Hey Neighbors!
Thanks to all who braved the rain and joined us for pizza/drinks/information-sharing at the February 10 PPNA Meeting. Big thanks to Matthew's Pizzeria (matthewspizza.com; 410-276-8755; 3131 Eastern Ave.) for providing snacks!
For those who didn't attend, here's what you missed:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Seeking new Committee Chair for Beautification! Interested in Sustainability? Greening? Tree-planting? Gardening? Composting? Neighborhood clean-ups? If this piques your interest, let us know (info@pattersonparkneighbors.org).
Membership: PPNA is a membership-driven organization. Members get perks like voting rights and invitations to members-only cocktail parties. Cost of membership is less than $100 annually. Click here to sign up or renew your membership. Questions? Contact Daniel Millay, treasurer@pattersonparkneighbors.org.
Audubon Center: Stay up date on gardening and wildlife workshops and bird-watching excursions. Follow Patterson Park Audobon Center by clicking here.
Department of Public Works: Larry Nunley is our area-liaison for DPW. Common concerns include water, trash, or 311 requests. Questions? Contact Larry at larry.nunley@baltimorecity.gov or 443-615-2626.
Needs Assessment Survey at William Paca Elementary School: William Paca Elementary School is conducting a Needs Assessment Survey from now through March 12. Your feedback with help with identifying priorities and creating a plan for activities and partners at this community school. Your participation in this survey is completely voluntary and should take no more than 15 minutes. Click here to complete the Survey for Community Members. Click here to complete the Survey for William Paca Parents. Questions? Contact Cheryl Bryant, cheryl@southeastcdc.org.
GUESTS
Grant Corley, Banner Neighborhoods
Banner Neighborhoods supports the needs of seniors/older adults and young people/youth in our neighborhood.
The Senior Home Maintenance Program helps keep older adults in their homes throughout East Baltimore, supporting them with small and large housekeeping tasks, such as fixing leaky faucets or planning a home renovation. These efforts improve the quality of life for older adults in our neighborhood, and improves the social fabric of our community.
Engaging Youth in Sports is a sports-based youth program for skill development and organized competitions around East Baltimore. Sports include basketball, soccer, and track.
Jump Start is a workforce readiness program that prepares youth with job skills and interviewing skills. Banner Neighborhoods is also a partner with the Baltimore City YouthWorks program.
Banner Neighborhoods is seeking Board Members who are passionate about Baltimore and it's people, and who have time to support with advancing the mission of the organization. Seeking Board Members who are willing and able to step in to leadership roles, guide organizational decision-making, and support fundraising efforts.
Learn more at bannerneighborhoods.org or contact Grant at grantcorley@gmail.com.
Mark Parker and Alyssa Kaplan, Breath of God Lutheran Church (141 S. Clinton Street)
Breath of God is hosting Ash Wednesday Community Dinner on February 26 at 6:00p, followed by worship at 7:00p. We're having Breakfast for Dinner! Community members who would like to receive ashes can come over to Breath of God on February 26 from 7:00a-8:00a or 12:00n-1:00p.
PK3 students or PK4 students can now enroll for Summer Preschool or Fall Preschool at The Highlandtown Preschool (thehighlandtownpreschool.org). The deadline to enroll for Summer Preschool is March 1. The deadline to enroll for Fall Preschool is April 1. There is no obligation to enroll in both; you're welcome to enroll your student in only Summer Preschool or only Fall Preschool.
Breath of God hosts Youth Mentoring after school on Thursdays from 5:00p-6:30p. Students should come over for tutoring or homework assistance, and mentoring activities, and volunteers should come over who want to support youth in our community. Seeking bilingual English/Spanish volunteers. Questions? Contact Alyssa Kaplan (apaigekaplan@gmail.com).
For more information about Breath of God Lutheran Church, contact Pastor Mark Parker at lsmparker@gmail.com.
Andy Dahl, Southeast Community Development Corporation (SECDC)
SECDC focuses on homeownership and financial coaching, as well as community development and community improvement.
For homeowners, or potential homeowners: Consider the Purchase/Renovation Loan (one loan product with no mortgage insurance! Allows you to purchase and renovate, with $10,000 of matching grant funds for renovations! Income restrictions apply.). Or consider the Home Improvement Loan (available for Patterson Park, Highlandtown, and Greektown. Borrow up to $20,000, including a $10,000 matching grant!).
For community development: SECDC has resources for public space improvements, beautification grants, small business incentives, community-school partnerships, and much more.
Get ready for Census 2020! For the first time ever, the Census will be available online, and respondents can choose to respond online, by mail, or over the phone. The Census determines how residents will be represented in Congress, in the Maryland General Assembly, and in City Council. It directly affects the allocation of over $880 billion per year in federal assistance. Census data serve as the basis for how we characterize and understand our community and its needs. Community leaders in both the public and private sectors rely heavily on the accuracy of Census data to make decisions about the future of Baltimore City. Indeed, the importance of Census data pervades nearly all forms of decision-making. Federally funded programs in Baltimore include: children’s health insurance, free and reduced school lunch, disability services, Title 1 grants, community development block grants, WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), Head Start, Section 8 assistance and housing vouchers, among others.
How can you help? Spread the word that the Census will be available online, use #bmorecounts on social media, and talk about the census with contacts in your networks.
Interested in Census-specific materials? We especially need to reach hard-to-count populations, or vulnerable populations, such as low-income families, immigrants, seniors, African Americans, and children under five years old. Download educational resources, explore the interactive map, or bring a Census rep to your next community meeting or public event. More information available online: census2020.baltimorecity.gov.
Contact Andy: andy@southeastcdc.org.
Bill Henry, Candidate for Comptroller
Born and raised in Baltimore City, Councilman Bill Henry is a champion for accountable government, community empowerment, and fair economic growth.
Bill is a 20+ year attendee of PPNA meetings (formerly known as Baltimore-Linwood Association Meetings).
Bill’s three priorities are:
Modernize the Comptroller’s Office: Bill will use technology to streamline the City Comptroller’s office and make information about City contracts, audit findings, and real estate deals easily accessible to the public.
Use audits to get results: Bill will use audits to find out why City services like trash, water billing, traffic lights or pothole repair are broken, and recommend solutions to fix them.
Promote equitable economic growth: Bill will fight for fair growth that increases community wealth, making sure real estate deals benefit all of us, and that small, minority, and women-owned businesses are getting the opportunities they deserve.
The Comptroller is an independently-elected financial watchdog for Baltimore City. The Comptroller provides an objective eye for how City Agencies are doing their work. The Comptroller's primary aim is to compile information and get it out to the public, so that the public can hold the Mayor and the Agencies accountable for doing their work.
Reminder: Early voting begins April 16. Election Day is April 28!
Learn more information at billhenry.com. Contact Bill at bill@billhenry.com.