The Sprout Fund is looking for 15 great ideas that will drive the region forward by better connecting our city.
This latest round of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) was announced by the Sprout Fund on Monday evening at the “Connecting Our City” social innovation eXchange (SiX) at the Community Broadcast Center. Lively roundtable discussions, guided by a facilitator at each table as well as a graphic artist who illustrated concepts, led to hundreds of ideas about better connecting Pittsburgh.
Here's just one example, using the handy fill in the blank sign provided as a tool:
In Pittsburgh, natives should be better connected to transplants by creating a community level ambassador program in order to build relationships and retain talent.
It was one of nearly two dozen signs that resulted from the discussions and were were displayed in the lobby during the network session that followed.
Great projects are already underway in the in the region, noted Dustin Stiver of The Spout Fund who introduced five social innovators at the event who have found ways to meaningfully connect people. They included performance artist and poet Vanessa German of Love Front Porch, Khalif Ali of Coro, Seth Gernot of The Keg Ride, Megs Yunn of Beverly’s Birthdays and Tim Cook of the Saxifrage School. (Read more about the event in Pop City next week!)
To catalyze ideas from the SiX event and other community connections, Sprout has announced a request for proposals from organizations and individuals with socially innovative ideas to increase connections in Pittsburgh.
Looking for new, unique, and creative ideas, Sprout will make up to 15 $1,000 awards to help connect neighborhoods and communities. Connections can take many forms, from building bridges between adjacent neighborhoods to connecting pro-bono designers with civic organizations in need, from connecting graduate student consultants with city government to connecting suburban boroughs with urban communities.
What do you wish was more connected? Sprout is waiting to hear from you! Use this simple Online Application Form to submit your proposal by Friday, November 30, 2012 by 5pm.
Potential applicants are encouraged to attend an optional information session at The Sprout Fund offices at 5423 Penn Ave in Garfield/Friendship at 12 noon on Friday, November 9, 2012. RSVP to connect@sproutfund.org if you plan to attend.
Funding Opportunities from SiX 2
And don’t forget about the two RFPs announced after the last SiX event:
The Building Public Support for Public Transit RFP offers up to $20,000 for projects that engage with, celebrate, and promote public transportation in Pittsburgh. Proposals are due by Friday, November 30, 2012 at 5pm. Read the full details and download the application at sproutfund.org/six-public-transport-rfp
The Multicultural Collaboration Initiatives RFP offers up to $5,000 to support collaborative programs that help raise the profile of multicultural communities to increase cultural awareness and diversity in the region. Proposals are due by Friday, November 30, 2012 at 5pm. Read the full details and download the application at sproutfund.org/six-multicultural-rfp
Prospective applicants for the Multicultural Collaboration Initiatives are encouraged to attend a matchmaking happy hour on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 from 5:30pm-7:30pm at AVA Lounge in East Liberty to learn more about the RFP, meet with Vibrant Pittsburgh and other organizations interested in collaboration, and ask questions about the application process.
RSVP to attend by emailing connect@sproutfund.org or calling 412.325.0646.
Photographs by Rob Larson, from the Community Broadcast Center on November 5th.
Six is brought to you by the Pittsburgh Foundation in concert with Pop City and the Sprout Fund with additional support from the Benedum Foundation, The Buhl Foundation and an anonymous foundation. WESA 90.5 was a partner in this event and hosted it at the studio on the South Side.