Victory (or sorts)! In case you haven't heard, Allegheny County Department of Human Services announced this week that they will be running a year-long reduced fare pilot program for SNAP users on Pittsburgh Regional Transit! As you know, we have been lifting up the Fair Fares Coalition's work as one of our EJGP campaigns. While we hope that this pilot program turns into a permanent program, thank you all for connecting with and supporting the Fair Fares campaign! Read more about this pilot program and other updates and opportunities below.

Be sure to open the newsletter in your browser to make sure you can see the entire newsletter and stay up to date with our upcoming meeting schedules, and a handful of ways to engage in the community!

From the EJGP Project Team Desk

2022 Full Network Meeting Schedule

Don’t want to miss out on future EJGP meetings? We’ve got you covered. To allow everyone more time to plan to attend our network meetings, we’ve set the schedule for the year! Our meetings will be:

 
Tuesday, Oct 11, 9-10:30 a.m. 
Tuesday, Dec 6, 9-10:30 a.m. 

Zoom links and calendar invites will follow. See you there!

EJGP's Cross-Community Network

September 13th, 2022

The Cross-Community Network is a network of community groups, community-based organizations, and residents who want transformational, people-centered change in their communities and across the Greater Pittsburgh region.

In our September meeting, community members from several different neighborhoods and municipalities joined the conversation. They talked about the positives and challenges in the relationships between their communities and local government officials and what keeps them motivated in their work. They also suggested future topics to discuss at these meetings, including what "equity" means, relationships with foundations, and accountability. Stay tuned for these discussions at upcoming meetings!

 We’d love to see this network grow and to learn how to better support and serve more neighborhoods! 

Platform for an Equitable and Just Greater Pittsburgh 

In honor of the affordable public transit pilot program and the unveiling of EJGP's newly supported campaign on pay equity, we’d like to uplift the following items from the EJGP Platform:

Transportation 5.6: Redesign bus networks so more people can reach more places in less time, prioritizing travel needs of communities of color and low-income neighborhoods. Expand frequent service in response to changing

residential and employment patterns.

Livelihoods 4.2: Extend the ban on prior salary history questions for all employers in the City of Pittsburgh and require

pay transparency.

Campaign Updates

Fair Fares for a Full Recovery

This week Rich Fitzgerald, and the Allegheny County Department of Human Services announced a 12-month pilot program to provide some low-income transit users with discounted transit passes, with the goal of potentially launching a permanent program in late 2023. This pilot is the first step towards affordable public transit, a critical human need that, if met, would unlock access to healthy food, health care, child care, employment, and all of civic life.

If you or a household member are a SNAP recipient in Allegheny County, click the link below to learn more about the program.

Level Up: Greater Pittsburgh Pay Equity Campaign

Spearheaded by the YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh, the Black Women's Policy Center (BWPC), and the Women and Girls Foundation, the Level Up campaign works to bring attention to the stark and compounding economic disparities felt by women of color hopes to grow support for equal pay for all.

"Despite being awarded the title of “America’s Most Livable City,” Pittsburgh and the surrounding region continue to struggle with pay equity, especially when it comes to women of color. Employers in the Greater Pittsburgh region have the power to close the gender pay gap."

​

The Level Up campaign will be asking companies, local businesses, and non-profits throughout the Pittsburgh region to take the Pay Equity Pledge to strengthen our regions economy, and building strength in our region's families.

Get the Lead Out: Life Without Lead 2022 Summit

Save the Date! Lead Safe Allegheny's "Life without Lead" summit returns this year on October 27th for an all-day series of speakers and conversations

For more information or if you’d like to get involved, please contact info@gettheleadout.org.

In the Community

**Rebrand** Take Action Advocacy Group

"Thanks to everyone for the well wishes and support with our rebrand. Check out our new website Home | tamv (takeactionadvocacygroup.org)

We empower and equip those experiencing social injustices through grassroots community organizing and skill building in order to solve current/future problems through education, community organizing and promoting Black Liberation."

Pennsylvania Sustainability Summit

Join Pennsylvania’s leading sustainability experts, elected officials, state-agency leaders and policymakers October 3rd-7th for an exciting and informative series of conversations and presentations during the first-ever weeklong Pennsylvania Sustainability Summit hosted by the PA GreenGov Council.

This conference is free, open to all, and virtual, so you can join from your home or office. Attendees will get an inside view of the policies, programs and funding initiatives designed to help advance energy efficiency, climate resiliency and create a more sustainable future for Pennsylvania.

Western PA Regional Data Center

The Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center will be holding a free series of 12 virtual workshops this fall that will emphasize the importance of thinking critically about creating, applying, and managing data and technology in our society. In these workshops, participants will learn to ask questions about data and technology, reflect on how their actions and decisions impact people and communities, and begin to institutionalize the values of equity, fairness, and justice into the data and technology practices and infrastructures of their organizations. We’re seeking participants from community and nonprofit organizations, local government agencies, offices of elected officials, colleges and universities, local foundations, and civic institutions. 

To participate or if you have questions, please email Bob Gradeck at wprdc@pitt.edu

Voter's Engagement Toolkit

The Jefferson Votes Toolkit is one piece of the nonpartisan initiative created by the Jefferson Regional Foundation and the 100+ member strong Jefferson Community Collaborative. The Jefferson Collaborative is excited to provide targeted, nonpartisan resources and training for nonprofit organizations in the Jefferson area.

Within this Toolkit, you will find ready-to-use materials specifically created for the Jefferson Votes initiative to help organizations with voter engagement efforts. Included are also voter engagement resources from Nonprofit VOTE, National Voter Registration Day and the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Allegheny County Looking to Hire Poll Workers for Election Day

As the date of the election nears, Allegheny County is looking to hire poll workers. Poll workers will earn from $150 to $175 for the day and new poll workers will also receive paid training.

"Poll workers must be comfortable interacting with the public, and keeping up to date with election changes. There is a high performance expectation on Election Day and well-trained poll workers are instrumental in our ability to realize that goal."

Interested in serving for future elections? Use the button below to learn more and apply.

Sign on to the Food Justice Fund

Support the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council by signing on to their letter to Mayor Gainey and the City Council supporting the creation of a Pittsburgh Food Justice Fund. The fund will increase public investment in grassroots efforts to address food apartheid and support the development of a just, equitable, and sustainable food system.

The fund would utilize a simple, accessible application process, and would be open to anyone living or working in the City of Pittsburgh. There would be community oversight over the distribution of funds, and prioritization for projects that are led by and/or benefit people of color.

A range of projects could be supported through the Food Justice Fund, including:

• Expand urban farming

• Develop community markets and/or mobile markets

• Aggregate local farm fresh foods

• Reduce food waste

• Deliver cooking demonstrations and nutritional education

• Build capacity and provide technical support for farmers, business owners, and other food related organizations

Get Involved!

Join the Network and Share Your Neighborhood and Topic Area Updates and Information!

Want to share your upcoming initiatives and events with our network? It's as easy as 1-2-3!

1. Email your upcoming event, petition, report, survey, or job opportunity to info@ejgp.org

2. Be sure to include any vital information such as deadlines, registration links, and/or eligibility criteria

3. Follow us @ejgppgh on Facebook and Instagram and don't forget to like and share our #EJGPtopics post to grow the network!

 
Looking for information related to a specific topic? Search the hashtags #ejgpfood #ejgphousing #ejgplivelihoods #ejgpenvironment 
#ejgpeducation #ejgptransportation #ejgphealth #ejgpneighborhoods 
 
Visit our website www.ejgp.org and leave your email to sign up for our newsletter!