Our first official customer on 6/17 for fundraising for South Oakland Community Day (SOCD) at Frazier Fieldhouse.
Depending on weather on volunteer availability:
Tue & Thur 5pm-8pm
Some Saturdays 11am-2pm
Volunteering
The Love Your Block initiative invites organizations to submit project proposals that can transform their blocks with up to $1,000 and the support of City Departments. With these grant funds, winning groups can purchase supplies, engage their neighbors, and roll up their sleeves to transform their neighborhood – block by block! Projects may include, but are not limited to:
- Creating Green Spaces: Community gardens, pocket parks, public spaces, or vacant lot cleanups
- Enhancing Parks: painting structures, creating garden beds, picnic areas, shrub / flower plantings
- Streetscaping: Planting trees & flowers along curbs / entry-ways, sprucing up neighborhood signs
- Removing Graffiti and Litter: Tire dumping, recycling waste, swapping graffiti for murals, etc.
- Sprucing up of Pathways: Mulching / clearing overgrowth on trails, creating safe school “walking” bus routes
For more info, go to
From the University of Pittsburgh:
"Every year, the Pitt Partnership for Food drive mobilizes our community to support the movement to combat hunger in our region. This drive is an important source of product and monetary contribution for our partner, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, which in turn supports the Oakland Food Pantry and scores of area outlets including soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, after school programs, senior high rises, Meals on Wheels, community centers, and special programs. The Food Bank distributes around 27 million pounds of food each year.
Utilizing great efficiency and resourcefulness, a donation of $1 is leveraged by the Food Bank to provide 5 meals! Currently, with the generous Chancellor’s Challenge 100% match, each dollar donated to our Pitt drive will go towards providing an astounding 10 meals! There can be no greater incentive or a better time to help end hunger in our community.
Please also encourage your colleagues and friends to go to www.PittsburghFoodBank.org/PITT to donate online, or drop off food or other listed products at the many collection bins set up all across campus. Please act now as the drive ends on June 15, 2014! We must all support the belief that chronic hunger in our community is simply unacceptable!
There is additional information on food items and products urgently needed, collection bin locations and other details listed on the drive flier at www.tinyurl.com/PittPartnershipForFood "
Michael Thompson, our new Clean Pittsburgh steward for South Oakland, will be leading us for the next Pitt Make a Difference Day as we join with Pitt volunteers to clean up our neighborhood.
If you would like to join us on October 18th to help clean up South Oakland, please contact us at via SONG contact page,
call or text 
For more info on Clean Pittsburgh, check out their website:
MAYOR PEDUTO TO ANNOUNCE NEW FUNDING TO HELP VETERAN HOMEOWNERS
Mayor William Peduto and Councilman Corey O’Connor will join The Home Depot Foundation on Wednesday for a funding announcement of $200,000 to repair 28 veteran homes in the Pittsburgh region through servePGH’s Sustainable Home Improvement Partnership (SHIP). Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh will act as the fiscal agent for this grant.
Volunteers will be working throughout the day to repair a local veteran’s home at press site location.
SHIP was established in 2012 through the City’s servePGH initiative to provide free home repair and weatherization services to help residents remain safe in their homes. SHIP has repaired nearly 150 homes, garnered support of over 2,000 volunteers, and leveraged well over $1M in funding since inception. Target populations include low-income elderly, disabled, and veteran residents.
WHO: Mayor William Peduto joined by Councilman Corey O’Connor; Jim Richter, Hazelwood Initiative, Inc.; Steve Hellner-Burris, Rebuilding Together; Bob Beachy and Harold Markel, The Home Depot Foundation; Megan Andros, Heinz Endowments
WHERE: 5231 Gertrude Street Pittsburgh, PA 15207
WHEN: Wednesday, June 11th, Speakers: 9:30-10AM, Volunteer activities throughout the day
CITY OF PITTSBURGH’S SERVEPGH ANNOUNCES INFORMATIONAL SESSION ON UPCOMING ROUND OF LOVE YOUR BLOCK
PITTSBURGH, PA – (June 9, 2014) On June 16, 2014, City of Pittsburgh representatives will be on hand to discuss and answer any questions about the fall round of Love Your Block applications. Fall applications will be released on Thursday, June 19 and deadline to apply will be Friday, July 11.
This season, the City will award up to $1,000 to purchase supplies and tools to implement a block improvement project. There are minor changes to program delivery this season and this is an opportunity to field any questions or concerns from applicants.
The informational session will give prospective organizations a chance to ask questions about the process, inquire about resources available in addition to the mini-grant, learn how to identify the owner of vacant parcels, and more.
WHAT: servePGH’s informational session on upcoming round of Love Your Block
WHERE: City-County Building, CitiStat conference room 646, 6th floor, Grant Street side, 414 Grant St., Pittsburgh, PA, 15219
WHEN: 6-7 p.m., Monday, June 16, 2014
For more information, visit http://www.pittsburghpa.gov/servepgh/loveyourblock or email servepgh@pittsburghpa.gov.
Our monthly adult get-togethers at the Frazier Fieldhouse adjacent to Dan Marino Field on Frazier St. Any volunteers, donations of food or beverages, or even lending of movies is encouraged and welcome.
The Kids nights are going to be suspended for the summer, resuming in September.
Saturday June 28th is the adult get-together from 7pm-10pm.
Some entertainment like karaoke or other is possible, but this event is more of an eat, meet and greet, maybe some card games so that neighbors can introduce themselves and discuss topics of interest and ideas for future events like like music, movies, games, etc.
This event is for ages 21 and older.
Due to the size of the building and limited people to run the event, we are limiting the number of adults to 30, so signing up beforehand is recommended. Please include your name, address and contact number.
Donations of a covered dish, hors d’oeuvres, snacks and beverages are requested and welcome, but not mandatory.
Anyone that would like to share some of their favorite beer or wine for their neighbors to try is also welcome. To avoid this becoming a “bar” night, we ask that you limit to one or two drinks total per person.
We reserve the right to ask anyone who is disruptive at any event to leave.
Please RSVP via SONG contact page, call or text , or talk to Janet Sims in person.
Save the date: South Oakland Community Day – Saturday Sept 6.
We welcome ideas for activities, entertainment, food, fundraising, and looking for volunteers for any part of that.
Please use the SONG Contact Page, call or text .
.Instead of the regular meeting on Thursday, 5/15 they will convene next Tuesday, May 13, at Bates Street to work with Western PA Conservancy on the hillside restoration. Stop in at any point between 3:30 and 7:00 pm to help beautify your neighborhood. They will be planting 500 ferns and 30 trees.
Our monthly kids movie night and adult get-togethers at the Frazier Fieldhouse adjacent to Dan Marino Field on Frazier St. Any volunteers, donations of food or beverages, or even lending of movies is encouraged and welcome.
Friday May 30th is the kids movie night from 5pm-7pm.
Due to the size of the building and limited people to run the event, we are limiting the number of children to 30, so signing up beforehand is recommended. Please include child’s name, parents’ names, address and contact number.
Children ages 5-15 are welcome. Any children ages 5-9 are required to have a parent or older sibling to accompany them.
Some food/snacks will be provided, but parents must provide and coordinate any special diet or other restrictions.
Donations of snacks and beverages are definitely welcome.
All children MUST be picked up by 7pm.
Saturday May 31st is the adult get-together from 7pm-10pm.
This event is more of an eat, meet and greet so that neighbors can introduce themselves and discuss topics of interest and ideas for future events like like music, movies, games, etc.
This event is for ages 21 and older.
Due to the size of the building and limited people to run the event, we are limiting the number of adults to 30, so signing up beforehand is recommended. Please include your name, address and contact number.
Donations of a covered dish, hors d’oeuvres, snacks and beverages are requested and welcome, but not mandatory.
Anyone that would like to share some of their favorite beer or wine for their neighbors to try is also welcome. To avoid this becoming a “bar” night, we ask that you limit to one or two drinks total per person.
We reserve the right to ask anyone who is disruptive at any event to leave.
Please RSVP via SONG contact page, call or text , or talk to Janet Sims in person.
From the Mayor’s Office:
PITTSBURGH, PA (April 7, 2014) Mayor William Peduto announced that the City is seeking three qualified year-round AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members to support the City’s servePGH program.
These positions will involve management and hands-on work on a number of service initiatives designed to impact Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods, ranging from home repair to blight reduction to mentoring and beyond. Applications will be accepted until May 23, 2014, or until positions are filled.
Click here for more info.
02/28 2014
If you’re interested in a free tree for the sidewalk, please fill out the application and bring it to the next SONG meeting Tuesday March 4, or give or mail it to David Zwier at 235 Atwood Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. The deadline to have them as part of this neighborhood grouping is Saturday March 15. There will be a site inspection for each application, because not all locations are suitable for trees.
You can also volunteer to help plant and maintain the trees. More info on TreeVitalize Pittsburgh’s website
There is a PDF version you can print and fill out by hand, or the DOC version, you can fill out electronically, print and sign.
Tree-Planting-Request-Form_2014.pdf
Tree-Planting-Request-Form_USE-ME-14_02.doc
Join OPCD as they celebrate Oakland 2025 implementation
projects to-date and brainstorm ideas to continue the momentum.
Oakland 2025 Master Plan: Project Development Workshop
From code enforcement to housing development, greening projects, public art,
citizen engagement, and much more, the Oakland community is moving closer to the Oakland 2025 vision.
To keep things going in a positive direction, join your colleagues and community
members at a workshop to brainstorm even more Oakland 2025 implementation
action steps.
OPDC will host a session led by an independent facilitator. They will gather
information on existing projects and brainstorm ideas to move forward other
plan recommendations. They’ll also discuss ways to ensure our most vulnerable citizens have the resources and services they need to succeed here in Oakland.
March-2014-O-2025-Workshop-Flyer-2.pdfBLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION AT THE THELMA LOVETTE YMCA
A Celebration of Black History Month to be Held at the Thelma Lovette YMCA this Saturday
Greetings Friends and Neighbors-
This upcoming Saturday, at the Thelma Lovette YMCA in the Hill District, a Black History Month Celebration will be hosted which will be open to all:
Where: Thelma Lovette YMCA, 2114 Centre Ave
When: Saturday, February 15, 12pm-2pm
Councilman Lavelle will be present to kick off festivities which include:
- Black Pittsburgh Historic Presentation/Black Civil War Enactment Group by John Ford
- Centre Avenue Historic Presentation by Leon Haley
- Wylie Avenue Days Film Documentary
- Presentation of the Hill District Historic Wall
- NAKA Entertainment
- Miller School African Dance and Drum Troop
- Presentation of Black Genealogical Study
- Children and Family Activities
- Teenie Harris Collection by Carnegie Library
For more information on the festivities, you can visit the Thelma Lovette Y site by accessing this link, or by calling them at 412-315-0990.
City Council District 6
Workshop: organize tree planting in your ‘hood
February 11, 2014
TreeVitalize Pittsburgh is hosting a free application workshop to learn about how to organize a tree planting in your community. The workshop will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11 at the CCI Center, 62 S. 14th St., Pittsburgh on the South Side. Dinner and refreshments will be provided. For more information and to RSVP, email here or call 412-586-2386.
Playing It (TOO) Safe: Play, Playgrounds & the Value of Risk
February 13, 2014
Thu, February 13, 6:30 PM-8:00 PM, Carnegie Music Hall
Cost: Free; Doors open at 6 p.m., program begins at 6:30. Register now to reserve your space!
Second in a series of community conversations presented as part the Playful Pittsburgh collaborative. Short presentations and a community conversation will be moderated by Bill Isler, president of the Fred Rogers Company. Presenters include Wendy Nilsson, of Partnership for Providence Parks (Rhode Island), Gabriela Burkhalter, curator of The Playground Project, Michelle Figlar, executive director of the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children (PAEYC); representatives from Mayor Bill Peduto’s office; and North Braddock’s Recycle Park project.
Vermicomposting Workshop-PA Resources Council at Phipps Garden Center
February 13, 2014
Thu., Feb 13, 7:00–8:30pm at Phipps Garden Center, Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh
Vermicomposting is easy, fun, odorless and produces a great soil additive! Workshop participants will learn how to house, feed, harvest and care for their own worms. Be prepared to roll-up your sleeves and make your own worm composting bin! Each participant or couple will be provided with a bin, instructions, and worms. Information and registration here. $50 single, $55 couple.
Urban Ecosteward Training: Crew Leadership
February 15, 2014
Sat., Feb. 15, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Learn best practices for leading volunteer crews of 5-15 people, then sign up and use your experience to help at volunteer days. Location: REI Southside. Registerhere.
Become a Tree Tender in 2014!
February 22, 2014
Join nearly 1300 Pittsburghers, Greening the City One Tree at a Time! Course 1: Sat., Feb. 22nd 9:30am-4:30pm, Location: The Pittsburgh Project, 2801 North Charles Street Pittsburgh, PA 15214. Pre-Registration is required—click here.
Full list from Construction Junction: