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2004 Updates April 2004 Union Project Recognized for Preservation Work The Union Project has been recognized by the Young Preservationists of Pittsburgh, in partnership with the Northside Leadership Conference as one of the “Top Ten Historic Preservation Opportunities of 2004”. Come join YPA and others on Monday, May 3 from 6 to 8 pm at True Café and Bartini, 900 Western Ave., on Pittsburgh’s Northside as they celebrate National Historic Preservation Week 2004 and announce the top ten preservation opportunities. New Sign Installed! The new Union Project sign was installed over the weekend. Funding for the sign was generously provided by Mellon Financial Corporation Foundation. The sign was designed by Edge Studios of Pittsburgh and fabricated by Jeremy Groznik, a Highland Park resident. We’d also like to thank Pittsburgh Job Corps volunteers for their assistance in excavation and construction of the foundation for the sign. March 2004 Request for Proposals The Union Project requests proposals from artists to provide summer art-making activities for youth at a weekly art and farmer’s market. Up to 16 artists will be selected for one or more weeks. Artists will be compensated. Deadline for proposals is May 15, 2004. Complete details are listed at www.unionproject.org/artists.htm . Union Project in the News Union Project Executive Director Jessica King and Mike Gable (Executive Director of Construction Junction) and our Stained Glass Class partnership will be featured on KDKA TV’s Sunday Business Page show at 7:30 a.m. this Sunday on Channel 2 – KDKA. February 2004 Movie Filmed at Union Project premiers Friday You are cordially invited to the premier of Talitha Koum at Pittsburgh Mennonite Church (4005 Murray Ave in Greenfield). This film is loosely based on the Mark 5 Bible passage of the bleeding woman and the dying girl and takes a look at what it means to "be healed". The film was written and directed by Peter Eash-Scott, interim Pastor of Pittsburgh Mennonite Church, and former board member at The Union Project. This film is intended for a more mature audience. Children's Films will be shown downstairs in the Fellowship Hall. A free will offering will be taken to benefit the Union Project. January 2004 Union Project Named Charity of the Year! Volunteers at Pittsburgh Singles Volunteer Network recently voted the Union Project as Charity of the Year. Pittsburgh Singles Volunteer Network is a first-of-its-kind organization connecting singles to volunteering opportunities with charitable and non-profit organizations. “We are tremendously honored to have received this designation from PSVN – they’re a great group that has given so much to the Union Project, and to many organizations in Pittsburgh,” says Union Project Executive Director Jessica King. Union Project played host to four PSVN events in 2003, involving more than 30 PSVN volunteers. “I loved working at Union Project,” commented PSVN volunteer, Debbie. “They were organized on site and seemed appreciative of our efforts. I even got a letter in the mail thanking me for volunteering!" The Union Project had its best year for volunteering ever, surpassing the 600 volunteers mark. Union Project volunteers have contributed almost 10,000 hours of volunteer labor. These volunteers have provided both skilled and unskilled labor; filling 6 30-yard dumpsters with debris, providing legal counsel, scraping and painting exterior trim, designing the website, repairing stained glass, and much more. “What also impressed me about Union Project is that they are so organized,” Debbie said. “You get to the job site, and the tools are there, people are there to train and give positive encouragement. They’re just terrific.” The Union Project organized monthly volunteer opportunities for local and national organization. Over 40 different groups have donated their time to help the Union Project with its enormous restoration project. These groups have ranged from church groups, to fraternities, to college spring break trips, to community development corporations. PSVN also voted Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens as co-charity of the year with the Union Project. PSVN was founded in July, 2002 by Julie Ransom, who dismayed after reading the article in Forbes Magazine ranking Pittsburgh as being the worst place to live if single, decided to form PSVN. PSVN began offering volunteer events to singles on March 1, 2003. PSVN now has over 1,200 members, and volunteers have given 3,750 hours of community service with nearly 50 charities. Union Project Partners with PEP for Unique Fundraiser This year you can contribute money to the Union Project by participating in the People Tournament 2004-- a unique contest that pits fictional characters, dead presidents, and athletic team mascots-- basically everyone-- in an uncommon event that benefits charity. The People Tournament is sponsored by Public Enrichment Project; a non-profit organization committed to encouraging and generating creative and entertaining ideas that further enjoyment and educate the public. To compete for The Union Project, buy names in the contest for 50 cents a piece. All the money you spend goes directly to The Union Project, and if one of the names you buy wins, PEP will give The Union Project a special donation. The entire competitor list will soon be available on PEP's website, www.publicenrichment.org. Business Planning Thanks to Lisa Kuzma and the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management for their help in revising our Business Plan. With Lisa’s help, we are further developing and testing viable revenue streams for the Union Project, and updating our market research. This plan will help us meet our goals for long-term sustainability and will be complete by January. Thanks to Mennonite Economic Development Associates’ Compassion Capital Fund for the funding to complete this plan. We are continuing to gather information from interested individuals and organizations about future studio, office, gathering, incubator or business space to lease – contact jessunionproject.org for more information. Top of Page 2003 Updates December, 2003 New Board Members We’re happy to announce the recent addition of six new board members. Dino DiStefano, a Recording Engineer/Producer in Highland Park; Deborah El, a Reading Mentoring Coordinator at Beginning with Books; Anne Franks, a Career Counselor at Peabody High School; Rev. Dr. Bruce Robison, Rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church; Abigail Sandel, Development & Communications Coordinator at Executive Service Corps of Southwestern Pennsylvania; and Toye Starver, an Employment Specialist at Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force have all joined the board for three year terms. These neighbors, friends and community leaders will most certainly strengthen the efforts of the current board and staff in our work to transform the former Union Baptist Church into a significant resource for a diverse community. Annual Report The first annual report of the Union Project will be in your mailboxes next week – be sure to look out for it in this busy season. Share the news with a friend, sign up to volunteer for the project, and consider a year-end tax-deductible gift! We especially need your financial contributions to keep this project moving ahead. For ease and efficiency, donate online! Winter Stained Glass Class Back by popular demand, another stained glass class will be held this winter. The class will be held from 9 am to 1 pm on six consecutive Saturdays beginning January 10 and ending February 14. The class fee is $175 which includes all tools and materials. The class location has changed to accommodate increased demand for the class – it will be held at Construction Junction, at the corner of N. Lexington & Meade in North Point Breeze. Students will work in pairs to clean, relead, and restore Union Project stained glass windows. To register for the class please call 412-478-3105 or email Justinunionproject.org to get a registration form. Deadline for registration is January 5, however the class is almost full and early registration is recommended. November, 2003 Weekend Successes The beginning of November marked the end of The Union Project’s 2003 volunteer opportunities. Friday evening’s 2nd annual Artists of The Union Project Holiday sale was a great success. Several hundred people came out to listen to the band Monarch and view some fantastic art by 6 local artists. Saturday’s final volunteer opportunity included folks from GLENDA, the Junior League of Pittsburgh, and Carnegie Mellon University. Over 30 volunteers filled a dumpster that was generously donated by Pittsburgh Roll-Off. Several volunteers also spent the day putting the finishing touches on 11 stained glass windows that were restored by the 2 fall stained glass classes. The Union Project stained glass restoration class was also featured over the weekend in the entrepreneur section of the Pittsburgh Business Times. Keep your eyes open for many more volunteer opportunities starting next spring. If you or your group are interested in volunteering at The Union Project email justinunionproject.org or call 412-478-3105 to set up a date. September, 2003 Stained Glass Restoration Underway 24 people have begun the enormous task of restoring the Union project Stained Glass windows. The initial class has already been a huge success. So many people expressed interest in the class that we offered a second class. Both classes of 12 people are filled to capacity. Keep your eyes on The Union Project in the coming months. At the culmination of the 10-week class, the newly restored windows will be reinstalled. If you are interested in sponsoring the restoration and preservation costs not covered by class fees, or interested in upcoming classes email Jessunionproject.org. Edge Studio chosen for Sign Design Competition Penn Avenue architecture firm Edge Studio was recently chosen to design new signage in front of The Union Project building on the prominent corner of Stanton and Negley Avenues. The sign by Edge Studio will be designed and constructed using funds awarded to The Union Project by the Mellon Financial Corporation Foundation to support audience development efforts through new signage. Keep your eyes open for the new sign coming in November. Recent Grants The Union Project was awarded a $15,000 grant from the Compassion Capital Fund of the Federal Department of Health and Human Services Faith- and Community-Based Initiative. The grant is administered by Mennonite Economic Development Associates and was awarded for business planning and capital improvements. 500 Volunteers!! The Union Project recently hosted its 500th volunteer. Volunteers are an essential part of the Union Project. To date, Union Project volunteers have contributed over 8,000 hours of labor. Recent volunteers have come to the Union Project from Mennonite Urban Corps, University of Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh Singles Volunteer Network. We are also very fortunate to have employees from Bechtel Plant Machinery Incorporated and Matthews International Corporation coming to us as part of United Way’s Day of Caring on September 10, and September 20. Donors for the Day of Caring also include PPG Industries, Whole Foods Market, and United Way. July, 2003 The Union Project was recently awarded the following grants:
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities! The Union Project has planned many upcoming volunteer opportunities. There is a scheduled work day that will take place on Saturday, August 23 from 9 am to 4 pm. You are also invited to join our regular Wednesday work crew from 10 am to 3 pm each Wednesday. Volunteers are asked to dress in work clothes and work shoes, be prepared to work outside, and bring a sack lunch. Volunteers will spend the day working to scrape exterior door and window trim, as well as doing minor yard work, carpentry, and demolition. Exterior doors and windows are being prepared for the upcoming Stained Glass Restoration class being offered at The Union Project beginning the first week of September.If you are interested in volunteering please email Justinunionproject.org. June, 2003 Work Day Update We extend a huge thank you to the people who came out on Friday and Saturday to volunteer their time and skills at The Union Project. The work days were a success, with over 50 volunteers contributing over 300 hours of work towards the project. We also extend thank yous to the local organizations that supported us through their valuable in-kind donations of food and materials. Those organizations included Castriota Roll-Off, Chick-fil-A, Vento’s Pizza, Pittsburgh Community Storehouse, Tazza D’Oro Coffee Shop, and Geyer Printing Company. We were also visited by Channel 4 and Channel 11 news crews throughout the weekend. During the work days volunteers spent time cleaning up after the destruction that was left by vandals during the Memorial Day weekend. We filled a 30-yard dumpster full of debris, carpet, and furniture that was damaged. We planted flowers that were donated by local community members, and we began the process of installing exterior lighting and repairing the entrance doors to better secure the building. New locks and a new security system are also on the way, and should be installed in July, and the pipe organ is over halfway removed. If you are interested in volunteering your time and skills at the Union Project email Justinunionproject.org. New opportunities are posted regularly, and beginning on July 2, regularly scheduled weekly volunteer opportunities will be made available on Wednesdays from 10 am to 3 pm. May, 2003 The Union Project building was recently vandalized. Union Project staff are working to plan volunteer days in the coming weeks to clean up the damage. If you are interested in volunteering or making a donation to help fix the damage to the building please contact Justinunionproject.org to volunteer or jessunionproject.org to donate. We appreciate all of your support. Dear friends, By now you may have heard the most recent Union Project news - starting with stolen plants, and quickly escalating to a vandalized building and culminating with the intervention of the Pittsburgh Police Bomb Squad! For a bit of background - sometime over the Memorial Day weekend, vandals broke through a dead-bolted door of the Union Project. They were most likely youth, as far as we can tell from working with Police. Almost all of the interior windows have been broken, the sanctuary floor and stage have been damaged, many of the items for this weekend's yard sale have been destroyed, and one of the stair banisters was ripped off, the spindles snapped. There was no evident exterior damage; all stained glass windows are still intact. It is also nothing short of a miracle that the building did not burn to the ground. There were at least ten different fires started or attempted--everything from newspaper to t-shirts to a couch--and yet none of the carpet or wood caught. The Bomb Squad was called in regard to several small incendiary devices that looked like crude attempts to make bombs - giving evidence to the dangerousness and severity of this attack. Despite the shock, loneliness, disappointment, confusion, anger, etc there are reasons to be positive even now. Our fundraising and strategic planning efforts are at truly wonderful points and have provided some much needed forward momentum. Indeed, the vandalism actually strengthens our case and our resolve to succeed. Already, we've gotten an outpouring of support from neighbors and friends and have no doubt that this will be turned into something positive for the organization. Local news carried stories about this last evening and today, there was a photo in the Post-Gazette today and will be a longer feature article telling about the project in Sunday's paper. So we're working to turn this to the project's advantage in every way possible. As well, several grant proposals that have already been submitted address this exact public safety issue. We have asked for funds for additional exterior lighting and signage, and through follow-up calls we will be able to make those needs abundantly clear in a very real way. We are also planning to install a security system at the earliest possible opportunity. Ironically, the vandals found some tubes of colored paint, and in the midst of all their negative energy and destruction took the time to finger paint their 'tag' on one of our pews. This shows a dire need for the exact community resource we are trying to create. This experience strengthens our resolve to provide the necessary positive outlets for a healthy community. If the Police can find who committed these crimes, we sincerely hope to connect with them and help channel their energies into something positive - starting with cleaning up the building! How you can help... Thank you for your support and interest in the Union Project already. We need your involvement even more right now.
Jessica King April, 2003 New Union: MEDA & Union Project 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. Neighborhood Beautification 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. Arts and Summer Events 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 our website. All artwork is for sale and more images will be added regularly. Call 412-478-3105 or email Justinunionproject.org if you are interested in purchasing a piece of artwork. March, 2003 In the current troubled times in our world, we at the Union Project send our hopes and prayers for peace to all of you, and hope that the pieces of peace that we’re working toward locally will in some way affect the greater whole. In you are interested in learning about alternatives to war in Iraq please visit the Sojourners organization http://www.sojo.net/action. The Union Project gratefully acknowledges the Public Enrichment Project (PEP) for their support, including a recent micro-grant. PEP is committed to encouraging and generating creative and entertaining ideas that further enjoyment and educate the public. PEP Projects can be initiated by any member of the public, and may receive publicity, logistical or financial support, and encouragement. For more information or to submit a project idea, contact Tom Glick at tompublicenrichment.org. We’re looking for your trash to make our treasure! During your spring cleaning, please set aside those items that are most worthy of being sold on the Union Project’s behalf at the June 1 Highland Park community-wide Yard Sale. We need donations of sellable items and volunteers to help staff tables – call Melissa at 412-362-1233 or email Melissaunionproject.org by May 1st. The Union Project will again be hosting a summer artists and farmers market – expanded to 16 weeks and building on the success of last year’s 4-week market. The 2003 market will be held once a week on the corner of Stanton and Negley avenues and we are happy to have Mildred’s Daughters Urban Farm (from Stanton Heights) as part of the market this year. If you are interested in an affordable weekly booth at this high-traffic corner, contact Justin at 412-478-3105 or email Justinunionproject.org. The market will start in mid-June – we’ll keep you posted on the details! Union Project Summer Market Operating Guidelines Several members of the Pittsburgh Organ Historical Society have been helping the Union Project dismantle and preserve the A. B. Felgemaker opus 1280 pipe organ. All pipe work is for sale and is in very good condition. If you are interested in more information about the Union Project organ email Justinunionproject.org or call 412-478-3105. January-February, 2003 Check out the Final Drawings from the feasibility study done in conjunction with the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh, Highland Park Community Development Corporation, and Desmone and Associates, Architects. Send your feedback to infounionproject.org. At the Union Project's first board meeting of 2003 we welcomed Greg Mims as our 13th and newest board member. Greg currently works as the Director of Public Relations for the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council. We also welcomed Toye Sarver onto the newly created Program Visioning Committee and the Events Review Committee. Toye currently works with the East Liberty Arts Council. The Union Project Board of Directors is proactively addressing its plans for vision and programming with extensive work over the next two months on organizational AIMS and outcomes, including a March board retreat with consultant Arden Shank from Miami, FL. The Union Project has concluded its architectural feasibility study and we invite you to look at the final drawings on our facilities page. Initial cost estimates for the restoration project fall between 1.7 and 2 million dollars. The staff and board of the Union Project are now exploring how to take forward steps in the design and development of construction drawings. We are excited to be hosting a work group from Western Ontario University on February 25 and 26. The students from Western will be helping to implement our new database system from Carnegie Mellon's Heinz school, as well as continuing to clean up parts of the church building. We have recently set up an account with www.igive.com. The next time you consider shopping online consider shopping through igive.com and designating a small percentage of your purchases to the Union Project. Spring and summer will be upon us before we know it, and the Union Project is already thinking ahead. The Union Project will again be hosting a summer market. The 2003 market will be held once a week on Thursday afternoons. If you are interested in a booth contact us for more information. Top of Page 2002 Updates December, 2002 The Union Project continues to move forward with a feasibility study in conjunction with Desmone and Associates architects. A final community meeting is planned to reveal design ideas and solicit community input on the drawings. The meeting will take place on December 16 from 7-9pm at Peabody High School Auditorium, on the corner of Highland Ave and East Liberty Boulevard in East Liberty. The meeting is open to the public and will include hot drinks provided by Tazza D'Oro coffee shop. Call 412-363-4550 or e-mail Jessunionproject.org for more information. We extend a very special thank you to Tazza D’oro coffee shop of Highland Park, The Church Brew Works of Lawrenceville, and My Thai restaurant of Shadyside for their recent contributions towards making Union Project events a little bit tastier. We would also like to thank everyone who came out to show their support for the Union Project over the weekend at the Holiday Art Sale and the Community Meeting. The Union Project proudly welcomes two new members to our Board of Directors. Ebony McKinney and Lauren Blair have both agreed to join the Union Project Board, thus expanding it to its largest capacity in our short history. Ebony is currently the Manager of Theatre Operations at the Kelly-Strayhorn Community Performing Arts Theatre and Lauren is currently the Career Center Recruiting Coordinator for Carnegie Mellon University. We also would like to extend a huge thank you to the H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management for the donation of a relational database that group members Lauren Blair, Gen Cook, Yolanda Gonzalez, Vicki Keslar, and Jae Min Lee designed especially to our specifications. This database will help The Union Project maintain, store, and access information at a much higher level of efficiency. A Friends of The Union Project Holiday Art Sale has been planned for December 13 through December 21. This is the first show featuring works by past and present board members, past and present staff members, and the community of artists that surround The Union Project. The opening for the show will be on December 13 from 7 pm until 10 pm. The show will take place at the Spinning Plate Gallery , 5720 Friendship Avenue. The show will feature the works of James Eash, Keith Hershberger, Heather Kropf, Angie Lehman, Chad Martin, Becky Peifer, Jen Rohrer, Milonica Stahl-Wert, Brooke Rothshank, and Justin Rothshank. Mediums shown will include ceramics, photography, prints, paintings, jewelry, and more. We will also be serving food provided by My Thai Restaurant in Shadyside and beer provided by the Church Brew Works in Lawrenceville. For more information about the show call 412-478-3105 or e-mail Justinunionproject.org. October-November, 2002 Union Project board member Peter Eash-Scott is currently demonstrating for peace in a two-week peace walk from Pittsburgh, PA to Washington, D.C. A Friends of The Union Project Holiday Art Sale has been planned for December 13 through December 21. This is the first show featuring works by past and present board members, past and present staff members, and the community of artists that surround The Union Project. The opening for the show will be on December 13 from 7 pm until 10 pm. The show will take place at the Spinning Plate Gallery, 5720 Friendship Avenue. The show will feature the works of James Eash, Keith Hershberger, Heather Kropf, Angie Lehman, Chad Martin, Becky Peifer, Jen Rohrer, Milonica Stahl-Wert, Brooke Rothshank, and Justin Rothshank. Mediums shown will include ceramics, photography, prints, paintings, jewelry, and more. For more information about the show call 412-478-3105 or e-mail Justinunionproject.org. A reminder that The Union Project will be hosting a community planning effort focused on Arts, Recreation and Youth Development at The Union Project this Thursday, October 17, from 7 until 8:30 pm. Neighbors from Highland Park and surrounding communities are encouraged to attendand provide input to the Community Plan for developing strategies focused in these areas. Please call 412-661-7744 or e-mail Jessunionproject.org for more details. The Union Project still has several 12-ounce bags of regular and decaffeinated coffee available for $10 a bag. Proceeds from your purchase go to support the Union Project as well as to support at-risk children in coffee-growing regions of the world. Call 412-478-3105 or e-mail Justinunionproject.org to pick up your coffee or prepay for larger orders. The Union Project added its third staff member during the second week of September. Melissa Stauffer comes to The Union Project out of our partnership with neighboring Mennonite Urban Corps. Melissa is a graduate of Eastern Mennonite University, with a B.A. in business. She will be working part time at The Union Project putting together a more cohesive marketing strategy as well as developing a series of 2003 promotional events. To welcome Melissa to The Union Project e-mail melissaunionproject.org. We recently acquired the services of Desmone and Associates Architects to begin an architectural feasibility study, funded through a grant from the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh. The Union Project will be working in close partnership with Desmone, the CDCP, as well as Highland Park Community Development in order to put together initial design recommendations for the restoration of the former Union Baptist Church. Visit www.desmone.com for more information about their firm. This study will provide the resources necessary for the Union Project to move forward with fundraising, marketing, and a comprehensive volunteer plan for the restoration. A 12-member Project Team representing Peabody High School, Stanton-Negley Drugstore, Kelly-Strayhorn Community Performing Arts Center, Highland Park CDC and neighborhood residents and stakeholders will be participating in the study. There will be two community-wide meetings for neighborhood residents to review and discuss the developing plans. Those meetings will be announced shortly. The Heinz School of Carnegie Mellon University has agreed to aid The Union Project in developing a comprehensive database system to be used for storing and collecting valuable information regarding artists, volunteers, contact information, donors, and many more important pieces of The Union Project organization. This project is being spearheaded by Union Project volunteer Lauren Blair. The Highland Park Community Plan is working hard to collect and compile important information for the residents of Highland Park and a comprehensive strategy for the neighborhood's future. The Union Project is joining is this data collection and community planning effort by hosting an Arts, Recreation and Youth Development focus group at The Union Project on Thursday, October 17, from 7 until 8:30 pm. Neighbors from Highland Park and surrounding communities are encouraged to attend and provide input to Community Plan strategies for arts, recreation and youth development. Please call 412-661-7744 or e-mail jessunionproject.org for more details. Mildred's Daughters Urban Farm continues its partner ship with The Union Project by offering fresh produce in front of The Union Project on Saturday, October 12 from noon to 4 pm. This produce stand is being hosted in an effort to determine if a weekly market can succeed at the site next year. Call 412-478-3105 or e-mail Justinunioproject.org for details or if you are interested in joining Mildred's Daughters with a booth in 2003. The Union Project has recently created a partnership with Pura Vida coffee, based in Seattle, Washington to provide fairly traded coffee at reasonable prices. The Union Project will have 12-ounce bags of regular and decaffeinated coffee available for $10 a bag at the upcoming market day. Proceeds from your purchase go to support the Union Project as well as to support at-risk children in coffee-growing regions of the world. Visit www.puravidacoffee.com for more information about Pura Vida. Call 412-478-3105 or email Justinunionproject.org to pick up your coffee or prepay for larger orders. The Union Project will be hosting another work day on Wednesday, October 30 from Noon until 4 pm. Time will be spent doing a final fall exterior cleanup as well as continuing to clean and remove damaged plaster from the interior of the building. We are happy to be working closely with Chatham College Service Learning and Mennonite Urban Corps for that afternoon. If you are interested in volunteering on October 30, or any other day call 412-478-3105, or e-mail Justinunionproject.org. August-September, 2002 Five new Board Members were added to the Board of Directors at a recent Board Training meeting. These new members double the size of The Union Project Board. New members include Peter Eash-Scott, Pastoral Intern, Pittsburgh Mennonite Church; Susan Indrisano, Associate, Reed Smith; Lourdes Karas, Interim Executive Director, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts; Joanna Papada, Vice-President of Operations, Manchester Craftsmen's Guild; and Kamau Ware, Founder of Bridgespotters and Program Manager, Pittsburgh Council on Public Education. At the same training meeting the Board unanimously elected Brad Siemens to chair the newly expanded Board. Mr.Siemens is also joined on the board by founding members Chad Martin, John Stahl-Wert, and Milonica Stahl-Wert. We are also happy to announce yet another new partnership in summer event planning. Mildred's Daughters Urban Farm is teaming with the Union Project to try to begin a monthly farmers market to be held at the corner of Stanton and Negley Avenue on August 17, September 14, October 12, and November 9. The market is a four-month trial run in order to determine if a weekly market can be sustained at the crossroads for the spring and summer of 2003. We have recently received over $11,000 from private individuals as a result of our Case for Support campaign, spearheaded by new Executive Director Jessica King. We are interested in utilizing a broad spectrum of volunteer support in creating a valuable neighborhood organization. The events, plans, and maintenance of the organization are all very important in moving the Union Project in the direction of building renovation. If your strengths lie in any of these areas and you wish to volunteer, please contact the Union Project via phone or email, or fill out the partnership application here on our website if you have other ideas about assisting the Union Project. July, 2002 We are happy to announce a new partnership with Red Tape Productions as the basis for our summer concert series. We are also happy to announce that we have received grants from Allegheny Mennonite Conference, and from The Community Design Center of Pittsburgh (CDCP) The CDCP supports community revitalization efforts by: Providing grants, technical assistance, and education to community-based organizations; Encouraging public awareness of design as a revitalization tool; and Influencing the involvement of public agencies, other non-profits, and design professionals in community development. The Union Project will be present at East Liberty’s E-Fest. Look for the Union Project Booth from 12pm to 8pm on Saturday July 14 and Sunday July 15. We are happy to announce that our newest volunteer, Lauren Blair, is putting the finishing touches on the Union Project marketing plan. June, 2002 Jessica King was unanimously elected the first Executive Director of the Union Project this past week. King previously held the Manager of Theater Operations position at the Kelly-Strayhorn Community Performing Arts Center, a non-profit organization that operates the old Regent Theater in downtown East Liberty. Her experience in non-profit organizations also includes serving for four years as Program Coordinator and then Executive Director of Mennonite Urban Corps, a program that places recent college graduates into one-year volunteer work placements in community building, peacemaking, and arts groups within the Pittsburgh area. As the organizational structure of the Union Project continues to develop, so too does its involvement in the Pittsburgh arts scene. A summer concert series scheduled for July and August is currently in the works, and the Union Project recently hosted successful events in collaboration with the Penn Ave Arts Initiative (Unblurred #6, May 17th), Dark Night Cabaret (May 6th) and New Horizons (May 7th). In addition, Bricolage Theatre recently ended the three-week run of their debut production, "Wild Signs." The multi-dimensional performance brought flattering reviews from the Post-Gazette, City Paper, and Pulp, as well as a feature spot on WQED's OnQ Magazine program. Hundreds of people saw the show, with standing-room only shows during its final weekend. With the warm weather finally here, the Highland Park Community Development Corporation together with the Craig House stepped forward to help sponsor the Union Project Gardening Days, a series of Saturdays devoted to improving landscaping around the building. Many thanks to all involved for their help in the beautification of this prominent community landmark. The Union Project is interested in utilizing a broad spectrum of volunteer support in creating a valuable neighborhood organization. These events, plans, and maintenance are all very important in moving the Union Project in the direction of building renovation. If your strengths lie in any of these areas, please contact the Union Project via phone or email, or fill out the partnership application here on our website if you have other ideas about assisting the Union Project. April-May, 2002 Union Project call for volunteers The Union Project is in the midst of planning a summer event calender and there are many exciting events on the horizon. These events include a summer concert series, a summer art and faith series, developing a strategic marketing plan, and maintaining the Union Project exterior space. The Union Project is interested in utilizing a broad spectrum of volunteer support in creating a valuable neighborhood organization. These events, plans, and maintenance are all very important in moving the Union Project in the direction of building renovation. If your strengths lie in any of these areas, please contact the Union Project via phone or email, or fill the partnership application on our website if you have other ideas about assisting the Union Project. Union Project Gardening Days The Union Project has planned to begin a spring landscaping project. Community member Shelly Danko-Day has volunteered to lead the project. Volunteer workdays have been planned for May 4, 11, 18, and 25 from 8 am to 12 pm. Anyone interested in volunteering some time to spruce up this important community landmark is invited to come and lend a hand. Volunteers are encouraged to bring landscaping tools, seeds, flowers, bulbs, mulch, or a small donation to go towards landscaping needs. Union Project Continues to Grow As the summer months approach and the temperature continues to rise, more and more activity is taking place at the formerly vacant church building on the corner of Stanton and Negley, now operated by the Union Project. Two work groups - one from Philadelphia Mennonite High School and another from Pittsburgh Urban Christian School - have helped push the total Union Project volunteer hours to almost 2600. Several other volunteer work groups are scheduled in the upcoming months as the building is readied for renovation. The Union Project has recently formed an exciting partnership with Bricolage, a non-profit progressive Pittsburgh theater company. Bricolage will be presenting an original play by David Turkel entitled "Wild Signs." Directed by Jeffrey Carpenter, the production will run from May 1st through the 19th. Performances will be held Wednesday through Sunday at 8:00pm in the Union Project building, with two special event collaborations on May 6th (w/Dark Night Cabaret) and May 7th (New Horizons). On-site set construction is already near completion. Reservations can be made by calling Pro Arts at 412.394.3353. The Union Project will also host a Sunday morning worship service on April 21st at 11:30am. Hosted by Pittsburgh Mennonite Church, the service will be set in the main sanctuary area of the Union Project surrounded by Bricolage's nearly completed set. Inclusion in the next Pittsburgh "Unblurred" event on May 17, as well as the development of a summer concert series is also under way. Continue to check the website: www.unionproject.org for an updated list of news and events as this exciting project continues to grow. March, 2002 The Union Project has recently formed an exciting partnership with Bricolage, a non-profit progressive Pittsburgh theater company. Bricolage will be presenting an original production entitled "Wild Signs" in the Union Project building from May 1st through the 19th. Performances will be held Wednesday through Sunday, with two special event collaborations on May 6th (w/Dark Night Cabaret) and May 7th (New Horizons). On-site set construction will begin this week, and a work group from Philadelphia Mennonite High School is already scheduled to help out on Friday, April 5th. Check back often for regular updates on this exciting event! Marisa Smucker, the Pittsburgh Younth Network Project Director and a Highland Park resident, has recently been added to the Union Project Community Committee. At the Pittsburgh Youth Network, Marisa is in charge of directing various youth ministry events and coordinating monthly network meetings for youth leaders, among other things. Marisa's experience in community outreach and working with area youth are valuable additions to the Union Project. Union Project to host neighborhood discussion On April 13 from 10am to 12 noon, the Union Project plans to host a neighborhood discussion to be held in their building at the corner of Stanton and Negley Avenues. A majority of the time will be dedicated to hearing the community's dreams for the space and ideas about what the community needs from the Union Project building. Updates from the Union Project Advisory Board regarding organizational development since the November open house will be presented, and there will be plenty of time for further questions about what the Union Project is currently involved in. Childcare for children under 10 will be available, and food will be provided for participants. We encourage community members to attend this event and offer helpful feedback as the Union Project continues to develop. February, 2002 Although there hasn't been much activity in the building recently, the Union Project has been anything but silent. Several local business owners have been volunteering their time to the Union Project, providing valuable assistance in a number of different areas. Amy Enrico, owner of the Tazza D'Oro coffee shop in Highland Park and Kris Maier, a recent graduate of Kenyon (OH)College have been working closely with the Union Project in the development of a business plan. A local construction consultant is currently working on an extensive renovation proposal, the first of many steps in the building renovation process. We have also recieved a proposal from a local stained-glass artist and have been talking with other area artists about forming more partnerships. The Union Project is also currently involved in gaining 501(c)(3) non-profit status, and has submitted articles of incorporation within the past month. Advisory Board members Brad Siemens and Jessica King also began the grant writing process in early February with the submission of the Union Project's first grant proposal. In early March, the Union Project will also host a work group from Bluffton (OH) College. Their volunteer labor will push the total volunteer time to almost 2000 hours. January, 2002 Union Project expanding Advisory Board The Union Project has named Brad Siemens the first non-founding member of its Advisory Board. Mr. Siemens is currently a development associate at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. He has previous fundraising experience internationally in Thailand, and domestically in Austin, Texas and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. A graduate of Goshen College (Goshen, IN), Mr. Siemens is also a freelance feature writer published in the Bangkok Post and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The addition of Mr. Siemens is the first in an effort to expand the Union Project Advisory Board to reach broader social and professional circles within the neighborhoods of East Liberty, Highland Park, and Morningside. The Union Project has also taken on two new part-time volunteer staff people. James Eash, a current Mennonite Urban Corps volunteer also working at the Kelly Strayhorn Theatre in East Liberty, has been volunteering since the beginning of September. Mr. Eash has been helping to coordinate volunteer labor and is assisting with program planning. Peter Eash-Scott, a pastoral intern at Pittsburgh Mennonite Church, will be assisting other Union Project Advisory Board members as a member of the new Union Project Community Committee. This committee has been created in order to aid the Union Project in discovering how the its building can be utilized in order to serve the community in the best possible way. The Union Project is working to restore the former Union Baptist Church at the corner of Negley and Stanton Avenues, and at the nexus of the three diverse East End neighborhoods of East Liberty, Highland Park, and Morningside. After renovation, the historic building will be used as a community art center and meeting place for members of the community. The Union Project…restoring neighborhood space to connect, create, and celebrate. Top of Page 2001 Updates Community Day - November, 2001 On Saturday, November 10 2001, the Union Project will host a Community Day. Beginning with a flea-market from 8:00 am. to 1:00 pm., the building will be open for tours all day until 4:30 pm. There will be opportunity to talk with Union Project representatives about the project. Baked goods, hot lunch food, and drinks will be available. Events include an art exhibit and silent auction with all proceeds benefiting the restoration. Local artists exhibiting and selling work include nationally celebrated ceramic artists Cynthia Young, Joshua Green, and Dale Huffman. Photography, watercolor, and other visual art will also be shown and sold. All-day music performances include local artists Coal Train, Heather Kropf, JG Boccella, the Keith Hershberger Trio, and more. At 1:00 pm., there will be a short informational program to introduce the community to the plans and goals of the Union Project. Top of Page |
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To donate directly to Union Project click on Donate Now below: 
Donate via United Way of Allegheny County using our donor code: 1381770 |
phone 412.363.4550 fax 412-363-1216 801 North Negley Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15206 U.S.A. Join our mailing list to receive regular email updates about the Union Project and what we're up to. |
