Showing #robrogerscartoons on #homelessness during #OpenStreetsPGH with #alleghenycounty Homelessness Advisory

Lead Laden Soil "People are worried about water, and they should be, but water is not the main driver of lead poisoning among children.” It’s soil.

In the Steel City, groups like ACCD, DECO Resources, and Grow Pittsburgh have been able to conduct studies on soil lead levels in neighborhood vacant lots using an X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer, also known as the XRF. This handheld machine can test soil for lead and receive results in about 60 seconds. “We affectionately call it the soil ray gun,” said Anthony Stewart, president and environmental director of DECO Resources.

The XRF can be used to test lead levels in soil if the soil is processed properly. With a grant from the Hillman Family Foundation, the ACCD purchased an XRF.

To properly test the soil in a vacant lot for lead, Stewart said the lot is first broken up into areas that are usually 10 square feet and five samples are taken from each section. The soil must then be dried and processed into fine granules before being tested by the XRF. With this level of analysis, Stewart said they have been getting “laboratory grade results.” “We do send out 10 to 15 percent of our samples off to a lab for confirmation, and we are finding that we are spot on,” Stewart said.

Stewart said he would like to see collaboration between the organization and the City so “vetted scientists” would be allowed to access the City’s soil data that is currently internal and private. “It would be incredibly helpful… to use that data to drive policy and decision making,” Stewart said. “That’s kind of where I see the shortcoming right now.” Read the rest @ www.storyburgh.org
.
.
.
#storyburgh #pittsburgh #lead #soil #water #hillmanfamilyfoundatation #steelcity #safety #environment #earth #keepitclean #leadpoisoning #children #activism #plants #city #xrf #dirt #mud #plants #drinkingwater #growpittsburgh #ACCD #DECO

Wonder Writers from the Heights
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Janice Harry, 70, a Harrisburg native who moved to Northview Heights 7 years ago with her husband was drawn to the genuine, positive, and amusing nature of the Women's Writing Group of Northview Heights. "Other poetry readings are so full of angst we aren't trying to out do one another through negativity" Harry explains. The group helps to challenge Harry to pursue authenticity and straightfowardness in her work. Harry believes that it is through writing that people can become more empowered and overcome individual insecurities. Drawing inspiration from a quote by Pablo Picasso "every child is an artist, the problem is how to remain an artist when we grow up" Harry sees the Women's Writing Group of Northview Heights as a place where she is able to be challenged to retain the artist within.
Read the rest at www.storyburgh.org. .
.
.
#pgh #pittsburgh #pitt #pennsylvania #northviewhieghts #women #writers #artist #picasso #communityarts #folkart #poetry #poems #northviewhieghts #writing #harrisburg #published #inspiration #writtenword #spokenword #challenge #art #community #neighborhood #empower #insecurities #storyburgh
#story

David Shifren is a knight. His life moves in one direction, shifts 90 degrees, continues on, then shifts again. On November 3, 2015, Shifren's interests took another turn, as he began teaching chess to 10-15 local children at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Shifren aims to help the kids in his chess club move like pawns on a chessboard: only forward never bavkward. A year and a half after the first meeting, the club has maintained its crowd and the idea has spread to other neighborhoods. The club offers consistency and a safe place to grow intellectually and socially. Most importantly it has helped to create a close connection between communities and the local police force. "I'll ask about [the kids] reading habits, see chess kids at Hazelwood events, such as school football games, holiday parties, National Night Out celebrations and the Hazelwood Center of Life musical events" Shifren said. "I have forged friendships with the kids." Read the rest at www.storyburgh.org
.
.
.
#hazelwood #pittsburgh #chess #chessclub #community #pittsburghpolice #kids #education #activities #games #knight #friendships #carnegielibrary #libraries #social #society #inspiration #motivation #police #cops #helping #city #relationships #strategy #games #pgh #pennsylvania #city #urban

Another one bites the dust. No more #eastlibertypgh mural. #eastend #eastliberty #pittsburgh

Loving a “24-hour” Child

When you’re five, your day is full of transitions: it’s time to get out of bed, change your clothes, brush your teeth, use the bathroom, eat your breakfast.

For Jamal, a 5-year-old boy with Oppositional Defiance Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Autism Spectrum Disorder, transitions provide more of an obstacle him and his grandparents, who are raising him.
George and Susanna gave up retirement and ministries to guide Jamal through the transitions in therapy, education, and daily life. Recently, Shacoya Bates from Every Child, Inc. joined the process, validating Susanna’s wear- and wariness. Having a child with any kind of special need is an exhausting experience. But someone like Shacoya is there to hopefully help make that exhaustion a little less overwhelming.
Untraveled avenues that Shacoya finds, such as new therapies or ways to help Jamal stay at a healthy weight, are welcome bits of information; they’ll try anything. “He’s not merchandise,” George says. “You can’t just get over him or give up on him. He’s our grandson.”
Read the rest at www.storyburgh.org .
.
.
#storyburgh #pittsburgh #children #fostercare #grandson #kids #health #wellness #mentalhealth #specialneeds #parents #grandparents #everychildinc #therapy #education #family #love #autism