ENVIRONMENTAL FELLOWS INITIATIVE - OVERVIEW
Sponsored by The Heinz Endowments and the Helen M. Sakraida and Clara M. Sakraida Charitable Trust Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation

In 2010, the Pittsburgh Schweitzer Fellows Program launched an Environmental Fellows Initiative to enlighten, empower and mobilize residents in underserved communities in Southwestern Pennsylvania to change their lifestyles and their community and to raise the awareness and knowledge among Pittsburgh Schweitzer Fellows regarding environmental effects on health. The goal of the project is to educate disadvantaged people living in underserved neighborhoods regarding environmental factors that negatively and positively impact their health and to empower them to 1) change their lifestyles and 2) change their community.

INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

***Click here to download information on Environmental Fellowships v. Traditional Fellowships***

In addition to the standard requirements of a Pittsburgh Schweitzer Fellow, Environmental Fellows will commit to providing a total of 300 hours of service to residents in environmentally at-risk communities in southwest Pennsylvania; 225 hours will be in direct service to the community and 75 hours for education and administration.  Environmental Fellows will receive an increased stipend of $3,000 distributed in 3 payments throughout the Fellowship year as specific program objectives are completed.  Environmental Fellows will be expected to complete all requirements of the Pittsburgh Schweitzer Fellows Program as detailed in the application information.

POTENTIAL PROJECT IDEAS

• Conducting focus groups and administering surveys to assess environmental health dangers people in an underserved community experience.
• Translating emerging environmental science (with assistance from the University of Pittsburgh Center for Healthy Environments and Communities) for lay people via workshops, community presentations, on-going classes.
• Promoting awareness and behavioral change by providing information to parents regarding environmental influences on their children’s health.
• Organizing exercise and nutrition programs for elementary school age children to combat childhood obesity.
• Organize citizens and provide them with tools to take action to change detrimental environmental factors in their community.

ENVIRONMENTALLY AT-RISK COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

Braddock
Cheswick 
Communities in Fayette County                                             
Greene County
Hazelwood  
Hill District                                                                   
Hilltop
Homewood Brushton
Mt. Washington
Northside  
Shippensport                                                             
Springdale                                                                     
Washington County                                                                      
Westmoreland County                                                                    
Wilkinsburg

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants for the Environmental Fellows Initiative will complete the standard application to the Pittsburgh Schweitzer Fellows Program and will indicate their intent to apply as an Environmental Fellow in the demographic section of the application.  The application deadline for the 2011-2012 Fellowship year is Friday, February 10, 2012.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT

Joan Haley, Program Director
jhaley@schweitzerfellowship.org
412-363-0185 ext 26