Aspinwall Neighbors Awards Community Grant to Pilot Meetups for Remote Workers

Thursday, August 27, 2026

Aspinwall Neighbors announced today a community grant award to local resident Francesca Gandolfi to help launch her new initiative, Neighbors at Work, which aims to connect remote and hybrid workers in Aspinwall while encouraging support for local businesses.

Through the grant, Aspinwall Neighbors is helping her get the initiative off the ground with a pilot of three monthly meetup-style events. Following the pilot, Gandolfi will continue ownership of the organization and develop the program independently.

With a background in law, Francesca created this group to address a common challenge of remote work: staying connected to a local professional community while working primarily from home. The group welcomes all remote and hybrid workers in the area and will host monthly meetups designed to encourage networking, conversation, and making connections.

“Ultimately, I want Neighbors at Work to be more than just a meetup. I want it to become a regular opportunity to connect, build relationships, support local businesses, and make Aspinwall feel a little more like home,” says Francesca Gandolfi.

The first meetup, “Neighbors at Work: Remote but Connected,” will take place on Wednesday, September 16 from 5:30-7:30pm at AVVA. Registration is now open.

The community grant will help cover the costs of hosting the first three meetup events, giving her Neighbors at Work the opportunity to establish a strong foundation and build a community of participants.

“We’re excited to help Francesca bring this idea to life,” says Ian Winner, Grants Program Lead for Aspinwall Neighbors. “The pilot is a great example of the kind of resident-led initiative that can strengthen connections within our community while also encouraging people to spend time and support businesses right here in the borough.”

Neighbors at Work is intended to be an inclusive community for anyone in the area who works remotely or in a hybrid arrangement. Whether participants are looking to expand their professional network, meet other people who understand the remote-work experience, or simply get out of the house and connect, the monthly meetups offer an opportunity to do so. Francesca Gandolfi’s new initiative is getting started on Instagram, where followers can find updates about upcoming meetups and ways to participate.

For more information about Aspinwall Neighbors and the Community Grants program, visit aspinwallneighbors.org.

About Aspinwall Neighbors

Aspinwall Neighbors is a volunteer-led nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening community connections and enhancing quality of life in Aspinwall through events, programs, beautification projects, and neighbor-to-neighbor initiatives. By creating opportunities for residents to gather, volunteer, and support one another, Aspinwall Neighbors helps make the borough a welcoming place for all.

Media Contacts

Ian Winner
Community Grants Lead
Aspinwall Neighbors
ian@aspinwallneighbors.org

Francesca Gandolfi
Community Grant Awardee
Founder, Neighbors at Work
francescagandolfi@outlook.com