Baltimore Corps Newsletter - September 2016
A Special Thank You
Dear Baltimore Corps friends and family,
In the winter and spring of 2015, we set out to recruit the second cohort of Baltimore Corps Fellows. We were looking for people who were smart, driven, tireless, and passionate about using their talents to build on Baltimore's potential. We were looking for Baltimore's next "Movers and Shakers" and, let me tell you, we found quite a few.
A full year has passed since the second cohort of Baltimore Corps Fellows began work early last September. In the last twelve months, we have witnessed this special group advocate, educate and build upon Baltimore's visionary ideas, as well as thoughtfully and persistently challenge Baltimore Corps to grow and improve. Though their Fellowship Year has officially ended, the great majority of these Fellows are staying with us in Baltimore, and the next chapter of their work is just beginning. As we reflect on the past year, we keep an eye to the future, thankful as ever to be in the company of such Movers and Shakers.
Sincerely,
Fagan Harris
YEAR IN REVIEW WITH BALTIMORE CORPS FELLOWS
It's been just over a year since we welcomed over 30 new Baltimore Corps Fellows into our community late last summer. Though their Fellowship Year officially ended on August 31st, the work of Fellows is still very much underway. In the spirit of continuation, rather than conclusion, here are some highlights from Baltimore Corps Fellows over the last year:
VCL SPOTLIGHT: Impact Hub Baltimore, Thread, MOST
Voted "Best Creative Space" By Baltimore Magazine
Last month, Impact Hub Baltimore held a panel discussion titled, "Keeping the Culture Alive: Black Baltimore Then and Now," which generated a great deal of buzz. The panelists included Webster Phillips, Troy Staton (of New Beginnings Barbershop and Gallery), Dr. Leslie King Hammond (of The Motorhouse), Kyle Pompey of Nice Shot Studios, and our Baltimore Corps Fellow, Jermaine T. Bell, as the moderator. Read more about their work at Impact Hub Baltimore.
#CONVERSATIONTHREAD
Over the past three weeks, one of our Visionary Cause Leaders, Thread, hosted more than 500 people, including students, retirees, professionals across sectors, government officials, and many others to connect in new and profound ways to learn and challenge each other with candid conversations about race, equity, -isms, Baltimore and more. Conversation Thread will reconvene discussion groups this November. Check out more stories from #ConversationThread.
#MOSTCON2017
Mark your calendars: Current Visionary Cause Leader, MOST (Maryland Out of School Time Network), is hosting their 7th Annual MOST Conference this January. The conference includes a two-day lineup of MOST Talks, Exhibitors, 24 Interactive Workshops, and more. MOST is a coalition of youth, families, community members, and more to expand opportunity and implement effective policies during out of school time for all of Maryland's youth. To learn more about the MOST conference, visit their site.
Baltimore Corps and T. Rowe Price Foundation presents,
The Elevation Awards 2016
Elevation Award winners: Michelle Nelson (L), Brittany Young (C), Wendy Blackwell (R).
Elevation Awards 2016
Following the Baltimore Uprising, Baltimore Corps teamed with the T. Rowe Price Foundation to create the first ever Elevation Awards. The Elevation Awards offer three $10,000 grants to entrepreneurial leaders in West Baltimore piloting novel approaches to benefit their communities. Supported by a partnership which also includes BMe, Impact Hub, Invested Impact and the Merrick School of Business, the awards provide ongoing support for grantees and opportunities for continued growth.
This year's winners include initiatives to promote arts education for youth, provide young people with the knowledge and tools to lead healthy lives, and create spaces for local dirt bike riders to pursue their passion safely. The 2016 grantees are featured to the left, and you can learn more about the winning initiatives here.