Grounded

06/12/2026

A huge thank you to Duquesne Light Company for their continued volunteering and partnership! Working with past Hill District CommunityCare Stewards, we spent a day at the Gathering Place weeding, mulching, and replanting beds with native perennial pollinator plants. We can't wait to see how this site continues to flourish through the 2026 CommunityCare maintenance season!

06/08/2026

STATE OF THE LAND REPORT! Vacant land, housing affordability, code enforcement, land banking, and neighborhood revitalization are all shaped by public policy.

That’s why we’re encouraging folks to check out the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group Legislation Tracker, which follows housing and community development legislation at both the state and federal level.

From Whole Home Repairs to land bank expansion to anti-displacement protections, these policies have real impacts on communities across Pennsylvania — including the neighborhoods where Grounded Strategies works every day.

Stay informed. Stay engaged. Find the PCRG Legislation Tracker here: https://ow.ly/RJs350Z5FFB

06/04/2026

Grounded had a great day taking the Mobile Toolbox out to a workday with California- Kirkbride Neighbors and Charles Street Area Council. Thanks to a large group of volunteers from Hico America Sales & Technology Inc, we got 3 different plots of land at a five-way intersection cleaned up in no time. Want to request the mobile toolbox? More info here: https://ow.ly/J45050Z7Cz7

06/01/2026

STATE OF THE LAND REPORT! Land values shape neighborhood futures. A county-wide reassessment is about creating a more accurate and equitable understanding of property values across communities. At Grounded , we believe transparent land systems matter...especially in neighborhoods impacted by vacancy and long-term disinvestment.

We encourage residents to stay informed, engaged, and involved in conversations about reassessment and neighborhood equity.

The remaining hearings on the County Council reassessment bill are scheduled for:
*June 3, 5:30 p.m., CCAC Boyce Campus Auditorium, 595 Beatty Road, Monroeville, PA 15146
*June 16, 5:30 p.m., CCAC West Hills Center, Room S1308, 1000 McKee Road, Oakdale, PA 15071
*July 1, 5:30 p.m., CCAC North Campus, Room 3002, 8701 Perry Highway, Pittsburgh, PA 15237

Hope to see you there! More info on the reassessment bill from WESA here: https://ow.ly/Lvhc50Z5Cw6

05/29/2026

STATE OF THE LAND REPORT! There’s one more city budget hearing, coming up June 3 in Lincoln Lemington. This is your chance to ask for more funding to address vacancy and community transformation, including but not limited to increasing the budget for the Pittsburgh Land Bank. Hope to see you there!

Budget Season Is Upon Us!

We know 2027 is the last thing on your mind, but it's never too late to plan for the future. And this year, it's more important than ever.

With a tightened city budget, it's up to residents to help us identify where, and what, to prioritize. Attending a budget engagement session is the first step.

All sessions are FREE to attend and will give you the chance to interact with the Mayor's Community Affairs team.

05/29/2026

Excited to be at the A+ Schools Pittsburgh Learning Collaborative Summit today where, in a conversation about chronic absenteeism and safe walking routes to schools…

—> PA State Rep. Powell spoke about the importance of increasing funding to the Pittsburgh Land Bank

—> Mayor O’Connor spoke about his administration’s current work to get funding to prep as many of the 11,000 city owned vacant lots for building affordable housing and “using vacant lots for the greater good and lowering housing prices”

—> Wasi Mohammed from Congresswoman Summer Lee’s office is celebrating the money she brought to North Braddock to address vacancy

Addressing vacancy has systemic impacts!

05/23/2026

We're hiring a Youth Engagement Coordinator! Want to work directly with high school age youth? Want to make sure that youth voice is included in and driving community transformation efforts? Want to collaborate with some awesome partners like The Citizen Science Lab, Kingsley Association, Wilkinsburg Sanctuary Project? Apply by June 3rd at: https://ow.ly/NHCo50Z3rg6

05/16/2026

Are you a young person in the East End interested in pathways to green jobs? Or are you an adult that works in renewable energy, the electric grid, waste reduction, advanced manufacturing, local food systems, community planning or urban forestry? Grounded is excited to co-host an event on "Growing the Inclusive Green Workforce Pipeline in Pittsburgh" on May 21st in partnership with Pittsburgh Public Schools Career and Technical Education office, The Kingsley Association and Larimer Consensus Group .

We are inviting participation from youth and adult leaders in the East End of Pittsburgh: K–12 educators, youth and school leaders; Out-of-school learning providers; Environmental justice and community leaders. In addition to the following individuals from the greater Allegheny County community: Career and Technical Education professionals; Workforce development organizations; Sustainability and green technology employers.

If you ARE NOT in the above list of intended primary audience members for this event, but are interested in being involved, express interest in volunteering by 5/17 at this link: https://ow.ly/GZQ050Z0y1t

If you ARE in the above list of intended primary audience members, register for the event by 5/17 at: https://ow.ly/o69f50Z0y1s

05/10/2026

Wilkinsburg residents, don’t miss this event on Wednesday!

Your Borough. Your Voice. Your Future.
Help shape the vision for Wilkinsburg’s next 10–20 years. Join the conversation.

Please join us for our upcoming Public Workshop / Public Input Meeting on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Borough Building (605 Ross Ave., Wilkinsburg, PA 15221).

Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. Please register using either the QR code on the flyer, or by visiting the link below.

We look forward to seeing you there, and value your participation and collaboration in developing the Borough's plan for the future of all its residents!

For more information, or to register yourself for the meeting, visit: https://www.wilkinsburgpa.gov/projects.../wilkinsburg-plan/