Hourglass Lancaster

Today, November 22, Hourglass is participating in the largest community fundraising event of the year - ExtraGive - which supports local organizations across Lancaster County! Your support with a donation to Hourglass will help us continue to provide local, reliable information on legacy issues such as smart growth, public education innovation, and the protection of our environmental resources. Our mission is to ensure that Lancaster County remains a great place to live, work, and grow - now and in the future. Thanks to the Stretch Pool and prizes, your donation will go even further, helping us make a bigger impact on the issues that matter most to our community. Donate to Hourglass and make an impact that lasts! Link here: https://lnkd.in/d8VZz782 #HourglassLancaster #LancasterPA #SmartGrowth #Community #ExtraGive #Sustainability #PublicEducation #Nonprofit

We are thrilled to announce Lea Zikmund as the new Executive Director at Hourglass! Lea comes to us with 5 years of experience at StoryCorps, where she worked to preserve the stories of everyday Americans. Most recently, she served as the Mobile Tour Director for an annual 10-city tour, collaborating with local NPR stations nationwide. As a proud Lancaster resident, Lea will lead our efforts to make Lancaster a better place to live, work, grow, and connect with like-minded organizations in our community. Please join us in welcoming Lea! ?? https://lnkd.in/eqBRESEG

Water restoration is a long-term effort. It can take up to 10 years to restore a waterway, and that's still considered rapid. However, with each project and mindful action, Lancaster County gets closer to its goal of "Clean and Clear by 2040." ?? Check out One United Lancaster's article to learn how Lancaster Clean Water Partners is driving progress in restoring our local waterways. https://lnkd.in/e5Z3tX4n ?

Yesterday’s First Friday Forum was a memorable one! We were honored to host Allyson Gibson, Executive Director of Lancaster Clean Water Partners; Terry Martin, Caernarvon Township Supervisor; and Mike Hudson, Outreach Coordinator for Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake. Each brought invaluable perspectives on the mission to make Lancaster's water clean and clear by 2040, highlighting collaboration with farmers, congregations, and community partners. A video recording?of the talk will be available on our website and youtube channel this?week. This forum was also a special moment for us, as it marked our Executive Director Diana Martin's last day with Hourglass. Diana, thank you for your dedication to making Lancaster a stronger, more connected community. We wish you all the best in your next chapter!?

"Lancaster County has an acute shortage of affordable housing, which is contributing to its homelessness crisis. While it’s necessary to maintain attention on the problem, it’s also important to highlight solutions and recognize the people who are 'figuring it out and making it work,' Hourglass Executive Director Diana Martin said."

We're #hiring a new Executive Director in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Apply today or share this post with your network.

A Message from Our Executive Director:

Thank you to everyone who joined us for today’s First Friday Forum, where we highlighted three affordable housing projects making an impact in Lancaster County! ??? Dana Hanchin from HDC MidAtlantic shared details on Phase 2 of their College Avenue Project, which will bring 49 apartments to the former St. Joseph’s Hospital. Chad Martin from Chestnut Housing gave us a look into Dinah’s Hill Apartments, a redevelopment project adding 8-12 affordable units at the former Strawberry Hill Restaurant. Michaela Allwine from V?lker walked us through plans to transform the former Stiegel Elementary School in Manheim into 44 affordable housing units for seniors. Stay tuned for the video recording on our website and YouTube channel next week! ? Have a great weekend! #AffordableHousing #LancasterCounty #CommunityDevelopment

"With its growing offerings for hiking and biking rail trails, paddling, nature preserves, hunting and fishing and a renewed focus on the Susquehanna River, new initiatives have been launched to expand and market outdoors opportunities in the county." Thanks LNP | LancasterOnline for the coverage of our recent Outdoor Recreation forum!

Outdoor recreation is vital, not an afterthought. And in Lancaster County and across the U.S., it’s one of those rare things that cuts across political and social divides to bring people together to achieve common goals. As a $17 billion industry that provides 164,000 jobs - in Pennsylvania alone - we’re paying attention to how our economic, social, and physical well-being relies on equitable access to green spaces, trails, and communities. As a bicycling and transportation equity advocate, I loved hearing from Emily Landis about the art, education, and transportation aspects of the Little Conestoga Blue/Green Corridor Project. I was also excited to hear about the six flat, ADA-compatible trails that are opening on Lancaster Conservancy-stewarded lands in our county, deepening access to nature for wheelchair users and folks with limited mobility. We all deserve the freedom to access green spaces and transportation routes that feel welcoming and safe, regardless of our (dis)abilities, experiences, and backgrounds. Thanks to Diana Martin and Hourglass Lancaster for an insightful and inspiring forum earlier this month. The future of outdoor recreation in Lancaster County is bright and inclusive. Check out the full recording here: https://lnkd.in/eQSEQizJ