Ambassador Alums in Action Posted on July 5, 2016 by wpengine Like clockwork, I get 6-8 emails every single day between noon and 12:05pm. I know what you’re thinking. My fan mail gets held and released only once a day. I’m pretty popular, what can I say? Actually, these emails don’t come from real people at all, but are automatically generated through Google Alerts. Most people know that at GTECH we have Ambassador cohorts—groups of community leaders in different parts of the city and county who come together for about a…Read More
Introducing Shy Posted on June 29, 2016 by wpengine Last week we had the pleasure of welcoming Shy to the team for the summer as a design intern. She'll be working mostly with our Green Playces team. We asked Shy to tell us a little more about herself, and wanted to share what she wrote with you too: My name is Shynika Deandrae Stokes, but you can call me Shy. I am originally from Orangeburg, South Carolina, a small college town where the majority of the residents works at various industrial…Read More
Celebrate National Pollinator Week Posted on June 24, 2016 by wpengine Did you know that June 20 - 26 is National Pollinator Week? In celebration, we'd like to share some neat facts with you and tips about how you can help support the health of pollinators. To start, here are a few fast facts that illustrate the importance of pollinators: Pollinators are a Keystone Species - meaning that many other species of animals and plants rely on them to survive. They are also an Indicator Species - meaning that their health…Read More
To Our Health Posted on June 16, 2016 by wpengine GTECH, as many of our readers know, stands for Growth Through Energy and Community Health. But what is Community Health, exactly? Wait a minute. For that matter, what is Health? It is, presumably, something we all want - for ourselves, our family, our communities, our environment, our planet (sometimes in that order, though that logic may be a bit flawed, as will be made clear shortly). Nevertheless, what it is, exactly, is a much more complicated question. An overly simple explanation…Read More
We’re in for GWC 4.0! Posted on June 14, 2016 by wpengine GTECH Strategies is excited to participate again in the Pittsburgh Green Workplace Challenge, a local competition put on by Sustainable Pittsburgh to recognize and encourage sustainable achievements by businesses and organizations. Even though we have a green and healthy environment in mind when designing our projects, the Green Workplace challenge encouraged us to look internally at our office behaviors and policies and make them even greener. If you remember last year, GTECH’s hard work and dedication led us to victory…Read More
Using Community Input and Data to Make Informed Decisions Posted on June 10, 2016 by wpengine Some of the many things we love here at GTECH include community input, innovative solutions, working with great people to improve our region's community and environmental health, data, and transforming liabilities into assets. For these reasons and many more, we were very excited to partner recently with Economic Development South (EDS) and the Saw Mill Run Watershed Association (SMRWA) to conduct a Green Boulevard Property Acquisition Study along Route 51 and Library Road. The long-term vision for the Green Boulevard…Read More
Homewood Greening Projects Update Posted on June 7, 2016 by wpengine Our projects in Homewood have been taking off this spring! We are excited to show off our hard work and to give a big thank you to all who have volunteered thus far. As a recap, Operation Better Block (OBB) is working on a Neighborhood Partnership Program called the Homewood Cluster Plan. We're working with OBB to help with the transformation of five vacant lots in key locations to become green gateways to the community. There has been a lot of activity…Read More
Find Your Greenspace on Lots to Love Posted on June 1, 2016 by wpengine The warm weather appears to be here to stay and it is not too late to put your green thumbs to use! Don't have the outdoor space to accommodate a garden? Check out Lots to Love and find a lot in need of your attention. Lots to Love is a online tool designed to equip Pittsburgh residents with the resources they need to navigate and utilize vacant land in their neighborhoods. We see such parcels of land not as a waste of…Read More
What Prompted AE Works to B the Change & Become a B Corp? Posted on May 27, 2016 by wpengine Pittsburgh is home to four B Corps, businesses that have taken social and environmental factors into their business plans. With a traditional business, shareholders can challenge management decisions to maximize profits. When a business becomes a B Corp, shareholders no longer have that legal authority. This is a fascinating way to structure a corporation and often attracts shareholders despite the diminished power they wield. The GTECH Social Capital Council is a cadre of energetic and socially-conscious professionals who actively support and…Read More
19 Reasons You Should Help Us Plan A Northside Trail System This Week Posted on May 16, 2016 by wpengine Imagine an urban trail system that connected Northside residents and visitors to all that the Northside has to offer.... We're honored and delighted to be working with One Northside on initial planning efforts for an urban trail system in the Northside. Since January, we've been conducting some foundational planning work such as benchmarking of other successful urban trail systems, presenting the concept at community meetings, identifying potential funding sources, and developing draft routes which maximize neighborhood and asset connectivity. Now…Read More
The gift of safe, vibrant and healthy green spaces Posted on April 28, 2016 by wpengine There are 27,000 vacant lots in the City of Pittsburgh. 45,000 vacant lots in Allegheny County. What if instead we saw 45,000 community-designed gardens, parklets, and play spaces for youth. Imagine how the image, identity, and perceptions of blighted neighborhoods would change. - Andrew Butcher, CEO and Founder, GTECH Strategies GTECH Strategies works with people to transition land use liabilities into community assets and improve the economic, social, and environmental health of our communities. We firmly believe that good design,…Read More
Educational Opportunities and Events Around Green Playces Posted on April 26, 2016 by wpengine Along with the flowers, trees, and shrubs, GTECH's projects start to bloom in the spring. Our staff members are stir-crazy from the long winter and our projects are starting to heat up! This year our Green Playces initiative has four sites to design and build out at the Hilltop, Wilkinsburg, McKeesport, and the Hill District. Along with building out the sites with the help of volunteers, GTECH is exploring how our partnerships can expand into additional events and educational opportunities. This past week we…Read More