community + cultural info
Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) has chosen the Union Project from a pool of 6 organizations who were nominated by Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and the Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation to receive a technical assistance award funded by the Federal faith- and community-based initiative.
MEDA will begin this process with an organizational assessment of the Union Project on May 2. This assistance will greatly help to build the Union Project’s organizational capacity and to complete a professional, viable and market-specific business plan, which is the next big step in our fundraising process.
The Union Project is hosting two clean-up days on May 10 and May 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Join volunteers from around the neighborhood and around the city to help clean up the Union Project. Volunteers will help to remove debris from the building and do general landscaping work including mulching brush and planting flowers.
We invite you – along with all of our neighbors – to join us in these efforts to build community and beautify our neighborhoods. We also welcome your efforts to pick up trash on your own block and bring your yard waste to be mulched or your picked-up trash to dispose of in our dumpster. At the very least, we invite you to stop by to visit with us, meet some new friends and learn more about the Union Project!
These efforts are part of the ongoing work at the Union Project, which aims to build community through the innovative, participatory and volunteer-driven restoration of a prominent community resource. The renovated building will provide gathering and working space for artists, community builders and people of faith. To date, over 400 volunteers have contributed some 4000 hours of service toward the project.
From June 26 to September 25 2003, a weekly Local Art-Making Market will be held on the front lawn of the former Union Baptist Church at the intersection of Stanton & Negley Avenues. The Market will feature booths selling organic produce, handmade art, and promoting the work of Pittsburgh’s arts and faith institutions. In addition, booths will be available for neighborhood artists and others to rent at a minimal fee. The Market will be the area’s only continuing weekly grassroots festival, providing an informal setting for people to assemble and enjoy their own creativity and that of others.
The Union Project now has artwork displayed on the website. Check out www.unionproject.org and click on the “Artists” link. All artwork is for sale and more images will be added regularly. Call 412-478-3105 or email Justin@unionproject.org if you are interested in purchasing a piece of artwork.
Justin Rothshank
Associate
Director
The Union Project
801 North Negley Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15206
412-478-3105 cell
Restoring neighborhood space to connect, create, and celebrate.