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The Blog of NSR

Strategy: Sustainability

SkatePlus

SkatePlus is a non-profit project of Shred Your Fears with a mission of promoting health, creativity, and education through skateboarding.

We held our first workshop (Skate+Write) in December 2019 in partnership with Write Pittsburgh and Switch & Signal Skatepark. This event for female-identifying and non-binary teens ages 11-14 combined learning to skateboard with a creative writing workshop led by Shred Your Fears Founder Maya Haptas.

We are launching our next event Skate+Construct in Spring 2021. For Skate+Construct, artist Abe Dubin (Orange Man) will be constructing unique, skateable art from items collected during a community clean-up.

To be notified by email of future events and programs sign up here.

Tabitha’s Daughters

the project

“If you empower women, you can change the world.”  Tabitha’s Daughters believes this assertion.

Where women gather to transform an issue or challenge, you will find our stories of strength, resilience, and determination.  We want to change Pittsburgh!  In order to change our city – a city where women, and especially African-American women are living with health, educational, housing, and economic disparities that are ” the worst in the nation,” (based on the Gender Equity Commission Report of 2019), women must be a part of the solutions for change. In a city which claims to be the “most livable city in America,” women must force change in political, social, educational, and economic systems that impede our progress and keep us from participating in the growing prosperity of Pittsburgh.

Our project is a social justice initiative where women of all ages and ethnicities are invited to be a part of the transformational change that needs to happen in Pittsburgh.  Using the Gender Equity Commission Report as the framework, we will gather to analyze and honestly discuss this report, choose an indicator to attack, and build an initiative that will improve, via one of the 5 indicators, the living standard of women in our city.  This project will involve 3-4 mini symposiums where experts will assist us in being a part of what must change in our city.

the steps

Training the Trainers – Interactions that will employ techniques and strategies to train those who will lead the discussion group and build the strategies for affecting the negative indicators affecting women.

1st Mini – Symposium – Collaborating with experts on the Gender Equity Commisison Report that can lead the women who gather to understand and unpack the report.

2nd Mini- Symposium – Group “table talks” on what the report means to the women mentioned in the report (African-American, Latina, Asian, & Euro-American women)

3rd Mini- Symposium – Choosing one of the 6 indicators (health mortality, infant mortality, educational, housing, economic) to build a strategy of improvement and impact around.  Building out an initiative that partners with collaborators to continue to work the program and promote change.

why we’re doing it

Tabitha’s Daughters believes the “future is female.”  Women, who occupy more space on the globe than men, must be moved to leadership positions that allow us to be a part of our own solution.  Our project, through the information provided in the Gender Equity Commission report, allows women to take ahold of our own future.  This report gives us the problems and challenges; now, Tabitha’s Daughters wants to build out solutions to create equity within our city for women who live, work, worship, and support their families.

Our project will ultimately be a solution to the statistics housed in the Gender Equity Commission report through concerted action.  Whether educational, health, housing, or economic disparities, we will work one of these indicators to viable solutions and affect change in the city.  We believe that small groups can make a difference and this project is constructed to make that difference.

 

source: https://ioby.org/project/tabithas-daughters-framing-future

Unshakeable Motherhood

The “Unshakeable Motherhood” Project is a movement for new mothers, veteran mothers and soon to be mothers with similar desires and interest. Over the past two years, we have raised funding to support the training of seven aspiring African American birth doulas while offering community educational workshops that educated the community of doula support that lead up to a one-night event. Which offered the opportunity for each expecting mother to explore new options and find resources on the aspects of pregnancy, birth, babies, or parenthood that are most important to her. We provided attendees with the opportunity to consistently be refreshed, build relationships with a community of moms to be restored by education and proper guidance.

The mission is to establish a community of diverse women who support, exhort and encourage one another along the journey of motherhood. The goal is to ensure Pennsylvania adopts and maintains an adequate system for inspiring and educating women and mothers through proper parenting skills, financial foundations and navigation support.

The “Unshakeable Motherhood” project will extend to connect and build with the original selected birth workers that we have fund raised to support birth doula’s with training funds. As these birth workers will contribute maternity, birth, postpartum and beyond lessons. This would include parenting workshops, breastfeeding guidance, birth prep class, vegan eating guidance, virtual parent empowerment support group and inspirational talks with professionals. We will offer yearly membership options where mothers can have access to exclusive content that can help them in other areas after birth such as parenting and homeschooling methodology. 

As the app and membership hub of video lessons and tutorials will offer support, educate and exhort women in their motherhood journey. Unshakeable Motherhood teaching videos, free informational downloadables and blog series spotlighting mothers, physicians and therapists. Mothers will have the opportunity to select a mommy concierge based off her profile to be able to support her prenatal and postpartum lifestyle needs.

Visible Hands

Visible Hands creates a cohort of community mental health workers who are
certified to perform ICT, a unique form of community therapy that requires only short-term training, can accommodate groups from 15-200 people, and can be performed successfully in an online format.

STEM Leadership Center

The STEM Leadership Center offers a space and support for youth in grades 6-16 to pursue real-world projects in science and technology.   The Center works with our Odyssey Fellows to partner with leaders around the world seeking to solve the real problems, to make meaningful projects possible, and to stoke the fires of what makes them passionate imagineers of a more beautiful world. Fellows tell the stories of today’s scientific and technological breakthroughs through published books, web resources, electronics prototypes, YouTube videos, games, virtual and augmented realities, and mobile apps.  Odyssey Fellows, with the help of our project managers, take their creations to regional and national STEM competitions, science fairs and maker faires.

We accept donations to support those fellows whose families cannot afford the monthly lab access fees.  Donors may choose which fellowships to direct their monies to: 

Current fellowships include:

  • Heroes of Math: Promoting a new Heroes of Math Medal for school to 3D print and award annually to a student of their choice.  heroesofmath.weebly.com/

  • Charging into the Future: Investigating advances in battery technology of Electric Vehicles. chargingintothefuture.weebly.com/

  • 4 Step Robotics: Prototyping a robotic kitten for use in Alzheimer’s research and treatment.  4steprobotics.weebly.com/

  • River Robots: Programming solutions to Ohio River water pollution riverrobots.weebly.com/

  • Bridge Builders of Tomorrow: Looking at new tech in bridge building and repair. bridgebuildersoftomorrow.weebly.com/

  • Into Words:  Online Workshops and meetings centered around teaching effective communication skills. intowordsclub.weebly.com/

  • Catching RFID Waves: Celebrating RFID Tech and the IoT catchingrfidwaves.weebly.com/

  • Taking Root: Building a text based choose your own adventure Python game centered around the life of 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Awardee Wangari Mathai.

Fellowships continue throughout the year.  Any royalties or profits are donated to charities chosen by each fellowship. 

Contact Information
stemleadershipcenter.com

 

Solar DC Microgrid Education + Workforce Development Program

The Solar DC Microgrid Education + Workforce Development Program is located at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub, and includes a variety of learning and training programs. The Hub’s state-of-the art 26 kwH microgrid, coupled with an advanced power control system for the building, building automation, and educational dashboard, serves as a learning tool for a wide range of abilities, age ranges, and interests from the casual to highly technical.

The Solar DC Microgrid System Education Program offers opportunities for students, visitors, and the community at large to examine the emerging role of renewable DC energy in promoting sustainability and reducing the damage caused to our environment and health by energy generation.

Current programs and resources include:

  • Teen Solar Fellowship
  • Educational Facility Tours
  • Adult Workforce Development (launching 2021)

RiverWise

RiverWise is a newly launched initiative in Beaver County focused on using our rivers and their surrounding communities as wisely as possible. At the heart of this work is a concerted effort to organize stakeholders to dream, learn, and collaborate about the future of our rivers. We are encouraging this process in two ways. First, we are forming ecodistricts in three communities (Aliquippa, Monaca, and Beaver Falls). Second, we are conducting community assessments in a handful of river facing communities (to be determined) aimed at growing the infrastructure on the rivers, creating access to the rivers, and generating meaningful connections between the rivers and the communities through which they flow.

It’s been an exciting first year for RiverWise and its growing list of partners. We’ve learned, dreamed, and collaborated together about the future of our region. We’ve set in place some very exciting projects. And we’ve bolstered relationships born out of shared vision and purpose. Take a look at this year-end retrospective of the work of our partners.

Watch the RiverWise Year One Video

The Future of Petrochemicals in Western Pennsylvania – A Community Perspective

Three weeks ago, on October 30, 2019, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto publicly announced his opposition to additional petrochemical development in Western Pennsylvania. Responses to the Mayor’s comments were substantial and swift, quickly generating the kind of polarization that has become all too familiar in public discourse about important and contentious topics.

To date, the vast majority of voices speaking into this matter have come from outside of Beaver County, home to the most substantial petrochemical buildout in Western Pennsylvania. When Beaver County voices have been present in this conversation, little attention has been paid to the complex issues faced by community members who are most affected by regional decision making. This document seeks to widen the terms of the ongoing conversation, bringing to bear insight gained from working alongside more than fifty community organizations and several hundred residents who are seeking wisely to navigate the quickly changing landscape that is Beaver County.

Make no mistake: Beaver County is forging a new path for our future. We are embracing competence and vision, moving toward wisdom, and enacting principled change. Continue reading…

Beltzhoover Institute of Arts & Sciences

“Through science, we shall know it to be correct; through art, we shall know it to be beautiful”

 

The South Hilltop Men’s Group is a non-profit project of New Sun Rising, directed by Beltzhoover native, Jmar Bey. Their mission is to promote environmental protection through community training programs that use sustainable practices. With a broader goal to create hope and opportunity for those who have none. Since 2015, the South Hilltop Men’s Group has been working to support the responsible and inclusive revitalization of Beltzhoover.

In order to address widespread problems like blight and abandonment, lack of resources, and excessive unemployment while preserving and developing assets within the community, New Sun Rising and the South Hilltop Men’s Group acquired 600 Beltzhoover Ave on November 1, 2019 to become the eventual Beltzhoover Institute of Arts & Sciences.  The proposed renovation will be led by the South Hilltop Men’s Group, creating a hub for revitalization and local jobs while addressing environmental issues. Allegheny County Economic Development has also approved a $250,000 CITF grant to support the initial phase of work.

The building is strategically located along Beltzhoover Avenue, a major artery that connects McKinley Park and Emerald View Park, serving as a hub for learning, training, and creativity and connecting related projects along an eco-corridor. To support work in combating blight the project will be anchored by two departments: the Wangari Maathai Environmental Laboratory and an Art Studio. Together, these departments will provide space and opportunities for residents to become engaged in the revitalization of the community.

The Wangari Maathai Environmental Laboratory will provide space for equipment, research, and education on urban environmental topics, focusing on green space management. The Laboratory is named after Wangari Maathai, who became the first African woman and first environmentalist to receive a Nobel Peace prize. Maathai studied at the University of Pittsburgh and later founded the Green Belt Movement, which creates employment to combat deforestation through sustainable practices. The Laboratory will be located on the same block as the Lots of Pride experimental research garden. This project is actively testing various methods for soil remediation using sustainable, low-cost techniques. The strategically located site provides outdoor practical research space that will be supported by the Laboratory.

In addition to the laboratory and art studio, this building will feature green infrastructure and sustainable technologies which will also serve as educational tools, as the building itself will be transformed into a living classroom. For example, a rooftop greenhouse will be used to incubate plants for the various neighborhood community gardens. Stormwater will be captured for irrigation and cleaning on the property. A 2,000 gallon fish tank will display Pennsylvania’s native fish species and spread awareness about the importance of wildlife management. Solar energy will be used to power any lighting or other equipment. Mesh networking will be used to provide free internet access to project participants and local residents. All of these various components serve multiple purposes with education and awareness at the heart of it all.

The importance of this project isn’t just about rehabbing a building. The importance of this project is about resurrecting a neighborhood and bringing hope to a broken community. This building serves as a metaphoric symbol of our neighborhood. Battered and blighted it stands as one of the last commercial buildings left, in a once beautiful and proud area. A once happy community full of friendly people and thriving businesses. A safe place for children with a good school and good neighbors. The kind of place to raise a family in.

 

District PGH

Our region faces urgent challenges which cannot be solved by any singular entity.

District PGH is a collaborative of local organizations working to accelerate neighborhood and district-scale sustainable development that promotes climate resilience and equity in the greater Pittsburgh region. District PGH will work with communities, professionals, and academics to research and assess, scale adoption of projects and initiatives, advocate for resources and policy, and organize convenings that forward the practice of ecodistricts in our region. Current members, including New Sun Rising, Green Building Alliance, Sustainable Pittsburgh, The Forbes Funds, and evolveEA have committed to collectively implement the following strategies:

RESEARCH

District PGH will perform assessments and provide research to make the case

that all development should be sustainable development.

 

SCALE

District PGH will provide technical assistance to increase planning initiatives

and for the implementation of sustainable developments.

 

CONVENE

District PGH will promote regional, cross sectorial partnerships and learning

between community members, academics, and professionals.

 

ADVOCATE

District PGH will increase awareness of successful models and advocate

for policy change and investments at the municipal, county, and state level. 

Launch Sustainability Grant

Note: This is an archived program at this time.

The Vibrancy Funds support people building culture, sustainability, and opportunity within their community.

New Sun Rising ran this funding opportunity in 2018 to launch organizations and collaborations who build Vibrant Communities. Through the generous support of the Henry L. Hillman Foundation, the following program seeks proposals which promote innovation, engagement, and equity in the Pittsburgh region.

LAUNCH SUSTAINABILITY

New Sun Rising believes that developing the community software (people + connections) and hardware (physical infrastructure) is critical to enhance natural systems and quality of life in our region. By improving the coordination of available resources, we help early stage projects improve sustainability in their community.

Projects which enhance community sustainability are encouraged to apply for a $5,000 to $8,000 Launch Sustainability Grant. While not necessary to apply, preference may be given to NSR Vibrant Communities (Allentown, Beltzhoover, Etna, Knoxville, McKees Rocks, Millvale, Northside neighborhoods, Sharpsburg, Stowe Township, Wilkinsburg), NSR fiscally sponsored projects, and Ignite Sustainability workshop participants.

In addition to the grant, Launch Sustainability Grantees will receive six months of support including:

  • Monthly coaching with subject matter experts
  • Access to project development resources
  • Support to strengthen their business plan or grant proposal

Questions will be answered by emailing vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org or attending one of the following information sessions at the Millvale Moose, 112 Sherman St, Milllvale, PA 15209:

  • July 17, 2018 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
  • August 8, 2018 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM

Projects supported by this grant can start September 1st, 2018 and must end by March 30th, 2019.

CRITERIA

In acknowledgment of the importance and role of sustainability in our rapidly changing region, successful applicants will be established non-profit (or fiscally sponsored) organizations with a project demonstrating the following:

Equity: activities are aligned with, help to identify, or create community values
Collaboration: creates connections or opportunity for those with barriers
Adaptability: incorporates human-centered design by positioning clients as decision makers

Application deadline is 11:59 PM on August 10th, 2018. Grantees will be notified on August 20th, 2018.

Ignite Sustainability

A mentoring workshop + pitch competition for projects building sustainability with their community

The goal of New Sun Rising’s Sustainability strategy is to enhance natural systems for the benefit of people, planet, and economy in order to create greater community resiliency and improve quality of life.  

Projects which creatively engage, explore, or express sustainability within their community are encouraged to register for the Ignite Sustainability workshop on June 9th. Participants will be eligible for awards (taxable) to start their project. While everyone can apply, we strongly encourage projects from NSR Launch communities (Allentown, Beltzhoover, Knoxville, McKees Rocks, Millvale, Northside, Wilkinsburg) and fiscally-sponsored projects.

Interested in becoming a mentor? Contact zaheen@newsunrising.org to learn more.

What to expect

Ignite Sustainability propels idea development and activation for businesses, projects, and their leaders through a one day ignite & pitch workshop. Bring your new idea to work through with peers. Those who are interested (up to 10) have the option to enter the pitch competition for one $3,000 and two $1,000 financial awards.

Through a one-page business plan, workshop participants will receive mentoring and a quick primer on pitching your idea. Awarded projects must be completed by March 1st, 2019.

Vibrancy Funds

New Sun Rising is pleased to announce the Vibrancy Funds, a new funding opportunity to launch organizations and collaborations who build culture, sustainability, and opportunity with their community. Led by the generous support of the Henry L. Hillman Foundation, the fund will support people who promote innovation, engagement, and equity in the Pittsburgh region.

 

Pennsylvania Solar Center

The Pennsylvania Solar Center is a statewide solar energy resource hub and assistance center that provides unbiased information and catalytic organizing in an effort to transform the Commonwealth into a leading solar state. The PA Solar Center provides technical assistance to non-profits and small businesses – shepherding them through the solar purchase process and connecting them to qualified installers and financing. The PA Solar Center’s online website (www.pasolarcenter.org) and solar supporter network will help all prospective solar owners find reputable solar contractors and to stay informed about regulations and policy opportunities that will inspire decision-makers and others to transition to the new clean energy economy – one that reduces climate, water and air pollution and creates family-supporting jobs.

SUPPORT THE NEW PA SOLAR CENTER
Thanks to the West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund’s grant support, we started our first effort in December 2018 to assist non-profit organizations to go solar with our new Galvanizing Energy Transition: Solar for Non-Profits (G.E.T. Solar) initiative and to build our website. We were able to officially launch the organization and we continue to offer resources and build capacity thanks to the Hillman Family Foundation, and our business and individual members.

You can also invest in solar and support us by:
BECOMING AN INAUGURAL MEMBER by DONATING (any amount) to the PA Solar Center through New Sun Rising (see the left-hand column of this page).

JOIN AS A BUSINESS MEMBER by emailing Sharon Pillar at sharon@pasolarcenter.org for more information.
All donations to the PA Solar Center are made payable to New Sun Rising, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Find us at Facebook and Twitter – @pasolarcenter
And on our website at www.pasolarcenter.org

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