Ambassador Highlight – Natalie Thomas Posted on May 23, 2018 by wpengine Natalie Thomas joined the Grounded network as a ReClaim South Ambassador in the 2013-2014 year and was involved again in the ReClaim South 2.0 Sustaining Momentum program in 2015-2016. Through the Ambassador program, Ms. Natalie created a community garden on a vacant lot in Beltzhoover to share with the community and engage children living in Beltzhoover. Recently, the Grounded staff visited Natalie's site for a workday to spruce it up and get it ready for the summer. The entire staff,…Read More
Grounded & Propel Andrew Street High School: Bringing Green Playces to Life. Posted on May 10, 2018 by wpengine This Spring, Grounded Strategies had the chance to revisit one of our Green Playces: Student Ambassador projects at a vacant lot owned by Propel Andrew Street High School in Homestead. Last fall, the Green Playces: Student Ambassador project worked weekly with Propel students to learn environmental justice principles and apply them to the vacant lot project. On April 13, 3 Propel staff, 17 students, 6 alumni, and 2 Grounded staff picked up paint brushes, wheelbarrows and went to work. We…Read More
Birthday Giving Posted on April 30, 2018 by shequaya Bailey Grounded staffer, Shequaya, had the opportunity to correspond with Sarah Roberson who recently decided to dedicate her birthday to us on Facebook and that campaign raised a whopping $540. People like Sarah who are willing to donate time and/or money truly help to sustain the work we do. How did you first come to contact with Grounded Strategies? I found Grounded back in 2015 when I was looking for local Pittsburgh nonprofit groups to organize volunteer groups for my employer. How…Read More
Grab a seat at the roundtable. Posted on February 23, 2018 by Ariam Ford What are the building blocks of community change? Peter Block argues that the answer is small-scale, informal, and personal resident engagement: the roundtable. The Grounded Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Liaisons have been putting this idea to the test while reading Block's work Community: The Structure of Belonging. Each month, we meet to discuss project activities as well as to take part in a group discussion about the best ways to increase resident involvement and buy-in, essential ingredients for community health and sustainability. Last month,…Read More
Featured Partner: Pitt Engineers without Borders Posted on November 27, 2017 by wpengine For this month’s Featured Partner, we are highlighting a new and exciting partnership with the University of Pittsburgh’s Engineers Without Borders chapter. We could not be more excited to work with them as they contribute their engineering skills toward our fight to transform vacant and under-loved land throughout Allegheny County. For our first project together, we challenged them to design and build a water collection cistern as part of our Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GTECH GSI) project in Observatory Hill. Tucked…Read More
Part 1: Looking Back at GTECH’s First 10 Years Posted on March 14, 2017 by Grounded Strategies Some highlights from GTECH’s first 10 years, from the Swiss Cheese Memory of Co-Founder and CEO Andrew Butcher Part 1: Looking Back In reflecting upon all of the glory, trials and tribulations, humor, and defining moments of the last 10 years I am awash with memories and nostalgia. The following is a series of brief snapshots of some unique moments worthy of sharing as we begin to celebrate ten years of Growth Through Energy + Community Health. I’ll never…Read More
Welcome Lauren – GTECH GSI Community Liaison Posted on February 6, 2017 by wpengine We are very excited to welcome Lauren Bivins as a Community Liaison in Marshall-Shadeland! A couple months ago we highlighted our Community Liaisons that are supporting our GTECH GSI project in Woods Run. We've got a new addition to the team and are excited to introduce her. Lauren Bivins Neighborhood: Marshall-Shadeland What is your favorite thing about your neighborhood? I enjoy the diversity and caring neighbors that keep the community growing with each generation. Why are you excited about this project? When…Read More
Perry Hill Top Annual Community Block Party Join Perry Hilltop neighbors, Perry Hilltop Citizen’s Council, CityReach Church, The Open Door, Triangle Tech, Carnegie Library, Venture Outdoors, and other organizations for a community celebration. There will be music, food, kids activities, and much more. GTECH will be there to participate in the fun and also connect with residents about our Northside Neighborhood Connections project. Read More
Northside Trail Get-Together GTECH and One Northside are working with people like you to create a plan for a trail system which will tie all 18 Northside neighborhoods together. Join us at one of two events this month to help determine the route for the trail, enjoy snacks, and chat with your Northside neighbors. To RSVP, email us at l.yoder@gtechstrategies.org or call 412-361-2099 ext. 3. This event will be held at McKnight Playground in the neighborhood of Manchester - see map here Directions: From North Avenue and…Read More
Northside Trail Get-Together GTECH and One Northside are working with people like you to create a plan for a trail system which will tie all 18 Northside neighborhoods together. Join us at one of two events this month to help determine the route for the trail, enjoy snacks, and chat with your Northside neighbors. To RSVP, email us at l.yoder@gtechstrategies.org or call 412-361-2099 ext. 3. This event will be held at Locust Grove Shelter in Riverview Park - see map here Directions: From Perrysville Avenue…Read More
Tedx Pittsburgh Meetup: GTECH Takeover This event will be a place for sparking big ideas and to keep the community conversation going with TedxPittsburgh. We will enjoy recorded TED talks together curated by 2015 TedxPittsburgh Speaker, Andrew Butcher of GTECH (check out his talk: Fueling an Upward Spiral of Community Health). Followed with a group discussion to explore new connections and ideas on sustainability and community development for our region. Audience: TedxPittsburgh Networks, GTECH's Social Capital Council and Networks, Environmentally and Community Minded Individuals, and any curious minds…Read More
PSU Pittsburgh Northside Charette As an extension of the One Northside AIM project, Penn State landscape architecture students are now developing designs for areas in California-Kirkbride, Manchester and East Deutschtown as well as ways to connect the 18 neighborhoods of the Northside. Community input is a key part of this process, so we hope that you can join them at this event! Please meet at the New Hazlett Theater on 10/1/2015 from 6 pm - 8 pm. Light refreshments will be served.Read More