Funded Projects beginning with I
“I Myself am That” (2003)
Laurie Marshall, 2003 Community Murals mural
Artist Laurie Marshall based this mural on the concept that “The Kingdom of God is within you,” interviewing more than 50 people of all ages and walks of life from McKees Rocks, and asking them what they thought of when they heard this phrase. The figures standing along the bottom edge of the mural correspond to the community members that Laurie interviewed, and the design is her rendition of how they described their vision. The windows they look through frame a view of an imagined McKees Rocks. The landscape is lush and wild, with the famous McKees Rocks Bridge as the only man-made structure in the panorama. Additionally, each window is designed to correspond to the different ethnic groups who call McKees Rocks home: from left to right they are Polish, Carpo-Russian, Ukranian, German, African, Irish, and Native American. The windows themselves are based on Italian Renaissance paintings, representing the Italian community. Shortly before the mural was commissioned, Focus on Renewal, the community applicant, brought the building on which the mural was painted and turned it into an art center. After the mural was completed, Focus on Renewal went on to adorn all the walls of the building with additional murals. The art center is now a thriving community gathering space and a source of identity and pride to the McKees Rocks community.
I Wish to Say
$500 » Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, 2017 100 Days sponsorship
I Wish to Say, an event hosted by the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, invited people to draft letters to the new President of the United States. The public art performances took place in Market Square on April 28-29, 2017.
Ice Station Zebra
$10,000 » Artists Image Resource, 2016 Remake Learning project support
Ice Station Zebra, a project of Artist Image Resource, was an interactive exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh that gave a local audience an introduction to Cold War era politics, geography, and the study of period communications technology. Artist Image Resource’s Youth Open Studio assisted with the creation of the exhibit and the associated programming which involved a live ‘radio-controlled’ dialogue with children in Russia and Norway, recreating the set of the film Ice Station Zebra for the two remote audiences.
Imagination Station 4Innovation
$15,000 » Brentwood Borough School District, 2015 Spark project support
Imagination Station 4Innovation, a project of Brentwood Borough School District, was a space at Moore Elementary school where creativity came to life by incorporating technology and innovation across all disciplines. The space was used to engage 60 fourth grade students in a robotics and animation program where children designed, programed, and built a virtual, robotic dream house. The program was then incorporated into the regular electrical circuits curriculum for fourth grade students at Moore Elementary. By participating in the program, students developed basic programming and coding abilities to enhance sequencing skills, as well as soft skills like collaboration and effective communication.
Imagine What You Can See Here
$4,320 » Freeport Renaissance Association, 2008 Community Connections project support
Imagine What You Can See Here, a project of Freeport Renaissance Association, featured three bird identification stations on a portion of the Rails To Trails bike/walking path along Buffalo Creek at Freeport that was identified by the Audubon Society as an Important Birding Area (IBA). The stations served as a tool to call attention to this special Freeport feature. One station was located at the trail. Another was located in downtown Freeport, and the third was located at Riverside Park, along the Allegheny River. The stations consisted of a display panel and bench, with the panel featuring birds that one can watch for along the trail.
Improving Parent/Family Engagement and Partnerships with Schools
$3,000 » Institute for Educational Leadership, 2016 One Northside project support
Improving Parent/Family Engagement and Partnerships with Schools, a project of Institute for Educational Leadership, supported the participation of local Northside parents, families, and educators in the National Family and Community Engagement Conference in Pittsburgh June 20-22, 2016. Participation in the conference aligned with the vision and mission of the Quality of Education Parent Engagement & Support Committee to help parents succeed by connecting them to a network of parents and resources.
In Service
$10,000 » Pittsburgh Filmmakers and Bricolage, 2007 Seed Award project support
In Service, a project of Pittsburgh Filmmakers and Bricolage, was a multimedia performance and film project, combining live performance, projected video, and still images to recreate the first-hand experiences of men and women serving in the Iraq War as soldiers, government officials, and war correspondents. In a community theater setting at the downtown Harris Theatre, native Pittsburghers recounted their personal war narratives, telling the stories of how world events shape our city and its people, and how our world is changed, too, by people here at home. Also part of the project was a gallery of photography on display at the Melwood Screening Room, featuring the work of local photographers reflecting on the war, complementing stories with striking imagery and creating a complete, powerful, emotional experience.
In Sisterhood: The Women’s Movement in Pittsburgh
$50,000, 2008 Community Connections project support
In Sisterhood: The Women’s Movement in Pittsburgh, a project of Thomas Merton Center, produced a first-of-its-kind multimedia exhibit featuring 20 influential leaders and activists in the women’s movement with roots in Pittsburgh during the latter part of the 20th century.
In the Making: 250 Years 250 Artists
$50,000, 2008 Community Connections project support
In the Making: 250 Years 250 Artists, a project of Fe Gallery, created a museum-quality, full-color catalogue documenting a first-of-its-kind visual exhibition of artwork by 250 artists from all 14 counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The catalogue provided a showcase of regional artists to curators, museum trustees, and collectors through its distribution regionally and nationally.
In The Wake
$3,200, 2011 Seed Award project support
In The Wake was a printed newspaper-style catalogue for the photography exhibition In the Wake. The work from this series focused on documenting the people, towns, landscapes, and industrial sites of the Monongahela Valley and the realities of the American Dream. The newspaper was used to show the photographs in an accessible way in the communities the images document. Newspapers were distributed in stands, stores, restaurants and public buildings in the 14 cities and towns that In the Wake has documented.
Indiana County Covered Bridge Festival
$5,000 » County of Indiana, 2008 Community Connections project support
Indiana County Covered Bridge Festival, a project of County of Indiana, celebrated the history and beauty of the covered bridges in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. The festival was a one-day event at the park that showcased local artisans and crafters demonstrating their work, musical entertainment, and local food vendors. Visitors experienced the covered bridges through speakers, highlighting the significance and history of these sites, bridge tours led by covered bridge enthusiasts, and exhibitions featuring the covered bridges of Pennsylvania.
Infant Mental Health Project
$1,000 » MAYA Organization, 2017 One Northside project support
Infant Mental Health Project, a project of MAYA Organization, developed a new series of classes for parents that encouraged positive cognitive and mental health development in infants. The class curriculum was developed in partnership with Project LAUNCH, an infant mental health advocacy and education initiative. The classes taught new parents skills to reduce the effects of toxic stress in babies. Parents who participated were given MAYA Money that could be cashed in for baby supplies as an incentive to participate.
Innovative & Inclusive City Keynote
$1,000 » GTECH Strategies, 2015 Sprout Sponsorship sponsorship
Innovative & Inclusive City Keynote, a project of GTECH Strategies, was the featured speaking event of CEOs for Cities, an interactive workshop on developing inclusive economic strategies to catalyze hotbeds of talent and innovation, using unlikely partnerships. Peter Sims, author and venture investor, delivered the Keynote address on June 11, 2015 to an audience of 250-300 attendees from 24 cities.
Innpressions
$3,500, 2005 Seed Award project support
Innpressions was a themed spoken word series that held regular open mic nights at the Firehouse Lounge in the Strip and in other locations around Pittsburgh.
Inspiring Young Ladies Dance Team
$500 » Sto-Rox School District, 2016 Change Machine project support
Inspiring Young Ladies Dance Team, a project of 16-year old Leila Quiroz, started a community dance team for girls ages 12-18. The dance team performed at community and school events in addition to having monthly team-building meetings around topics such as respect, education, careers, and mentoring. School staff members and a community member served as mentors for the project.
Insta-tangram
$4,000, 2012 Spark project support
Insta-tangram, a project of MITCH Collective, put a new twist on outdoor steamroller printing by combining an ancient Chinese puzzle, relief printmaking, digital fabrication, and interactive large-scale printing. Building on previous whiz-bang art displays for outdoor festivals in the Ohio Valley, schools, artists, and organizations on both sides of the river generated woodcut designs that were then carved with a CNC router. The pieces of wood fit together like a large tangram and participants rearranged the wood into various designs during outdoor art festivals in both Ohio and West Virginia. Once the large woodcuts were inked up, they were printed by a steamroller and put on display at the MITCH Collective gallery space and around town.
Integrated Design of an Outdoor Space
$1,000 » Holy Family Institute, 2015 Hive project support
Integrated Design of an Outdoor Space, a project of Holy Family Institute, was the creation of a free outdoor classroom for students in Pittsburgh. While there was no curriculum or lessons for children to follow, there were seminars held at the outdoor space in order to discuss important issues and topics in and around the city.
Interfaith Spiritual Healing Meditation
$5,000 » Institute of Integrative Medicine at Windber Medical Center, 2008 Community Connections project support
Interfaith Spiritual Healing Meditation, a project of Institute of Integrative Medicine at Windber Medical Center, created a sustainable health care system that integrates mind, body, and spirit in a community setting. This project brought together wellness applications for individuals and groups to invest in their own spiritual growth through Focused Intention, Aromatherapy, Breathwork, Inspirational Words and Music.
Intergenerational Mentoring Program for African American Males
$5,000 » East End United Community Center, 2011 Seed Award project support
Intergenerational Mentoring Program for African American Males, a project of East End United Community Center, provided male role models, mentoring, and cultural experience to young African American men in the Uniontown area, with a focus on the East End community. The project paired young men, 12-15 years of age with older African American men who were participating in the East End Senior Citizens Group and East End Concerned Citizen. The program was based on an existing evidenced based model titled Maturing Africans Learning from Each Other (MALE), created originally as a rites of passage program to encourage older adult African American males to have substantive conversations that cover topics from relationships, health, historical experiences, etc. This program was adapted successfully towards having older African American men work with their younger counterparts.
“Interpretations of Oakland” (2006)
Jonathan Laidacker, 2006 Community Murals mural
Artist Jon Laidacker composes pictures within pictures in Interpretations of Oakland, located at the heart of the Oakland community on Forbes Avenue. The first layer of this piece is a depiction of the Strand Building, the very site of the mural as it would have been seen in the 1930s. Superimposed on this black and white image are the portraits of two of Oakland’s key historical figures: Fred Rogers and Mary Schenley. The prominent image of Fred Rogers, better known to the world as Mister Rogers, occupies the center right portion of the mural. From 1968 to 2001, Mister Rogers broadcast his legendary children’s television program from PBS station WQED located on Fifth Avenue in Oakland, only a short distance from the mural. In 1889, Schenley bequeathed a large portion of her family estate overlooking central Oakland to the City of Pittsburgh; it is known today as Schenley Park. Finally, a collection of snapshots give us a view of contemporary Oakland and its varied residents and attractions. From the businesses lining Forbes Avenue to the Carnegie Museums, the universities and the restaurants—Oakland has it all, and it’s all here in the mural.
Introduction to Solidworks and Design
$19,000, 2016 City of Learning project support
Introduction to Solidworks and Design, a project of Carnegie Mellon University, Sarah Heinz House, City Charter High School, and University of Pittsburgh, combined the efforts of the four partners’ FIRST Robotics Competition teams to teach youth computer aided design (CAD), specifically Solidworks, in order to design parts and create mechanisms from assembly of parts. When completed, youth were able to fabricate their parts using 3D printing, local machine shops, and other rapid prototyping technologies.
“Introversion Excursion” (2009)
Andy Matia, 2009 Community Murals mural
The application for the 2009 Sprout Public Art project in the Crafton community came from the librarians at the Crafton Public Library, which is housed in the building that the mural was painted on. The building is actually the municipal building for the city of Crafton. In the installation process, Sprout received a great deal of support from public officials and public works, as well as from the people affiliated with the library. Although many strong designs were submitted, what community members liked best about Andy Matia’s design was its ability to capture the imagination. The scene effectively captures the idea of sitting down to have a quiet moment with a book, which becomes the catalyst for greater imaginative explorations. The young people in the mural can be seen engaging on this journey, their ideas visually manifested with many fantastic elements. Because wall is very long, and stretches across a highly trafficked street in Crafton, the mural can be enjoyed not only by people walking to and from the library, but also by the many motorists that pass by the area each day.
Invent-a-Bling
$6,000, 2012 Spark project support
Invent-a-Bling was an electronics design kit that provided children with an assortment of smart materials and components that could be embedded in a variety of dynamic projects. The kit provided materials such as color changing fabrics, sensors, solar panels, conductive ink, and many more components with interesting properties for young designers to investigate. The project partnered with Assemble to hold a series of workshops to test the first version of this kit, where they demonstrated many wearable projects that can be created using the kit, such as color-changing scarves and LED tilt headbands..
Inviting Ideas, Inspiring Innovation
$2,500 » PAEYC, 2014 Remake Learning sponsorship
Inviting Ideas, Inspiring Innovation, a project of the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children (PAEYC), was the 2014 convening of PAEYC’s biennial conference, a two-day event for educators, researchers, advocates and others serving young children. The event featured a Curiosity Hall, a showcase of nearly 30 organizations from the Kids+Creativity Network.
#involveNorthside Community Conversations
$1,050 » New Sun Rising, 2016 One Northside project support
#involveNorthside Community Conversations, a project of New Sun Rising, brought communities closer together by offering a way for business, nonprofits, and volunteers to work together to create digital content and accomplish mutual goals. The project recorded and promoted interviews with Northside business owners and nonprofit leaders around the Northside in order to get people more involved in the community and to get to know new businesses and organizations.
Irene’s Dream Luncheon
$5,000 » Bartko Foundation, 2017 100 Days project support
Irene’s Dream Luncheon, a project of the Bartko Foundation, supported single mothers of color in achieving the goals they set for themselves.
Iron Garden Walk
$5,000 » Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area, 2014 Seed Award project support
Iron Garden Walk, a project of the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area in partnership with Penn State Master Gardeners, was a dynamic educational project made up of interpretive iron plaques that led walkers through the Carrie Furnaces’ grounds, introducing topics of sustainability and living laboratories through a comprehensive plant survey. The Iron Garden Walk helped present the historical Carrie Furnaces as more than just a defunct industrial site, but rather as a living entity, changing with the seasons, where visitors can be engaged in both the site’s history and its ecology.
Isabelle’s Playground
$50,000, 2010 Spark project support
Isabelle’s Playground, a project of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, was a unique inpatient playground that used a therapeutic sensory theater to stimulate visual, auditory, and tactile senses and provide gross-motor play opportunities for children during their hospital stay.
ISTE 2014 Conference Stipend
$900 » Arts Education Collaborative, 2014 Remake Learning conference stipend
ISTE 2014 Conference Stipend - Arts Education Collaborative, a project of Arts Education Collaborative, enabled Jamie Kasper, Associate Director of Arts Education Collaborative, to attend the 2014 International Society for Technology Education Annual Conference in Atlanta, GA from June 28 – July 1, 2014. The annual ISTE Conference provided a forum to learn, exchange ideas, and survey the field of cutting-edge educational technology. At the conference, Jamie led a Special Interest Group for Arts Educators and moderated a panel session with the staff of the Arts Education Partnership.
ISTE 2015 Conference Stipend
$750 » Cornell School District, 2015 Remake Learning conference stipend
ISTE 2015 Conference Stipend - Cornell School District, a project of Cornell School District, enabled Kris Hupp, 21st Century Teaching & Learning Coach at Cornell School District, to attend the 2015 International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Annual Conference in Philadelphia, PA from June 28 – July 1, 2015. The annual ISTE Conference provided a forum in which to learn, exchange ideas, and survey the field of cutting-edge educational technology. At the conference, Kris presented at the Give Your Students News Program an Upgrade session. The session was an expansion on an article he wrote for the February 2014 issue of the ISTE publication, Learning and Leading with Technology.
ISTE 2015 Conference Stipend
$750 » Fort Cherry School District, 2015 Remake Learning conference stipend
ISTE 2015 Conference Stipend - Fort Cherry School District, a project of Fort Cherry School District, enabled Trisha Craig, Director of Curriculum at Fort Cherry School District, to attend the 2015 International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Annual Conference in Philadelphia, PA from June 28 – July 1, 2015. The annual ISTE Conference provided a forum in which to learn, exchange ideas, and survey the field of cutting-edge educational technology. At the conference, Trisha presented on the positive impact the Kids+Creativity Network has had on the development of Fort Cherry School District’s student programming, facilities, and professional growth.
ISTE 2015 Conference Stipend
$750 » Uniontown Area School District, 2015 Remake Learning conference stipend
ISTE 2015 Conference Stipend - Uniontown Area School District, a project of Uniontown Area School District, enabled Angela Capuzzi, an Art Teacher in the Uniontown Area School District, to attend the 2015 International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Annual Conference in Philadelphia, PA from June 28 – July 1, 2015. The annual ISTE Conference provided a forum in which to learn, exchange ideas, and survey the field of cutting-edge educational technology. At the conference, Angela volunteered at the Creativity Playground, where attendees were encouraged to experiment and play with tools and processes that foster creativity.
ISTE 2016 Conference Stipend
$750 » Arts Education Collaborative, 2016 Remake Learning conference stipend
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) 2016 Conference Stipend - Arts Education Collaborative, a project of Arts Education Collaborative, enabled Jamie Kasper, Associate Director at Arts Education Collaborative, to attend the ISTE annual conference June 26-29, 2016 in Denver, CO. ISTE was globally recognized as the most comprehensive educational technology conference in the world. The conference featured keynotes, workshops, ignite sessions, playgrounds, and other sessions that directly focused on remaking learning for both students and adults through the integration of new and emerging technologies. Jamie presented a session on the Remake Learning Playbook and the role of the arts in many of the Playbook’s case studies on behalf of the Remake Learning Network.
ISTE 2016 Conference Stipend
$1,500 » Carnegie Mellon University, 2016 Remake Learning conference stipend
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) 2016 Conference Stipend - Carnegie Mellon University, a project of Carnegie Mellon University, enabled Theresa Richards, FIRST Robotics Program Coordinator at Carnegie Mellon University, to attend the ISTE annual conference June 25-29, 2016 in Denver, CO. ISTE was globally recognized as the most comprehensive educational technology conference in the world. The conference featured keynotes, workshops, ignite sessions, playgrounds, and other sessions that directly focused on remaking learning for both students and adults through the integration of new and emerging technologies. Theresa co-presented an interactive lecture/workshop based on the success of digital badges implemented through the Remake Learning Network.
ISTE 2016 Conference Stipend
$1,500 » City Charter High School (EDSYS Inc.), 2016 Remake Learning conference stipend
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) 2016 Conference Stipend - City Charter High School (EDSYS Inc.), a project of City Charter High School (EDSYS Inc.), enabled Katie Bordner, teacher at City Charter High School, to attend the ISTE annual conference June 26-29, 2016 in Denver, CO. ISTE was globally recognized as the most comprehensive educational technology conference in the world. The conference featured keynotes, workshops, ignite sessions, playgrounds, and other sessions that directly focused on remaking learning for both students and adults through the integration of new and emerging technologies. Katie co-presented an interactive lecture/workshop based on the success of digital badges implemented through the Remake Learning Network.
ISTE 2016 Conference Stipend
$500 » Riverview School District, 2016 Remake Learning conference stipend
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) 2016 Conference Stipend - Riverview School District, a project of Riverview School District, enabled Rachelle Poth, a teacher at Riverview Jr Sr High School, to attend the ISTE annual conference June 26-29, 2016 in Denver, CO. ISTE was globally recognized as the most comprehensive educational technology conference in the world. The conference featured keynotes, workshops, ignite sessions, playgrounds, and other sessions that directly focused on remaking learning for both students and adults through the integration of new and emerging technologies. Rachelle presented on personalized learning and using technology to collaborate and communicate on behalf of the Remake Learning Network.
ISTE 2016 Conference Stipend
$1,500 » South Fayette Township School District, 2016 Remake Learning conference stipend
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) 2016 Conference Stipend - South Fayette Township School District, a project of South Fayette Township School District, enabled a team of educators from South Fayette Township School District to attend the ISTE annual conference June 26-29, 2016 in Denver, CO. ISTE was globally recognized as the most comprehensive educational technology conference in the world. The conference featured keynotes, workshops, ignite sessions, playgrounds, and other sessions that directly focused on remaking learning for both students and adults through the integration of new and emerging technologies. The South Fayette team presented a workshop called ‘How to Build a Makerspace for Elementary Innovation’ and a session called ‘The Power to Invent: Embedding the Maker Movement in K-12 Education’ on behalf of the Remake Learning Network.
It takes a village to raise a child- Saving Our Sons and Daughters
$1,000 » Infinite Lifestyle Solutions, 2017 One Northside project support
It takes a village to raise a child- Saving Our Sons and Daughters, a project of Infinite Lifestyle Solutions, worked with youth at John Morrow Elementary School who had multiple suspensions or expulsions. The 8-week program addressed ongoing issues of youth violence and lack of respect for authority by teaching critical thinking skills to help resolve conflict. The project additionally had 4 parent workshops that focused on positive parenting skills and building relationships with school administration.
It Takes You: Campaign to End Poverty in our Community
$5,000 » Community Action Southwest, 2008 Community Connections project support
It Takes You: Campaign to End Poverty in our Community, a project of Community Action Southwest, implemented a campaign to raise awareness about poverty. Participants experienced the realities of life without enough money to meet basic needs, using simulation kits that led people through four fifteen minute weeks of poverty. Information about poverty and suggestions on how people can get involved were shared to support the activities. This experience was offered to local schools and universities, business owners, human service providers, and religious groups.
Italian and Yugoslav National Film Series
$7,000 » University of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Filmmakers, 2003 Seed Award project support
Italian and Yugoslav National Film Series, a project of University of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Filmmakers, combined the unique perspectives of international cinema with Pittsburgh’s own intercultural roots to create a multifaceted event. Highlighting the film, food, and culture of the Italian and Slavic traditions, the event united local cultural groups, restaurants, and film buffs in mutual celebration.