As Sustainability Manager for the City, Grant works to improve sustainability performance through city operations and policies.
Monday, January 26
I start my day by hopping on the 87M in Morningside. My first meeting of the day is the Department of Innovation and Performance Manager’s Meeting where everyone goes over their key priorities for the week. In the afternoon I’ll head to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) at Chatham Center for lunch and accompany the Mayor at the Monthly Board Meeting. Later, I’ll join our Student Conservation Association Fellow to work on the City’s carbon emissions inventory. Then it’s back on the 87M to head home to make dinner and help my wife Amy out with the bedtime routine for our two daughters Marley (almost 7) and Isla (1 ½).
Tuesday, January 27
Tuesday starts off with a Sustainable Pittsburgh board meeting at their new offices on Fourth Avenue. Then it’s back up to City County Building on Grant Street for a discussion of a recycling container pilot proposal for the North Side neighborhoods. Lunch at my desk—good chance it’ll be the always excellent tomato bisque from The Apollo Café on Forbes Ave. While I eat, I’ll jump on a phone conference with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network to discuss the organization’s strategic plan. In the afternoon I’ll join up with Analytic and Strategy Manager Laura Meixell to provide a project briefing for Innovation and Performance Director Debra Lam. Then it’s heading home to Morningside for a parent teacher check-in at St. Rafael’s School.
Wednesday, January 28
I kick off the day with a breakfast at Nicky’s Diner in The Grant Building. Then I head to the Department of City Planning to work with our project team on finalizing a request for proposal for the Uptown Eco Innovation District community planning project. In the afternoon we’ll host a meeting with the Green Building Alliance and Building Owners and Managers Association to discuss building energy performance technology. Then it’s a choose your own adventure: rush home, and either a) run to Gymkhana in Point Breeze for Marley’s gymnastics class followed up by quick trip the East End Food Co-Op for some veggies and a snack ; or b) play with Isla and get her ready for bed.
Thursday, January 29
Thursday starts with breakfast at Riverlife at the other end of Grant Street to learn about riverfront development activities. Midday I’ll be meeting up with Chris Koch from the Design Center to follow up on a community outreach project with the Project for Public Spaces, followed by a phone conference with the U.S. Conference of Mayor’s Municipal Waste Management team. In the afternoon I’ll join Innovation and Performance Director Debra Lam, and Rick Stafford and Stan Caldwell from Carnegie Mellon, to review city-university collaborations. I’ll close the day by joining the Mayor at The National Aviary on the North Side for the premier of a locally produced documentary on Rachel Carson.
Friday, January 30
Mid-morning I’ll have a planning call with the Pittsburgh Climate Initiative regarding the Pittsburgh Climate Action Plan 3.0. Then its prep and delivery of a presentation with the City’s Planning Department on Eco Districts to the staff of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. I’ll end the day with family and neighbors for dinner at the Bulldog Pub on Morningside Avenue.
Saturday and Sunday, January 30 & February 1
Looking pretty laid back this weekend. Birthday party on Saturday for one of Marley’s friends at the Fun Fest Entertainment Center on Freeport Road in Harmarville. On Sunday I’ll prepare family dinner at home and celebrate Marley’s 7th birthday … and mine too.
