Grounded Strategies

Work Day @ Morning Star Baptist Church-Hazelwood!
2019-10-19 09:00 - 15:00 (America/Halifax) | Morning Start Baptist Church-Hazelwood, 5524 Second Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15207, United States
Come join the Grounded team as we work alongside TMC-Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood Platoon to finalize our year-long effort at The Morning Star Baptist Church! We will be completing the revitalization of the once-vacant lot next to the church before the weather gets too cold. Our goal is to do some planting, complete the youth activity area, and remove any trash and refuse from inside and outside of the church. Please come dressed in clothes you would not mind getting dirty!
All ages and abilities welcomed. Donuts, coffee, water, and lunch will be provided, so please register to allow us to have enough food.

Flowers Avenue GSI Planting
2019-11-08 10:00 - 13:00 | 323 flowers ave, 323 Flowers Ave, pittsburgh, PA, 15207, United States
Come help Grounded and residents of the Hazelwood community finish the green stormwater infrastructure implementation in Hazelwood. This day will focus on planting, mulching and adding protective fencing around small shrubs. Come help us make a difference in the lives of our neighbors!

Hazelwood Garden Planting
2019-11-08 13:30 - 15:00 | 4713 Chatsworth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15207, USA, 4713 Chatsworth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15207, United States
Come help Grounded and residents of the Hazelwood community finish the green stormwater infrastructure implementation on Chatsworth Ave! This day will primarily focus on planting and mulching.

CommunityCare Gathering
2019-11-19 17:00 - 19:30 | The Shop – Homewood, 621 N Dallas Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206-1112
Grounded is excited to host the first-ever CommunityCare Gathering – an event to bring together resident stewards that are working in Homewood, Larimer, and Wilkinsburg to beautify their neighborhood. To date, CommunityCare stewards have invested more than 1,300 hours improving their community. Each and every steward is a part of that amazing number and we want to take the time to reflect on this great accomplishment and what it means for the program and our communities.
This event will be a celebration of the work the stewards are doing in their community as well as a way to learn about what other CommunityCare cohorts are focusing on. We will invite stewards to share lessons learned, challenges, and unique strengths of your neighborhood approach. Whether you’re a brand new steward or have been doing this work for years, we want to hear from you. Please come when you can and stay at long as you can!

Second Annual Three Rivers Urban Soils Symposium (TRUSS)
2019-11-21 08:15 - 18:30 | Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Inc., One Schenley Drive , Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, United States
Join nationally acclaimed experts, professionals and community practicioners for an exploration of urban soils and their relation to agriculture, stormwater management, habitat and climate.
Click HERE for more information and to register!

WPXI Holiday Parade
2019-11-30 09:00 - 11:00 | downtown, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
The Grounded team, along with some Ambassadors and Stewards, will be walking in the WPXI Parade this year! Join us downtown to watch to see us walk or watch us on TV!

Allegheny Conference's 2019 Annual Meeting
2019-12-03 17:30 - 20:00 | Westin Convention Center Hotel, 1000 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222, United States
Click here to go to the event site to register and for more details.
Childcare is provided!

Grounded Holiday Party: A Merry Gnorman Holiday
2019-12-05 18:00 - 21:00 | Sherwood Event Center, 400 Sherwood Rd, Pittsburgh, PA, 15221
Please join the Grounded Strategies team for our annual holiday party, A Merry Gnorman Holiday! Come meet our loveable mascot, Gnorman, a friendly folk character who prides himself on maintaining beautiful green spaces!
The holiday party will feature food, drinks, live music, and more!
If you are having issues registering please call 412.361.2099

Thanks to our Sponsors who have made A Merry Gnorman Holiday possible!
Excavator Level Sponsorship

Shovel Level Sponsorship

Trowel Level Sponsorship

Healing Our Soils Together: Building a Culture of Soil Keepers
2020-01-09 18:00 - 20:00 | Civically, Inc., 1001 Wood St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15221, United States
Join us for a workshop on building community-scale initiatives that inspire and support environmental stewardship in Wilkinsburg and beyond. Nance Klehm, author, speaker, and teacher, will share ways we can engage local residents, instigate ecological projects, and build regenerative systems in ourselves and communities through soil and soul. Come learn strategies for relating to our communities in ways that build positive, beautiful and ecologically-beneficial environments for our neighbors. Food and drinks provided.
Prior to Nance’s lecture, Grounded will provide an update on the Wilkinsburg CommunityCare program, including ways to get involved and participate in our upcoming workshop series, and Grow Pittsburgh will share an exciting announcement regarding Wilkinsburg-based garden, Garden Dreams.
After Nance’s lecture, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and network with fellow community leaders to share ways that you’re restoring vacant land, creating healthy food access, and building networks of environmental actors. Please RSVP.
SCHEDULE
6:00 PM: Doors Open. Food and drinks available.
6:30 PM: Healing Our Soils Together, Nance Klehm
7:30 PM: Networking
LOCATION
Civically’s office: 1001 Wood St, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-2129
ABOUT NANCE
Nance Klehm has grounded her life in the practice of digging in the dirt. As the director of Social Ecologies (socialecologies.net), she works on soil restoration and remediation, long-term landscape planning, and community-focused regenerative soils and water systems in Chicago and around the world. An internationally respected consultant, speaker, and teacher, she has contributed to the ongoing body of knowledge about soils and how to rebuild microbial, mycological, and mineral communities through her publication The Ground Rules: reconnecting soil and soul, her book The Soil Keepers: interviews with practitioners on the ground beneath our feet, her radio show “Spontaneous Vegetation,” on Chicago’s WLPN, and myriad writings and artworks of her own.

Purchase Tickets

Returning Vacant Land to Productive Use
2020-02-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Civically, Inc., 1001 Wood St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15221, United States
Connecting local residents with resources regarding property stewardship, acquisition, and ownership through various models. Hear from a representative of the County’s Vacant Property Recovery Program and Attorney Wayne Cobb.

Repair the World: Cocktails with a Conscience (Grounded Tabling)
2020-02-27 18:00 - 20:00 | East End Cooperative Ministry
Repair the World Pittsburgh presents the next in their “Cocktails with a Conscience” series, focusing on ‘combatting climate change and reducing our carbon footprint’.
This event is open to all ages and will take place at East End Cooperative Ministry, a LEED Platinum certified space. We will be focused on all things sustainability!
Grab a cocktail (or a mocktail!), and join us in conversation, learn some tips for reducing your carbon footprint, and find out how to get active in climate organizing – all led by local community activists.
Facebook event

Hazelwood GSI Workday!
2020-02-28 10:00 - 14:00 | Hazelwood, 309 Flowers Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15207, United States
Spring is just around the corner! Come help Grounded as we prepare our green stormwater infrastructure projects for the upcoming season! This workday will primarily consist of mulching and adding finishing touches to the site.

Breaking Down The Borough
2020-03-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Wilkinsburg Borough Building, 605 Ross Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15221, United States
Join us for an open panel discussion with Wilkinsburg borough officials to learn how the borough functions, how it deals with vacant land, and how neighbors can help with vacant property. Food and drinks will be available!
Please RSVP through our Facebook event page!

Event Postponed-TBD Hazelwood Green Playces Workday
2020-03-15 11:00 - 16:00 | Hazelwood GP Sensory Garden, Lytle St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15207
This workday will be rescheduled at a later date. For the safety of our community members, staff and volunteers, we have decided to postpone this workday. Thanks for your understanding.
This workday will be centered around our new Green Playces site that will serve as a sensory garden upon completion. We will be working at Every Buddy’s Garden to ready it for planting and the upcoming growing season.
The volunteers will be assisting in mulch spreading, planting of a few trees, weed pulling, possible construction of some raised-bed planting features. Fun jobs for kids will also be prepped and ready for all ages. Please join us in readying this space for the formal building of these learning structures and sensory additions.
All ages and abilities welcomed. Water and refreshments provided, reuseable drink containers are most welcome!
Please come dressed in clothes that are dirt friendly!
Venue Instructions: The site is located at the corner of Lytle Street and Elizabeth Street. Street parking is available and bathrooms onsite.

Morning Star Baptist Church Lot Cleanup
2020-06-13 10:00 - 15:00 | Morning Start Baptist Church-Hazelwood, 5524 Second Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15207, United States
Come join Grounded and our partners at The Mission Continues-Pittsburgh and Hazelwood Platoon as we get outdoors to clean up the community space next to Morning Star Baptist Church. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AT THE LINK BELOW; THANKS!
What we’re doing: trash pick up, flowerbed weeding, raised bed construction and filling, sealing tables with polyurethane.
How we’ll be keeping people safe: wearing face coverings and social distancing. If you think you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in close contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19, please don’t come to the volunteer day.
Snacks and Lunch provided, so, please register so we can make sure we have enough food.
This is an all ages event; youth are welcome.
Accessibility: This event will be wheelchair accessible.
**Please bring and wear your own mask or face covering.**

Grounded @ Home Grow Bag Sales & Pickup!
2020-07-15 16:00 - 18:00, 2020-07-24 13:00 - 15:00, 2020-07-25 09:00 - 11:00, 2020-07-28 16:00 - 18:00 | Grounded Strategies, 6587 Hamilton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Grounded At Home
Grounded At Home is a new program bringing miniature gardens, or “Grow Bags” to everyone! Whether you have access to a backyard, live in an apartment, are a master gardener, or have a green thumb, Grow Bags make gardening accessible to all! For every grow bag purchased, Grounded will distribute another to one of our program partners located in food-insecure and/or environmental justice communities in the Pittsburgh region.
Grab your grow bag today!

Grounded @ Home Grow Bag Sales & Pickup!
2020-08-08 16:30 - 18:30 | THREADBARE CIDERHOUSE, 1291 SPRING GARDEN AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PA, 15212
Grounded At Home
Grounded At Home is a new program bringing miniature gardens, or “Grow Bags” to everyone! Whether you have access to a backyard, live in an apartment, are a master gardener, or have a green thumb, Grow Bags make gardening accessible to all! For every grow bag purchased, Grounded will distribute another to one of our program partners located in food-insecure and/or environmental justice communities in the Pittsburgh region.
CLICK HERE to grab your grow bag today!

This time, we are partnering with the Northside rockstars at Threadbare Cider and Mead!
Pickup your Grow Bag and a pizza in one stop! 9.99% of all food sales go to Grounded Strategies.
PIZZA & CIDER THIS WAY!

Grounded @ Home Grow Bag Sales & Pickup!
2020-08-15 09:00 - 11:00 | KLVN Coffee Labs, 6600 Hamilton Ave Fl 1, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Grounded At Home
Grounded At Home is a new program bringing miniature gardens, or “Grow Bags” to everyone! Whether you have access to a backyard, live in an apartment, are a master gardener, or have a green thumb, Grow Bags make gardening accessible to all! For every grow bag purchased, Grounded will distribute another to one of our program partners located in food-insecure and/or environmental justice communities in the Pittsburgh region.
CLICK HERE to grab your grow bag today!

This time, we are partnering with the Larimer rockstars at KLVN Coffee Labs!
Pickup your Grow Bag and grab a life-changing coffee while you’re at it.

Geared Up and Grounded: Bike Tour
2020-10-31 09:30 - 13:30 | Grounded Strategies, 6587 Hamilton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
It’s time to ride!
This year’s 9th Annual Bike Tour event will feature Grounded’s projects in Hazelwood & Braddock!
Join the Grounded team for a fall bike ride to visit vibrant, reclaimed community green spaces.
The Pittsburgh region has over 30,000 vacant lots, many of which are overgrown and unmaintained. More importantly, the majority of these vacant lots are concentrated in black and brown communities that happen to also be low-income, creating an environmental and racial justice emergency.
Grounded elevates community champions and their efforts to reclaim these abandoned spaces, and turn them into vibrant community assets for everyone to enjoy. Come along and see these sites firsthand and meet the neighborhood advocates making it happen!
Costumes encouraged! A Prize for best costume will be determined by guest judges!!!
At each stop, we will speak to community partners, learning about their journey and the transformation of vacant spaces into activated places. For those who do not have a bike, Healthy Ride bikes will be available for use! After the guided bike tour marshaled by Pittsburgh Major Taylor Cycling Club.
The ride will feature gentle grades, a slow to moderate pace, and the route length is approximately 20 miles.
*COVID Protocol: All riders are required to wear a mask during the ride!

Special thank you to our sponsors:

Special thank you to our in-kind sponsors:

Repair the World: Cocktails with a Conscience
2021-03-04 18:00 - 19:30
Virtual Cocktails with Conscience: Promoting Vacant Land Justice with Grounded Strategies on March 4th from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm.

During the event, we will be learning from Grounded Strategies about the current state of vacant land in Pittsburgh, particularly in Black and low-income communities, and share how structural inequities have perpetuated Black land loss and environmental racism. We will also be learning from Grounded’s Land Stewards and Ambassadors who are actively leading in their neighborhoods to create restoration projects to achieve equitable outcomes for their communities.

If you sign up before February 25th, you will receive free non-alcoholic beverages from Treecup Tea to be picked up before the event. Once you have registered, you will receive a Google Form where you will be able to claim your drink and sign up for a pick-up window. Register here at https://rpr.world/grounded.

Come enjoy your free non-alcoholic drink and learn how you can promote vacant land justice in Pittsburgh!

Winter Hike in Homewood
2021-03-07 11:00 - 13:00 | Everday Cafe, 532 N Homewood Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15208
Join us LIVE IN PERSON as we kick off Black History Week at Venture Outdoors! We are highlighting Black owned and Black led organizations, businesses, and historic locations this week through wellness movements, exercise and empowering conversations. Please register each participant individually so that we can keep an accurate count.
Join us as we team up with Grounded Strategies to urban hike Homewood even if it snows! Grounded will provide the educational background on Homewood’s history and the projects they have underway to enhance it’s natural beauty. Expect to learn:

About Grounded Strategies and its mission
About Homewood’s history
The projects Grounded Strategies is actively engaged in
AND how you can become a steward with Venture Outdoors and Grounded Strategies!

Participants can expect to walk 2-4 miles, depending on the group, at a casual pace so that conversation can be maintained. Venture Outdoors will also provide HOT COCOA! There will be an opportunity to patronize a local eating establishment during the walk.
The money raised for this walk purchases materials for our upcoming joint Grounded Strategies and Venture Outdoors Earth Day Project!
Participants will be required to wear a mask and be respectfully socially distant. Please check the weather and dress appropriately.
Walking sticks can be loaned if notified by March 3rd.
This is NOT a snowshoeing trip.
See ALL our Black History Events here: https://www.ventureoutdoors.org/2021celebrate-black-history-month-outdoors/
Click here to review our Covid-19 policy:
https://www.ventureoutdoors.org/community-programs-covid-19-policies/

WHEN: 03/07/2021 11:00am
ENDS: 03/07/2021 1:00pm
WHERE: Homewood
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: Easy
SPOTS LEFT: 5
MEMBER PRICE: $8
NON-MEMBER PRICE: $10

Love Your Neighborhood
2021-03-20 11:00 - 15:00 | 100 Renova St, Pittsburgh, PA 15207, United States, 100 Renova Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15207, United States
Step outside and get a breath of fresh air with Grounded and local advocate Valerie Testa for the third seasonal Winter clean-up!
Show some love for Hazelwood in this new year and get to know your neighbors by tending to some areas that need extra love. After you can try your luck at a t-shirt and beanie giveaway with a safe, socially distant “thank-you” wrap-up featuring complimentary warm sips, delicious bites, and more.
There will be two check-in locations for your convenience: at The Lot on Renova ST or in the parking lot of Hazelwood Initiative’s offices (4901 Second Avenue) at 11 AM. Grounded will then lead 6-8 small groups of volunteers to multiple areas of the neighborhood to partake in a clean-up. You’ll be given your tools like bags, picks, and work gloves to get into helping make Hazelwood shine. Enjoy hot drinks and refreshments while you work.
To celebrate everyone’s hard work and love for the neighborhood, join us at our after-party gathering for much-needed bites, hot beverages, music, and Hazelwood Local giveaways all back at The Lot on Renova ST.
RSVP here to reserve your spot!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/love-your-neighborhood-community-clean-up-tickets-137685991507?aff=

Homewood Urban Hike - Celebrating 15 Years of Grounded
2022-05-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Everyday Cafe, 532 North Homewood Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15208, United States
Join us LIVE IN PERSON as we celebrate 15 years of Grounded Strategies! We will be highlighting past Grounded projects, our CommunityCare Homewood stewards, businesses, and historic locations throughout Homewood.
Join us as we learn from Homewood residents and organizations about the work they do to take care of their community. Grounded will provide the educational background on Homewood’s history and the projects they have underway to enhance it’s natural beauty. Expect to learn:

About Grounded Strategies and its mission
About Homewood’s history
The projects Grounded Strategies is actively engaged in
AND how you can become a steward with Grounded Strategies!

Participants can expect to walk 2-4 miles, depending on the group, at a casual pace so that conversation can be maintained. There will be an opportunity to patronize a local eating establishment during the walk.
This is a free event but donations are welcome!
Please register each participant individually so that we can keep an accurate count. Please check the weather and dress appropriately.
*As we monitor the condition of COVID in our area, please be mindful of others’ social distancing needs.
Tickets

Thanks to our Sponsors!

WorkDay: Sylvan Avenue with TMC (Hazelwood)
2022-06-25 09:30 - 14:00 | Sylvan Ave Compost Lot, 4501 Sylvan Ave, Pittsburgh, 15207, United States
From TMC:
“TMC is excited to see the incredible changes and improvements taking place at the Sylvan Ave site. We remember seeing it start off as a vacant overgrown lot. Through involveMINT and Dan Little’s tireless work, it is now a thriving garden and composting site!
We will be supporting them with solar panel installation and lots of other garden tasks around the site. There will be tasks for people of all ages.”

WHAT TO WEAR

Clothes that can get dirty

PARKING

Free parking on-site

PARKING ADDRESS

Park anywhere along Sylvan Ave; its all open parking and free

INCLEMENT WEATHER

If the weather looks bad, we will reach out via email and Facebook

ACCESSIBILITY

Uneven terrain

WHO’S INVITED

Kids (under 13)

Dawn Workday at Marlboro
2022-06-29 13:00 - 17:00 | 1401 Marlboro Ave, 1401 Marlboro Ave, Pittsburgh, 15221, United States
Come out to our work day at Marlboro Ave on Wednesday, June 29th from 1pm to 5pm.
All tools and equipment provided by Grounded. We recommend bringing water and sun protection.
Email ashley@groundedpgh with any questions.

Geared Up & Grounded: Bike Tour
2022-07-23 09:00 - 12:30 | Bakery Square, 6425 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Allegheny County has over 60,000 vacant lots.
Most are overgrown and unmaintained.
The majority of these vacant lots are concentrated in black and brown communities that happen to also below-income. This is an environmental and racial justice emergency. Grounded elevates the voices of community champion and supports their ongoing efforts to reclaim and steward these abandoned spaces. You make this work possible. Together, we are helping residents create and sustain vibrant spaces across the county.
The 2022 Geared Up and Grounded Bike Tour will showcase community projects and resident champions in the Hill District neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA.
At each stop, we will speak to community partners, learning about their journey and the transformation of vacant spaces into activated places. For those who do not have a bike, we encourage you to rent a POGOH bike! The ride will feature some grades, a slow to moderate pace, and the route length is approximately 10 miles.
The guided bike tour will be marshaled by Pittsburgh Major Taylor Cycling Club, and sponsored by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Saturday, July 23 2022
Start Location: Bakery Square
6425 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
9:00 AM Bike Ride
Tickets

Thanks to our Sponsors!
Pittsburgh Major Taylor Cycling Club
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

The Nook Project at Oasis Farm and Fishery
2022-08-06 12:00 - 14:00 | Oasis Farm and Fishery, 7238 Fleury Way, Pittsburgh, PA, 15208, United States
Come out to our work day at The Nook Project at Oasis Farm and Fishery, address 7238 Fleury Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15208
All tools and equipment are provided by Grounded.
We recommend bringing water, sun protection, closed-toed shoes, and clothes that you can get dirty.
Email eleni@groundedpgh with any questions.
