Hilltop residents taking action

Hilltop community members know what it takes to reclaim vacant land. This past month we released a mini documentary that sheds light on the issue of vacancy in the City of Pittsburgh, focusing on the people that are doing something about it in the Hilltop neighborhoods.   "The people that live here are the ones that really know the issues and assets here. They know what the people really want to see in their neighborhoods. That's what we want - people to have…

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Happy Thanksgiving: What are you thankful for?

We asked staff, "What are you thankful for this year?" Andrew: "I am thankful for having such an incredible team of hardworking, creative, gumption-filled GTECH'ers to work with. (I'm also grateful for the people reading this post - cause they make it worth it all.)" Cassandra "I am thankful for my family, friends and my relationship with God! I am thankful for a reasonable portion of health for my loved ones and myself." Ellie "I'm thankful for having my own…

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This Cyber Monday make us smile with AmazonSmile

AmazonSmile is that easy & free way to keep to have your online gift giving give back. The Monday following Thanksgiving  come to be known as "Cyber Monday".  On this day many people  shop online to take advantage of the holiday deals. If you shop at the online retailer, Amazon and sign up for AmazonSmile -- GTECH gets 0.5% back on your items purchased. It isn't a whole lot, but every little bit helps. It’s very easy to use, especially if you…

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3 Surprising Effects of Community Gardens

A community garden is a wonderful idea for a vacant lot. The benefits outside of fresh produce, became very real to Lisa Freeman after founding the Manchester Growing Together Community Garden in 2011. Just a few blocks from her home in Pittsburgh's Northside, the garden has had a lasting impact not only on her, but the surrounding community as well. Gardens Are a Tool for Crime Prevention Lisa had a hard time ignoring the illegal activities happening on the corner near her garden. She would…

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Happy Book Lovers Day!

The first Saturday of November is Book Lover's Day! In honor of that we are encouraging you at attend an upcoming Inspired Speaker Series bookclub event.   Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nichols About the book: "Combining cutting-edge neuroscience with compelling personal stories from top athletes, leading scientists, military veterans, and gifted artists, Nichols shows how proximity to water can improve performance, increase calm, diminish anxiety, and increase professional success." Join GTECH, Green Building Alliance and other water lovers,  for…

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Preserving a Piece of Pittsburgh’s Incline History

Pittsburgh is the only city in the United States that still has two operational inclines — you know them as the Duquesne and the Monongahela. Back in the heyday of steel milling and coal mining along the three rivers' shores, dozens of inclines connected downtown with the housing on the hills. Not only did they serve as people carriers, they also hauled freight, horses and buggies and, later, cars. One such incline that is no longer in use is the Knoxville…

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Metabolic: A Systems Approach to Action

What if you could revitalize a brownfield not only in a ecological way, but  also create an active, useful, economically-viable, creative space? What if all the building were made of entirely recycled material and waste wasn't disposed of, but rather reused? This morning Eva Gladek, CEO and founder of Metabolic -- a clean tech development and systems consulting firm based in Amsterdam, spoke to a group of GTECH staff, SCC members and partners about a project that embodied just that. The De Ceuvel, or Cleantech Playground,…

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GTECHer in Germany: Day 5

This week, our Director of Operations and Programming is in Germany! Follow Evaine on a wonderful learning opportunity and journey this week. Screen Shot of Nexthamburg's website Demographics and Inclusion Our final day of programming was really about debriefing what we’ve learned and how we are going to apply it to our work at home. At 6 pm we had one final presentation and discussion with Julian Petrin from Nexthamburg. It was a conversation about demographics, inclusive and participatory planning,…

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GTECHer in Germany: Day 4

 This week, our Director of Operations and Programming is in Germany! Follow Evaine on a wonderful learning opportunity and journey this week.   Tackling the G word We arrive at Hafen City University -- a public university focused solely on the built environment and urban development -- to have a panel discussion with a few exciting guests. The panel included: Andreas Kaufmann, an urban planner from Leipzig, Germany who started his own company, Büro Kaufmann; Mei Ling Liem, a strategic advisor from…

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GTECHer in Germany: Day 3

This week, our Director of Operations and Programming is in Germany! Follow Evaine on a wonderful learning opportunity and journey this week.  Day 3: Hamburg's Youth The journey continues! Today we talked with some of the most passionate people I have every met. We spent the morning with the Director of the Land Youth Office from the Ministry of Labor, Family and Integration as well as a consultant who is working with them. They reviewed the policies and directives which guide the…

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Get to Know…Crystal Tackett

Crystal Tackett served as a ReClaim Northside Ambassador in 2014. She used her time to build a community food garden in partnership with the Salvation Army. She is also trying to give away more veggies in her neighborhood.  GTECH: Hi Crystal, so you aren't a native Pittsburgh, where are you from originally? Crystal Tackett: Saxonburg, Pa. G: What Northside neighborhood are you currently in? CT: I just bought my house in Fineview last year. Before that I lived in the…

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