Green Cities Sustainability Corps 2011
Christov Churchward's May Update
May was a wonderfully busy month. I spent my time with ACTION Housing, Inc. primarily working on creating a series of maps for HUD funding which display amenities – transit, food, necessities, public services, parks, places of worship, topographical, etc. – for seniors around a half-mile radius from a proposed senior apartment building in the South Side Flats neighborhood. Along with this, I conducted some research on census data regarding seniors for the same HUD grant. The ACTION Housing Green team developed a “big ideas” list – what we would like to see happen if we had a magic wand – some of which I will be working to implement in the coming months. These include increasing recycling rates at our downtown office and in the Regional Enterprise Tower; cataloguing unnecessary materials at various SHMS properties so they can be either reused, recycled, or properly disposed of; and developing a environmental footprint/carbon calculator for the ACTION Housing Green team which will eventually scale to the rest of the organization. I designed and sent the online June newsletter using the print template created by Nikki Williams. We expanded our contact list overall by 76 people from May to June, with 42 additional online subscriptions and 34 print subscriptions. I have also been coordinating a June field trip for the ACTION Housing Green team, which will focus on residential energy efficiency. It will be used as a bonding experience and opportunity to get the team excited about opening the Pittsburgh Green House. I won’t give anything away here, but you’ll be able to read all about it in next month’s report!
At my placement with the City’s urban forester, I have been working hard to create a network of people engaged with and supportive of our efforts to plant the busway with trees that help mitigate air pollution. I met with a group of community residents and architects in the Homewood neighborhood at a community development meeting to discuss the possibility of planting a lot of trees. I also had a meeting with Shaina Madden from the URA (housing developer), Joe Hackett from LaQuatra Bonci Design (designer), and Matt Erb from Tree Pittsburgh (tree consultant) about the initial busway planting which will take place behind the URA’s new development on Finance Street in the Homewood neighborhood. I presented my tree list, which was created using i-Tree software and refined by Matt Erb. Everyone agreed that the list should become the basis for the tree selection. We now need to meet with the Port Authority in order to get access to their land, which is where we intend to plant the trees. I’ve been in email contact with two of the most influential doctors – Fernando Holguin and Jane Clougherty – working in Pittsburgh on issues of environmental stressors for pulmonary conditions and mapping that information. We will be meeting in person soon. I am also working with GASP to get air pollution (PM 2.5) monitors, which we will use to measure the quality of air surrounding the busway.
John Jameson's May Update
During May I produced the second edition of the PCI newsletter and added local media outlets and government officials to the distribution list, giving PCI more exposure in important circles. I have been performing research for the Higher Education Climate Consortium on potential fall outreach events that were identified at the first quarterly HECC meeting in March. I have been in touch with local organizations to gather information on tree plantings, rain garden installations, composting, and seed collecting. Another idea identified by HECC has been to aggregate all school inventory data to better track emissions and reductions for HECC as a whole, and I have been researching the process for accomplishing this. I have also been looking at ways to collaborate with Allegheny County and get municipalities outside Pittsburgh more involved in the sustainability and climate work being undertaken by PCI. This was one of the topics discussed in the PCI monthly meeting I convened, where we also did some long-term planning for future grant proposals. Lastly, I've been assisting GBA with their strategic planning process by performing a carbon footprint analysis and working with city data.
Megan Morrissey's Bio
Megan Morrissey from Portersville, PA graduated with a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Chatham University. At Chatham she worked for the Rachel Carson Institute and spent a summer in New Zealand studying ecological restoration. In the summer of 2009 she joined the SCA Conservation Corps in the Adirondack Park and is excited to do conservation work in an urban environment with the URA. She enjoys cooking and sharing pierogies and sustainable agriculture as well as hiking at McConnell's Mills State Park.
Miriam Parson's Bio
Miriam Parson is SCA's Program Coordinator for the Green Cities Sustainability Corps fellowship program. Miriam comes to SCA with experience in service-learning, program management, campaign organizing, sustainability initiatives, environmental education, policy development, and green building. Her experience in climate change science and mitigation strategies brings expertise to the group's development. Miriam is a graduate of Gettysburg College with degrees in Environmental Studies and Political Science.
Miriam is excited to see this year's crew flourish in their learning while making a significant impact on our region's sustainability.
Lara Nagle's Bio
Lara Nagle graduated from Oberlin College in 2009 with a degree in Environmental Studies.
She hails from Pittsburgh, PA, and is completing her third SCA position, as a fellow for the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP). She believes this is one of the best acronyms she's ever heard that also stands for a legitimate organization.
Her other work with the SCA involved wildlife research in Cloudcroft, NM, with the Forest Service, and sustainable community and business development with the Trail Town Outreach Corps in Connellsville, PA.
Lara's long-term professional aspirations will likely involve urban agriculture, land conservation, and sustainable city planning.
John Jameson's Bio
John is a recent graduate of Syracuse University with degrees in Geography, Policy Studies, and Spanish. While hailing from New Jersey, he has also studied and lived in Cuenca, Ecuador and Santiago, Chile. He has a deep interest in environmental policy, specifically regarding climate and energy issues, and is excited to be gaining valuable experience in the field. Prior to joining Green Building Alliance, he worked with an environmental non-profit in New Jersey and state-funded resource recovery agency in New York. When not in the office, he enjoys being active outside, watching sports, and trying (always unsuccessfully) to be a vegetarian. John looks forward to engaging more of the city in the Pittsburgh Climate Initiative and helping it become even more of a national leader on climate change.
Matthew Henderson's Bio
Matthew Henderson is from Phoenix, AZ with a Bachelor's in Environmental and Land Use Planning and Spanish from Northern Arizona University. Matthew has a passion for traveling. One of the most influential experiences he had that lead him into study planning was a trek he took through the Peruvian Amazon. There he noticed the beauty and tranquility of nature, as well as the simplicity of the indigenous people’s lifestyle. While on his journey’s he realized the importance of the harmonious balance between the human and natural environment and is now pursuing a career in sustainable communities. Also, Matthew has a admiration for the great outdoors and enjoys bicycling, hiking, kayaking and playing with his dog Max. He finds the best part of his day is sitting at a café with a friend drinking espresso talking about life.
Kyle Kline's Bio
Kyle Kline originally hails from Jersey Shore, PA, right at the southern end of the gorgeous Pine Creek Rail Trail. He graduated from Slippery Rock University in 2009 with a degree in Chemistry. Kyle spent his first year out of college with AmeriCorps NCCC traveling around the Southern United States working on a wide range of service projects. Some of his favorite projects included oyster reef habitat restoration, land clearing for an organic farm, and disaster relief. Now he is very motivated to be working with Green Cities to mitigate climate change and implement sustainable practices in the great city of Pittsburgh. Kyle’s long-term goals include a career in national service with a focus on environmental stewardship.
Ann DeSanctis' Bio
Originally from Louisville, KY, Ann graduated from the University of Kentucky in December 2009 with a BA in Human Geography and minors in Anthropology and International Studies. After an internship in DC with the Education Division at National Geographic last spring, she returned to Lexington, KY to work her second season on the University of Kentucky's organic CSA farm. Ann's experience with sustainability comes from many angles. While at UK she was a bicycle mechanic at the on-campus bicycle shop, a resident advisor in the sustainability themed residence hall, coordinated a sustainability lecture series featuring Vandana Shiva, and was on the planning committee for UK's month-long celebration of sustainability: Earthdays in the Bluegrass. Her personal interests include bicycles and mass transit, food justice and sustainable food systems, learning Spanish, yoga, ultimate frisbee, and urban planning. Ann is keen to take advantage of what Pittsburgh provides regarding these interests and is looking forward to acquainting herself with a new city.
Map of Green Cities 2011 Partners
View SCA Green Cities 2011 Partner Organizations in a larger map
Group Against Smog & Pollution (Partner)
The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) is a non-profit citizens' group in Southwestern Pennsylvania working for a healthy, sustainable environment. Founded in 1969, GASP has been a diligent watchdog, educator, litigator, and policy-maker on many environmental issues, with a focus on air quality in the Pittsburgh region.
GASP focuses on environmental issues, especially air quality concerns, and believes in the public’s right to receive accurate and thorough information on these issues. GASP emphasizes honesty, scientific integrity, and responsible involvement and cooperation. The mission of GASP is “to act to obtain for the residents of Southwestern Pennsylvania clean air, water, and land in order to create the healthy, sustainable environment and quality of life to which we are entitled." When pertinent to these concerns, GASP participates in state and national environmental decision-making processes.
More information on GASP can be found at www.gasp-pgh.org
Urban Redevelopment Authority (Partner)
The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) is the City of Pittsburgh’s economic development agency, committed to creating jobs, expanding the City’s tax base and improving the vitality of businesses and neighborhoods. The URA achieves this mission by assembling, preparing and conveying sites for major mixed-use developments; and by providing a portfolio of programs that include financing for business location, relocation and expansion, housing construction and rehabilitation, and home purchases and improvements.
Global Links (Partner)
Global Links, a Pittsburgh-based international medical aid and development organization, promotes environmental stewardship while improving health in some of the poorest countries in the hemisphere. Through efficient systems for recovering surplus supplies, furnishings and biomedical equipment from U.S. healthcare facilities, since 1989 Global Links has diverted more than 6 million pounds of medical materials from US landfills to lifesaving purposes. Our largest recovery program targets key hospital departments to provide an environmentally responsible outlet for still-useful materials that otherwise would be disposed of due to hospital protocols, changes in services, etc. These materials are then processed and matched to the needs of healthcare facilities serving the most vulnerable populations. Recently, Global Links launched a community homecare recovery program to address the surplus built into the US home healthcare system. In the past 2 years, Global Links has recovered and repurposed hundreds of wheelchairs, crutches, breathing machines, dialysis supplies and more, primarily from Western Pennsylvania. All of these items would otherwise have been discarded.
Sustainable Pittsburgh (Partner)
Sustainable Pittsburgh, (http://www.sustainablepittsburgh.org/)a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, affects decision-making in the Pittsburgh Region to integrate economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental quality bringing sustainable solutions to communities and businesses.
Sustainable Pittsburgh is partnering with the SCA to utilize an SCA Fellow with Sustainable Pittsburgh to contribute to the ongoing development of the Pittsburgh Climate Initiative’s Business Climate Coalition (BCC) and to support other SP Programs, such as the C4S Business Network, The Sustainable Community Development Network, and the Walls are Bad Campaign.
The Sustainable Business Fellow is responsible for:
Organizing and steering communication among businesses for the Business Climate Coalition (BCC) steering Committee.
Coordinate, identification and implementation of the Pittsburgh Climate Initiative business recommendations.
Researching best practices related to climate and business, developing case examples from best practices, and organizing a blog to share information about the Business Climate Coalition.
Coordinate events and meetings for the BCC and other Sustainable Pittsburgh events.
PennFuture (Partner)
PennFuture (http://www.pennfuture.org/) works to create a just future where nature, communities and the economy thrive. We enforce environmental laws and advocate for the transformation of public policy, public opinion and the marketplace to restore and protect the environment and safeguard public health. PennFuture advances effective solutions for the problems of pollution, sprawl and global warming; mobilizes citizens; crafts compelling communications; and provides excellent legal services and policy analysis.
The Pittsburgh Climate Initiative, a group of organizations in conjunction with the mayor’s office, has launched a new citywide campaign, “The Black and Gold City Goes Green,” where the goal of the campaign is to work together to reduce heat-trapping gases from global warming. The portion of the campaign that targets individuals across the city is being spearheaded by Pennfuture. It consists of a series of monthly actions, all with little or no cost that families and individuals can take that will make a measurable reduction in the heat-trapping gases they produce.
PennFuture is partnering with the SCA to take on a Sustainable Community Fellow. This Green Cities Corps member will be working to execute the community piece of the Pittsburgh Climate Action Plan.
The Sustainable Community Fellow will be responsible for:
- Basic administrative tasks, such as data management and fielding phone calls
- Contacting and signing up more community groups to be part of the campaign
- Helping to plan and provide logistical support for events associated with the campaign
- Helping to develop website content (such as fact sheets) around the carbon dioxide reduction actions
each month
East Liberty Development Inc. (Partner)
East Liberty Development, Inc.(ELDI) (http://eastlibertypost.com/) is a non-profit community development corporation (CDC) whose mission is to foster the revitalization of East Liberty, a neighborhood located in the East End of Pittsburgh. ELDI works to increase business and residential development, promote public safety, improve public spaces and create a positive image for East Liberty.
East Liberty Development, Inc. is partnering with the SCA to take on a Sustainable Community Fellow. This Green Cities Corps member will assist the Sustainable Policy Coordinator, Planning Coordinator, and Community Outreach Coordinator with sustainable projects in East Liberty.
The Sustainable Community Fellow will be responsible for:
- Volunteer driven tree plantings in strategic locations in East Liberty (intern will be project manager)
- Community garden planning and implementation
- Storm water mitigation initiatives
- Pedestrian safety design project
- Marketing green projects to various East Liberty stakeholders
- New technology research for heating and cooling new projects (solar and geothermal)
- Job tasks also include project planning, team coordination, assisting with fundraising applications
(through grant research), budget coordination, and managing design teams
Penn State Cooperative Extension (Partner)
Penn State Cooperative Extension (http://extension.psu.edu/) is an educational network that gives people in Pennsylvania's 67 counties access to Penn State's resources and expertise. Through this county-based partnership, Penn State extension agents, faculty, and local volunteers work together to share unbiased, research-based information with local residents. The extension network is one part of Penn State Outreach and Cooperative Extension.
PSCE helps individuals, families, businesses, and communities throughout Pennsylvania with information and a broad range of educational programs designed to:
• Support productive, profitable, and competitive businesses and a strong agriculture and food system
• Strengthen families, children and youth, and the elderly
• Build caring, safe, and healthy communities
• Ensure the long-term vitality of Pennsylvania's natural resources
• Enable people to better understand and deal with complex public issues
Penn State Cooperative Extension is partnering with the SCA to take on a Sustainable Agriculture Fellow. This Green Cities Corps member will assist with (but not be limited to) projects that focus on food policy and strengthening the local food infrastructure in Western PA by connecting the supply and demand sides of our foodshed. These projects will highlight timely info for and about farmers, food, events and resources in our community.
The Sustainable Agriculture Fellow is responsible for:
- Yumpittsburgh.com – writing and researching for web posts
- Helping to coordinate “Farm Profiles”, a service where PSCE creates marketing materials for farm
businesses
- Assisting with preparations, promotions for “Local Food Showcase” to be held at Chatham University
March 11, 2010
- Assisting with preparations, promotions for educational programs offered to farmers
- Exploring the Small Farm Dream to be held March 2010.
- E-Marketing – How to use internet tools to market your agriculture business, March 2010
- Attending grower meetings – usually in the spring / summer, held on farm
- Attending conferences, man the vendor table
- “Farm to Table” conference in Pittsburgh is schedule for March 26-27
- Providing high level administrative support. Taking notes at monthly meetings, then preparing and
posting to the Google Group
- Benchmarking research on other Food Policy Councils from around the country
- Researching and identifying stakeholders that can help support the Statement of Purpose for the
Council
- Posting research to Google Group
- Creating promotional material and exhibit material, and representing the group at conferences
Pittsburgh Garden Experiment (Partner)
The Pittsburgh Garden Experiment (http://pittsburghgardenexperiment.org/) is a member-supported forum for sharing resources. They provide free workshops at community gardens and local hot-spots as well as access to information, tools, and advice. Pittsburgh Garden Experiment is managed by a collective of green businesses in Pittsburgh as an outreach tool for interfacing directly with community garden leaders, volunteers, and their individual projects.
The Pittsburgh Garden Experiment is partnering with the SCA to take on a Sustainable Agriculture Fellow.
The Sustainable Agriculture Fellow will be responsible for:
- Helping to expand and create business opportunity with a 100% local garden supply catalog in 2010
- Helping to organize meetings, events and road trips
- Connecting and maintaining relationships with community garden leaders, venue managers, and
beginner gardeners
- Assisting in the creation of the new garden supply catalog. Will include design, sourcing supplies,
managing the street team and testing the garden products
- Cultivating and harvesting fruits and vegetables on the customers' city farms
- The planning, planting, and cultivation of farm projects
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy (http://www.pittsburghparks.org/) was founded in December 1996 by a group of citizens concerned with the deteriorating conditions of Pittsburgh's parks. In 1998, the Parks Conservancy signed an official public-private partnership agreement with the City of Pittsburgh to work together for the restoration of the city's four regional parks - Frick, Highland, Riverview, and Schenley. Since then, the Parks Conservancy has raised $40 million toward park improvements, and has recently expanded into other city parks as time and resources permit. We continue to work on improving quality of life for the people of Pittsburgh by restoring the park system to excellence in partnership with the City.
The PPC is partnering with the SCA to take on a Sustainable Community Fellow.
The Sustainable Community Fellow with be responsible for:
- Environmental education for elementary, middle, and high school students that connects hands-on
parks restoration projects with regional and global environmental issues
- Program coordination, including trainings, field support, and data management, for the volunteer
Urban EcoStewards program for adults
- Volunteer coordination for a variety of ecological restoration projects
- Design and implementation of outdoor learning areas in Frick Park
- Job tasks will also include providing direct services to people from diverse backgrounds and ages,
project planning, volunteer coordination, partnership coordination, and budget management
Allegheny County Office of Sustainability (Partner)
In September 2008, Allegheny County (http://www.alleghenycounty.us/) Executive, Dan Onorato, launched “Allegheny Green,” a comprehensive initiative to promote sustainable practices within County government and through countywide policies and programs. The Sustainability Manager, working with County department directors and the Green Action Team (a group of experts and stakeholders who will help the County to meet its green objectives and goals)are conducting a top-to-bottom analysis of government operations to identify ways to reduce the County’s ecological footprint, such as adopting environmentally preferable procurement policies, expanding recycling in County-owned facilities, providing sustainability training to employees, and expanding use of hybrid vehicles.
Allegheny County is partnering with the SCA to take on the Sustainable County Fellow.
The Sustainable County Fellow is responsible for:
- Representing the Office at public events
- Working with the Department of Personnel to continue outreach and education activities targeted at employees, such as lunchtime lectures and volunteer events like litter pick-ups
- Expanding County recycling infrastructure.
- Producing outreach materials such as brochures, press releases, and other mediums containing “green” information
- Helping to oversee the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Researching product alternatives and options, the recycling across County facilities, Greenhouse gas inventory, Drafting a human
resources deployment plan, and LEED for Existing Buildings – Operations & Maintenance
- Scheduling meetings
- Fielding phone calls and emails from citizens
- Other duties as assigned
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