Thus far in 2017, we have invested $627,786 directly into local Pittsburgh neighborhoods.
In just the first quarter of this year, Neighborhood Allies has invested $627,786 support community serving and building initiatives locally. These investments range from re-purposing an old, vacant Moose Lodge into a sustainability resource hub — to co-launching a real estate education and training program to demystify the real estate development process. Read more to learn about all of our 2017 investments and the impact they are having on the ground in Pittsburgh neighborhoods!
Visit our Impact Page to see where all of Neighborhood Allies investments are going
Moose Lodge Sustainability Resource Hub | Millvale | $260,000 Loan & $72,000 Grant
With LISC/Neighborhood Allies investment and support, NSR is repurposing the old Moose Lodge in the community to become sustainability resource hub. The 10,000 sq. foot building will not only be a vibrant community asset and home of NSR, it will also house a minimum of 5 food businesses, serve as a fresh food access point for the community including fresh food from the Gardens of Millvale, 412 Food Rescue, and Sprezzatura (cafe), and serve as the backbone facility for the development of the Millvale EcoDistrict Food System. Read more.
Real Estate Co-Powerment Series | System-based | $75,000
Neighborhood Allies and Omicelo Cares are the co-creators of the Real Estate Co-Powerment Series (“Co-Powerment Series”) which will serve as an education 
platform to demystify the real estate development process, explain its associated terminology and demonstrate how community members/organizations can meaningfully contribute to real estate projects within their own neighborhoods. This pilot initiative will be a combination of in-class instruction, coaching, and mentorship.An overarching goal of the education series is to shrink the technical proficiency gap that exists between real estate developers and community leaders that are involved in local development projects. We hope to create long-term, working relationships between private developers, real estate experts, community based organizations, business owners and active community members. Read more.
New Granada Capital Campaign | Hill District | $15,000
This grant supports a capital campaign planning study to asses the potential of raising as much as $10 million for the revitalization of the New Granada Theater. The comprehensive planning study, being conducted by David Goettler of Goettler Associates, is a critical evaluation of the organization’s capabilities and readiness to attain its goals and it will yield a specific strategy to reach those goals. This study ensures that the Hill CDC launches a campaign that encompasses the highest and best use of the building for the socio-economic benefit of the corridor and surrounding community. Read more.
Local Network of Skilled Land Steward Professionals | Hill District, Millvale, Hilltop | $65,000
Landforce will recruit from and work in three of Neighborhood Allies’ priority geographies- the Hilltop, the Hill District and Millvale. Landforce has worked closely with the CBOs and other nonprofits in each neighborhood to ensure that the projects shown below reflect important priorities for each community, reflecting real ownership over the process and outcomes. Read more.
Nurture Nature Fellowship | Millvale | $1,600
Amanda Hagl, a Fellow/Physican Assistant at Duquesne University’s School of Health Sciences, will work with Millvale children and families with asthma to improve their health literacy and efficacy of inhaler use as well as triggers inside and outside. She will provide asthma health education classes at the Millvale Library and information about the existing resources available to underprivileged people suffering from asthma in Pittsburgh. Additionally she will provide radon kits for families and radon education. Read more.
PGH Mobile Toolbox | System-based | $15,750
You bring the team. We bring the tools. That’s the slogan for the PGH Mobile Toolbox, which supports a growing network of Pittsburgh residents who are ready to mobilize to transform their communities. Beginning in April, 2017, this shared community resource will be available, free of charge, to volunteer groups and organizations who need landscaping tools for neighborhood cleanups, vacant lot beautification, or the implementation and maintenance of food gardens, green infrastructure, trails or general community gathering spaces. Visit the Lots To Love website to learn more and even reserve the PGH Mobile Toolbox for your community project! A special thanks goes to PNC Charitable Trust for their support on this initiative! Read more.
Youth as Researchers Initiative | Hill District, Hilltop, Homewood | $12,536
With this grant, young people will be engaged to actively participate in the 
research of key issues specific to their life experiences and develop action steps or policy recommendations that apply to their collective community experience. Through this initiative, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chairs- Mark Brennan from PennState and Pat Dolan from Ireland will train community development practitioners to support and teach youth how to engage in research on issues of interest to them and ultimately their communities. The training will prepare practicioners to facilitate and support the conducting of valid, reliable research based on established social research principals throughout the summer of 2017, ensuring that collected data, identified concepts or constructs are translated into a functioning operating reality. Read more.
In addition to these investments, we have also invested $105,000 into our local network of Financial Opportunity Centers and provided $5,900 in Sponsorships in 2017:
- Mon Valley Initiative FOC
- Oakland Planning and Development/JobLinks FOC
- Northside Common Minstries/Goodwill SW PA FOC
- 50th Anniversary Harambee Black Arts Festival
- GTECH 10th Anniversary Ground for Good
- Wilkinsburg Two Way Street Festival
- Employment Training Advisory Board Forum
- Black Political Empowerment Project Jazz Festival
- Jeron X. Grayson Peace on the Green Golf Outing
- An Evening of Oakland Storytelling Event
- PCRG Community Development Summit Scholarships
