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- EIN 81-0848247
- contact@lathamstcommons.org
- 117 Latham St. Pittsburgh PA 15206 USA
- www.lathamstcommons.org
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Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Economic Development, Employment Preparation & Procurement, Environment, Job Training, Natural Resources Conservation & Protection, Urban & Community Economic Development
Mission: Latham Street Commons is a place where the community can create models for economic development by using the built environment and its relationship with the community. Our mission is to be a place dedicated to improving the health of neighbors by addressing their social, educational and economic needs through relationships—person to person, person to community, and person to nature.
Results: More than 275 people participated in our events over the past two years through which we collected over 400 ideas. Responses reflected the community’s need for access to better quality food, education and health care. We have worked alongside the community, experimenting with growing food on rooftops and giving away significant amounts of produce. Our team has also spent time learning about storm water management. Our roofs contribute an annual 137,916 gallon load to the city’s water system. New sustainable practices open doors to employment, and other educational endeavors.
Target demographics: foster symbiotic relationships between people and nature, so we can learn, practice and maintain sustainable ways of living.
Geographic areas served: PITTSBURGH
Programs: LSC focuses its efforts on five main areas: underrepresented communities that experience economic disparity, climate and energy, human health, and the development of urban farming ecosystems. Across these five areas, a strategic approach to engaging communities in designing and implementing practical solutions is a hallmark of the organization’s work. Due to this track record of designing community-based economic and environmental solutions and its history of engaging the public in social and environmental initiatives, we are uniquely positioned to drive replication. LSC acts as fertile ground for new ways of working with communities. We are learning how to build a system where daily life needs are the drivers for new local economies. If we place one of our most precious resources—food—at the center, could we have an impact on the knowledge, civic-mindedness and function of a community’s health and well-being? We say, “Yes” and hope our first program Night Owl Bakers will help to prove it.