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West Baltimore Renaissance Foundation Quarterly Newsletter - Summer 2024

Blogs

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MD Nonprofits Fundraising and Sustainability Cohort

 

Congratulations to the following grantees for being accepted into the Fundraising and Sustainability Cohort, sponsored by WBRF and led by Maryland Nonprofits.

  • Pigtown Main Street Inc. 
  • Clay Pots 
  • Cody Young Empowerment Youth Charities
  • Requity 
  • Pigtown Climbs 
  • Turnaround Tuesday 
  • Unlimited Potential 
  • Intersection of Change 
  • Phase 3  
  • Light Health and Wellness

This cohort will take a deep dive into fundraising, marketing and management of gifts and how to develop goals and objectives for each. Each organization will receive ongoing support through the sessions. By the end of the cohort, they will develop a draft resource development plan with diversified funding streams that includes goals, objectives and actions steps.

 

Volunteers Needed: New Playground at Mary Ann Winterling
 

Join LifeBridge Health and community partners for the transformation of the Mary Ann Winterling Elementary School playground into a kid-designed space that supports the unique developmental needs of students, providing them a dedicated space to play, learn and thrive. With the support of WBRF and in partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools, KABOOM! will transform the playspace on October 31, November 1 and November 2, 2024. Volunteers are needed on all three days with the largest grouping needed on Saturday, November 2.   


To volunteer to be part of the building process, please contact Larry Mack (lmack@lifebridgehealth.org) and please copy Daisa Johnson (djohnson33@lifebridgehealth.org) from the WBRF team. 

 

Grace Community Day & Health Fair 

 

Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024 
Time: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 
Location: Behind Grace Medical Center, Fayette St. (between Payson and Pulaski Streets) 
Event Details: Rain or Shine!


Join us for a day of fun, health and community at Grace Community Day! Enjoy free comprehensive health screenings and a wide array of activities, including face painting, a petting zoo, pony rides, a bounce house and more.


Highlights:

  • Free lunch and produce giveaway
  • DJ, dance and fitness demonstrations
  • Access to valuable community resources


Community Partners:
Bon Secours Community Works, American Heart Association, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service and many more. 


This event is brought to you in partnership with Central Baptist Church, Tabernacle of the Lord Church, Fayette Street Outreach and several other local organizations. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with your community and access important resources! 

 

WBRF By The Numbers

  • FY 24 Awards: 75
  • Total Awarded: $6.1 million
  • Cumulative Outcomes (FY 21 – FY 24) $18.4 MILLION Invested to support West Baltimore programs and services by 107 organizations
  • 1.6 MILLION MEALS FOR RESIDENTS including 2.7 million pounds of produce
  • 9,090 YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES across a variety of programming
  • 796 JOB PLACEMENTS for youth and adults
  • 9,852 RESIDENTS benefitted from housing, financial education, health, mental health, and other services 
  • 138 ORGANIZATIONS receiving technical assistance and capacity building supports

 

Weaver Awards


Is there someone in your neighborhood that everyone seems to know and trust? Someone helping weave us together through community projects? The Weaver Awards will recognize and support these Baltimoreans. Twenty people or groups will each receive $5,000 to continue their weaving work, thanks to the Aspen Institute’s Weave Project and M&T Bank. The application is fast and simple, and you are not required to be registered as a nonprofit.


You can learn more, apply, or recommend someone at weavebaltimore.org. Applications close on September 30. 
 

Grantee Spotlight - The Druid Hill Y

The Y in Central Maryland is enhancing its Community Health Worker (CHW) initiative to address health disparities in West Baltimore through support from WBRF. This expanded program is providing essential services such as access to healthy food, insurance and harm reduction support. The Y Fresh Mart, a cornerstone of this effort, is distributing nutritious food with giveaways on Monday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  
 

The program connects individuals to SNAP benefits and insurance, distribute Narcan and offer critical Narcan training. CHWs also attend community events to raise awareness and provide additional support and connection to other services. Since its launch last year, the program has been deepening its community engagement, the Y is committed to creating a healthier, more resilient West Baltimore. 

By deepening its community engagement, the Y is committed to creating a healthier, more resilient West Baltimore.  

 

Code in the Schools

Code in the Schools’ *Prodigy Program* is transforming the lives of Baltimore’s youth by providing comprehensive training in technology. Targeting young people aged 12 to 24, the program offers instruction in Python programming, game development, cybersecurity and web development, paired with real-world project experience. 

Through support from WBRF, the program has grown its impact in West Baltimore over the past 3 years growing partnerships with City Schools, University of Baltimore, YouthWorks (MOED) and Pass IT on.  The program’s outreach has seen significant success, with over 80 participants from the area in 2023 alone. Graduates have gone on to pursue higher education, with more than 90% attending college and 66% enrolling in computer science programs.

 

Beyond technical skills, the Prodigy Program addresses mental health, providing support and resources to help students navigate challenges. By equipping youth with in-demand skills and holistic support, the program is creating lasting change and empowering Baltimore’s next generation of tech leaders. 

 

Newly Awarded Grants

 

  • Art with a Heart, Youth Mentoring, $25,000
  • Black ED Network, Capacity Building, $35,000
  • Center for Hope, Population Health, $200,000
  • Center for Urban Families, Workforce Development, $250,000
  • Cody Young Empowerment Youth Charity, Youth Mentoring, $60,000
  • Digital Harbor Foundation/Project Waves, Population Health, $211,106
  • Franciscan Center, Workforce Development, $50,000
  • Franklin Square Community Association, Small Neighborhood Grant, $2,500
  • Kaboom, Population Health, $125,000
  • Love and Cornbread, Food Access, $50,000
  • Mentoring Male Teens, Youth Mentoring, $30,000
  • Neighborhood Housing Services, Population Health, $140,000
  • No Struggle No Success, Population Health, $100,000
  • Pigtown Main Street, Small Neighborhood Grant, $2,500
  • Requity, Youth Mentoring, $25,000
  • St. Lukes Youth Center, Youth Mentoring, $100,000
  • Urban Alliance, Youth Mentoring, $125,000
  • Y in Central Maryland, Population Health, $150,000

 

Program and Recruiting Opportunities


The BLK ED Network is thrilled to extend an invitation to participate in their three-part Fund Development virtual workshops. This series is designed to enhance your fundraising and grant writing skills, with a focus on creating sustainable programs, building strategic partnerships and developing strong fundraising boards. Each session will be held from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. Registration Link: https://bit.ly/BLKFundDevelopment 


Code in the Schools hosts free computer science and technical training programs for Baltimore City youth ages 14 and up. The Prodigy Program--our free after-school computer science program for high school students is currently recruiting for the fall semester. More information about the program and the registration form can be found here: https://www.codeintheschools.org/prodigy-program. Prodigy begins October 7, 2024 and runs until January 23, 2025.  


Code in the Schools, in partnership with Johns Hopkins, offers DataTrail, a no-cost, paid 14-week educational initiative for young-adult, high school and GED-graduates. DataTrail aims to equip members of underserved communities with the necessary skills and support required to work in the booming field of data science. Program information and next cohort registration can be found here: https://www.datatrail.org/  


Digital Harbor Tech Lab: Tech Lab offers pay-what-you-can after school beginner, intermediate and advanced maker programs to build students' technology, design and maker skills. All youth are welcome, regardless of prior experience. For more information, please visit: https://digitalharbor.org/youth-program-enrollment/


Join Dwyer Workforce Development for the Back to School & Healthcare Career Discovery Days at Mary Harvin Center at 1600 N Chester St, Baltimore, MD 21213 Thursday August 26 from 5:00pm-7:00pm. Come for children’s school supplies and meet our team to learn about exciting opportunities in healthcare.


Groundwork Kitchen Culinary Training Program offers eight weeks of free training during which adults earn industry-recognized credentials and gain hands-on experience to start a career in food service.  Click here to learn more about our job placement services, case management support and to apply for one of our 2024 classes.


Junior Achievement of Central Maryland (JA): Mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs and ignite their future! Be an essential part of a student’s entrepreneurial journey by providing guidance and support in your area of expertise (i.e. leadership, finance, marketing, sales, operations, supply chain, etc.). For more information contact Diana Emerson at demerson@jamaryland.org. 
 

Liberty Village Project: Boys & Girls of all ages are welcome to come can play like a pro with our Jr. NBA & Jr. WNBA basketball teams! Her Time To Play is a WNBA initiative championing change on behalf of girls and women. For more information: libertyvillageproject.org/her-time-to-play


Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood is willing to work with boys who are between the ages of 8 and 18 and live in the Baltimore Metropolitan area. If interested in a solid group mentoring program, please contact Mr. Miles at cmilesmmth@gmail.com. 


Per Scholas offers tuition-free IT Support programs in Baltimore, designed to prepare you for the CompTIA A+ and Google IT Support certifications. These programs equip you with the skills needed for a career in network support. For more information, contact Charee Grover at (410) 387-8882 or baltimore@perscholas.org.  


Restore Baltimore: a collaborative paid skilled trades training program offered by the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) and the B&O Railroad Museum that provides Baltimoreans with a chance to earn certifications and applied work in construction, facilities management, and rail operations all on the B&O’s Railroad Museum’s southwest Baltimore campus. For more information: https://www.borail.org/join-support/community-initiatives/restore-baltimore 


Interested in learning more about SquashWise and the racquet sport of squash? Join SquashWise for their fall Community Squash Nights on Sept. 18th and/or Nov. 13th - these sessions are free and open to all! They provide the equipment and snacks, all you need to do is bring yourself and come ready to play! 


University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB): The UMB Office of Community Engagement is partnering with the UMBC Shriver Center to provide Community Development Skills Workshops in the 2024-2025 academic year. UMB will provide a limited number of full scholarships for interested community members. For more information, contact Brian Sturdivant, Director for Strategic Initiatives and Community Partnerships at 443-866-7395 or bsturdivant@umaryland.edu 


Vehicles for Change Full Circle Training Program is an employer-driven, paid internship training program designed to provide auto technician training to individuals with multiple barriers to employment, including many justice-engaged individuals. Please submit your interest form as soon as possible to begin the enrollment process. https://www.fullcircleautotraining.org/students