For residents of Millvale, Etna, and Sharpsburg who have ever wondered how local decisions are made, or wanted to play a more active role in shaping their community, the Rivertown Changemakers Ambassador Program offers a new path forward.
For residents of Millvale, Etna, and Sharpsburg who have ever wondered how local decisions are made, or wanted to play a more active role in shaping their community, the Rivertown Changemakers Ambassador Program offers a new path forward.
Hosted by the Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization (SNO), the program is a free, multi-part leadership and civic engagement series designed to give Triboro ecodistrict residents the tools, knowledge, and connections needed to make a difference close to home. Through interactive workshops and collaborative projects, participants learn how local government works, explore community challenges, and develop ideas for positive change. Built upon a previous program for civic engagement, Rivertown Changemakers’ first cohort took place in the fall of 2025, and the second cohort is slated to begin Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at SNO’s office, 511 S. Main St., Pittsburgh, PA 15215 in Sharpsburg.
“At a moment when confidence in democratic institutions is steadily eroding, initiatives such as the Rivertown Changemaker Ambassador Program help make change feel possible,” said Joanna Tamburino, Triboro Ecodistrict Food Justice Coordinator. “They give participants practical tools and show, step by step, how residents can work together and engage with local government and others to improve their communities.”
That hands-on approach resonated with participants in the program’s first cohort. Sharpsburg resident Matt Carrick described how assignments between sessions encouraged creative reflection and personal connection. One project involved documenting takeaways from the program through photos or video. Carrick, who works in video production, created a short reflective piece and shared it with the group.
“Once we had the background and knowledge of what Sharpsburg and the Triboro Ecodistrict’s priorities were and how to go about that, we were encouraged to think about projects that we actually want to go out and implement,” Carrick said.
For Etna resident Kate Zidar, the program provided a space to explore a long-standing interest shaped by her background in urban planning and stormwater management. Through discussions and feedback, she developed an idea focused on diverting runoff from elevated highways before it enters local waterways, which could be especially helpful if there is an accident involving a hazardous material. Zidar plans to continue refining the concept in an upcoming cohort at Prototype Sharpsburg this spring.
“[This program provided] a type of third space that's in short supply. In general right now, I think this is a time for people to be in their communities in an engaged way,” Zidar said. “I wanted to see how I could personally strengthen my own community, but also getting to know my neighbors is a huge treat. We are awesome. We have so many interesting people living here.”
The second cohort of the Rivertown Changemakers Ambassador Program will meet from 6-8:45 p.m. at the SNO office on February 25, March 11, and March 26, with a field trip to a local council meeting also on the schedule (March 26th for Sharpsburg), and the final program and graduation celebration on April 8.
Tamburino emphasized how the program was intentionally designed to remove common barriers to civic participation and acknowledges the realities of people’s schedules and responsibilities by hosting sessions in the evening as well as providing meals and childcare support.
Carrick also noted that local politics can feel intimidating or inaccessible. The program helped demystify the process, showing participants where decision-making “levers” are and how residents with limited free time can still engage in meaningful ways.
Triboro Ecodistrict residents who are curious, passionate, or ready to get involved are encouraged to apply by filling out this interest form.