Category: Uncategorized

New Sun Rising Launches First Sustainability Cohort

Posted on by Scott Wolovich

Millvale, PA, October 2nd, 2018  – New Sun Rising announces their newest Vibrant Communities Incubator cohort: Launch Sustainability, serving the greater Pittsburgh area. The program will begin with the first of 6 monthly workshops on Wednesday, October 3rd. The 6 selected participants, including businesses, nonprofits, and community initiatives, will receive support to develop their ventures through monthly learning workshops with their peers, one-on-one mentoring, and access to funding to grow the impact of their work with customers and community.

The Vibrancy Funds support people building culture, sustainability, and opportunity within their community. New Sun Rising announced Launch Sustainability as a new funding opportunity for organizations and collaborations who build Vibrant Communities through sustainability, as defined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The program encouraged proposals which further promoted innovation, engagement, and equity in the Pittsburgh region. New Sun Rising sustainability programs empower the community software (people + connections) and hardware (physical infrastructure) to enhance natural systems and quality of life in the region. Six projects out of twenty-four applications were selected to receive $5,000 to $8,000 grants to help early stage projects improve sustainability in their community.

Leading one of the selected projects, Donna Pearson of Millvale is working with residents and businesses, in partnership with the Allegheny Watershed Alliance as a fiscal sponsor to launch the first ever Girty’s Run Watershed Association. “We applied for the grant to help build the foundation of the organization. This grant helps us to share information, raise awareness, and build capacity for change in unifying the six communities of the watershed. We hope to build upon the many opportunities, strengths, and resources already available in these strong communities,” said Pearson.

Launch Sustainability is a Vibrant Communities program of New Sun Rising, held in partnership with the generous support of the Henry L. Hillman Foundation.

 

Communities impacted by the selected project include: The City of Pittsburgh neighborhoods, Millvale, Wilkinsburg, Aliquippa, Shaler, Ross, West View, Penn Hills, Clairton, Homestead.

Selected Projects include:

Sustainable Packaging Group Purchasing Project; seeking to eliminate the use of non-recyclable food container use in small business district settings through cooperative purchasing to drive down individual business costs.

The Wilkinsburg Gateway Project; seeking to use creative placemaking, including public art, landscape design, and solar power, as a platform to build community pride and introduce tangible community sustainability concepts.

PearlArts Studios Extensions After School Programs; seeking to implement new after school outreach programs as in collaboration with Gwen’s Girls, MUSA, and the Wilkinsburg School District, challenging participating youth both mentally and physically, as well as introducing them to broader world views through dance.

Activating a Sustainable Bicycling Infrastructure in Downtown Aliquippa; seeking to activate an equitable and adaptive bicycling culture in the heart of Aliquippa through installing new bike racks and support a free bike sharing initiative, spurring inclusive mobility and economic activity in the heart of our downtown, in partnership with Communicycle Beaver County.

The Girty’s Run Watershed Association; seeking to launch a first of its kind watershed organization within the Girty’s Run Watershed, creating greater collaboration between residents, businesses, and municipal leaders and increasing opportunities for further implementation of community led educational programming and increasing funding opportunities for stormwater infrastructure.

The Regional EcoDistrict Collaborative; seeking to connect and strengthen Ecodistrict practitioners who have been discussing collaborative opportunities to leverage respective organizational strengths to accelerate the implementation of community scale sustainable development utilizing a locally defined version of the EcoDistricts Protocol.

About New Sun Rising

New Sun Rising  (NSR) is an innovative 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to build vibrant communities through culture, sustainability and opportunity. NSR provides programs and services that create equitable opportunity, solve social challenges, and strengthen the vibrancy of place. Since 2005, over 400 individuals, organizations, and funders have worked with NSR to launch their nonprofit projects, social businesses, and economic development initiatives throughout the Greater Pittsburgh region with $5 million of support. For more information, visit NewSunRising.org.

Fireworks and Air Quality: It’s not all boom and gloom!

Posted on by Zaheen Hussain

July has past, and the fireworks were strong!  While we have been on our air quality adventure in the Triboro EcoDistrict, some have asked what the impact of fireworks are on our air quality.  Don’t worry! It’s not all boom and gloom, there are some fireworks options that are better for the air quality than others! Learn more from this blog written by New Sun Rising Air Quality Interns, Anaïs Peterson and Noah Robinson!  

 

One of the most iconic parts of Fourth of July celebrations are the fireworks. The US has been using firework displays to celebrate independence since the birth of our nation. But has anyone ever stopped to think about just what is in those fireworks? Fireworks are great to watch but the ingredients of fireworks aren’t so much fun.

Fireworks are chemical reactions – that’s what makes the colors, noise, and what propels them into the air. Because fireworks are shot up into the air the chemicals that they are comprised off end up both in the air and raining back down into our soil and water. If you’ve ever watched a fireworks show and saw a large cloud of smoke after it ended then you’re familiar with what we’re talking about.

A study conducted from 1999-2013 found that the average concentration of fine particulate matter over a 24 hour period of time was 42 times higher over the Fourth compared to the surrounding days. Fine particulate matter is concerning because the particles are 20 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair. In fact these particles are so small they can end up in your bloodstream. Of course correlation doesn’t equal causation but when fireworks were set off next to an air quality monitoring site in Utah, the PM concentrations rose 370%. People with asthma often feel the impact of these high PM concentrations first and it recommend that people who are affected by the smoke drink lots of water, watch from upwind of the fireworks, and keep inhalers close by.

Each color of firework is comprised of a different combinations of metals. These metals create beautiful colors but they can also cause problems to our health.

Blue- The blue color you see in fireworks is created using copper. On its own copper is not toxic but when combined with other compounds in fireworks dioxins are formed. Dioxins cause a number of adverse health effects and it is listed as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization.

Red- Red fireworks are a result of strontium. Strontium is extremely reactive with air and water and can end up in the soil and groundwater after firework shows. At low levels strontium does not cause health problems but at high levels it can impair bone growth in children.

White- White fireworks utilize aluminum which is one of the metals most used by humans. At low concentrations it’s safe but at higher levels it can impact mental and physical performance.

Cadmium is also used in many different colors of fireworks. Cadmium is a known carcinogen and breathing in high levels of this metal can result in lung,stomach, and kidney damage.

While this certain isn’t good news about fireworks this doesn’t mean the firework shows need to end! The United States military is working on developing green technology for explosives which can easily be applied to fireworks. Scientists are also working on technology which launches fireworks into the sky without any smoke.The color choices of firework displays also have an impact on the pollution! Next time before purchasing fireworks check the image below with information on what metals are in each color and how they might affect you. A number of cities are also changing from fireworks to light shows which are both better for your health and the air quality and also don’t scare your dog!

New Sun Rising Impact Report 2017

Posted on by Amy Edwards

For many of us, 2017 brought new challenges to our cultural, environmental, and economic well-being. Tough conversations ensued as people began to ask whether the ‘tendencies in the world’ were reflective of their values or were in need of change. New Sun Rising responded with our most impactful year ever, supporting 156 non-profits and entrepreneurs who committed to use their power to make positive change in their communities.

During this past year we also made some fundamental changes, such as clearly communicating our goals through a new mission statement:

New Sun Rising builds vibrant communities through culture, sustainability, and opportunity.

And, building upon a decade of lessons learned while helping grassroots leaders overcome their challenges, we published the Vibrant Communities framework to inspire others to join the movement. We adopted new core values of Equity, Entrepreneurship, and Place to focus our decision making. We strengthened our team to mirror the diversity we value in life and expertise, adding: Zaheen Hussain (Director of Sustainability), Jamie Johnson (Performance Improvement Manager), and Leigh Solomon Pugliano (Director of Opportunity) to join Daniel Stiker (Director of Culture + Operations) and myself. We also acquired the Millvale Moose to develop a Center for Community Vibrancy with a number of mission aligned partners.

This 2017 Impact Report offers a glimpse into how New Sun Rising and our partners are building vibrant communities. Not simply dreaming about what’s possible, but by demonstrating that today, people are working hard to strengthen our culture, achieve sustainability, and create opportunity for all. We hope that you’ll join us.

-Scott Wolovich, Executive Director

The Vibrant Communities Framework, informed by the shared values of New Sun Rising and our partners, guides our work and strives to bridge the opportunity gap. We believe that transformational change requires a commitment to engage + co-power local stakeholders, connect opportunity with community priorities, and to develop + activate a an entrepreneurial mindset.

By quantifying and reporting on both the social and financial return on our investments, we lift up and value a range of contributions made by the individuals and communities we support.

View the full report here:

NSR 2017 Impact Report

NSR Welcomes Culture + Sustainability Interns

Posted on by Amy Edwards

New Sun Rising welcomes three dynamic summer interns to the team. Two will be supporting the Director of Sustainability, Zaheen Hussain, and his work surrounding Air-Quality and one supporting the Director of Culture + Fiscal Sponsorship, Daniel Stiker.

This is a wonderful opportunity to be able to expand organizational capacity around the Vibrant Communities Framework of Culture, Sustainability, and Opportunity while also gaining input from + contributing to the development of young professionals in the Pittsburgh region. Without further ado, may we introduce:

 

  Noah Robinson, Sustainability

Noah Robinson, 21, is one of the new air quality interns at New Sun Rising. He will be a senior in the fall at the University of Pittsburgh where he is studying Environmental Science. In his own words,

I have a huge passion for the environment and the outdoors simply because I grew up in the beautiful New England states. My family were huge outdoor adventurers when I was growing up. We would annually take trips to Acadia National park, kayak in the ocean, mountain bike through Maine’s forests, hike Maine’s mountains and relax on Lake Champlain in Vermont. When I moved to Pittsburgh for college, I immediately noticed the impact of pollution in the region. Learning more from my classes, I wanted to become involved in helping solve the problem and that is  why I chose to intern at New Sun Rising.

I think air quality is an important issue to discuss and solve because everyone deserves to breathe clean air. Poor air quality not only affects health but also the economy of the region. Clean air results in less hospital visits, better vegetation and a more attractive city for companies. Clean air is essential for living healthy and improving the economy. I would love to do as much as I can to help the Pittsburgh region improve its air quality.

His other hobbies include photograph and ultimate frisbee. His camera is the Sony RX100 M5 and he is partial to taking star photos of the night sky and notes that he usually has his camera on him to capture anything that catches his eye. He concludes,

I’m really excited about this opportunity to work with New Sun Rising and help with the air quality projects. If you ever see me around and want to learn how to throw a frisbee or just chat, don’t be afraid to ask. Thanks for reading!

 

  Anaïs Peterson, Sustainability

Anaïs Peterson, 20, will be a junior this fall at the University of Pittsburgh where she is majoring in Urban Studies. In the future, she hopes to attend law school in order to affect laws and policy. When her family moved to O’Hara Township from Chicago five years ago, the new environment made a lasting impression. She recounts:

Just as soon as I fell in love with being outside in Pittsburgh I learned about how terrible the air quality is here. Today I still spend a lot of my time outside doing the things that I love but I always check the air quality before leaving my house and often times I am forced to stay inside. I want Pittsburgh to continue to be this incredible mix of city and nature where people can enjoy things like the rivers and outdoor festivals. I believe that the terrible air quality in this region might change it from a vibrant area to a deserted one and I don’t want to see that happen. I love it here but if the air doesn’t get better I don’t want to stick around. I think a lot of people my age echo this same sentiment and if the air quality in this region doesn’t change the trend will become younger people moving away instead of moving here.

Anaïs’ hobbies include cloud watching and doing activist work which she notes,

I know seem completely unrelated. I love the sky because no matter where I am it is always the same sky. To me knowing that I can always look up and see ​the same sky is incredibly comforting and the perfect reminder that everyone on this earth shares so many things. I love doing activist work because I believe part of everyone’s purpose is to make the world a better place. What I love most about this work is meeting the other incredible people who care so deeply about the planet. I am constantly inspired by the people I am lucky

  Adam Hoge, Culture

Adam Hoge, the new NSR Cultural Marketing Intern, is a senior at The University of Pittsburgh where he studies Marketing and Business Information Systems and this past semester, interned at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Having a network of passionate and driven people in his life, paired with his interest in art and design, led him to New Sun Rising. In his own words,

A job [internship] centered around culture was important to me because culture is an idea that is often overlooked, but affects how people in a community feel and interact. The positive experiences that one has within a community are directly correlated to the culture that the community thrives in. A good community culture, driven by the underlying values that make that community unique and special, can have an impact beyond that community; a wake that can benefit ourselves, our neighbors, our families, our city. It’s around this focus that I would like to contribute my efforts to New Sun Rising and the projects that it supports. 

In his free time, Adam enjoys drawing, painting, play soccer and basketball, snowboarding, and traveling.

 

Allegheny County Solar Co-op Info Session

Posted on by Amy Edwards

Interested in going solar? We’re partnering with Solar United Neighbors of Pennsylvania, a nonprofit that provides unbiased, installer-neutral support, to create the Allegheny County Solar Co-op to help. Solar co-ops bring together a group of neighbors to go solar together and get a discount on a high-quality solar system because of their group purchasing power. The expert staff at Solar United Neighbors works with co-op participants through each stage of the process of going solar, ensuring that you understand how solar works,how it can be financed, and how it can be installed on your home.

If you’re interested in learning more about going solar and how the Allegheny County Solar Co-op can help, join one of our FREE information sessions on Wednesday, May 9 at 5:30 pm at Millvale Moose (112 Sherman St Millvale, PA 15209) (RSVP here) or Thursday, May 24 at 5:30pm at the Mt. Lebanon Public Library (16 Castle Shannon Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15228 (RSVP here). The co-op is open to all residents in Allegheny County, and joining the co-op is not a commitment to install solar panels.

Find out more on the co-op webpage: solarunitedneighbors.org/Allegheny

A Conversation with Bekezela Mguni of Black Unicorn Project

Posted on by Amy Edwards

New Sun Rising fiscally sponsored project, Black Unicorn Project, is a library and archive that exists at the intersection of literacy, art, + history while focusing on the contributions of Black women, Queer & Trans POC. Recently, New Sun Rising VISTA Amy Maurine Edwards interviewed founder Bekezela Mguni and the transcript has been printed in the local publication, Steel This Magazine. Their discussion touches on Mguni’s current reading recommendations, the growth of the archives, fourth-wave feminism, intersectionality, and more. Read the full article here and look for printed copies around town.

 

NSR’s Launch Sto-Rox Incubator now underway

Posted on by Amy Edwards

 

10 ENTREPRENEURS have begun the 12-month LAUNCH STO-ROX INCUBATOR PROGRAM

The program began with the first of 12 monthly workshops on Tuesday, March 20th. The 10 selected participants, including social businesses, nonprofits, and community initiatives, will receive support to develop their ventures through monthly learning workshops with their peers, one-on-one mentoring, access to funding, professional services that include legal, accounting, branding, and marketing, and an end of year showcase to directly engage customers and community.

Jeb Feldman, Director of Economic Development at McKees Rocks Community Development Corporation, says “Launch Sto-Rox is enriching the living experience of our townspeople by helping them to realize their dreams. We’re excited to partner with New Sun Rising in nurturing this entrepreneurial opportunity for our residents.”  Program activities will be led by New Sun Rising and the Director of Community Engagement and Enterprise at Focus on Renewal, Lydia Morin. Ms. Morin observes that “there has been a disconnect between what the community needs and the people who want to start something to address those needs. Opportunities like this radiate hope and signal economic growth.”

The selection of Launch Sto-Rox participants was led by local stakeholders to reflect the community’s priorities for equitable development. Selection committee member and resident, Shallegra Moye, sees the program “as an opportunity to relight the spark of ingenuity while discovering local talent and strengthening community capacity.” The priorities for recruitment and selection were based on the results of a number of community surveys and conversations facilitated by New Sun Rising, Focus on Renewal, and McKees Rocks Community Development Corporation between 2016-17.

“It all spells progress for the Sto-Rox community” says Marlene Banks, Founder of Welcome to the Table and Focus on Renewal Board Member. “The dedication and perseverance of those who are willing to learn, work, and create jobs will secure a future for our next generation.”

Launch Sto-Rox is a Vibrant Communities program of New Sun Rising, held in partnership with the McKees Rocks Community Development Corporation and Focus on Renewal through the generous support of the Henry L. Hillman Foundation.

The Launch Sto-Rox Incubator cohort includes:

  • McKees Rocks Incubator supports the development of small businesses and projects through co-working, office, and production space.
  • Strong Ambitious Women motivates young women to develop self-esteem and a positive identity.
  • Zellous Hope Project inspires hope for low-income men with barriers to seeking and obtaining employment.
  • PittMovers provides moving assistance with a personal touch for clients within Allegheny County.
  • Dub Yoga fuses power yoga and dub (instrumental reggae) for a unique energizing and restorative experience in a transformative setting.
  • Digital Bridges closes the digital divide by using technology and digital literacy skills to decrease poverty and nurture strong social connections.
  • Teen Studio Sto-Rox T is a branding, design, and printing shop planned and run by Sto-Rox teens.
  • Reanimated in Pittsburgh creates beautiful works of art and functional pieces using upcycled and found materials.
  • Peddler’s Paradise creates a unique space for artisans and craft makers to connect and sell their products.
  • Gazette 2.0 provides crucial communication resources to connect and engage the community.

For more information, visit:

https://www.newsunrising.org/project/launch-sto-rox/

 

New Sun Rising Announces Director of Opportunity

Posted on by Amy Edwards

New Sun Rising is excited to welcome Leigh Solomon-Pugliano in her role as Director of Opportunity. The primary responsibility of this new position is to scale the impact of established social businesses and nonprofit organizations through the Grow program. Additional duties include further development of Vibrant Communities, the organization’s framework for regenerative community development built upon equity, entrepreneurship, and place. Core Vibrant Community strategies include Culture, Sustainability, and Opportunity, created through Planning, Resources, and Connectivity, in order to create an authentic community Identity.

To achieve these goals, Solomon-Pugliano will develop a Grow programs and services to support established, growth-stage businesses and projects, plan and deliver workshops and entrepreneurial education seminars, increase the diversity of earned income opportunities, support the administration of Vibrancy Funds’ loans, grants, and awards, and more.

Solomon-Pugliano’s past work mentoring and consulting for social entrepreneurs prepares her for this position. She joins NSR from her own consulting firm, Straight Forward Consulting, which provided start-ups, non-profits, and creative entrepreneurs while accentuating diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her experience as a mentor stems from work with New Sun Rising and Social Venture Partners.

In addition, Solomon-Pugliano is the founder and director of a New Sun Rising fiscally-sponsored project: Barrels to Beethoven, a social enterprise launched in 2014. Programming focused on music education and development of the steelpan and includes youth programs, summer camps, and supplementary school curriculum. Barrels to Beethoven holds workshops that not only teach attendees how to play the instrument, but also how to construct it — in order to preserve the process of making and maintaining the instrument. 

Since joining the NSR team, Solomon-Pugliano is focused on the development of the Grow program and is currently designing a Grow Residency program for projects, businesses, and social organizations that will foster sustainability through business mentoring, professional development, revenue model development, and civic innovation while finding new and collective solutions to community problems.

Affordable Housing for Millvale, by Millvale pilot project kicks off

Posted on by Amy Edwards

Surveyed through the Millvale Library Community Needs Assessment and identified by the community led Millvale EcoDistrict Pivot Plan, affordable housing and workforce development emerged as key priorities. In support of these identified needs, New Sun Rising is leading a pilot project that will simultaneously work towards addressing these needs.

NSR will be providing programmatic development and technical assistance to build and strengthen the neighborhood-specific contractor workforce here in Millvale, while also supporting general workforce development and affordable housing needs.

Millvale-based development company and project partner, Chunky Skunk Holdings, has acquired a property at 1141 North Ave. in Millvale. The project will provide contracting work for local residents, and once rehabbed, become a pilot affordable housing project. The purchase of this property was made possible thanks to financing by the Borough of Millvale Revolving Loan Fund.

Brian Wolovich, the project manager for NSR, notes the ways in which this initiative is in line with community and EcoDistrict priorities,

The Millvale Ecodistrict Plan’s Equity section calls for action to “Maintain affordability and build community wealth” through encouraging “property acquisition by existing stakeholders to prevent displacement of current residents.” The Equity section makes multiple references to using a variety of affordable housing strategies. Also, the Millvale Community Needs Assessment identified a number of residents who are currently renting (and vulnerable to rising rental costs) who would like to purchase a home in Millvale and are interested in assistance. This program is also being developed in response to that resident feedback.

Zaheen Hussain, New Sun Rising’s Director of Sustainability will be completing Radon testing using radon monitors checked out from Millvale Community Library. Additional testing will identify environmental health conditions and potential hazards. The initial build-out will be completed with the help of community volunteers, and professional contractors hired will be Millvale resident contractors.

After the rehab process, the property will be made available for sale to an income qualified family from Millvale.

Those interested in becoming more involved in this process or who want to learn are welcome on-site on Saturday, April 28th for a volunteer Spring cleaning and open house.  

Saturday, April 28th at 1141 North Ave. Millvale, PA

10:00am-12:00pm –  Clean up and clean out with volunteers

12:00pm – Lunch provided

12:00 – 2:00pm – Open house and continued clean up as needed

Members of North Hills Community Outreach, The Borough of Millvale,  Millvale Veterans of Foreign Wars, Millvale Community Development Corporation, Millvale Community Library, Business Association of Millvale, and Emergence will all have representatives volunteering and joining the clean up on the 28th.

Brrrr… What’s going on with that climate change?

Posted on by Amy Edwards

A re-blog from the Millvale Community Library…

Zaheen Hussain, NSR Director of Sustainability, has just published an article on the MCL Blog that speaks to the nuances between weather and climate and what that means in the context of Climate Change.

Read the full article here.

Interested in learning more?  Join us at the Millvale Moose on Thursday, February 22nd at 6PM for a friendly conversation on climate change.  We will walk through the latest research together to gain an understanding of why the climate is changing.  Skeptical of climate change or still unsure?  You’re more than welcome, as we always appreciate a healthy conversation.

Showcase Celebration highlights Ignite Northside entrepreneurs

Posted on by Amy Edwards

Pictured above: Ebony McQueen-Harris talks with Ignite Northside 2.0 participants (L-R) Erika Johnson (Beata Beatus), Anne George (iXMessage), Courtney Plaszenski (Midnight Zone Productions)

By: Alyse Horn-Pyatt, Photography by: Haggerty Media

Alloy 26 was a wire of earnest energy on November 29 during the Ignite Northside 2.0 Showcase Celebration, where participants and supporters gathered to recognize the entrepreneurial success of the program.

The common area outside Alloy 26 held a marketplace, where Igniters hosted booths to explain their business plans, and three participants were invited to compete in a pitch competition where founder of Beata Beatus Erika Johnson won $1,500 to put towards her work.

Influenced by her own experiences, Beata Beatus was created by Johnson “to encourage adolescent girls to heal and live healthy holistic lives through the creative arts, integrative health techniques, and faith-based encouragement,” according to its website. Johnson said the money received will go towards creating partnerships with a nutritionist and yoga instructor, and buying other equipment and materials to begin operating once a space has been obtained.

Courtney Plaszenski, founder of Midnight Zone Productions, and Anne George, creator of iXmessage, were the two Igniters who participated in the pitch competition with Johnson and won $500 each. Ebony McQueen-Harris, Ignite NS program manager, said she had an “Oprah moment” when she was able to reveal that all three participants would walk away with prize money.

“An Oprah moment of any kind is indescribable. This moment in particular wasn’t created alone. It involved a cast of characters and experience that pull together to make the moment happen. Those cast of characters are: first-our communities, then New Sun Rising, One Northside and Jamie and myself. Ignite Northside helped to chip away at one of small businesses oftentimes debilitating barrier; that of access to funding,” McQueen Harris said.

Wadria Taylor, founder of Style Week Pittsburgh, was one of three judges that also included Mac Howison, program officer for creative learning at The Heinz Endowments, and Ayisha Morgan-Lee, founder, CEO and artistic director of the Hill Dance Academy Theatre. Taylor said what stood out to them about Johnson’s business “was her why.”

“Hearing how passionate she was about not just [authentically raising confidence], but the population of young girls [in general] and the fact that she can relate shows a personal connection,” Taylor said.

Johnson recalled the first time she pitched her business concept to McQueen-Harris and Ignite NS Program Assistant Jamie Johnson, feeling like she had a “weird idea” that didn’t make sense, but the two helped Johnson take her plan to the next stages of development.

George, the developer of iXmessage said similarly that McQueen-Harris has a “fantastic way of pushing you and keeping you engaged.” Through workshops and one-on-one sessions, George said she is now able to adequately articulate her business and the ethicacy behind it. It also drove her to apply to the 4.0 Schools fellowship program, which is an incubator program that focuses on innovating the next generation of schools. Recently she was accepted and plans on officially releasing her app in the near future.

“It’s really empowering seeing the connection within the Northside and the cross pollination with businesses,” Taylor said. “Pittsburgh is very fragmented and sometimes that works as a disadvantage because people tend to move and make decisions in silos. It’s great to see such community engagement and such a diverse pool of businesses as well.”

Over the last year, Ignite Northside has helped start and strengthen 32 businesses, utilized four caterers and activated five spaces on the Northside including: Bistro To Go, Chateau Cafe and Cakery, Sprezzatura, Cafe on the Corner, The Pittsburgh Project, Oakglade Realty, Alloy 26, and the Carnegie Library-Woods Run.

Ignite Northside: Shira Barron of Aunt Lottie’s Closet

Posted on by Amy Edwards

Written by: Alyse Horn

After she was diagnosed with cancer last June, Shira Barron lost 35 pounds and had to rebuild her wardrobe from scratch.

During that time, Barron said it was therapeutic for her to get new clothing and it helped pull her out of the depression she was feeling, but she found that there were very few programs offering assistance to people going through the same ordeal as her.

While she was noticing the lack of support for cancer patients to “get back into their everyday lives,” Barron was also looking for a way to commemorate her Aunt Lottie who had been murdered by a family member with a mental illness and was struggling with homelessness.

“I wanted to create a legacy for her and that’s why I want to help people transition from homelessness and touch on mental illness [issues],” Barron said.

For those transitioning from homelessness, and also for cancer patients and survivors that have experienced tremendous weight loss, Barron created Aunt Lottie’s Closet. With guidance from Ignite Northside, Barron has been working on finding a location on the Northside to house her future “thrift store.”

“When I got into this program I didn’t know the first step of what to do,” Barron said. “From [creating] a business plan all the way to things I never thought I needed to focus on, like accounting and legal things, they helped me and guided me through all of that.”

Barron said the realization of how much goes into opening a store was overwhelming, but the weekly one-on-one meetings with Ignite Northside Program Manager Ebony McQueen-Harris helped her slow down and refocus.

“[Ebony] really helps guide you, and it’s not just about your business,” Barron said.

It’s also about focusing on participant’s mental wellbeing through the process of starting a business. Barron said she attended an Ignite Northside workshop in late October that had participants focus on visualizing their plans and goals. It also incorporated parts of Pittsburgh author Emily Marko’s new book “Wide Awake: A 7-Day Visual Guide to Calm the Mind + Get the Sleep You Deserve.” According to Marko’s website, the book helps readers “discover what keeps you up at night by taking the sleepless archetype quiz. Once you find out if you are a worrier, an idea maker, a to-doer, or in need of some me moments, you will be guided along a 7-day visual journey to help you get more of those precious zzz’s.”

Barron said it means a lot to her that the program not only focuses on helping entrepreneurs get their businesses started, but also the welfare of those involved. It’s a mission that she is familiar with as it’s similar to the idea behind Aunt Lottie’s Closet: helping people gain their footing while supplying them with fundamental assistance to reach their goals.

While she is still looking for a brick and mortar location, Barron has been working with The Shelter Project to pass out clothing to the homeless in West Park in Allegheny Commons. According to its website, “’Shelter’ is an acronym for Safe Housing and Employment Services Leading Towards Economic Restoration.” Barron said she hopes to continue to work with the organization in the future, but her goal right now is to obtain a space to work out of. She was offered space in East Liberty, but Barron said she would like her business to stay located on the Northside.

“The Northside is like a gem to me,” Barron said. “I’d like to help restore some of the areas in our neighborhood and utilize [vacant buildings].”

Barron is currently taking donations of clothing and accessories. For those who would like to donate or volunteer with Aunt Lottie’s Closet, emailauntlottiescloset@gmail.com or call (412) 865-6299.