Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to live in a Northside neighborhood to apply?

Yes. You must live in one of the following neighborhoods: Allegheny Center, Allegheny West, Brighton Heights, California-Kirkbride, Central Northside, Chateau, East Allegheny, Fineview, Manchester, Marshall-Shadeland/Brightwood, North Shore, Northview Heights, Perry North, Perry Hilltop/Perry South, Spring Garden, Spring Hill–City View, Summer Hill or Troy Hill.

I know nothing about (designing/vacant land/public policy/etc..) – can I still apply?

Absolutely! We are looking for motivated individuals who are passionate about making their community a better, greener place to live. We will teach you what you need to know to be successful.

How long is the ReClaim Northside program?

The ReClaim Northside classes begin in October 2014 and continues until April 2015. The project implementation phase will conclude by October 2014. See our schedule of ReClaim Northside classes and events for more information. 

How often are the classes?

The classes are on Wednesday evenings every two or three weeks from 6:00 until 8:00pm from October 2014 to April 2015. See our schedule of ReClaim Northside classes and events for more information.

What topics are covered?

During the duration of the program you will learn everything that you need to implement a successful greening project in your neighborhood. Some topics covered include: site access, site design, volunteer coordination, land policy, and landscaping.

We provide you with support and technical assistance. We partner with local service providers such as Grow Pittsburgh, CTAC, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and more so that you can learn from the experts.

What if I can’t attend classes on Wednesday nights?

We ask that you do not consider applying for the Ambassador Program this time around. Don’t worry though, there are plenty of ways to still be involved. Visit our Get Involved page to find out or sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date with GTECH going ons. 

What kind of projects am I suppose to create?

This is something that the classes will help you to think through, and we even have a whole session dedicated to the types of greening projects that you can do on a vacant lot. Most importantly you want to create something that will make something that will make your community an even better place and to get your neighbors involved.  

Some community-centered projects in the past have included: rain gardens, perennial gardens, small food plots, play spaces for kids and community gathering spaces.

I’m not a designer, how will I design?

Don’t worry! We partner with local designers in order to help you sketch out your ideas.

How many hours a week am I expected to work on my project?

The expected workload of the project will require working up to 5 hours a week. During the project implementation phase, you may have a few weeks where the workload requires 5-10 hours of your time. We also expect you to commit to maintaining your project in the long run. 

Has this been done before?

Yes!

Our pilot program began in 2012 under the title GAANS (Green Ambassador and Apprentice NorthSide) Program. Hear what they had to say about their projects in this video.

This is our third year in the Northside. In 2013, we switched the name to ReClaim Northside and narrowed the focus to green, land-based community greening projects. We are just wrapping up a ReClaim Ambassador program in south Pittsburgh. Read more about the progress of ReClaim South Ambassadors here. 

Still have questions? Contact Lydia at 412-361-2099 x4 or email her.

Did we answer all of your questions? Great, we’d love for you to apply.