EJGP 2021 Wrap Up

Happy New Year from the EJGP Project Team!

Happy 2022, everyone! As we start the new year, here are some quick highlights of our work from last year. We look forward to working with you for an impactful 2022! Let’s continue to build an equitable and just Greater Pittsburgh together!

Key Events

Platform Launch

In March, we unveiled the first full formatted draft of the Platform for an Equitable and Just Greater Pittsburgh. This document draws from national, regional, and local platforms, local community and neighborhood plans, and your expertise. It presents a vision and list of the changes that we want to see to create a more equitable and just region. We know many of you used the Platform in your own work this past year. We hope many more of you will this year, as we continue to refine, revise, and expand its content!

 
Read the Platforms

Book Expo

In August, members of the EJGP Project Team worked with Richard Ashby of the Sto-Rox Library and with Focus on Renewal Sto-Rox to host a book expo highlighting the stories of independent authors of color hosted at the Sto-Rox Library. The event included panel discussions, vendors, storybook readings and more. All authors had their books added to the Sto-Rox library, and can now be accessed through local and national library networks! Despite some sudden thunderstorms, everyone had a great time!

Pittsburgh Passes Lead Safety Ordinance

In late November, Pittsburgh City Council unanimously passed the Pittsburgh Lead Safety Law. This ordinance is a huge first step to address the legacy of lead poisoning in our city. It will advance environmental justice for our Black and brown, lower-income, and renting neighbors who have disproportionately carried the burden of lead poisoning due to inequitable housing and other unjust economic and environmental policies. 

 
Learn More

Key Campaigns

Over the last six months, EJGP has been supporting three cross-issue, cross-neighborhood campaigns that, when (not if!) successful, will improve outcomes for overburdened and under-resourced residents in our region. The EGJP Advisory Group selected these campaigns over the summer as ones for EJGP to support. For all of them, support has meant sharing out information, connecting key organizations and individuals, and participating in campaign strategy calls. 

Get the Lead Out!

Over the last several years, the Get the Lead Out campaign has been working to shine a light on lead poisoning in Allegheny County, help families who are impacted by lead poisoning, and enact changes to make our community safer. The campaign held a powerful summit on lead in late October, with several EJGP folks involved in planning, facilitating, and presenting. This summit helped push for the Pittsburgh Lead Safety Law, which passed Pittsburgh City Council a month later.

Campaign Info

If you are interested in getting involved in this campaign, please contact info@gettheleadout.org.

Fair Fares for a Full Recovery

In 2021, the Fair Fares for a Full Recovery Coalition continued its work advocating for a low-income fare program for public transit across Allegheny County. Several members of the EJGP Advisory Group and other EJGP members have been central to this campaign and have met with public officials and offices to discuss the need for such a program and the possibilities for making one reality here. At the same time, the campaign continues to build its base of support for a low-income fare program for public transit in Allegheny County—with the hope of making it a reality in 2022!

More Info

If you would like to be more involved, contact Sam Applefield at  sam@pittsburghfoodpolicy.org

American Rescue Plan Act

During the summer and fall of 2021, EJGP project team members worked with the Pittsburgh Budget and Policy Center and the Economic Justice Circle to improve awareness and understanding of the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Together, we compiled three ARPA information guides which highlighted what money was coming to the region and how it was being allocated (as far as was publicly known at the time). In addition, we held two ARPA teach-ins in July and August, with representatives of various organizations and neighborhood groups in attendance. In October, we also presented ARPA information at the Greater Pittsburgh Non-Profit Partnership Summit and at a special session for the Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania. 

 
More Info

The Numbers

Featured Speakers

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