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Events

Welcome Public Allies!

Sustainable Pittsburgh is pleased to welcome Vanessa Johnson and Meaghan Beck, two Public Allies who will be working with us on a number of projects for the next ten months. Through it's signature Americorps program, Public Allies identifies talented young adults from diverse backgrounds and prepares them for careers working for community and social change. Allies serve 10-month apprenticeships at local nonprofits and participate in a rigorous and rewarding leadership development program with a diverse group of peers. In their own words, below are introductions to Meaghan and Vanessa.

Meaghan Beck
My name is Meaghan Beck; I am a Public Ally who is privileged to join Sustainable Pittsburgh. I am a Pittsburgh native who grew up in the East End. Upon graduating from high school I moved to Columbus, Ohio to attend The Ohio State University. As a recent graduate in International Studies, I fortunately was accepted to the Public Allies program here in Pittsburgh. I joined the organization in October 2007 in hopes of gaining professional experience in non-profits, as well as becoming active in the Pittsburgh community. In my spare time, I enjoy outdoor activities, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Working at Sustainable Pittsburgh is a wonderful opportunity. I am anticipating learning a lot and aiding in the organization’s mission in promoting and taking action toward sustainability.

Vanessa Johnson
Hi my name is Vanessa Johnson, I am a Pittsburgh native and currently reside in the Highland Park/East Liberty area. I am a recent graduate of Carlow University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Marketing with a minor in Human Resource Management and Technology. My hobbies include writing poetry, surfing the Internet, shopping, and watching television. In hopes of gaining experience in the non-profit sector, I am planning to return to college and get my Masters degree in Non-Profit Management. Thoughtfully, my best friend suggested me joining the Public Allies program. So in October 2007, I became a Public Ally. I felt that becoming a Public Ally would enhance my workforce experience, help me to network, and enable me to gain substantial leadership in the non-profit sector. In addition, I am proud to say I am serving my ten-month placement/internship with Sustainable Pittsburgh and I look forward to an enjoyable ten months.

Don't Forget!

Sustainability and Smart Growth Forum this Monday, October 22! Look under Events for details.

Resources

Planning Together: Lessons Learned

Sustainability and Smart Growth Forum
Monday, October 22
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Location: Fetterolf Room, 23rd Floor, Regional Enterprise Tower, 425 Sixth Ave., Downtown Pittsburgh
Bring a brown bag lunch -- dessert provided.
Free to attend.
Register: email info@sustainablepittsburgh.org or call 412-258-6642

Sustainable Pittsburgh and the Local Government Academy are hosting this lunchtime program to focus on multi-municipal comprehensive planning. Amendments to the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) provide incentives to municipalities engaging in multi-municipal planning. Developing a multi-municipal plan offers a method for municipal leaders to enhance their community’s future quality of life and provides a tool for effective land use management in the community. Speakers at various stages of the process will share their experience with multi-municipal planning – getting started, benefits, what's working, and lessons learned. General information on multi-municipal planning and the Local Government Academy Grant Program will also be provided. Speakers include Cindy Davis, Butler Township; Chris Rearick, Consultant; Ray Reaves, Consultant; and Joy Wilhelm, Mackin Engineering.

Sponsored by:

Route 30 Design Charrette

Monday, October 22 - Public Meeting #1
7:00pm – 9:30pm - Get the best ideas of how to develop the site
Univ. of Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Smith Hall

Wednesday, October 24 - Public Meeting #2
7:00pm – 9:00pm - Review alternative development scenarios for the site
Univ. of Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Smith Hall

Friday, October 26 - Public Meeting #3
2:00pm – 4:00pm - Present the final plan and solicit feedback
Univ. of Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Smith Hall

Please call 724-838-8020 to RSVP.

Have you ever driven through town and wondered, “Why did they do that?” or “Why is this here?” Alternatively, have you ever driven Route 30 and wondered why traffic lights always seem to turn red when you approach them? The Smart Growth Partnership of Westmoreland County is hosting a Design Charrette from October 22-26, 2007 on the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg Campus. Ideas will be solicited from the public to design the prototype development for Route 30. The goal is to create a development that is safe, efficient, and attractive, and connects with the surrounding community. There will be three public meetings to solicit ideas and provide feedback on how is the best way to develop the site. Ideally, participants will attend all three; however, if one can only spare one evening, please come on Monday the 22nd. For more information about the Route 30 Master Plan, please visit the project web site www.route30plan.com .

Pittsburgh Pound Down--Pittsburgh's corporate weight loss challenge

Breakfast Meeting Dates:
Tuesday, October 23: 7:00am - 9:00am
Friday, October 26: 7:00am - 9:00am

Lunch Meeting Dates:
Wednesday, October 24: 11:00am - 1:00pm
Monday, October 29: 11:00am-1:00pm

Location: Two Manor Oak, 1910 Cochran Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15220
Register here

Will Clower, PhD of The Path and Erin Hagan of Pathways to SmartCare will present the benefits and strategies of this program as well as answer questions. Meet all of your wellness goals this year with a proven metric-driven program that coaches your employees on weight control, fitness, cooking for health and the techniques to reduce the long term risk of chronic disease. For more information, visit www.willclower.com/ppd/.

Global Problems, Global Solutions: Saving our Earth and its people

October 26-27, 2007
Friday - 7:00pm; Saturday - 9:00am to 5:00pm
LaRoche College, North Hills (9000 Babcock Blvd, Pittsburgh, 15237-5808)
Free admission
To register, visit www.laroche.edu/global or call the Office of College Activities at 412-536-1071.
Space is limited; early registration is encouraged.

Conference host La Roche College will join with other sponsor organizations to once again bring to the public this free conference that focuses on awareness of important global issues. This year, the theme focuses on U.N. Millennium Goal No. 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability. Yet the vision for a better world goes beyond global warming and the earth's sustainability issues. Individuals must continue to affect change in such areas as gender equality, human rights and poverty...This year's featured speaker is Erin Brockovich, a former law firm file clerk who won one of the nation's largest class-action lawsuits in history when she found that a public utility company was contaminating a town's water supply and causing its residents to become ill. Now director of research for the same California law firm, Masry & Vititoe, Ms. Brockovich continues her fight against environmental concerns.

Creating Community in the 21st Century

Sunday, October 28
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Squirrel Hill Library, corner of Forbes and Murray Ave. (Squirrel Hill)
Free parking under the library
Register: TPCHG@aol.com or 412-963-1971
Sponsored by the Pittsburgh Cohousing Group

A free introduction to Cohousing in Pittsburgh. Learn about creating, building and living in Pittsburgh's first Cohousing Community, a community that wants to have welcoming and cooperative neighbors, ecologically minded planning, energy efficient private and individually owned homes, child friendly designs with multigenerational and diverse families. Plus a Common House for activities like fitness, shared weekly meals, celebrations, after school activities, workshops, and arts and crafts. For more information, visit www.PittsburghCohousing.org .

Green Building Products Summit

Monday, October 29
9:00am to 4:00pm
Location: The Regional Learning Alliance (Cranberry, PA)
Fee: $95 until October 1; $125 after October 1
To see the full agenda or to register, click here.

Green Building Alliance's (GBA's) one-day conference will feature a number of key speakers including Rebecca Flora, Executive Director of GBA & Chair-elect of the US Green Building Council (USGBC), and Katie McGinty, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (Invited). Key sessions include: Overview of Life Cycle Analysis, LEED®, and Green Building Product Standards; a Panel Discussion including key PA manufacturers and the Regional VP of Home Depot providing their perspectives on Green Building Products and what it means to their businesses; a presentation by Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company on financial incentives/discounts they provide on insurance products related to Green Building Products; Information on training & educational programs on Green/Sustainable Building Products; How GBA’s Green Building Products Initiative can provide assistance to you; a unique opportunity to set up one-on-one consultation meetings with the various speakers and panelists at the end of the program. In addition to the packed program, this event will also provide attendees with opportunities to meet with many other manufacturers, specifiers & buyers of green building products (i.e. architects, engineers, contractors, building owners) and other industry professionals.

Rachel Carson Homestead presents: Rachel Carson Spirit & Nature Conference

Saturday, November 3
8:30am - 4:30pm
Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: $25 Adults; $10 College Students
Space Limited.
Partners: Chatham University, Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future, Pennsylvania Interfaith Climate Change Campaign.
REGISTER ONLINE AT: www.rachelcarsonhomestead.org

Head of the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Programs, Cassandra Carmichael is the keynote for this day-long conference at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pa. A multi-faith gathering to discuss the reverence for nature contained in all world religions. Through panels and workshops, participants can explore how earth stewardship is a matter of faith and how sustainable living, including conservation efforts, green building and using renewable energy, are practices that can be embraced by all.

The Leadership Academy

Saturday, November 3
9:00am - 5:00pm
Big Brothers/Big Sisters in East Liberty
Program Cost: $150 (scholarships available) includes breakfast and lunch.
Upon request, for more information or to register, call 412.396.6231 or visit www.leadership.duq.edu/nonprofit.

Please plan to register early for the next opportunity to learn all about the roles and responsibilities of nonprofit boards. The next session of The Leadership Academy is Saturday, November 3, and will take place at Big Brothers/Big Sisters in East Liberty . Staff and board members are encouraged to attend. Speakers for the November session will include: Michael Kumer, Dee Jay Oshry, Colleen Fedor, Terry Beggy, Sr. Linda Yankoski, James McConomy, Carolyn Falk and Allison Jones.

David Lewis Lecture

“Tradition and Sustainability: Truly Green Architecture and Urbanism”
Monday, November 5
6:30pm
Carnegie Museum of Art Theater, Oakland

Hank Dittmar, chief executive of The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment, will present this free public lecture. The London-based foundation is an educational charity established by Prince Charles to teach and demonstrate principles of traditional urban design and architecture. Dittmar, an American, also is chairman of the board of the nonprofit Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), which promotes the creation and restoration of compact, walkable, mixed-use cities, towns, and neighborhoods. His talk, the sixth annual David Lewis Lecture on Urban Design, is sponsored by the Heinz Architectural Center of the Carnegie Museum of Art and underwritten by Urban Design Associates in honor of Lewis, the firm's founder and Carnegie Mellon University professor emeritus.

4th Annual Regional Equitable Development Summit: "Most Livable Region By Growing Opportunity for All"

Friday, November 16
8:30am-12:30pm (8:00am - Registration and Continental Breakfast)
Twentieth Century Club, 4201 Bigelow Blvd., Oakland
Keynote: David Rusk, author of Cities without Suburbs, Baltimore Unbound, and Inside Game/Outside Game, presented by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs Annual Wherrett Lecture on Local Governing
Free and open to the public
Register: info@sustainablepittsburgh.org or 412-258-6642

This 4th Annual Summit is intended to be a catalyst for engaging civic leaders in helping to advance existing efforts in our region to accelerate regional equity. Listen to how some of the region's leading champions of equitable development are working to close the racial disparities gap. Get involved—share your thoughts and ideas during the breakout sessions.

As explained by keynote speaker, David Rusk, right now, right here, some of the nation's most innovative civic initiatives are unfolding to narrow the disparities gap. Moderated by Sala Udin (Center for Civic Leadership), panel speakers include Jane Downing, The Pittsburgh Foundation (Community Benefits Agreements & Minority Contracting); Caren Glotfelty, The Heinz Endowments (Environment & Public Health); Bob Grom, Heritage Health Foundation Inc. (Access To Work); Mike Langley, Allegheny Conference on Community Development (Economic Development); Aimee LeFevers, Good Schools Pennsylvania (Education); Luis Rico, Western Pennsylvania Diversity Initiative (Racial and Economic Inclusion); Scott Smith, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Affordable Housing); Tim Stevens, The Black Political Empowerment Project (Racial Equity & Empowerment); and Bill Thompson, Executive Director, Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board (Workforce Development).

More information is available on Sustainable Pittsburgh's website .

YWCA Great Pittsburgh 2007 Racial Justice Awards

Friday, November 30
6:00pm
Omni William Penn Hotel, 530 William Penn Place (Downtown Pittsburgh)
Fee: $75 (Dinner Included)
For more information call 412-255-1257 or email specialevents@ywcapgh.org.

Join the YWCA for the 16th Annual YWCA Greater Pittsburgh Racial Justice Awards, for a night of admiration and recognition. The Racial Justice Awards recognizes individuals and organizations that are making a difference in promoting racial justice and equality throughout the community. Awardees include: Ronell Guy, Community Empowerment; Valerie Dixon, Community Service and Public Safety; Reed Smith, LLP, Legal; Larry E. Davis, Ph.D., Education; Doris Carson Williams, Company and Business; Councilwoman Brenda L.Frazier, Government; and Pennsylvania Commission for Women, Government.

Resources

Working With the Enemy

To this day, they won't speak to me," says Adam Werbach. His clients--or rather, his old clients--fired him when word got out last year that he was doing work for Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT). Of course, many people make compromises to do business with the largest company in the world--accept lower profit margins, absorb relentless performance pressure. But for Werbach, 34, a lifelong environmentalist, the cost of working with Wal-Mart has been personal. Some of his old friends don't speak to him. His former colleagues think he's sold out. And then there are the threats.

The Green-Collar Solution

"We need a different on-ramp” for people from disadvantaged communities, says Mr. Jones. “The leaders of the climate establishment came in through one door and now they want to squeeze everyone through that same door. It’s not going to work. If we want to have a broad-based environmental movement, we need more entry points.” Mr. Jones, who heads the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in Oakland, which helps kids avoid jail and secure jobs, has an idea how to change that — a “green-collar” jobs program that focuses on underprivileged youth.

More

Va. Tech, Investor Aim To Cut Area Energy Use: 100 Properties To Get Upgrade

Virginia Tech officials announced plans yesterday to give some of the Washington area's buildings a sweeping green makeover, using $500 million from an investor to pay for energy-saving upgrades at 100 or more properties throughout the region..."The goal of this partnership is to turn the metropolitan D.C. area into one of the nation's leading green cities," Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger said during a news conference at the National Building Museum in Washington.

Gray Wall Dims Hopes of 'Green' Games, China Has Vowed to Curb Pollution Before '08 Olympics, but Its Secrecy Is Feeding Skepticism

China has promised a "green" Olympics, but its failure to divulge what is actually in the host city's air has alarmed athletes, surprised environmental experts and raised questions about officials' commitment to making needed changes.

Building a Better Philadelphia: Strategies for Sustainable Revitalization

In this report, Allan Mallach, research director of the National Housing Institute and a respected expert source and advisor for neighborhood revitalization, highlights steps that can be taken to address some of the city’s and region’s challenges and to move on key opportunities. Alan has peeled the next layer from content he presented in his earlier report Building a Better Urban Future: New Directions for Housing Policies in Weak Market Cities [2005] and looks specifically at Philadelphia’s environment.

Seeing what it takes to be green

One of the innovations at the $50 million facility is the construction of a sludge digester, resembling a several-stories-tall chocolate egg. The process produces methane, which is burned to produce electricity, accounting for about 40 percent of the electricity used at the plant. Much of the sludge is pasteurized and used as fertilizer and there is less that needs to be put in a landfill, Mr. Brucker said.

PennFuture PodCast: Our Clean Energy Future Starts Now

September ended with the start of a special legislative session on energy in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Recall that Governor Ed Rendell introduced the Energy Independence Strategy in February 2007, a comprehensive package of funding and programs that will put Pennsylvania where we need to be in the next several years in order to keep electricity prices low, to bolster development of clean, alternative sources of energy like wind and solar, and to help stop Pennsylvania's contributions to global warming-- just to name a few. In this podcast, PennFuture's Vice President Jan Jarrett and President & CEO John Hanger review how far [the state has] come in the fight for energy independence, and what [needs to be accomplished] in the coming months.

Study: Protect Mississippi River Better

"The limited attention being given to monitoring and managing the Mississippi's water quality does not match the river's significant economic, ecological and cultural importance," said David A. Dzombak, professor of environmental engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Hidden Costs of Climate Change: Major, Nationwide, Uncounted

"The potential costs of the climate impacts are so staggering that this would surely be a wise investment," Ruth says. "Yet current research on the full range of economic costs is sufficient to conclude that delayed action (or inaction) on global climate change will likely be the most expensive policy option. A national policy for immediate action to mitigate emissions coupled with efforts to adapt to unavoidable impacts will minimize the overall costs of continued climate change."

Planting The First Of One Million Trees

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and New York Restoration Project (NYRP) Founder Bette Midler launched the Million Trees NYC initiative to plant and care for an unprecedented one million new trees across the city’s five boroughs over the next decade.

Ross officials tour condo project site

Jerry Drozynski, president of the board of HEARTH, said he was surprised at the extent of neighborhood opposition. The townhouses will not be public housing, he said, but will be "affordable housing" rented at below-market rates to working women earning between $20,680 and $34,400. The Rodenbaugh Avenue site offered several advantages, he said. It was in the North Hills School District, close to public transportation and near employment opportunities. Neighbors warned Mr. Drozynski that the children of tenants would have no safe place to play on their hilly, narrow street. They predicted that any construction on the steeply sloped site would worsen already serious storm-water runoff problems in their neighborhood. They also said 11 townhouse units housing single mothers and more than two dozen children would change the character of their neighborhood.

Pocono officials revamp zoning plans

County and local officials acknowledge more of the Poconos municipal zoning laws need to be changed - especially to match up with state conservation laws - and other lands must be conserved. But they say they're finally on the right path to manage new growth. "People don't move here because a builder will build them a house," said Bob Brown, president of the Pocono Builders Association. "They come because it's great way of life. And if we're smart, and we manage the growth properly, the Poconos are going to continue to have a lot to offer."

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

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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 2007 from:

Dollar Bank
Elsie H. Hillman Foundation
The Giant Eagle Foundation
The Heinz Endowments
Richard King Mellon Foundation
Roy A. Hunt 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