Knotweed: The Invasive Species Posted on April 28, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Just like human communities, ecosystems are stronger when they are more diverse. Invasive plants are those that threaten the diversity of an ecosystem by upping competition for habitat and making life more difficult for other species. So, you may be wondering, "What's your point, and how does it relate to GTECH?". Enter Pittsburgh's vacant lots - all 27,000 of them. Vacant lots are an ideal habitat for invasive plants. When a house is demolished, the soil where that house sat lays…Read More
3 Tips for Navigating the Pittsburgh Public Art Commission Process Posted on April 23, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Today three of our ReClaim South Ambassadors stood in front of the City of Pittsburgh's Art Commission Board to present their neighborhood projects for approval. We want to share with you a few tips on navigating the civic process to get your vacant land idea supported by the city. Start Early! For the ReClaim South Ambassadors, they started filling out the applications a few months ago. It isn't a simple process; you must provide a letter of intent, seek letters…Read More
GTECHer Spotlight: Bethany Bloise Posted on April 18, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Get to know...Bethany Bloise [one_half] [/one_half] [one_half_last] Role at GTECH: Marketing and Communications Intern (for a few more hours) New Job: Community Outreach Specialist at the Mon Valley Initiative Hometown: Pittsburgh Alma Mater: West Virginia University Favorite Animal: Groundhog (see picture for proof) Favorite Burrito Topping: Refried Beans [/one_half_last] What I love about GTECH's approach to finding solutions to issues in the community is that they do it by empowering the community members to step up and take action themselves.…Read More
Gravity Posted on April 17, 2014 by wpengine Today, GTECH turns 7. When you think about it, "growth" as a physical phenomenon is not really in our favor. As individual humans, there is an entire atmosphere of stuff (that's a technical term) that weighs down upon us. Not to mention lurking hungry bears - who tire of nuts and berries - ready to pounce out of the shadows. No wonder there is such joy in watching our offspring defy the odds of survival and manage to prosper and…Read More
Marathon Junk Collage Posted on April 10, 2014 by Grounded Strategies We Want Your Junk! For the second year in a row, GTECH is partnering with the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon and Operation Better Block to green-up a vacant lot around the route. On the day of the Marathon, GTECH, Operation Better Block’s Junior Green Corps and the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse will set up a space adjacent to Homewood’s water station at North Lang Avenue and Frankstown Road. With your help, we will be collecting “junk” to be incorporated…Read More
GTECH’er Spotlight: Court Gould Posted on April 4, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Get to know...Court Gould [one_half] [/one_half] [one_half_last] Role at GTECH: President of GTECH's Board of Directors Day Job: Executive Director of Sustainable Pittsburgh Hometown: Pittsburgh Alma Mater: University of Southern California Favorite Activity: Trying to live simply, love generously and leave the world better than I found it Favorite Burrito Topping: Bring on the rice! [/one_half_last] "The GTECH Board of Directors is united around the mission to cultivate communities' capacities to advance sustainability for local well-being. There's a can-do…Read More
GTECH launches new program: ReDo Posted on April 1, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Pittsburgh - April 1, 2014 - Growth Through Energy and Community Health [GTECH] Strategies launches new program, ReDo. The focus of the program will be helping community-based hair salons come up with creative reuses for hair clippings. GTECH CEO, Andrew Butcher, formulated the idea during a weekly visit to his barber shop. "I first thought of this idea while at my weekly 4 hour barber visit during my second facial treatment. Many people don't know that I produce an inordinate…Read More
GTECHer Spotlight: Nicole Miller Posted on March 21, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Get to know...Nicole Miller [one_half] [/one_half] [one_half_last] Role at GTECH: Project Coordinator for ReEnergize Pgh Hometown: Pittsburgh Alma Mater: Denison University Major: Religion Favorite Activity: Hiking, skiing, gardening - anything outdoors! Favorite Burrito Topping: Guac (on guac, on guac) [/one_half_last] "I like that we [GTECH] didn't look at energy efficiency and see something that had already been done. We saw it as something that could be done better and something that could better people's lives. I enjoy that we…Read More
GTECHer Spotlight: Ava Weiskopf Posted on March 14, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Get to know...Ava Weiskopf [one_half][/one_half] [one_half_last] Current GTECH Project: Tiny Town Hometown: Pittsburgh Alma Mater: Syracuse University Favorite Activity: running with her dog Cincy Favorite Burrito Topping: Sour Cream (always!) Website: http://cargocollective.com/avaweiskopf [/one_half_last] Working at GTECH has been a wonderful experience! It’s a diverse team with excited and passionate people. They opened the doors to the nonprofit world for me and allowed me to share my design knowledge with them. I got to be involved in a little bit of everything…Read More
The Women of GTECH Posted on March 8, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Today is International Women's Day, a day that celebrates the "economic, social and political achievements " of women around the globe. This year's theme is: Inspiring Change. Nonprofits are institutions and advocates for a change across a wide spectrum of issues, particularly social affairs, facing our country. The women of GTECH sat down and discussed why we work at a nonprofit, and the ways we are inspiring change in our own communities. Why do you work for a nonprofit? Lydia…Read More
Lessons Learned from Green Eggs and Ham Posted on March 2, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Doing a lot with a little. In 1960, Dr. Seuss wrote one of the bestselling children's books of all time, “Green Eggs and Ham.” According to Wikipedia, the work was a result of a bet between Seuss and his publisher that the author could not complete an entire book using fewer than the 225 in “The Cat in the Hat.” Not only did Seuss write Green Eggs and Ham in less than 225 words, he did it using just 50.…Read More
Community-Driven Design in the Hilltop Posted on February 26, 2014 by Grounded Strategies The first step in reducing blight in the Hilltop is seeking ideas from the citizens that live there. On Thursday evening, Hilltop residents, Grow Pittsburgh, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Mt. Oliver City/St. Clair Block Watch, Chatham University’s Urban Design Lab, ReClaim South Ambassadors, the Hilltop Alliance, and many others convened at the Lighthouse Cathedral in the Hilltop to explore ideas for re-purposing the 115 vacant acres of the former St. Clair Village site. GTECH has been part of the steering committee for…Read More