Highlands Dems host environmental rally at Harrison Hills

Highlands Dems are hosting an environmental rally Thursday at Harrison Hills, where participants are encouraged to don Super Hero capes and accept the challenge to help climate-friendly candidates get elected in November.

“This is a call to action,” said Autumn Monaghan, organizer. “All of us green heroes will channel our powers to see climate champions get into office.”

The family-friendly event is free and will feature a cookout from 5 to 8 p.m. at the park’s Yakaon Pavilion. There will be hot dogs on the grill and everyone is asked to bring a side dish to share. A $25 prize will go to the person with the best costume.

Mandy Steele, the Democratic candidate for the state House 33rd District, will be the guest speaker.

“Climate change is a huge opportunity for our region,” Steele, of Fox Chapel, said. “We can drive massive investment and new good-paying, family-sustaining clean energy union jobs our way, lifting up all of our communities and solving so many of the challenges our communities face.”

Highlands Dems is a joint effort of voters in Harrison, Brackenridge and Tarentum.

The group is hosting a rally every month in an effort to stir conversation and recruit volunteers.

Thursday’s program will be a zero-waste event with face painting, composting demos and crafts made from upcycled materials.

Free native plants and milkweed seeds will be distributed.

Steele said it is time to bring manufacturing back to the region but with clean energy.

“We have the work force ready to roll but we will miss our chance if we stay stuck in the past,” she said.

“Aside from the economic benefits, we need to take urgent and decisive action on climate change in Pennsylvania to protect our communities.”

Monaghan, who also is chair of the Harrison Democratic committee, said the event is a time to listen, learn and get to work raising awareness of the group’s platform.

“We need to take immediate action on protecting our rights to a clean environment while connecting with other local Democrats,” she said.

Participants will have the chance to register for a variety of volunteer positions, including canvassing, voter registration, writing postcards and working the phone bank.