About Grounded strategies
Grounded Strategies: Using Land as a Medium for Community Change
Grounded Strategies is a non-profit organization that focuses on using land as a medium for community change. The organization works with residents to create equitable, sustainable, and catalytic greenspace projects that help transform communities. Grounded Strategies believes that by working with residents and empowering them to take ownership of their neighborhoods, they can create positive change that benefits everyone.
The organization was founded in 2004 by Chris Ivey and Evaine Sing, who saw the need for more community-driven development in Pittsburgh. They wanted to create an organization that would work with residents to transform vacant lots into vibrant greenspaces that would benefit the entire community. Since then, Grounded Strategies has expanded its reach beyond Pittsburgh and now works with communities across the United States.
Grounded Strategies' approach is unique because it focuses on using land as a tool for community development. By transforming vacant lots into greenspaces, the organization helps improve the quality of life in neighborhoods while also creating opportunities for economic development. The greenspaces created by Grounded Strategies are designed to be sustainable and self-sufficient, which means they require minimal maintenance once established.
One of the key principles behind Grounded Strategies' work is equity. The organization believes that everyone should have access to high-quality greenspaces regardless of their income or background. To achieve this goal, Grounded Strategies works closely with residents to ensure that their needs are being met and their voices are being heard throughout the process.
Another important principle behind Grounded Strategies' work is sustainability. The organization recognizes the importance of creating projects that are environmentally responsible and economically viable over the long term. This means designing projects that use renewable resources whenever possible and creating partnerships with local businesses to ensure ongoing support.
Grounded Strategies has worked on numerous projects across the United States since its founding in 2004. Some notable examples include:
- Homewood Green: This project transformed a vacant lot in Pittsburgh's Homewood neighborhood into a vibrant greenspace that includes a community garden, walking trails, and a performance space. The project was designed with input from local residents and has become a hub for community events and activities.
- The Greenprint: This project is an ongoing effort to create a network of interconnected greenspaces throughout the Pittsburgh region. Grounded Strategies is working with local organizations to identify potential sites for new greenspaces and to connect existing ones.
- The Garden Resource Center: This program provides resources and support to community gardeners across the United States. Grounded Strategies works with local organizations to establish new gardens, provide training and education, and connect gardeners with resources like seeds, tools, and compost.
Grounded Strategies' work has been recognized by numerous organizations over the years. In 2017, the organization received the National Planning Excellence Award for Advancing Diversity & Social Change from the American Planning Association. This award recognizes organizations that have made significant contributions to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice or environmental sustainability through planning practice or education.
In conclusion, Grounded Strategies is an innovative non-profit organization that uses land as a tool for community development. By working closely with residents to create equitable, sustainable greenspace projects that benefit everyone in the community, Grounded Strategies is helping transform neighborhoods across the United States. With its focus on equity and sustainability, this organization is making a real difference in people's lives while also creating opportunities for economic development.
groundedpgh.org