ReClaim Clairton 2.0

In an effort to maximize the impact of investments in vacant land, Grounded Strategies has developed the ReClaim Ambassador model, which simultaneously builds knowledge, capacity, and expertise within individuals in vulnerable communities while enabling tangible actions to fuel community revitalization efforts. Vacant land serves as the platform to foster increased community engagement and ownership of the revitalization process and provides a canvas for the implementation of catalytic strategies to create positive hubs of community health.

Specifically, the Clairton ReClaim Ambassador Program (ReClaim Clairton) has engaged, equipped and empowered 12 area individuals as Ambassadors who have participated in a 10 month long, place-based training program since October 2016 in order to transform vacant spaces into thriving public places. Ambassadors were recruited by identifying both emerging and existing community leaders and provided a $3,000 micro-grant to design and implement a project of their imagination with the technical support of Grounded and their community.

This second phase of the ReClaim Clairton project built on this success by using events, programming, and additional site amenities to activate these community spaces.

The goals of ReClaim Clairton 2.0 were to:

• Implement Ambassador training on sustainment, fundraising, and activation strategies
• Activate and reinvest in existing Ambassador sites by hosting events and adding additional amenities
• Engage Clairton youth by coordinating Jr. Ambassador training on vacant lot reclamation and by constructing one new Ambassador site

2.0 Ambassadors hosted a total of 12 community events on their sites in the Summer of 2018, including: a nature walk, school supplies give-away, gardening education, school celebrations, a book give-away and more.