Data + Creative Advocacy initiative launches to promote impact, social innovation

Posted on July 6, 2022 by Alyse Horn

Graphic by Hunter Smith

To support the data needs of under-resourced organizations and communities, New Sun Rising (NSR) launched the Power in Numbers (PiN) initiative in 2019.

At 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 29, Power in Numbers 2.0 kicked off with a virtual event to introduce two new resources, the Vibrancy Portal 2.0 data platform and the Creative Advocacy Playbook. The event, led by NSR Executive Director Scott Wolovich, had participants from the United Kingdom, California, and New York, among other locations.

The Vibrancy Portal is a tool for nonprofit, social enterprise, and municipal leaders that aims to make data more actionable through greater access, insights, and integration. The new updates include a redesign of the user interface, more dynamic database structure, enhanced and expanded data sets, organizational ecosystem mapping, and the addition of Beaver County to the map.

“We know that for social innovation to grow, there needs to be investment in data and communications, and the ability to more effectively engage with the world around us,” Wolovich said. “Unfortunately, most small and community-led organizations lack this critical capacity.”

“Our own research showed that 80 percent of leaders placed high value on these things, but only 17 percent of them reported receiving related funding. This lack of investment really restricts their ability to compete for resources and grow their impact.”

The Portal serves to democratize data through two primary functions: a community data Explorer and organizational data Manager.

For the free and publicly available Explore website, NSR built upon work started with Carnegie Mellon University and participants in their own fellowship program to create a geo mapping application that is organized by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Although similar tools exist, most provide information at the county level and are not sensitive enough to show differing conditions between neighborhoods.

The Manager section of the website allows leaders to collect, analyze, and communicate data around 5 key areas: Issues, Capacity, Impact, Finances, and Reports. The site is password protected allowing teams to collaborate and encourage an actionable data model.

Lydia Moran of CONNECT, said they have been working with dozens of organizations over the last two years to create a multi-municipal climate action plan. During the Power in Numbers session, Moran also shared progress from the regional DISCOVER network. With so many different organizations involved across these efforts, a database like the Vibrancy Portal could make it easier to collect data and communicate regional impact.

“It’s really hard for us to talk about regional impact if we’re all measuring different things, and we’re not speaking the same language.” Moran said. “I’m very excited about this platform.”

The idea for the Creative Advocacy Playbook, which is being co-created with RiverWise, came from wanting to shift the paradigms and mindsets that hold existing systems in place and combat divisiveness while increasing engagement and awareness. The playbook will be publicly available and begin to support the launch of campaigns later this summer. While Wolovich admits there have been artists producing creative advocacy for years, “what makes this initiative unique is that it’s focused on building creative capital as an asset starting with the nonprofit and community itself.”

As far as the Vibrancy Portal goes, it is free, public, and ready to be explored.

“It’s a dynamic ongoing project, and we’ll continue to build it out as we’re able to attract more resources,” Wolovich said. “We do have gaps in the data that we know are important for communities that we are working with, and welcome the help to identify or even think about different ways to approach those gaps.”

Although the initiative is in its early stages, one thing that has been made clear is that institutionally collected data largely shapes the narrative around communities. Power in Numbers helps under-resourced leaders work beyond the limitations of traditional data to more fully reflect, resource, and inspire the life of their community.

Do you know an organization, issue, or community that would benefit from greater data utilization and creative advocacy? Email info@newsunrising.org to get involved.

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

Posted on April 29, 2022 by Alyse Horn

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

NSR awards over $2 million to grantees through Arts | Equity | Reimagined fund

Posted on July 29, 2021 by Alyse Horn

With the fourth and final round of Collective Action for Re-imagining (CAR) grants released, New Sun Rising has awarded a total of $2,090,190 to 23 collaborations between 97 arts organizations.

Under the Arts | Equity | Reimagined (AER) fund, the Collective Action for Re-imaging program was created to employ new, novel, and innovative ways of working together to address the dramatic shifts that have been instigated by the COVID-19 crisis, and that also addressed opportunities and solutions to reposition the arts sector for a more sustainable and equitable future.

Twenty-six review panelists participated in recommending funding for 45%, or 23 out of 51, proposals submitted to the program. Out of the funded proposals, 52% were led by BIPOC. The Covid-19 Arts Working Group (CAWG) ultimately approved the recommendations at the end of each grant cycle.

New Sun Rising believes that the AER-CAR grantees represent the largest investment focused on collective action and equity ever made into the Pittsburgh metro area’s arts ecosystem.

The locations of the funded projects include: City of Pittsburgh (14), Allegheny County (5), Beaver County (2), Westmoreland County (1), Cambria County (1).

The nonprofits that received funding in the final round include:

Lead Organization: The Legacy Arts Project
- Funded: $100,000
- Hotline Ring is a shared, virtual fundraiser presented on July 15 that brings together the aligned missions of seven arts and culture organizations led by and/or in community with Queer, Trans, and/or People of Color to create an opportunity for giving thsat has an enourmous impact in our region.
Lead Organization: Block Chronicles
- Funded: $100,000
- Block Chronicles and Casa San Jose are collaborating to develop the PGH Latinx Artist Residency (P-LAR), a 10-month opportunity for emerging Latinx artists in Allegheny County, who will receive support in career development and sustainability.
Lead Organization: Bloomfield/Garfield Corporation / BOOM Concepts
- Funded: $100,000
- BOOM Concepts and Black Unicorn Library & Archives Project will formalize their 7 year partnership by identifying ways to uplift, overlap, and assimilate best practice of both entities in efforts to present a stronger unified program and production portfolio.
Lead Organization: Touchstone Center for Crafts
- Funded: $100,000
- The Alliance for Creative Rural Economies (ACRE Project) will be a scalable model to bring creativity-driven, COVID-19 responsive, economic development to rural areas across western Pennsylvania and beyond; meeting creatives where they are in their artistic career journeys and offering multiple levels of support and resources to achieve business stability.
Lead Organization: Pittsburgh School for the Choral Arts (dba Pittsburgh Girls Choir)
- Funded: $75,000
- The establishment of a formal and permanent affiliation between Pittsburgh Girls Choir and the Pittsburgh Camerata for the purpose of sharing administrative leadership, staff and other resources in order to enhance community connections, programming and outreach.
Lead Organization: Neighborhood North Museum of Play
- Funded: $74,325
- Playful Learning Initiative will strengthen the community by connecting the arts and education ecosystems to benefit both artists and students. They will activate a group of Teaching Artists and install educational art to make learning through the arts accessible to all, especially in communities of color heavily impacted by COVID-19.

For more information about AER, click here.

2021 One Northside Mini-Grant Deadline June 13

Posted on May 17, 2021 by Alyse Horn

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

The mini-grant program awards Northsider’s up to $1,000 to support small-scale community projects that demonstrate pledged support of their neighbors, help strengthen connections, increase accessibility to resources, and/or activate significant places in their community.

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

For mini-grant applicants, the preferred method for submitting your application is to use the online form, but printed applications are accepted by postal mail. You may also submit your applications as attachments to vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org. Postal mail submissions should be addressed to New Sun Rising, Attn. One Northside Mini-Grant, P.O. Box 58005, Pittsburgh, PA 15209 and must be received by the grant deadline.

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

In pre-approved circumstances, project leaders may submit for additional mini-grants. Only one mini-grant per project leader may be active at one time. Please contact vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org for additional information.

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

About New Sun Rising

New Sun Rising supports nonprofits and small businesses to build vibrant communities through culture, sustainability, and opportunity. NSR believes that people and communities hold the knowledge and power to make positive change. We envision a future where regenerative community development practices create the conditions for true social, environmental, and economic justice.

About One Northside

One Northside is a community-driven initiative to improve the quality of life in all 18 neighborhoods of the Northside. Since early 2014, hundreds of Northside residents have engaged with local leaders and stakeholders in community-wide conversations to create a shared agenda for the revitalization of this vital component of the greater Pittsburgh region.

New Sun Rising launches Power in Numbers initiative

Posted on February 2, 2021 by Alyse Horn

Pittsburgh, PA — To increase transparency between organizations and communities, and help them access the information and technology needed to reach their shared goals, New Sun Rising has launched the Power in Numbers initiative.

This initiative allows leaders to track and compare their progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through the Vibrancy Portal, a central technology data management system created by New Sun Rising. Participants will also benefit from technical assistance to improve data collection and communications.

“I see this as a way of really bringing the community in to understanding the importance of numbers and why organizations may ask them specific questions,” said Jamie Johnson, Director of Programs at New Sun Rising. “Then there is the opportunity to have that anecdotal and qualitative storytelling happening so it personifies those numbers and connects the community at the same time.”

By assisting organizations in collecting and managing their information, this initiative gives leaders the ability to generate insights across multiple data sets to improve their outcomes, produce better reports, and engage stakeholders through storytelling. The information also contributes to a shared data resource, which serves to promote collective impact and advocacy.

“Power in Numbers allows me to do the capacity building work that I need to do without hiring an employee or spending funds that my organization doesn’t have,” said Muffy Mendoza, Executive Director of Brown Mamas. “This year, I was able to do some foundational work that I’d been putting off for years through the Power in Numbers initiative. It helped me apply for more funding and develop a strategic plan to guide Brown Mamas in the next 2-5 years.”

The Power in Numbers initiative is currently serving those that have participated in New Sun Rising’s capacity building or intermediary funding programs.

New Sun Rising will host a workshop from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, February 23 for interested nonprofit and social enterprise leaders to learn more about bringing the power of data and collaboration to their work.

Power in Numbers was developed and launched through the grant support of The Pittsburgh Foundation and Google (Tides Foundation).

Contact

Partnership or media inquiries about the initiative can be emailed to info@newsunrising.org.

About New Sun Rising

Allegheny, Beaver County artists to be featured in virtual event hosted by New Sun Rising, RiverWise

Posted on September 15, 2020 by Alyse Horn

Pittsburgh, PA — A virtual gallery opening will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29 for the six artists selected to participate in the Exploring COVID-19 Impacts Through Visual Art program, which provided $2,500 of direct financial support for each artist to create visual art reflecting the effect of COVID-19 on their community.

During the event, the artists will talk about their work and thought process on the creation of their individual pieces. Two artists will also be announced as overall winners and their work will be displayed via wallscapes at two public locations: Millvale Food + Energy Hub and a site to be determined in Beaver County.

More event information can be found here.

“The experience of COVID-19 has taught all of us that we are deeply connected to another,” said Daniel Rossi-Keen, Executive Director of RiverWise. “This project is a great way of increasing connectivity between artists throughout Allegheny and Beaver County, while also showcasing how art can be a powerful way of responding to the many challenges we are facing as a region and a human race.”

The Allegheny County Artists include: Janel Young (JY Originals), painter and muralist; Juliandra Jones (PBJ Customs), painter and digital artist; and Natiq Jalil (The Art of Natiq), watercolor artist. The Beaver County artists include: Erin Ninehouser (The Listening Library), photographer; Marlon Gist, fine artist; and Katie Stone, ceramics sculptor.

“Hearing the stories of how artists are coping during this pandemic is as powerful as the art that has been created for this program,” said Dan Stiker, Director of Operations at New Sun Rising. “The virtual gallery opening will give us the chance to listen and learn from their experiences.”

The program is a partnership between New Sun Rising and RiverWise, supported by The Pittsburgh Foundation’s Emergency Action Fund.

Contact

Dan Stiker, Director of Operations, New Sun Rising
dan@newsunrising.org

Daniel Rossi-Keen, Executive Director, RiverWise
daniel@getriverwise.com

About New Sun Rising

New Sun Rising supports nonprofits and small businesses to build vibrant communities through culture, sustainability, and opportunity. NSR believes that all 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 RiverWise

RiverWise employs sustainable development practices to create a regional identity around the rivers of Beaver County. At the heart of this work is a concerted effort to organize stakeholders to dream, learn, and collaborate about the future of our rivers. They encourage this process in two primary ways. First, they have formed ecodistricts in three communities (Aliquippa, Monaca, and Beaver Falls). Second, they are engaged in a growing list of projects aimed at activating community ideas and bringing sustainable development to life throughout Beaver County.

New Sun Rising, RiverWise announce financial support for artists to visually explore COVID-19 impacts

Posted on July 1, 2020 by Alyse Horn

Pittsburgh, PA — Exploring COVID Impacts Through Visual Art is a program that will provide $2,500 of direct financial support for artists (up to 6 nonprofits, individuals, or small businesses) to create visual art reflecting the impact of COVID-19 on their community.

Interested applicants must complete an initial application by July 3, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Applications received by the deadline will be notified of their status within one week.

Successful applicants will receive funds and technical assistance to support their project and must agree to the following conditions, which can be found here. If selected to participate in the program, artists must complete their artwork by July 24, 2020.

“Artists’ work often moves people to reflection, hope, and action. We are not merely viewing art, we are experiencing it. Like most of the workforce, creative’s livelihoods have been affected drastically. Our program hopes to provide some relief to the current pandemic and come together as a community,” said Dan Stiker, Director of Operations for New Sun Rising.

Nonprofits, individuals, and businesses in Allegheny and Beaver County are all eligible to apply. Applications to the Fund are to be completed online at this link or, if technology creates a barrier, through an application interview scheduled by emailing vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org.

All applicants will be vetted by a diverse Fund Committee, composed of New Sun Rising, RiverWise, and community representatives, following the established Selection Criteria, which can be found here.

“There is a growing spirit of cooperation taking place between Beaver County and Allegheny County,” explains Daniel Rossi-Keen, Executive Director of RiverWise. “We are increasingly realizing that our experiences and opportunities are very similar. And, more than ever, COVID-19 reminds us that we’re all in this together. So, we’re excited to see that reflected in art from around the region.”

The program is a partnership between New Sun Rising and RiverWise, supported by The Pittsburgh Foundation’s Emergency Action Fund.

Contact

Dan Stiker, Director of Operations, New Sun Rising
dan@newsunrising.org

Daniel Rossi-Keen, Executive Director, RiverWise
danielkeen@hotmail.com

About New Sun Rising

About RiverWise

Justice, Race, and Responsibility

Posted on June 24, 2020 by Alyse Horn

Above: Photo from the NEXTpittsburgh article, “More than 30 Pittsburgh environmental groups stand behind this statement on justice, race, and responsibility,” published on June 18, 2020.

During the COVID-19 crisis, the people of southwestern Pennsylvania have learned much about who we are, who we want to be, and the need for unity and leadership in the face of loss and uncertainty. The pandemic continues to cause great change, even as we navigate what it means to reopen. Recent events in Minneapolis and across the nation are reinforcing the critical need to intentionally address racism and develop systems that work for everyone.

This turbulent time presents a unique opportunity to rebuild a stronger, more resilient region together. A responsible recovery from COVID-19 and from our legacy of racism begins with addressing the essential challenges before us and planning our best next steps. Now is the time to build a society that is truly founded upon justice for all, and comes from understanding and respecting the interconnectedness of all people, our health, our environment, and our prosperity.

Tragedy has caused the nation to focus on rectifying discrimination in the criminal justice system that unfairly targets Black and Brown America. This type of discrimination is not the only evidence of structural racism in our society. We must acknowledge that racial justice is interwoven through all conversations, including those about health and the environment. For example, as we have seen from CDC data, COVID-19 is widening existing racial gaps in health equity. Similarly, vulnerable populations are disproportionately impacted by pollution. A responsible path forward, and likewise, a responsible recovery, takes information like this into account, and makes sure that workplace and governmental policies support, not hinder, our ability to be healthy and to fix our systems and communities so they are fair for everyone. Our organizations stand aligned with all who are committed to building on this moment of anguish toward a just future.

A responsible path forward intentionally strengthens the resilience of our natural world and ensures a healthier region, including clean air, clean water, access to outdoor green spaces, and a stable climate—for all. Reductions in carbon emissions and increases in clean energy usage will help curb the increasing extreme weather impacts already being experienced in Pittsburgh, like flooding and poor air quality—also disproportionately felt.

A responsible path forward means, too, an investment in a sustainable, equitable economic future. Responsible stimulus investments in infrastructure, transportation, food systems, energy, etc. are tools to simultaneously advance our well-being, environmental performance and economic prosperity. Clean energy jobs are an important driver of regional job growth of which we should take full advantage. However, to realize this promise, it is required that we remove barriers and be deliberate about an effort to ensure that Black and Brown residents, and others who have been excluded from full participation in the economy, are included.

Our organizations will use the wealth of knowledge and the resources we have to make connections, listen to community voices and priorities, and help create a responsible recovery from COVID-19 and from the terror of racism. This is a critical moment for the region, one where our moral path forward and practical measures for rebuilding align. As organizations dedicated to promoting the conservation of this region’s natural assets and protecting the future of the people living in it, we urge other leaders in the region to be proactive in their planning. We have the tools to meet the challenges before us. Together, we will rebuild a more resilient, even greater Pittsburgh region, for all.

Signed by:

Allegheny CleanWays, Myrna Newman, Executive Director

Allegheny Land Trust, Chris Beichner, President & CEO

Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, Jim Bonner, Executive Director

BikePGH, Scott Bricker, Executive Director

Breathe Project, Matthew Mehalik, Executive Director

Center of Life, Tim Smith, Executive Director

Communitopia, Katie Modic, Executive Director

Conservation Consultants, Inc., Jeaneen A. Zappa, Executive Director

Construction Junction, Mike Gable, Executive Director

Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, Emily A. Collins, Executive Director and Managing Attorney

Friends of the Riverfront, Kelsey Ripper, Executive Director

Group Against Smog and Pollution, Rachel Filippini, Executive Director

Green Building Alliance, Jenna Cramer, Executive Director

Grounded Strategies, Ariam Ford-Graver, Executive Director

Grow Pittsburgh, Jake Seltman, Executive Director

Homewood Children’s Village, Walter Lewis, President & CEO

Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance, Matt Elliott, Executive Director

Landforce, Ilyssa Manspeizer, Executive Director

New Sun Rising, Scott Wolovich, Executive Director

Nine Mile Run Watershed Association, Brenda Lynn Smith, Executive Director

PennFuture, Jacquelyn Bonomo, President and CEO

Pennsylvania Resources Council, Justin Stockdale, Managing Director

Pennsylvania Solar Center, Sharon (Pillar) Grace, Founder and Director

Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, Richard V. Piacentini, President and CEO

Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Catherine Qureshi, Acting Chief Operating Officer

Plant Five for Life, Christine Graziano, President

Riverlife, Matthew Galluzzo, President & CEO

RiverWise, Daniel Rossi-Keen, Executive Director

Student Conservation Association, Jennifer Meccariello Layman, Regional Vice President

Sustainable Pittsburgh, Joylette Portlock, Executive Director

The Forbes Funds, Fred Brown, President and CEO

Tree Pittsburgh, Danielle Crumrine, Executive Director

Triboro Ecodistrict, Brian Wolovich, Director

UrbanKind Institute, Jamil Bey, President

Venture Outdoors, Valerie Beichner, President & CEO

Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Thomas D. Saunders, President and CEO

Women for a Healthy Environment, Michelle Naccarati- Chapkis, Executive Director

Celebrating Earth Day’s 50th solar return

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Alyse Horn

Above: Millvale neighbors work together in the community garden.

By Zaheen Hussain, Director of Sustainability

The first Earth Day was celebrated 50 years ago today. With COVID-19, I think we can all agree that this is perhaps one of the strangest Earth Weeks in the all the years we have observed this occasion.

Many of us with the privilege of being able to telework are settling into our routine after a month. Many of us who cannot work at home are counting our blessings and heading into our workplace in protective clothing, knowing we must fulfil our roles as essential workers with full courage on display. Then there are many of us who neither have the privilege of telework nor the status of essential worker, and with very limited aid, are struggling to make ends meet and are reliant on the goodwill of our neighbors to be able to put food in our bellies. Times are tough and Earth Day is the last thing on many of our minds.

While it feels like the fabric of our global society is being stretched to its furthest limits and the impact of this virus leaves a sense of walls closing in around us, fear not, for there are lessons to learn from the rock we call Earth, our home.

The biggest lesson the Earth can teach us in this moment is resilience. Okay, okay, I know, for those of us in the sustainability field, resilience carries an air of cliché. This next part gets a little dense, but bear with me.

*The solar panels on top of the Millvale Community Center.*

It is irrefutable that in the past ~200 years of our ~300,000 year existence, humans have created a shocking amount of environmental damage. We have left behind the Holocene, the epoch in which we developed as a species, and have entered a whole new epoch, the Anthropocene, characterized by both anthropogenic climate change as well as the geomorphological traces we will leave behind alongside our fossil record (roads, skyscrapers, mines, houses, you get the picture).

Despite this, scientists can say with confidence that human impact pales in comparison to the experiences our planet touts on its resumé. Earth has been a ball of fire. Earth has been a ball of ice. There have been extinction level volcanic explosions. There have been extinction level asteroids. Earth may have even been crashed into by another planet, the satellite remnants of which we can still see every day, lovingly calling it Moon.

All this to say, every time the earth has been knocked down, it has gotten back up, bold and beautiful, steadfast in its journey around the Sun and the Universe. It takes its punches, recalibrates and keeps moving, often in an existence that shares little resemblance to its prior state.

On this historic Golden Jubilee Earth Day, we can all learn from Earth’s lesson on resilience. When it feels like all the world’s weight is on our shoulders; when it feels like a cosmic body is smashing through our lives like a bull in a china shop, remember that we are all interconnected as a part of this world and we all share the spirit of resilience, baked into our existence.

Earth Day, after all, is more about us than it is about Earth. It’s about making sure that we respect and contribute to the balance of our ecosystems, not just because it’s “good for our planet,” but because if we don’t, we will work ourselves out of the environment in which we came to be, no longer able to survive as a species.

In that same spirit, let’s continue to be there for each other in our time of need, because our individual resilience is woven into the fabric of our societal resilience. When one of us falls, we all fall a little bit. When we lift up those around us, we all rise a little bit.

Donate to your local food pantry if you can. Volunteer from physical distance if you can. If you have a friend or neighbor in need, check in on them; see if there is something you can do to help them move through the storm. Make some masks if you can. Share some good news when you find it. Most importantly, take care of yourself. Go for a walk. Cook a delicious meal. Take a breath of fresh air (at least six feet away from a stranger though). Enjoy a hike in a nearby park. Go stargazing — with everyone driving less and there being less smog, the stars are brighter than ever! Ultimately, here’s to you, our resilient neighbor!

From the New Sun Ring team, we wish you all a great Earth Day today and every day!

New Sun Rising announces 2020 Vibrancy Awardees

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Alyse Horn

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

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.”

New Sun Rising deploys Crisis Mitigation Relief Fund

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Alyse Horn

New Sun Rising (NSR) is providing up to $5,000 to small businesses and nonprofits who demonstrated critical economic needs due to the COVID-19 crisis, thanks to $100,000 in seed funding from the Hillman Foundation.

Successful applicants are receiving immediate funding and technical assistance taken as a loan repayment (0% interest, 3 year term, 6 month no payments) or Vibrancy Corps option, which provides full loan forgiveness. The Vibrancy Corps requires organizations to make a one to three month commitment to use funds to implement projects that address urgent community needs.

“We know how hard people work in our nonprofit and small business community. While COVID-19 has pushed many of us to our limits, it is inspiring to see how hard people are willing to fight to sustain their organization and community. The goal of the Crisis Mitigation Relief Fund is to help as many leaders as possible to endure this crisis, and mobilize them to build vibrant communities together,” said Scott Wolovich, Executive Director of New Sun Rising.

Although similar funds have been launched in Pittsburgh, there are several things that make NSR’s Crisis Mitigation Fund unique. Due to an innovative loan structure, nonprofits, small businesses, social enterprises, and cooperatives in Allegheny and Beaver County all were eligible to apply. In order to prioritize inclusion and data-informed decisions, the Fund Committee used information from NSR’s Vibrancy Index Dashboard to evaluate community impact, aligned values, and financial need.

New Sun Rising recognizes that complex problems require complex solutions, therefore funding decisions also considered a Crisis Response Priority score and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The wide range of supported organizations is a reflection of NSR’s triple bottom line community development methodology based on culture, sustainability, and opportunity.

The majority of organizations are receiving funds to help meet basic human needs by providing food, shelter, and mental health support, mitigating further losses for vulnerable populations such as immigrants and youth, and ensuring an equitable response to the pandemic. A total of 24 extraordinary organizations received funds, including: Barrels to Beethoven, Coraopolis Youth Creations, Hello Neighbor, Hill District Consensus Group, Kitchen of Grace, Inside Our Minds, Latino Community Center, Love Rocks Cafe, Protohaven, Revival Relief, Zellous Hope Project, Triboro Ecodistrict Food Relief projects in Millvale, Etna, and Sharpsburg, and more. A full list of awardees along with information on the organization’s Vibrancy Index Dashboard and Crisis Response Priority score can be found on the New Sun Rising website.

Neashia Johnson of the Hill District Consensus Group notes that “as existing food insecurity challenges are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, having the support of NSR’s Crisis Relief Fund is invaluable as we respond to the direct needs of our community.”

New Sun Rising will continue to support projects addressing community challenges on the front lines, but is not currently accepting new applications due to depletion of funds. If you are interested in partnering to financially support the Crisis Mitigation Relief Fund, please email vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org or visit newsunrising.org/ways-to-give.

About New Sun Rising