski’s professional and volunteer endeavors: the urge to help others and the pride he has for Millvale. He has been with the Millvale Volunteer Fire Department since 1989, a registered nurse since 1994, served as the Borough’s Emergency Management Coordinator since 2007, and he was elected to council in 2009 and has served as president since 2013.

“Knowing that I can make a difference is the most rewarding part of my jobs,” Machajewski said. “Whether it is physically helping out, providing information, or just lending an ear to listen, you know you can make a difference that can mean a lot to someone in need.”

This pandemic has sparked familiar feelings for Machajewski, similar to those felt when Millvale has gone through other difficult times.

“It may sound strange to some, but my experience in Millvale during this pandemic has once again made me feel Humbled, Honored and Proud to be a part of our town. Just like some other unfortunate events that have disrupted our normal daily lives in the past, the residents and businesses in Millvale have found ways to come together to protect and help each other in a time of need.”

 

Millvale Community Share Table

The Community Share Table in Millvale is a partnership between the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania’s Northern Area Clubhouse and Shaler Area School District to provide youths ages 18 and younger grab-and-go meals for breakfast and lunch. With volunteers from Northern Area Boys & Girls Club, Millvale Community Library, and Millvale Youth Dance, the table also holds free food and other items for all ages. These are the four volunteers associated with the Share Table that were nominated as Triboro Ecodistrict Essential Workers.

Roman Benty, Youth Program Director at Millvale Community Library, Millvale Youth Dance Chaperone, Celebrated Talent Show Judge

“I think it was a great way to get to know people I’d always seen around town, but never got the chance to talk to. COVID has forced us all to slow down and reexamine different practices and processes in our lives,” Benty said.

“The share table ended up being a space where folks could come together over food and share their hopes, gripes, fears, and reflections. Millvale is the kind of town where people like to talk, and we saw that in full effect. In some ways, I think people gained as much from the social interactions with neighbors and friends as they did from what was actually on the table. I will forever have a very special place in my heart for my fellow lunch ladies from the Boys & Girls Club and Millvale Youth Dance.”

Kate Davis, Program Manager at Northern Area Boys & Girls Club, Volunteer at Millvale Youth Dance, Borough Christmas Carnival and Bingo at Lloyd McBride Court

“I feel the share table was a great way to bring so many different organizations together to help out the community. I met many amazing people that I call friends now,” Davis said.

“Not only was it the [Millvale Community Library], Northern Area [Boys & Girls Club], and [Millvale] Youth Dance, but we worked with a few of the churches, borough, [Millvale Community Development Corporation], 412 Food Rescue, and many of the local establishments such as Cousins Lounge, Sprezzatura, and Jean Marc Chatellier’s.

It also gave many people a chance to meet people in the community they could go to for outreach if they need help. Sometimes it is hard to make those connections on our own.”

Sue Goetz, Branch Director at Northern Area Boys & Girls Club, Volunteer at events for Millvale Volunteer Fire Department, Millvale Music Fest, Millvale Days, and the VFW

“[The most rewarding part of my job is] how great our community comes together. They always want to help each other in times of need and are very generous. They even made sure, many times, that we were OK and offered to help volunteer if we needed them,” Goetz said.

Jenny Mendak, Director of Family and Youth Development at Millvale Community Development Corporation, Body Piercer at Three River Tattoos, Volunteer at numerous Millvale events

“I believe the share table brought the community closer in ways of allowing us to help each other and also meet [people in] the community we never met before. My experience was rewarding and sometimes I felt guilty for enjoying the Share Table, because it was a thing of [need] for people, but I always tried to make it fun, kind, and as uplifting as possible,” Mendak said.

 

Lucky Sign Spirits: Matt Brudnok and Christian Kahle, Professional Distillers 

The satisfaction of developing new spirits and perfecting others is one of the reasons Matt Brudnok and Christians Kahle decided to build a business around their love for strong drink.

They said anytimes they’ve needed assistance during the pandemic, someone in the community has been able to lend a helping hand. In return, Brudnok and Kahle used their distillery to create sanitizer for essential workers and keep helping hands clean.

“We both realized during the beginning of the pandemic that we had the technical ability and access to make Hand Sanitizer. Even though it nearly bankrupted us we went ahead as it was more important to help those on the front line,” Kahle said.

Lucky Sign Spirits made and distributed 2,500 bottles of hand sanitizer for free to first responders throughout the region.

 

Etna

Carl Funtal, Retired Shaler Police Officer, Current Chief Pierogi Officer at Cop Out Pierogies

It’s his love for good Polish food, and people, that led Carl Funtal to open Cop Out Pierogies. The joy he’s able to bring his customers by providing a quality product and customer service, as well as giving back to the community, is the most rewarding part of his job.

Funtal said he, along with “many groups and individuals” that helped him with these endeavors, provide meals for Emanuel Lutheran Church and have donated a portion of Cop Out Pierogies Lenten Fish Dinners to the Etna Volunteer Fire Department and Shaler Hampton EMS. Funtal is also a board member of the Etna Economic Development Corporation (EEDC). 

During this pandemic, Funtal said the support he’s received from the Etna community, including the Borough of Etna and organizations like the EEDC and Etna Community Organization “has been outstanding.”

“As well as the love and support of so many loyal customers and friends.”

 

Rev. Jonathan “JJ” Lynn, Pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Etna

Rev. JJ Lynn said it’s impossible for him to pick out one aspect of his work being more valuable than another, but it is clear to him that all of the work he does is “based on good relationships.”

“The gift to witness the miracle of relationships built on respect and love for one another overcome obstacles and bridge cultural divisions to empower unity; the gift to be a part of the realization of the abundance of life that is around us and see us harness our individual gifts and skills to work for the common good of the community and world; these are probably the top three aspects that bring me the most gratitude,” Rev. JJ said. 

The person who nominated Rev. JJ Lynn to be honored as a Triboro Ecodistrict Essential Worker said from the very beginning, Rev. JJ jumped into action to ensure both children and adults in the community did not go hungry. He opened the doors of Emmanuel Lutheran Church to serve lunches and joined others in the Borough to assure the Bread of Life Food Pantry had enough food and volunteers.

“He made himself and Emmanuel available in whatever capacity was needed.”

 

Tina Olzak, Staffing Manager at Harmar Village Care Center

At the end of the day, Tina Olzak said the most rewarding part of her job is knowing that she has helped care for the residents at Harmar Village Care Center “by providing them with them with the best staff.”

Olzak was nominated as a Triboro Ecodistrict Essential Worker by someone in her community due to her 25 years in the healthcare industry and “risking her life every single day” to take  care of her residents. 

 

Sharpsburg

Scott Bailey, School Police Officer for Fox Chapel Area School District

As a fifth generation Law Enforcement Officer, police work is a family tradition for Scott Bailey. He feels an immense amount of gratification helping others and takes pride in the lessons he learns from his son’s who are both autistic, and he looks to them for inspiration on how to educate the law enforcement community about proper procedures when interacting with autistic citizens. 

Throughout this pandemic, Bailey said it’s been difficult not having contact with some of the students who teachers and other administrators haven’t heard from. “But in Police work, you have to adapt, overcome and re-evaluate the situations. That is exactly what I did,” Bailey said.

Bailey has helped facilitate weekly meal distributions, connected with teachers and staff about students that need to be checked on and if they need food, technology, clothing, etc. For families with unreliable transportation, Bailey has been able to deliver what the students need to their homes and was involved in distributing laptops to students at the start of the shutdown. 

“Working with the students and providing for their needs, to be a mentor and be there to listen without judgment, and to just be that friendly face that any student can depend and count on. To make all students feel safe while obtaining a quality education, these are the most rewarding parts of my job.”

 

Lauren Broyles, Second Harvest Board Member + Representative to the Triboro Ecodistrict Advisory Council, Roots of Faith, Market Garden, and S. Vincent de Paul Volunteer, Professional Grant Consultant

To allow her more time and energy to get involved within the community, Lauren Broyles made some lifestyle changes several years ago that have enabled her to bridge her hobbies with her professional life. Then in 2019, her “doorway into Sharpsburg” opened when Bonnie DeMotte, executive director of Second Harvest, “reached out looking for folks to help with a new thrift store.”

“The most rewarding aspects of volunteering in Sharpsburg have been making new friendships and the opportunity to connect with other people around growing new things — food, gardens, programs, and a new store and community asset in Second Harvest.”

The time she has spent volunteering during the pandemic has led her to find innovative ways to engage with the community, like her work coordinating the Bloom Where You Are Planted container garden program, which gave Triboro residents a tomato or strawberry plant, soil, and five-gallon bucket to grow their own food over the summer.

“My experience has overwhelmingly been watching people stepping up to the plate, and finding practical and creative ways to help and connect during the economic stresses and isolation,” Broyles said.

 

Bonnie Demott, President and Executive Director of Second Harvest

Bonnie DeMotte said from its inception, Second Harvest’s desire was to make an impact on the community. Therefore, when the shutdown began, it was inevitable that the organization would step in to meet the needs of the borough.

“When we saw that the pandemic was greatly exacerbating the existing food insecurity problem, the Board agreed that we should help in any way that we could. We partnered with Roots of Faith, Fox Families Care, Backpacks For Hunger and The Sharpsburg Neighborhood organization to deliver bags of groceries to seniors and other vulnerable populations within our community. We also created the Dinners For Friends program to support local restaurants and residents with prepared dinners for pick up. Overall, we distributed over $120,000 worth of groceries, and close to $30,000 to local restaurants.”

The gratitude expressed by the people served through these programs has been heartwarming for DeMotte, and she has been grateful for the volunteers that “come out religiously for months every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday” to transport groceries from Butler to Sharpsburg, pack, and deliver the food. She is also thankful for the donations Second Harvest received to support their pandemic work.

“The way everyone rallied in their own way to make sure our neighbors were fed was truly moving. It was a privilege to be a part of it.”

 

Father Michael Decowicz, Senior Parochial Vicar of the Lower Allegheny Valley parish grouping and Director of Addiction Recovery Ministry in Pittsburgh

For 41 years, Father Michael has been a Catholic priest, a profession he was inspired to pursue unsurprisingly by his faith, but also his commitment to serving others.

To bring comfort to individuals during the pandemic, he has been posting weekly video presentations on Facebook and on the Addiction Recovery Ministry Pittsburgh website that cover a variety of topics “to help those in need during this time of isolation” and “to those struggling with the disease of addiction.”

“I have discovered once again a real sense of neighborhood and community in Sharpsburg that makes this town a very special place,” Father Michael said. “Walking through Sharpsburg, I have been able to talk with the wonderful people that live here and hopefully have been a source of comfort and hope.”

 

Rosemarie Haas, Administrative Assistant for Saint Juan Diego Parish of the Lower Allegheny Valley parish grouping and for the Addiction Recovery Ministry

Rosemarie Haas has lived in Sharpsburg all her life, and she considers it “an honor and a privilege” to help those within her community. Whether it be the smiles, tears, or words of thanks from those she assists, she said it fills her “heart with joy.”

When Haas saw how individuals and families were impacted by the pandemic, especially by food insecurity, she knew that she had to step in and help in some way.

“I saw people in Sharpsburg and throughout our nation lining up to receive free food, and after our food pantry donated all they had, I knew I had to help restock their shelves,” Haas said. “Since I am a little familiar with social media, I thought reaching out and asking for donations of food and money was a small way to help restock the shelves. I am so grateful to all those who responded so generously with their donations.”

 

Douglas Lane, Electrician, Volunteer Firefighter for the Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Department

Douglas Lane’s grandfather was a firefighter and president of the Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Department from the 1950s to the 1980s. A few years ago, Lane said his brother Dennis joined the department and he decided to follow suit.

“Being a part of the solution to any problems that arise [is the most rewarding part of volunteering],” Lane said. “I’ve volunteered in the past in a few capacities for a few different Sharpsburg organizations. I like helping people and serving the community. 

Since the pandemic began, Lane said there have been a lot of new regulations that keep first responder safe, which he has been following closely to keep himself, his family, and his community safe from spreading the virus.

Lane said it’s been difficult to see Sharpsburg businesses closing their doors due to the pandemic, but he knows it’s a temporary setback.

“The Borough has shown strong leadership and I’m proud to be able to continue to serve the community despite everything.”

 

Kathleen Stanley, Director of Outreach at Faith United Methodist Church/Roots of Faith

Kathleen Stanley said Sharpsburg feels like her second home and getting to know the people and their stories, anad be part of the great things happening in the borough, is part of what keeps her coming back day after day.

“It sounds silly, but I get great joy when I’m out in the community and someone recognizes me and they say, ‘Hey Kathleen, how are ya, how’s the kids?” It makes me feel like part of the community.”

When asked about her experience working in Sharpsburg during the pandemic, community was also the first word that came to her mind.

“People from all walks of life pulled together to help each other, no one cared about race, ethnicity, religion, social status, or our economic differences. For a brief moment in time, we were all united, we each brought our unique gifts to the project and we got it done.”

Stanley said Roots of Faith created a project called “Sharing the Harvest” where they and about 30 volunteers gathered, cleaned, packaged and delivered or handed out almost 500 bags of groceries every week for three months. Roots of Faith also kept its social services open to assist people with paying utilities, filing for unemployment, connecting to medical professionals, and provided COVID-19 resources. 

Millvale Ecodistrict Achieves Nationally Recognized EcoDistricts™ Certification, Second in the World

Posted on by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

A catalyst for the region and a role model for the world

 

Pittsburgh, PA — The Millvale Ecodistrict has been recognized with EcoDistricts Certification, joining the neighboring Etna EcoDistrict to become the second community in the world to attain this certification. To be eligible for EcoDistricts Certification, communities must fulfill the rigorous requirements outlined in the EcoDistricts Protocol, a framework to guide neighborhood development that prioritizes Climate Protection, Resilience, and Equity. 

The Protocol and Certification are administered by a Portland, Oregon based nonprofit organization called EcoDistricts. Certified communities must commit to Equity, Resilience, and Climate Protection at the heart of every decision; form collaborative governance; create an implementation roadmap to guide projects and programs; and track and measure impact over time.

The Millvale Ecodistrict was established in 2012 to improve quality of life for residents while reducing the community’s environmental impact. Community leaders and multiple community based organizations came together to research and better understand how to create positive growth after decades of economic and environmental hardship. This led to the creation of the Millvale Ecodistrict Collaborative, consisting of the Borough of Millvale, the Millvale Community Development Corporation, the Millvale Community Library, and New Sun Rising. Together, these four organizations, alongside other local and regional partners work to implement the vision that was created through extensive community feedback.

“Millvale was an early pioneer in the concept of ecodistricts with support from evolveEA. Since 2012, Millvale has been committed to triple bottom line development, prioritizing economy, environment and equity. This certification is an international level validation of what community leaders had already seen as Millvale’s opportunity to grow into the 21st Century and beyond.” — Zaheen Hussain, Millvale Sustainability Coordinator, New Sun Rising Director of Sustainability

“Working with the Ecodistrict Collaborative over the past 8 years has been a fulfilling experience. The organized collaboration has been invaluable in advancing the Ecodistrict program throughout Millvale. Together we have created projects, acquired funding, and created excitement around community involvement. We look forward to eight more years of collaboration and community growth.” — Eddie Figas, Millvale Borough Manager

“Millvale has always been a resilient community, priding itself on partnerships within the Borough to meet its residents’ needs. Millvale’s EcoDistrict Declaration of Collaboration and Roadmap lay out a framework on continuing these efforts while equitably focusing on projects and programming related to Water, Food, Energy, Air Quality, and Mobility. These focus areas were identified not only by community leaders but also by the folks who live, work and play here, attesting to the fact that the Borough of Millvale is ready for the next level collaborations being a Certified EcoDistrict will bring.” — Melissa Mason, Millvale Community Library President

“As an owner of a Funeral Home that is trying to raise awareness of Green Burial, I am delighted to be a part of a community of like minded individuals who are striving to leave the place we call home a little better than we found it. As President of the MCDC, we are proud to be a pillar organization, along with the Borough, New Sun Rising, and the Millvale Library. It is proof that when we work together for the greater good everyone benefits from it.” — Jaime Hahn, Millvale Community Development Corporation President

evolveEA has enjoyed being a partner of the Millvale Ecodistrict from the beginning, including creating the Millvale Pivot 1.0 Ecodistrict Plan, Millvale Pivot 2.0 Ecodistrict Plan, and Breathe Easy plans, as well as being involved in the design and implementation of many projects. The EcoDistricts Certification effort was led by Millvale Sustainability Coordinator Zaheen Hussain and was supported by evolveEA. The nationally acclaimed Millvale Pivot 2.0 Ecodistrict Plan laid the foundation for the Ecodistrict Roadmap, and was updated to include specific 2030 indicators in 20 priority areas, a baseline energy performance assessment, and the carbon impact of various strategies proposed in the Millvale Pivot 2.0 Ecodistrict Plan, which outlines a path to carbon neutrality by the year 2050.

“Millvale leaders have created a stronger and more resilient community through ecodistrict planning and many people have contributed to this well-deserved recognition. We’ve enjoyed working with the Millvale team, advancing their community vision and ecodistrict practices across the country.” — Christine Mondor, evolveEA Principal

The Millvale Ecodistrict focuses their planning and strategic action on six quality of life issue areas, a regional ecodistricts approach that was co-created with evolveEA. This approach has now been adopted by their partners in the Triboro Ecodistrict, an initiative that was established in 2016 to share knowledge and resources, and scale up their impact. With Etna and Millvale becoming the first two certified EcoDistricts in the world, Sharpsburg is now working to become the third.

“I admire the Millvale Ecodistrict for establishing ambitious environmental goals while always striving to become a more equitable community. From planning, to project implementation, to certification, it has been a pleasure to join them for the journey to make their ambitions a reality.” — Anna Rosenblum, evolveEA Associate

The Millvale Ecodistrict Collaborative consists of four founding members: the Borough of Millvale, Millvale Community Development Corporation, Millvale Community Library, and New Sun Rising. The partners have committed to meet regularly, coordinate activities, and share resources to achieve the goals set forth in the Millvale Pivot Plan 2.0 Ecodistrict Plan. Funding for the Millvale Ecodistrict is provided through the Triboro Ecodistrict grant by the Henry L. Hillman Foundation.

###

Contact

Daniel Klein
Senior Communications Designer, evolveEA
daniel@evolveea.com
(412) 362-2100

Zaheen Hussain
Director of Sustainability, New Sun Rising
zaheen@newsunrising.org

 

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.

New Sun Rising (NSR) 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. 

New Sun Rising announces 2020 Vibrancy Awardees

Posted on by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

This year, New Sun Rising’s (NSR) Vibrancy Awards will honor Brown Mamas, Triboro Ecodistrict, and South Hilltop Men’s Group/Hilltop Rising LLC for cultivating Culture, Sustainability, and Opportunity in their communities. 

Each will receive $5,000 in unrestricted funds to be used to support their continual work and create stability within their communities as they cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Our administrators are brainstorming some ways to help Black mothers in the wake of COVID-19. Right now, we’d really like to focus on first responders and moms who’ve lost employment,” said Muffy Mendoza, Executive Director for Brown Mamas.

Honorees were selected from a list of nominees by a committee of NSR staff and board. Having begun in 2019, the awards support the exceptional work of organizations evaluated by the criteria of New Sun Rising’s Vibrant Communities strategies. This year’s awardees were also chosen based upon their history of meeting critical needs of vulnerable populations.

“The three awardees are nothing short of community heroes. They fearlessly take on risk and put in the work, time and ingenuity to inspire lives and places that have faced marginalization. By relating their own lived experience and talents to their respective causes, they are champions and leaders of their communities that will have a lasting impact,” said Katie Grimm, Board of Directors Vice Chair of New Sun Rising.

Last year, over 170 nonprofit and small business leaders benefited through the capacity building support of NSR’s Ignite workshops, Launch incubators, and Grow residency programs. NSR also made $1.9 million of critical, early stage funding more accessible through fiscal sponsorship, grant, loan, and award programs. 

Recently, NSR provided up to $5,000 to 24 small businesses and nonprofits that demonstrated critical economic needs due to COVID-19 through the Crisis Mitigation Relief Fund, thanks to $100,000 in seed funding from the Hillman Foundation.

Due to social distancing precautions, NSR is evaluating options for the annual celebration and fundraiser, which was originally scheduled for the summer solstice on June 20 this year. The 2020 Vibrancy Awards are made possible through the support of our Impact Award Sponsors: UPMC Center for Engagement and Inclusion, BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern PA, and Jack Buncher Foundation.

 

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 Brown Mamas

Brown Mamas is a brand, a blog and a community that reaches over 5,000 women in the Pittsburgh region and more than 10,000 women nationally. It was created by Muffy Mendoza in 2012 to provide positive socialization opportunities to Black mothers and connect moms with resources and information that helps them raise happy, healthy adults.

About Triboro Ecodistrict

A partnership between New Sun Rising, Etna Economic Development Corporation, and Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization, the Triboro Ecodistrict promotes coordinated sustainable community development throughout the Boroughs of Millvale, Etna and Sharpsburg. With over 10,000 residents combined, these Allegheny River Towns are building on a strong collaborative history to promote sustainable community development through the shared lenses of: Equity, Food, Water, Energy, Air Quality, and Mobility.

About South Hilltop Men’s Group/Hilltop Rising LLC

The South Hilltop Men’s Group is a non-profit project of New Sun Rising, directed by Beltzhoover native Jmar Bey. The organization was founded in 2015 by Jmar and Christian Nowlin. They provide job training, employment opportunities and promote environmental protection through community programs that teach sustainable practices. Since 2015, the South Hilltop Men’s Group has been working to support the responsible and inclusive revitalization of Pittsburgh. The organization’s mission statement is, “Creating hope and opportunity for those who have little.”

One Northside Mini-Grant adjustments amid COVID-19

Posted on by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

The upcoming One Northside (ONS) Mini-Grant application deadline will remain March 31, 2020. Project applications submitted to New Sun Rising (NSR) by March 31 will receive a decision in April 2020. 

In lieu of the 15 required signatures for applications, grantees must have 3 references email or call NSR (412-407-9007) to give their full name, home or business address, and the name of the project they are supporting. References cannot be from the same Northside home or business address.

At this time, all grant deadlines have been extended to August 31, 2020.

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. 

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.

Contact

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.

 

Emergence strengthens Triboro communities through equitable opportunities

Posted on by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Of the six Triboro Ecodistrict goals, equity is ubiquitous and acts as an umbrella for the remaining five: food, water, air quality, energy, and mobility. 

When implementing projects like solar panels, stormwater management, and community garden markets, bike infrastructure, and air quality monitors, each touch on equity, which can be hard to define and difficult to create projects around equity alone.

Emergence was created to address that goal, and is a group of local women within the Triboro that are working to strengthen their communities through social and environmental justice, human services, and health and wellness. 

Mandy Wolovich said she and Danielle Spinola, owner of Tupelo Honey Teas, thought of the idea “as a way to support women in business and the ecodistrict goals.”

Two of the women on the Emergence board, Wolovich and Tricia Sorg, are attorneys and one of the main initiatives they came up with is free legal clinics in Millvale, Etna, and Sharpsburg where community members can come to get advice on landlord tenant issues, family issues, and the like.

“It’s legal advice only, we don’t provide ongoing representation or anything like that,” Wolovich said. “But they can come in if they have a question, and if they want to follow up with me I am always willing to do that.”

Wolovich said the legal cafes have been very successful; Emergence has been able to stop illegal evictions, provide information for those who have missed bail hearings, and answer simple criminal procedure questions to help people avoid problems in the future.

“Questions can be very random,” Wolovich said. “We guarantee that it’s free and confidential and we’ll do our best to make sure they get pointed in the right direction if we can’t help them.”

Emergence has also created a traveling notary service, so some of the legal clinics can also provide simple wills for attendees when the notary public is able to attend. Wolovich said the only thing needed is a driver’s license, the names of those who an individual wants to leave their belongings to, “and we can have the will made while you’re at your church supper.”

Locations for the legal cafes include Christ Lutheran Church and North Hills Community Outreach Food Pantry in Millvale, Bread of Life Food Pantry at Calvert Presbyterian in Etna, and the House Diner at First English Lutheran in Sharpsburg. Wolovich said it would be helpful to have another site in Sharpsburg, and anyone with a location is welcome to reach out to emergencecollectivepgh@gmail.com. More information on Emergence: A Women’s Collective can be found on their Facebook page.

Triboro, Etna celebrate EcoDistricts certification

Posted on by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Above: Mary Ellen Ramage, Etna Borough Manager, speaking with attendees of the 2019 EcoDistricts Summit about the future ECO Park during the Triboro Ecodistrict neighborhood tours.

In early November during the 10th Annual EcoDistricts Summit, the Borough of Etna became the world’s first certified EcoDistrict, a feat that Borough Manager Mary Ellen Ramage never thought possible because “it’s not something you ever think about.”

“Never in my life did I dream that I would be part of anything that was the first in the world,” Ramage said. 

Through a proclamation presented by Etna Mayor Tom Rengers, this Wednesday, December 11 will be recognized as Etna EcoDistrict Day, which coincides with the sold out EcoDistrict Celebration at Fugh Hall where the Triboro Ecodistrict partnership will be honored and Etna will publicly launch its EcoDistrict Plan.

Before embarking on the certification process, the borough already had a focus on sustainable practices including its Green Infrastructure Master Plan, Storm Water Management, and Green Streetscape projects, but the community’s interest in ecodistricts began in late 2016 at the EcoDistricts Micro-Incubator in Millvale.

Led by Triboro Ecodistrict Director Brian Wolovich and Millvale Sustainability Coordinator Zaheen Hussain, the micro-incubator informed participants of the EcoDistrict Protocol, how it worked when Millvale began the process in 2012, and practiced visioning sustainable development using the Protocol. Etna Community Organization (ECO) Board Member and borough resident Robert Tuñón said he and Mayor Rengers attended the workshop together.

“Both Etna and Millvale were making great strides in their physical improvements, but Tom knew the Ecodistrict movement in Millvale was catalytic in getting people to stay involved and volunteer,” Tuñón said. 

They left the micro-incubator and shared their knowledge with a small group of municipal and resident leaders, and started gathering information to create an asset based map that identified the positive things already happening in the community and how they could be built upon. Tuñón said these small meetings continued and slowly grew to around 40 residents before the initial public meeting in March 2018 that had over 100 people in attendance.

“We were shocked at the ability to have a grassroots movement start in the community with very little resources,” Tuñón said. “At the time we had no funding.”

Just a few months after the first public meeting, Etna received funding from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation through its partnership with the Triboro Ecodistrict, which also includes Millvale and Sharpsburg. The financial backing advanced Etna’s efforts and allowed them to hire evolveEA and begin an educational series that addressed a key component on the path to becoming an EcoDistrict: offer multiple rounds of opportunities for the community to give input and engage in the planning process, demonstrating that it’s an equitable plan.

Ramage said the educational series, a total of 35 public events, was “one of the most amazing things about the EcoDistrict process” and that she was “mesmerized” by residents engagement.

“People aren’t given enough credit,” Ramage said. “They just need an opportunity to learn and see how they can help and how they can be part of the change. It’s empowering.”

Including equity, communities pursuing the certification must address two other imperatives including “resilience with a broad lens that prepares for social, economic and environmental shocks and stresses,” and climate protection by building “a pathway to carbon neutrality,” according to the EcoDistricts website.

Tuñón said with the leadership of Alexis Boytim, Director of Etna Community Organization, three reports were submitted to EcoDistricts covering Equity, Resilience, and Climate Protection. 

After the third report was submitted, Boytim had a call with the national organization and that’s when she was informed that Etna was on track to become the first certified EcoDistrict. 

“We didn’t realize that would ever be a possibility,” Boytim said. “When we found out, we were excited of course, but recognized that we wouldn’t have been able to do that or even be where we are without the work done before us and [the partnership with the] Triboro.”

Tuñón echoed Boytim and said the Etna EcoDistrict would not have been imaginable without the guidance from Brian Wolovich in Millvale, Brittany Reno in Sharpsburg, and Mary Ellen in Etna.

“They were able to teach us from their lessons learned and pass those on to us, so in many ways some of the success we feel we’ve had was based on building off their experiences,” Tuñón said. “It all ties together.” 

A few projects on the horizon for Etna are the creation of the Etna Community Library and the Etna EcoPark planned for 37 Grant Ave. where a blighted building once stood and is now a vacant lot that the borough recently acquired. 

These projects are two reminders that the EcoDistrict certification is just the beginning. Over time, Etna must complete certain goals they set for themselves, track the boroughs progress, and report transparently to the national organization on how they’re doing, Tuñón said.

“The hard work starts now, but it’s work that you understand will make a difference far into the future,” Ramage said. “You have to leave it better than you found it… and that’s what EcoDistrict is all about.”

 

You might see varying forms of capitalization when exploring the idea of an ecodistrict in your community. This is intentional, and they each have their own meaning:

  • “ecodistrict” refers to the concept in the field of urban planning that integrates ecologically-sound practices with sustainable community development.
  • “Ecodistrict” refers to a specific community that is engaged in developing an ecodistrict. 
  • “EcoDistricts” refers to the parent organization that formulated and published the official Protocol and oversees a certification process. They are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Portland, Oregon.

Click here to learn more.

Upcoming ONS Mini-Grant deadline January 30, 2020

Posted on by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

The upcoming One Northside (ONS) Mini-Grant application deadline is January 30, 2020. 

Project applications submitted to New Sun Rising (NSR) by this date will receive a decision in February 2020. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and the next mini-grant deadline is March 31 of 2020.

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 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 1, 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. 

The ONS Street Team will launch early next year. Stay tuned for future announcements. Those with questions may email vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.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 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.

Millvale Food + Energy Hub supports boroughs Ecodistrict goals

Posted on by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Above: The solar panel installation on the roof of the Millvale Food + Energy Hub.

The Millvale Food + Energy Hub, formerly and affectionately known as the Moose, has converted 112 E. Sherman St. into a place for equitable community development to grow.

The 10,000-square-foot building is anchored by owner New Sun Rising and tenants Sprezzatura, 412 Food Rescue, The Food Trust, and FracTracker Alliance. Chosen for their missions that align with the Millvale and Triboro Ecodistrict plans, these dwellers reinforce the Hub’s sustainable origins.

When the property was purchased in 2017, the goal was to help advance Millvale’s vision to become a “self-reliant urban solar village, and foodie paradise known for hyperlocal production” said Scott Wolovich, Executive Director at NSR. 

It was an “aspirational concept,” Wolovich said, but increasing resiliency through a solar microgrid, fresh food access and growing capacity are important pieces of Millvale’s EcoDistrict Pivot 2.0 plan. Originally there were plans for a rooftop greenhouse, but the cost of the structural reinforcements needed was impractical. That determination quickly ignited ideas of “what could happen up there from a solar standpoint?”

“We were connected with the Energy GRID Institute at the University of Pittsburgh and discussed the possibility of developing a microgrid onsite,” Wolovich said. 

To make it happen, NSR worked with a handful of partners from locally owned and operated small businesses to nationally recognized organizations. 

Allegheny County companies Perfect Electric and Steel City Energy Conservation were brought in to install the circadian rhythm lighting and electrical, while EIS Solar engineered and installed the customized DC microgrid system including the solar panels and battery packs. 

“The monitoring system is more advanced than a typical system we produce,” said Ian Smith, Director of Residential Consultations at EIS Solar. Smith said the project hit a point where he invited engineers into the conversation because of the level of complication and customization to integrate the batteries with the microgrid.

To build the microgrid, the components needed to be bought separately and then unified with the SigmaSmart System, which allows everything to “talk, listen and be coordinated together,” Wolovich said. 

The SigmaSmart System was created by Sigma Luminous, a national company that sells products through the electrical distribution market working with manufacturer sales representatives like Gary Britcher of Steel City Energy Conservation.

Robert McCoy, Director of Sales at Sigma Luminous for the Eastern Region, said the Millvale Hub is the first non military and non university project his company has been involved in.

“It’s a very industrialized product that is used in a nonindustrial application when you think about it with the [10,000-square-foot] Food + Energy Hub, and that’s what’s different about it,” McCoy said.

McCoy said the SigmaSmart System allows information to be collected on how much solar power is being generated by the solar panels, is monitoring the circadian rhythm lighting, which changes the color of the lights in correlation with the sun to save energy and improve mood, and is also monitoring the HVAC system and the rest of the power flowing through the building.

SimpliPhi Power batteries store energy harnessed from the sun.

“All the things this little Moose lodge can do and what it entails, I’ve never seen anything that did that much in such a small space,” McCoy said. “To be honest, I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”

As a grad student at the Center for Energy at the University of Pittsburgh, Michael J. Rooney, Program Officer at Hillman Family Foundation, advised Wolovich on the Moose project and conducted a high level feasibility study around what could be done with the space from an energy perspective using research and development software from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 

Considering the hardware that went into the building, a handful of vendors were explored to supply specific components for the microgrid such as the batteries, energy inverters, monitoring, and solar panels. There were deeper conversations with possible companies who would provide the controls, but by the time vendor selection came around, two leading companies that had been identified by the Energy GRID Institute to supply the controls were no longer producing solar microgrid hardware, Wolovich said. 

“The introduction to Sigma Luminous happened at a very critical time in the project,” Wolovich said. “We had opened up our search for the right vendor and talking with [McCoy]… there [was] a shared spirit of creativity in terms of building automation and educational opportunities.”

McCoy said after meeting Wolovich and learning the story behind the ecodistrict revitalization plan, he understood that the project was larger than the building itself.

Because the Hub now contains a DC microgrid, it’s able to provide uninterrupted communication and coordination out of the building during emergencies when the public grid may be down. If there is a flood, something that Triboro communities are familiar with, and the power goes out, the facility is able to continue running cooling and heating systems, refrigeration, lighting, provide internet, and become a shelter for Millvale during emergency communication efforts. 

Millvale is also considered a food desert, and having 412 Food Rescue and Sprezzatura in the building has helped combat the lack of fresh, affordable, and healthy meals by serving thousands of community members each month.

Hana Uman, Program Director of Special Programs & Projects at 412 Food Rescue, said the organization’s Co-founder and CEO Leah Lizarondo began conversations in 2016 during the Launch Millvale incubator about partnering with NSR in a larger capacity.

412 Food Rescue has been working with food retailers and nonprofits since 2015 to recover food, which would otherwise go to waste, and redirect it to food insecure communities. According to its 2018 Impact Report, 412 Food Rescue has currently salvaged over 2.5 million pounds of food that was redistributed to families in need.

Still, Uman said there are times when they can’t get produce to these areas fast enough, which led to finding space at the Food + Energy Hub to process and can produce for the Good Food Project. 

“The goal is to stabilize the surplus of food that 412 receives and transform it into meals and other products to benefit our nonprofit partners and communities as well as our organization,” Uman said. 

Ed Anderson, Culinary Manager at 412 Food Rescue, said his goal is to achieve zero waste status at the Moose by composting what cannot be canned, pickled, or prepared as a meal. He said he also envisions the space as “the next step for 412’s special projects, like food education programs and offering a comprehensive curriculum to nonprofit partners specifically targeting parents and caregivers of young children.”

Over the summer, Anderson cooked lunches for the Millvale Community Library’s Summer Food Service Program, which is federally funded and provides free meals for children 18-and-younger. Jennifer Saffron, owner of Sprezzatura, also provided meals for the program and is nestled next to 412 in the commercial kitchen they share inside the Food + Energy Hub. In November, Saffron will be opening a cafe at the Moose.

“Working in collaboration to develop a solar-powered building that supports different kinds of businesses has been a real learning experience—how much sun do we need to power up an oven that feeds thousands?” Saffron said. “There is more to discover, no doubt, and we can work together to community problem-solve for a sustainable catering and cafe kitchen, and a more sustainable future overall.”

Wolovich said Zaheen Hussain, Director of Sustainability at NSR, had brought forward an interesting point when they first began looking at the intersection of energy and food systems.

“As you have a more resilient clean energy system, you can actually increase food access by controlling the rent for food tenants through savings from the microgrid. This allows them to pay it forward by partnering with the Gardens of Millvale and participating in the Millvale Community Library’s Summer Food Service Program,” Wolovich said. 

Phase two of the Moose renovations have begun this fall using a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to remodel the lower level of the building and add an access ramp, which will make way for food storage and processing facilities as well as support from the Triboro Ecodistrict and Henry L. Hillman Foundation on a renewable energy workforce development training center. 

It’s been a heavy lift with many helping hands getting the Millvale Food + Energy Hub where it is today and it is pushing the possibilities in the areas of sustainable technology and innovation. Rooney said, in his opinion, the reason there aren’t more buildings like the Moose is because of the amount of time and level of creativity it took to bring all of the moving parts together.

“Scott basically project managed the building and his ability to do that and do it well was remarkable and made the project happen,” Rooney said. “Without that someone carrying the torch on a lot of these hard things, it doesn’t get done.”

Interested in touring the Millvale Food + Energy Hub and learning more about DC Microgrids? Attend “DC Microgrids in the Pittsburgh Region” on Tuesday, October 22 at the Moose. Attendees will hear from a panel of experts from organizations like EIS Solar, Steel City Energy Conservations, Perfect Electric, and others leading the development of DC Microgrid technology in the Pittsburgh region.