The Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization is kicking off a new season of its Rivertown Changemakers initiative — for people with big ideas on how to improve their hometown.
The program is meant to empower residents to become ambassadors for change in Sharpsburg, Etna and Millvale.
“We know that Sharpsburg, Etna and Millvale are brimming with talented and creative folks who have so much to offer,” said Megan Tuñón, executive director of the Etna Community Organization.
“The Rivertown Changemakers civic engagement training gives those residents the tools they need to bring their ideas to life, which benefits us all.”
The free program is in conjunction with the Triboro Ecodistrict and Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services.
The first session will be at 6 p.m. Feb. 25 in the Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization office, 511 S. Main St. There will be five events that culminate in a graduation ceremony April 8 at the borough’s council chambers.
Jodi Klebick, Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization’s executive director, said the goal is for people to identify issues they care about, learn how decisions are made about those issues and to engage in activities where they’ll learn how to turn their visions into action.
Some community members have voiced challenges related to local decision-making because they don’t feel experienced or lack confidence.
The Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization and Fair Shake are working to bridge that gap, Klebick said.
Etna resident Kate Zidar participated in the program last year. She said it provided a space to explore an interest shaped by her background in urban planning and stormwater management.
Zidar developed an idea to divert runoff from elevated highways before it enters local waterways, which could be helpful in the event of a hazardous material spill. She plans to refine the concept in an upcoming cohort at Prototype Sharpsburg this spring.
“(This program provided) a type of third space that’s in short supply,” Zidar said. “I think this is a time for people to be in their communities in an engaged way. I wanted to see how I could personally strengthen my own community. But also, getting to know my neighbors is a huge treat.”
Other past participants have proposed communitywide infrastructure projects such as improving street lighting, addressing water pollution runoff, writing petitions to advocate for change on emergency readiness and speaking with their municipal leaders to explore funding options.
“At a moment when confidence in democratic institutions is steadily eroding, initiatives such as the Rivertown Changemaker Ambassador Program help make change feel possible,” said Joanna Tamburino, Triboro Ecodistrict’s food justice coordinator. “They give participants practical tools and show, step by step, how residents can work together and engage with local government and others to improve their communities.”