3E Links readers are early adopters of sustainable policies, products, and practices, and agents of change who educate friends and colleagues about the triple bottom line. Please share your issue of 3E Links with others and encourage them to subscribe by e-mailing info@sustainablepittsburgh.org.

Events

Input received from Transit-Oriented Development Symposium

On January 6 and 7, 2009, over 170 leaders in the community attended a symposium and tour to learn and assess the many advantages and opportunities presented by Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in and around Pittsburgh. This program addressed insights to what is happening on the local front, the role of Community Development Corporations, the national agenda, and how we can work together to craft a Pittsburgh Transit Agenda.

The following link contains a summary of input collected during the community forum, which followed the neighborhood tour. Participants were invited to provide insights and recommendations per several pre-determined questions around which their input is organized. See what you and your colleagues had to say.
TOD Summary

Listen to the DUQ broadcast of Dr. Chris Benner

Didn't get a chance to listen to DUQ's broadcast of the Fifth Annual Regional Equitable Summit's keynote address this past Sunday? DUQ has posted the link on its website for your listening pleasure. Click here for more info:
"Inclusion in the Workforce: Positioning the Pittsburgh Region to Prosper and Compete"

Resources

SP facilitating transportation to DC - Capitol Hill Summit

Revitalizing Older Cities
A free summit on Capitol Hill
February 11-12, 2009
Washington DC
Reserve your spot on the motor coach by Monday, January 26!
Details below.

As related follow-up to the Transit-Oriented Development symposium convened last week, please consider attending the upcoming Revitalizing Cities Summit. This is a remarkable opportunity to represent the Pittsburgh region's commitment to revitalizing our existing communities as an express strategy for regional sustainability. The Summit's focus will be on a new agenda for transportation, housing, water, workforce and economic development, and green jobs all linked to promoting sustainable development.

To facilitate a Southwestern PA delegation and defray costs, motor coach transportation to and from is being offered at $50.00 payable to Sustainable Pittsburgh on-line at www.sustainablepittsburgh.org. To reserve your seat, email lbutler@sustainablepittsburgh.org by Monday, January 26.

Presented by Northeast-Midwest Institute together with the Brookings Institution, Smart Growth America, and PolicyLink, the Summit venues are Union Station and the Cannon Office Building. This proximity and an agenda featuring access to many of the nation's leaders, provides a not-to-miss opportunity to reach the new Congress and administration.

There is no fee to attend the Summit (includes program, reception and two lunches). Summit pre-registration per the links below is required. Attendees are on their own for overnight accommodations in D.C., with the Hotel Liaison holding a block of rooms at $239.

The bus will depart from the Regional Enterprise Tower on Wed. Feb. 11 at 6:00 am. returning on Thurs. Feb. 12 at approx. 9:30 pm.

To register for the Summit, send name, address, and email address to glewis@nemw.org or call 202-464-4005. More information is found at: http://www.nemw.org/ROC_Summit.htm

Contemplating Governing: A Course for Potential Candidates for Local Office

January 2009 – starts this week
Still taking registrations
All sessions held from 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Program Fee: $45 per person
Pre-registration is required.
For more information call 412-237-3171 or visit www.localgovernmentacademy.org

Contemplating Governing is an introduction to serving in local government. These sessions will help individuals decide if local government service is right for them and encourage responsible campaigning. This program will provide citizens the opportunity to consider the challenges, requirements, opportunities, and reasons to serve in local elected office. The course seeks to inform the office seeker as they embark on the campaign process.

This 3-part program will include information on:
• Overcoming obstacles to running and meeting legal requirements
• Understanding the Pennsylvania local government environment including powers and duties of various boards and commissions such as City and Borough Councils, Township Commissioners or Supervisors, School Directors
• Measuring board effectiveness
• Determining what is a responsible campaign pledge
• Understanding local government taxation and services
• Local government’s important role in community sustainability

These sessions are being held prior to the first day to circulate and file nomination petitions on February 17, 2009. Upon successful election, the program fee will be credited towards the tuition of the 2009 - 2010 Newly Elected Officials Course.

A Special Program for SWPA Planners, Developers, and Elected Officials

Exploring Suburbia - Regional trends, Cultural forces and Changing economies
An exhibition viewing (final weekend) of: "Worlds Away: New Suburban Landscapes" at Carnegie Museum of Art's Heinz Architectural Center
Saturday, January 17
8:30 am - Noon (8:30 continental breakfast and networking; 9:00 - 10:30 panel; 10:30 exhibition tour)
Carnegie Museum of Art Theater, parking in adjacent lot/garage (for a modest fee)
No fee to attend
For more information and to register, click here
Interested citizens welcome to attend.

In today’s expanding metropolitan areas, the lines between urban and suburban are rapidly blurring. Population growth, changing demographics, and transportation patterns are among the many factors that city planners, designers, developers, and elected officials confront as they prepare for sustainable growth in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Come attend this exhibit tour and panel discussion about the challenges and successes of the suburban design, how suburbs are evolving, and the cultural and regional implications of these shifts.

Featuring:
- Continental breakfast and networking
- Panel discussion featuring local elected officials
- Exhibition tour by Tracy Myers, Curator of Architecture, The Heinz Architectural Center, Carnegie Museum of Art, and co-organizer of the exhibition.

Presented by:
The Heinz Architectural Center at Carnegie Museum of Art
Sustainable Pittsburgh - Sustainable Community Development Network
Local Government Academy - Newly Elected Officials Course Alumni Association

Running for Public Office

January 22 through April 9, 2009
5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Includes 42 hours of seminar, conducted in twelve consecutive Thursday sessions
Registration is FREE
Cost for enrolling is $150 upon acceptance into the program.
More information

Running for Public Office is an experiential learning program of the Coro Center for Civic Leadership. The vision of Running for Public Office is to strengthen citizen participation in public elections and to increase the diversity and level of preparation of candidates running for office in Greater Pittsburgh. Course is open to prospective candidates and campaign staff who are now contemplating running for office.

Climate Change Legislation - What to Expect from the New Administration and Congress

Thursday, January 22
7:15 am - 11:00 am
Westin Convention Center Hotel
Cost: $45 Pittsburgh Technology Council Member/Catalyst Connection Client; $90 Non-Member
More information

The issue of climate change and the anticipated global regulatory response of global regulators has been a primary concern for the business community as well as a main discussion point in the recent presidential election. Join the Green Technology Network for an informative discussion with national experts on climate change policy. Learn what the projected impact could be to this region's companies from SAIC's Assistant Vice President and Senior Policy Analyst, Michael Mondshine. Tom Dower, a former member of Senator Arlen Specter's staff and co-author of the Bingaman-Specter "Low Carbon Economy Act," will provide attendees with an inside perspective on what direction the new Congress and Administration will lean toward when writing climate change legislation.

Generosity: What’s at Stake?

Tuesday, January 27
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Room 4130, Wesley W. Posvar Hall, University of Pittsburgh
RSVP: Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership at ethics@gspia.pitt.edu or 412-648-1336

This Inaugural Lecture of GSPIA’s Philanthropy Forum, in collaboration with the Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership and the Innovation Clinic, features Richard Gunderman, Professor of Philanthropy and author of a new book that explores the humanistic meaning of philanthropy. Dr. Gunderman is a Professor of Radiology, Pediatrics, Medical Education, Philosophy, Liberal Arts, and Philanthropy at Indiana University, where he also serves as Vice Chair of Radiology. He is a Fellow of the Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence and serves on the Boards of Governors of the Kinsey Institute and the Institute for Advanced Study. He is the author of over 220 scholarly articles and has published five books. His most recent books are We Make a Life By What We Give and Leadership in Healthcare.

Corporate Workshops on Carbon Emissions and Life Cycle Assessment

Thursday, January 29 - "Corporate Carbon Emission Inventories"
Friday, January 30 - "Carbon Footprinting and Life Cycle Assessment for Corporate Decision-Making"
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business, Oakland
Cost: GDI Consortium Members can participate in both workshops free of charge. Cost for non-members is $1,000 per workshop, $1,600 for both.
More information

Business executives have noted that issues related to corporate and supply chain carbon emissions are a top priority for managers to address in the coming months. To assist managers in targeting issues related to carbon management, the Green Design Institute at Carnegie Mellon and the CMU Tepper School of Business Executive Education Center are offering two workshops in January 2009.

The workshop on Corporate Carbon Emissions Inventories will focus on challenges with estimating carbon emissions, including setting the boundary for different activities within a company and along its supply chain, examining options to register and disclose carbon emission reduction efforts and how these connect to potential future regulations.

The workshop on Carbon Footprinting and Life Cycle Assessment for Corporate Decision-Making will focus on the basics of life cycle assessment as a tool for estimating carbon footprints. We will discuss various software applications available for LCA projects, including the Green Design Institute's free on-line Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment tool.

Both workshops are designed as stand-alone seminars, but together provide an encompassing perspective of corporate carbon emissions issues.

2009 Annual Tropman Applied Research Conference

Thursday, February 5
1:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Point Park University, University Center, GRW Theater
RSVP to Amy Thomas at thomasa@pghfdn.org (accepting RSVPs by e-mail only.)
Please note in your RSVP whether you are planning to attend a workshop and, if so, which one. Each workshop is limited to 50 participants so please RSVP soon so that you can get your top choice.
Conference Agenda

This event explores emerging issues and cutting edge methodologies for enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of nonprofit organizations in Pittsburgh. The results of the Forbes Funds study “The Nonprofit Sector: An Economic and Community Asset” will be released and additional research and best practices will be highlighted through a series of workshops presented by nonprofit organizations. Click here to view workshop descriptions.

Effects of TOD on Housing, Parking, and Travel - TCRP Report #128

Thursday, February 5
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm EASTERN TIME
Telephone conference
FREE
Registration required to receive the Dial-in information.
To register visit: www.NTIONLINE.com, and click on the T-Class heading, and then on the title of this course. The log-in is at the bottom of the page.
Contact: Susan Greenstone, 732-932-1700 ext. 219 or sgrnston@rutgers.edu
Event flyer

The National Transit Institute is pleased to announce the scheduling of this NEW T-Class. This offering will be of interest to transit agencies; the development community; transportation, land-use and project planners; and federal, state, and local decision-makers contemplating transit-oriented development.

Civil Society in the Age of Obama

Thursday, February 5
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Room 4130, Wesley W. Posvar Hall, University of Pittsburgh

RSVP: Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership at ethics@gspia.pitt.edu or 412-648-1336

The Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership proudly presents Jon van Til, internationally recognized expert in civil society, volunteerism, and community leadership. Jon van Til is a Professor of Urban Studies and Community Planning at Rutgers University, and is a prominent scholar and writer in the field of civil society, community activism and volunteer management. He has published several books on community involvement and the functioning of civil society. He is a columnist and the Consulting Editor for the Nonprofit Times.

CROSSING THE AISLE TO CLEANER AIR: How the Bipartisan “Project 88” Transformed Environmental Policy

Thursday, February 19
Program: 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm • Cocktail Reception: 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Senator John Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh
The History Center will be open for your exploration during the reception.
Parking is available at the Alco lot, 12th and Smallman streets, across the street from the History Center.
Please register online by February 9, 2009: www.iop.pitt.edu/project88.
Event Flyer

Attend a panel discussion on the history and future of environmental policy in the United States.
Opening Remarks and Introductions:
Teresa Heinz Kerry, chair, Heinz Endowments and Heinz Family Philanthropies

Panelist and Audience Discussion:
Fred Krupp, president, Environmental Defense Fund (1985-present)
Andrew McElwaine, president and CEO, Conservancy of Southwest Florida; former legislative aide to U.S. Senator John Heinz (invited)
Russ Shay, director of public policy, Land Trust Alliance; former legislative aide to U.S. Senator Timothy Wirth
Robert N. Stavins, Albert Pratt Professor of Business and Government, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University; staff director, Project 88

CityLive! Building Blocks for Urban Education

Thursday, February 19
6:30 pm
New Hazlett Theater
rsvp@citylive.org

Providing quality public education for all has been called the civil rights issue of our time. Why doesn't every child in American today have access to the best education possible? When will we get there? How can we bring about the transformation? Featuring: Geoffrey Canada, Mark Roosevelt, and Marion Heard. Moderated by B.J. Leber. Cocktails and conversation to follow.

Don’t Trash That TV! Event

Saturday, February 21
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
City of Pittsburgh Environmental Services Facility, 3001 Railroad Street, 15201 (Strip District)
and
Construction Junction, 214 North Lexington Street, 15208 (North Point Breeze)
For more information or to volunteer visit, www.prc.org or call 412.488.7490 ext 236.

With the upcoming digital switchover looming, more and more people are trading in their old TVs for new ones and the Pennsylvania Resources Council wants to ensure that the public has an environmentally and socially responsible method to dispose of their old TVs. PRC will be working with local electronics recycler E loop llc (www.eloopllc.com) to recycle the TVs. E Loop llc has signed on to the Basel Action Network’s E-stewards pledge, stating that they will not dispose of any electronic materials in a landfill or ship it overseas. All materials collected will be recycled or refurbished.

During this event PRC will charge a reduced price for TV recycling due to a generous grant from Waste Management that will offset some of the recycling cost to the public. Participant Fees are as follows:
TVs 19” & smaller $10 each
TVs 20” – 29” $20 each
TVs 30” – 39” $25 each
TVs 40” & larger $35 each

Preserve Pittsburgh Summit

Saturday, March 28
Frick Fine Arts Building, Oakland
8:30 am - 3:00 pm (reception to follow)
www.youngpreservationists.org
Event Flyer

Team up with fellow young people and community residents to make history come alive at the Preserve Pittsburgh Summit. The Young Preservationists Association seeks innovative ideas from young people to create a better future for these important but endangered historic sites. Facilitators will guide discussion groups and on-site tours to develop recommendations for these four historic sites: New Granada Theatre, Hill District; First home of the National Negro Opera Company, Homewood; August Wilson House, Hill District; and Garden Theater, North Side. The Preserve Pittsburgh Summit also features networking opportunities, information on careers in preservation, and a post-conference reception that will show the best YouTubeTM videos on historic preservation.

Resources

"Inclusion in the Workforce: Positioning the Pittsburgh Region to Prosper and Compete" Listen NOW!

Chris Benner was the keynote speaker at the Fifth Annual Regional Equitable Summit, sponsored by Sustainable Pittsburgh and the Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership at the University of Pittsburgh. Benner, an associate professor of Community and Regional Development at the University of California at Davis, discussed the framing paper that he and Radhika Fox of PolicyLink prepared for community discussion. Their research found that building an economy in which everyone participates is crucial to the economic growth and vitality of the Pittsburgh region. The racial disparities in the labor market undermine the economic potential of the region.

Can transit grow neighborhoods?

Can railcars and buses be engines of rebirth for those and other struggling communities? A growing body of planners, nationally and locally, thinks so. . .An audience of 170 government and transit officials, planners, private developers and community leaders attended a symposium on the concept last week at the Regional Renaissance Tower, Downtown.

Wanted: Sustainability Manager for Allegheny County

The Sustainability Manager reports directly to the County Executive and is resonsible for the coordination and implementation of the “Allegheny Green” initiative, a comprehensive approach to promote sustainable practices within County government and through countywide policies and programs. The goal of the new initiative is not only to reduce the County’s ecological footprint, but also to encourage residents, businesses, and municipalities to implement sustainable practices where environmental, social equity and economic interests are advanced.

Wanted: Executive Director for Imagine Greater Pittsburgh

The Institute of Politics at the University of Pittsburgh seeks a consultant and/or contract employee to serve as Executive Director of Imagine Greater Pittsburgh, a regional visioning project. Imagine Greater Pittsburgh (IGP) will be a broadly participatory public project in which the citizens of the economic region centered on Pittsburgh – including 14 counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania, five in Eastern Ohio, ten in Northern West Virginia, and one in Western Maryland – will be invited to envision together the best future for the region.

Wanted: Executive Director for Allegheny CleanWays

Allegheny CleanWays (ACW) is a small, grassroots, non-profit whose mission is to empower people to eliminate illegal dumping and littering in Allegheny County. An illegal dump is the unlawful dumping of household or commercial waste. Illegal dumping is not only an environmental issue, but it also affects economic development, public health and safety, and the community and self esteem of residents who live in blighted neighborhoods. An affiliate of PA CleanWays, ACW has a proven track record in conducting cleanups, recruiting volunteers, and working with communities to effect positive change. The Executive Director (ED) will be responsible for managing all aspects of ACW, including fundraising, program management, membership recruitment, staff development, marketing/communications, and financial management.

How a Progressive Stimulus Program Could Revitalize Pittsburgh and America's Older Cities

Imagine a $1 trillion stimulus program that wasn't laden with pork. Imagine a program that ended decades of sprawl and decline. Imagine investing in the cities that built America, the cities that have lost jobs and population for the past 30 years. Imagine developing a program that could reverse that trend and create a new triple bottom line of sustainable economic growth, investment in built environments and opportunity for all.

Memo to the President: Invest in Infrastructure for Long-Term Prosperity

On January 12, Brookings held the tenth of 12 events to provide timely policy recommendations and advice to the incoming president and his transition team. Brookings Vice President and Director of the Metropolitan Policy Program Bruce Katz and Fellow Rob Puentes offered a public memo to the president-elect with recommendations on bolstering infrastructure and investing in other economic drivers. This forum focused on infrastructure, including recommended structural reforms in the coming economic recovery package as well as reforms that are needed in the intermediate term.

Transportation for America: More and bigger roads—or an investment in our future?

When a bridge collapsed in Minnesota in 2007, Americans were shocked to learn that thousands of bridges across the country were rated "structurally deficient." Now Congress is poised to include billions of transportation funds in the next recovery package, but the highway lobby is pushing them to spend it on road expansion, not repairs. Fill out the fields below to send a strong message to the new Congress demanding accountability in the economic recovery package. . .By signing this petition, you are joining the Transportation for America team. We will keep you updated with critical action alerts so you will never miss an opportunity to take action to get America moving again.

Vandergrift organizers mean business

"Our goal is to show people Vandergrift is livable and investment-worthy and build off of that enthusiasm," she said.

Infrastructure Status and Needs in Southwestern Pennsylvania

To assist this region’s policymakers in making important investment decisions on infrastructure improvement, the University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics Infrastructure Policy Committee has prepared Infrastructure Status and Needs in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Based on extensive research and interviews, this primer identifies the most prominent infrastructure issues facing our region. In addition to describing the region’s most widely recognized needs and priorities, it provides a wide array of policy ideas for consideration. Later this month, the Institute of Politics will post this on its Web site and will keep it up to date as the status and needs of each infrastructure sector change.

'Smart growth' will get Valley through next 10 years

The infrastructure needs that arise from sprawling development cost the average household in America $630 more per year and produce 8 more tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Many residents are concerned about the rate of growth in the Lehigh Valley. Statistics indicate the Lehigh Valley region is converting land from agriculture and vacant categories to suburbia at 4 square miles per year (2,560 football fields). This is up from 3.5 square miles per year in the 1990s and 3 square miles in earlier decades, according to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission. In essence, we are developing land equivalent to the size of Allentown, approximately 18 square miles, every 4.5 years. By 2030, population is projected to grow to 768,000 from the current 626,850. This will continue to place pressure on the region's finite natural resources.

WIN $250: Create a video about saving history

The Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh is holding a contest to encourage students under the age of 25 to create a video about saving a historic site in their community. The winning projects will be shown before an audience of hundreds at YPA’s spring 2009 event. This is an opportunity to spotlight historic sites in your community that may be endangered but have a good chance for survival and reuse.

More

Jonano eColorgrown Textiles Praised by Material Researchers

Jonano is pleased to announce the inclusion of their signature eColorgrown organic cotton fabrics into the collections at Material ConneXion's four libraries in New York, Bangkok, Cologne and Milan. Material ConneXion is the world's leading knowledge base for information about new and innovative materials. eColorgrown has now become part of the world's largest innovative materials library, accessed by Fortune 100 companies, architects, designers, and more. Collections available wholesale and retail online at www.Jonano.com.

PA Community Revitalization Guide

Think of the Community Revitalization Desktop Guide as the ultimate “how-to” book for community revitalization. It explains to mayors, city council members and other local officials how to use the Department’s programs to renovate and fill vacant commercial, industrial and residential sites with exciting new developments that will help draw people, jobs and investment.

Based upon city and town revitalization efforts over the past 30 years, the guide includes:
- A three-step process for attracting private investment within a redevelopment area to spur new economic growth.
- Case studies about cities and towns that have attracted their first high impact private investment in decades.
- Interviews with private developers about choosing an urban site for investment.
- Interviews with Pennsylvania mayors who prepared their cities to welcome new investment.

Business backs sustainability as 'innovation catalyst'

Lack of consumer awareness of sustainability of goods and the absence of an hazard-based regulatory approach to new products are holding back opportunities for sustainable innovation, argued stakeholders participating in a workshop last week (8 January).

For information on becoming a Member of Sustainable Pittsburgh, please visit our website.

3E Links is sent as a service to Sustainable Pittsburgh Members and interested parties and is being distributed for informational purposes. The information above was provided by or obtained from the organizing institution or one of its representatives. Our distribution does not imply endorsement. To unsubscribe, reply to this e-mail and type UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

Click here to access the 3E Links Archive. Use "Search" on SP's homepage for a great resource.

Sustainable Pittsburgh affects decision-making in the Pittsburgh Region to integrate economic prosperity, social equity and environmental quality bringing sustainable solutions to communities and businesses.

Sustainable Pittsburgh benefits from support in 2009 from:

Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
Dollar Bank
The Giant Eagle Foundation
The Heinz Endowments
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Elsie H. Hillman Foundation
Richard King Mellon Foundation
Dylan Todd Simonds Foundation
University of Pittsburgh


Special thanks to the SP Members

Sustainable Pittsburgh
425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1335
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 258-6642
fax (412) 258-6645
E-mail SP