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The Blog of NSR

Tag: millvale

Triboro Ecodistrict businesses, nonprofits can save by going solar

Posted on March 24, 2022 by Alyse Horn

Whether it’s cutting down on costs or lowering your environmental footprint, there are many reasons more and more organizations are choosing to go solar.

G.E.T. Solar Communities: Triboro, a local committee of residents and municipal leaders, from the Etna, Millvale and Sharpsburg neighborhoods that supports the economic and environmental benefits of going solar, is partnering with nonprofit Pennsylvania Solar Center to host a free informational meeting to businesses and nonprofits who want to learn more about going solar and how it can save them money. The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6 at the Millvale Food+Energy Hub (112 E Sherman St).

The meeting will offer creative ways businesses and nonprofits can reap the benefits of solar energy. Attendees can expect to learn more about tax credits, financing programs and grants, technical assistance and how to select a qualified developer.

The PA Solar Center will also be issuing RFPs on behalf of interested businesses and nonprofits to solicit bids for the projects from qualified solar developers. They will review the bids with the businesses/nonprofits and help them understand each step of the way. 

The PA Solar Center will even offer a free assessment of your company’s solar potential to those who attend. Those interested in attending should be sure to register here.

Contact Leo Kowalski at leo@pasolarcenter.org for more information.

Posted in Events, ResourcesTagged Etna, millvale, opportunity, Sharpsburg, sustainability, Triboro ecodistrict

Millvale, Etna unite to create shared library system

Posted on January 3, 2022 by Alyse Horn

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Experience Mapping: Understanding Your Story Through Art

Free Event | RSVP Required (available on Feb 24th at noon)

Lead and created by local artist Sara Tang, this workshop is a guided creative exercise for participants to chart personal experiences (mental illness, madness, chronic illness, disability, childhood, medical, traumatic, or positive experiences, etc) in a map format, and then to create an expressive art piece and visual poetry piece based on their experiences. Through using a creative medium to think about their experiences in a new way, participants can connect their mental health experiences with other events in their lives and how those may relate to one another.

This workshop is part of Inside Our Minds’ Radical Mental Health Series, sponsored by the Opportunity Fund. Learn more at www.insideourminds.org/radical-mental-health.

About the Creative Facilitator

Sara Tang is a Pittsburgh-based artist, creative facilitator, and illustrator. She is a member of the notwhite Collective, an affiliate member of the Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators, and has worked with those affected by cancer and other complex life experiences in creative therapy excavation. Learn more about Sara’s work at www.draw-me-in.com.

Accessibility and Venue Information

The Millvale Community Library is accessible for wheelchair and mobility device users by a permanent ramp at the side of the building (from Grant Avenue). ASL interpretation will be provided. There will also be earplugs on hand at the workshop for anyone who would like some. Please message the Inside Our Minds page with any questions.

Mental Health Cafe – Holiday Edition

For December’s Mental Health Cafe, join the Inside Our Minds Team for conversation, peer support, and mutual aid at Tupelo Honey Teas. We will have holiday cookies, but feel free to bring some of your own to share (be sure to mark all allergens / dietary needs if you do!).

Mental Health Cafe is a monthly community conversation on mental health, mental illness, and madness over coffee and treats. The event will focus on informal discussions and friendly peer support / mutual aid in a welcoming space for all. People are invited to participate actively or passively, or just listen.

Important Notes: Mental Health Cafe is a space for peers and allies to have open conversations that represent a wide variety of opinions and beliefs, some of which everyone may not agree with. As a community, we expect everyone to hold respectful conversations. Anyone who personally attacks, harasses, or discriminates against another community member will be asked to leave and will be potentially banned from future events.

Mental Health Cafe is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment. We are also NOT a support group. We can only provide friendly peer support and conversation. 🙂

Arrival Info

Tupelo Honey Teas is accessible for wheelchair and mobility device users through the Millvale Library accessible entrance. Nearby bus stops include the 1 and 2.

If you cannot find the group or are nervous/anxious upon arriving, please private message our Facebook page or text the Inside Our Minds phone line: (412) 438-3278.

The Inside Our Minds staff will have earplugs on hand for anyone who would like them. We also utilize a colored name tag system to display social interaction preferences (originally from the Autistic community).

Anonymous Open Mic, Featuring Writing Away The Stigma

Doors at 6:30pm | Performances begin at 7:00pm | Free Event

This special Anonymous Open Mic will feature readings from the teens from Creative Nonfiction’s Writing Away The Stigma program!

We will also be accepting anonymous and non-anonymous submissions from the general public. Submit your story here: https://goo.gl/forms/ojXcVE9cLedjIuN33

Host and Event Information

Anonymous Open Mic is a storytelling project working to build a community narrative around mental illness in Pittsburgh. Pittsburghers affected by mental illness can submit a short story, poem, or spoken word piece anonymously online. Community members can then volunteer to perform the anonymous works in front of a live audience.

Live sound and recording will be provided by The Social Voice Project, Inc., an innovative public interest media company. Learn more at http://thesocialvoiceproject.org.

Writing Away The Stigma is an opportunity for project fellows to write about how mental illness has affected their lives and then combat the shame and stigma surrounding mental illness. Learn more at www.creativenonfiction.org/stigma. The Writing Away The Stigma project was made possible by the Grable Foundation.

Inside Our Minds is an organization that works to elevate the voices of people with lived experience of mental illness and madness in Pittsburgh. Learn more at www.insideourminds.org. Inside Our Minds is fiscally sponsored by New Sun Rising.

FAQs

Is this event accessible?

The Millvale Community Library is wheelchair accessible and has accessible indoor restrooms. Our event will take place on the back porch and outside in the backyard. To enter the backyard area, you can enter from two locations: 1) from the front of the library on Grant Ave (partial stone path) or 2) in the back from Farragut Street (there is one large bump in this direction).

ASL interpretation will be provided by Sign Language Interpreting Professionals. Earplugs will be available for anyone who would like them. Please email contact@insideourminds.org with any additional questions.

Mental Health Cafe – February Edition

Mental Health Cafe is a monthly community conversation on mental health and mental illness over coffee (or tea!) and treats. The event will focus on informal discussions and friendly peer support in a welcoming space for all. People are invited to participate actively or passively, or just listen.

In order to ease discussion, each month will have a specific theme to start off the discussion. Then we’ll go wherever the conversation leads us! 🙂

February’s Theme: Relationships (Not Just Romantic!)

Learn more at www.insideourminds.org/mentalhealthcafe

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