Feb 4: Café Sci on plastic pollution

Café Scientifique: Straw Forward

7-9 p.m. at the Carnegie Museum of Science (doors open at 6 for networking and refreshments).  Free to attend, parking $5.  RSVP online here.

Get the scoop on the highly anticipated Straw Forward art sculpture and join Sustainable Pittsburgh, Allegheny CleanWays, Pennsylvania Resources Council, Construction Junction, and First Mile of Thread – International for a panel discussion about reducing plastic pollution, raising awareness, and building economies through single-use plastics. In addition to the panel, an abridged version of the documentary A Plastic Ocean also will be screened, providing a deeper look into these issues on a global scale.

Earlier this year, the nonprofit Sustainable Pittsburgh launched Straw Forward, a collaborative, community-wide campaign involving nearly 40 restaurants, nonprofits, and businesses over a seven‑month period. Using straws as the main medium, the Straw Forward team collected used and littered plastic‑based items and transformed them into a stunning art sculpture on display from Tues., Jan. 15 through Fri., Feb. 15 in the Riverview Café at the Science Center.

The Straw Forward campaign recognizes that plastic straws are critical for people living with certain disabilities and medical conditions. The goal of this project is to foster meaningful conversations around the problem of plastic pollution. Join us for a discussion about the sculpture and what we can do locally to help solve this globally.

Jan 27: Civic Engagement and Democracy workshop

Young Voices for the Planet is a series of short films about activist kids, making a difference in their communities and in the world.  Topics range from solar panels to sea level rise, plastic straws to planting trees, oil spills to environmental racism.  YVFP welcomes educators of all backgrounds to learn how to empower the next generation of environmental stewards. Using these amazing films and the Civic Engagement and Democracy curriculum as resources, this inspiring workshop addresses climate change education through real-life youth success stories tackling local Pittsburgh environmental issues. We will show you how to bring our A.C.T.I.O.N Plan to life in your own classroom and community!

9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at LaRoche College (9000 Babcock Blvd, 15237). Registration $15; please register online here.  For any questions, please contact Kathryn Silvis at LaRoche (412) 536-1297 or Kimberly Gutzler at YVPF (202)476-9141.   Facilitation, credits, and refreshments provided by Allegheny Land Trust.

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Teaching Kids to Protect Their Future & Save the Planet!

Young people are concerned about many issues and want to make a difference. Teachers are asking what they can do to help empower students.  

When young people DO speak out, their voices have power!  At the COP24 climate talks, the voice most covered by the media was that of Swedish 15-year-old Greta Thunberg addressing the UN: “Our political leaders have failed us… We are facing an existential threat and there is no time to continue on this road of madness.” 

In the next 6 months, Pittsburgh area institutions, partnering with Young Voices for the Planet and NY Times best-selling children’s book author and fillmmaker Lynne Cherry, will be hosting a series of workshops to help teachers help students to be heard.  The workshops provide ACT 48 CREDITS while teaching educators how to:

1. help students overcome doom and gloom and be energized by hope 
2. help students create an ACTION PLAN to address local Pittsburgh issues.

The workshops center around the true stories in the Young Voices for the Planet short documentaries featuring youth taking the lead, creating solutions, changing laws, changing minds and changing society.  These stories reach hearts and inspire action.

Featured speakers:  Lynne Cherry;  Heather Harr, League of Women’s Voters;  Jessica Kester, Allegheny Land Trust;  and local youth speaking out for their environment. 

Pittsburgh is the ideal place to launch this Civic Engagement and Democracy pilot workshop because the city’s sustainability goals serve as a guiding light for the rest of the country.

The workshops are sponsored by The Heinz Endowments and the Garden Club of Allegheny County.

To learn more about workshops and registration, please click here. https://www.youngvoicesfortheplanet.com/workshops/

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Jan 26: Racial Justice Summit

The 21st Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit (formerly the Summit Against Racism), a multi-cultural initiative of the Black & White Reunion, will once again be hosted by the Metro-Urban Institute at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Panels and workshops 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Pittsburgh Theological seminary (616 North Highland Ave., 15206).  The Opening Ceremony (Friday at 6:30) and Organizing Dance Party (Saturday at 7:30) will take place at the Union Project (801 North Negley Ave., 15206).  Lots more information and sliding-scale registration on the Eventbrite event page.

Update:  the Summit is at capacity.

Jan 24th: Railroad project briefing

Dirty, dangerous, and in your backyard

Norfolk Southern Railroad is accelerating plans to raise bridges in our communities in order to run longer double-stacked trains along a 20-mile route through 24 communities.

This is projected to increase pollution in these communities by the equivalent of 6,800 buses per day. Norfolk Southern has tried to push this through without any hearing from the community.

Come to this educational meeting with Matt Mehalik of the Breathe Project to learn more about what residents of the east end of Pittsburgh can do to fight to protect their health and their communities.

The climate connection:  Double-stacked trains free up other rail capacity to ship fossil fuels from the Marcellus shale.

6:30-8 p.m. at the Christian Church of Wilkinsburg, 785 Wallace Ave.

Jan 22: Co-opoly!

A fun evening at East End Brewery, connecting with your neighbors through collaborative play!

7-9 p.m.  at the East End Brewery (147 Julius St., 15206).  Sponsored by the Pittsburgh Chamber of Cooperatives.