President's Cup Tournament to Unite City Youth

Dear Baltimoreans,

As a kid growing up in East Baltimore, baseball was the force that kept children involved in positive activities. It united kids from different backgrounds and fostered healthy competition and perseverance. But today, much of that grassroots baseball that took place on the city's fields has declined.

That's why on March 24, 2011, I joined Baltimore Orioles Director of Communications Greg Bader, Baltimore City Schools CEO Andrés Alonso and Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association Vice President and Baseball Sport Committee Chairman Tim Holley to announce the President’s Cup – a citywide baseball tournament designed to bring together the city’s public and private school students on some of Baltimore’s finest baseball diamonds.

Council President Young announces the President's Cup Tournament, a citywide baseball tournament that will bring together Baltimore youth from different backgrounds.

The President’s Cup aims to unite Baltimore’s youth by using baseball to bring together groups of high school students from different backgrounds that normally would not compete with one another. The President’s Cup also represents an exciting new addition to my ongoing P.L.A.Y. (Productive Lives, Active Youth) campaign. P.L.A.Y. provides Baltimore’s youth with a wide range of opportunities to strengthen their self-confidence, develop leadership skills, learn from positive role models, and be rewarded athletically for their academic achievements. P.L.A.Y. encourages them to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.

I pushed to create the President’s Cup as a way to showcase youth baseball, which has been on the decline in many cities, including Baltimore, for much of the past decade.

During my childhood, baseball was the one sport that crossed racial and socioeconomic lines to unite the city’s youth. With the President’s Cup, we’re looking to recreate the unifying magic of the sport to bring together youth from different backgrounds.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Allan H. “Bud” Selig praised the creation of the President’s Cup.

“On behalf of Major League Baseball, I commend all the leaders of Baltimore who have launched the President’s Cup,” Commissioner Selig said. “The President’s Cup will demonstrate baseball’s remarkable ability to serve as a common bond.  Providing young people with ample opportunity to engage in our sport is paramount to Major League Baseball, and I believe this experience will benefit its participants on and off the field.  I applaud the city of Baltimore for this initiative and I wish the best of luck to all the high school students who will compete in the tournament.”

Mr. Bader, the Baltimore Orioles Director of Communications, said the organization, which prides itself on community-enriching programs, jumped at the chance to participate in the President’s Cup.

Council President Young and Baltimore Public Schools CEO Dr. Andrés Alonso stand with representatives of the Friends School baseball team, which will compete in the President's Cup tournament.

“The Orioles are proud to play a role in Council President Young’s vision for a citywide baseball tournament,” Mr. Bader said. “This tournament will serve as an instrument to connect, through friendly competition, these young student athletes."

City Schools CEO Dr. Alonso said that “athletics are a great opportunity for our young people to develop self-confidence, leadership skills, and the ability to work as part of a team. As an enthusiastic baseball fan, I look forward to the President’s Cup and the spirit of friendly competition it creates among youth from all parts of the Baltimore area.”

Mr. Holley, the MIAA’s Second Vice President, said his league was honored to be invited to participate in the inaugural President’s Cup.

“The five MIAA member schools that will be representing Baltimore City are looking forward to this wonderful opportunity to highlight high school baseball and to compete and share with our public school neighbors,” Mr. Holley said. “We are grateful to City Council President Young for his vision and initiative in putting this tournament together in the pursuit of creating more positive bonding experiences for Baltimore City youngsters of varying backgrounds.”

The President’s Cup will kick off on Saturday, April 2, 2011, with a welcome event at Baltimore’s Sports Legends Museum to celebrate the city’s rich baseball history. Tournament play will begin on Saturday, April 9, 2011, and continue through Saturday, April 16, 2011. During the President’s Cup, students will compete on some of the city’s best baseball fields in hopes of playing in the championship game on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

"Taking the field at Camden Yards for the championship game will be a memory that these young men can treasure forever.," Mr. Bader said.

I look forward to getting the games started and seeing a big crowd at Camden Yards for the championship .

Bernard C. “Jack” Young
President, Baltimore City Council

Council President Young rallies for increased wages and benefits for security officers in Baltimore on March 23, 2011.

8th Annual Baltimore Green Week Coming Soon

Celebrate all things green during the 8th Annual Baltimore Green Week.  The week kicks off with the EcoFest on Saturday, April 16 as over 100 vendors and exhibitors come out to offer programs and products supporting environmentally aware practices.  The EcoFest is free and will take place in Druid Hill Park from noon to 5 p.m.

Curious about growing your own garden, alternative forms of transportation, how to conserve water and energy at home, bee keeping or vermiculture?  This is your chance to explore what Baltimore has to offer.  All events are free and low cost, open to the public and offered citywide throughout the week.  For a detailed list of participants, event details, and schedule, visit www.baltimoregreenworks.com.

Information provided by Baltimore Green Works

Community Dance Workshop
Sundays, March 20 through April 17 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Eubie Blake Cultural Center, 847 North Howard Street
The Community Dance Workshop is an opportunity for any adult who has ever wanted to learn a specific dance style, attempt set choreography, or perform dance on stage. No experience is required; modern and jazz styles are offered. After six weeks of rehearsal, a final concert will be performed on April 30 at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Space is limited, so please register in advance.
For more information or to register, email ctg@dancebaltimore.org.

Transcending Integration: African American Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition
March 5 through April 16
Baltimore Clayworks, 5705 Smith Avenue
Baltimore Clayworks presents a major exhibition of contemporary African American ceramic artwork. The exhibition is the culminating event for Baltimore Clayworks' 30th anniversary and celebrates the institution's history as an artists' organization with a strong presence in the city's cultural fabric. Admission is free.
For more information, call 410-578-1919.

Grow It Eat It Workshop
Wednesday, March 30 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
BWB Watershed Center, 3545 Belair Road
Learn how to start and maintain a successful food garden that is good for you and good for the environment.
To reserve your seat at this FREE class, call 410-254-1577 x103 or email atraut@bluewaterbaltimore.org.

Templeton Press Scholarship Contests
Applications due March 31
In an effort to generate a thoughtful discussion among young people about our country's freedoms, Templeton Press is sponsoring two scholarship contests, each of which carries a first prize of $5,000. Entrants need only write an essay or compose a video response to excerpts from the book New Threats to Freedom, which can be found at the contest website. There are two chances to win: a short form contest (essays should be less than 500 words, videos less than 5 minutes long) and a
long form contest (essays should be between 2,000 and 3,000 words). Sample topics include "The Loss of the Freedom to Fail" and "Campus Censorship in Academia." Any student who intends to be enrolled in an American college or university by the start of the fall 2011 semester is eligible to enter,
and submissions will be judged solely on the quality of the arguments.
For more information or to enter, visit http://pull.xmr3.com/p/890-FE25/47379291/html002-newthreatstofreedom.com.html.

Prevent Animal Cruelty
Friday, April 1 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Carrie Murray Nature Center, 1901 Ridgetop Road
Warning: this is a graphic but immensely important class. Unfortunately, animal cruelty is something we see in the news every day. There are many types of animal abuse: physical abuse, neglect, ignorance and ambivalence. This program will cover topics including: which animals make good pets and which do not, how to spot the signs of animal abuse, what to do if you see or suspect animal abuse, and why it's important to care for and about animals. No pets please. Please pre-register. $4 for adults, $2 for children 5 and under.

Money Power Day
Saturday, April 2 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Poly-Western High School, 1400 West Cold Spring Lane
Money Power Day is a FREE annual event providing Baltimore-area residents and workers with quality financial services including free tax preparation, free credit reports and credit counseling, customized financial planning, housing counseling, screening for public benefits, and financial programs for youth.
For more information, visit www.baltimorecashcampaign.org.

Material Girls: Contemporary Black Women Artists
On display through October 26
Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 East Pratt Street
Thirty-eight three-dimensional works of art by eight black women artists will be featured in the special exhibition, Material Girls: Contemporary Black Women Artists. Material Girls features an impressive lineup of artists at varying points in their careers.
For more information, visit www.africanamericanculture.org.

Gardenville Belair Road Business Association Business Connections
Monday, April 4 from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Faith Community United Methodist Church Social Hall, 5315 Harford Road
Come meet other business owners from the Belair-Edison, Gardenville, Hamilton, Lauraville and Pulaski Highway neighborhoods. Make personal contacts, discuss common concerns and solution, and find ways to collaborate and cooperate for mutual benefit. Admission is free.
For more information or to RSVP, call 443-520-7179 or email cathy@visualsgd.net by Friday, April 1.

Smart Homebuying Night, Western City Neighborhoods
Wednesday, April 6 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore, 5700 Park Heights Avenue
Learn all you need to know about buying a home in Baltimore City. Meet staff from Live Baltimore, mortgage lenders, real estate agents, renovation experts and more at the exhibitor fair. You can also take the Pre-Purchase Counseling Certificate Class to begin the process of earning your Homeownership Counseling Certificate, which is required to qualify for financial homebuying incentives. Seats are limited in the Pre-Purchase Counseling Certificate Class. There is a $5 participation fee to attend this event and the first 100 people to register are guaranteed one seat in the Pre-Purchase Counseling Certificate Class.
For more information or to register, call 410-637-3750 or visit www.livebaltimore.com.

An Evening of Chamber Music
Friday, April 8 at 8:00 PM
First Unitarian Church, 514 North Charles Street
Peabody Conservatory faculty members Michael Kannen, cellist, and Maria Lambros, violist, will be joined by guest violinist Airi Yoshioka and two Peabody students performing the Mozart Viola Quintet in B-flat, K. 174. The Peabody Percussion Trio will play music by Toru Takemitsu, including Thierry de Mey. The concert is free, but all donations will benefit the restoration of the church's historic Niemann Organ. For more details call 410-685-2330, email office@firstunitarian.net or visit www.tinyurl.com/FirstUnitarianApril.

Activate Your Inner Citizen University
Saturday, April 9 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Coppin State University, Talon Center, 2500 West North Avenue
Citizens Planning and Housing Association, Inc. will be holding another Activate Your Inner Citizen University at Coppin State University. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will give a keynote speech. Breakfast and check-in will begin at 8 a.m., followed by the welcome and keynote address at 9 a.m. There will be two class sessions between 10 a.m. and noon. Classes will range from “How to Hold a Meeting” to “Getting the Word Out to Your Community.” 
To be involved in any way, call 410-539-1369x104 or email Mike@cphabaltimore.org.

1st-Time Homeowner Workshop
Saturday, April 9 and 16 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Oliver Community Center, 1400 East Federal Street
This two-part workshop will teach potential homeowners about the process of buying a home. Session One is on April 9, and Session Two is on April 16.
For more information or to register, call 443-388-9809.

The Art of Caring
Sunday, April 10 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Load of Fun, 120 West North Avenue
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Baltimore presents this art auction fundraiser, featuring the work of local artists. The event will feature live music and theater, caricature artists, palm readers and more. Proceeds from the fundraiser support CASA of Baltimore, a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization committed to serving abused and neglected children in Baltimore City.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call 410-244-1465, email sburger@casabalt.org or visit www.casabalt.org.

Green Building Tour
Wednesday, April 13 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
BWB Watershed Center, 3545 Belair Road
Blue Water Baltimore's Watershed Center is one of the greenest buildings in Baltimore! Take a tour and learn the many tricks you can apply in your own home and office. A $5 donation is requested.
To register for the tour, call 410-254-1577 x103 or email atraut@bluewaterbaltimore.org.

11th Annual 5k Victims Fund Run/Walk or 1 Mile Walk
Saturday, April 16 at 9:00 AM
Patterson Park, 2601 East Baltimore Street
Register online at www.charmcityrun.com.
For more information, visit Victim Services in 410 Mitchell Courthouse, call 410-396-1897 or email fundrun@stattorney.org.

JumpStart Pre-Apprenticeship Program
Recruitment Sessions: Fridays, March 25, April 8 and April 15 at 11:00 AM
EBDI, 1731 East Chase Street
This FREE, three-month program provides interactive, hands-on and in-class training that will prepare you for a career in construction and qualify you to enter a state-approved apprenticeship program. Applicants must pass a basic math test, be a Baltimore City resident enrolled through EBDI's Workforce Development Pipeline, and have a high school diploma or GED.
For more information or to register for a recruitment session, call 310-234-0660x205.

Office of the City Council President
100 N. Holliday St., Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-396-4804 (p) 410-539-0647 (f)
CouncilPresident@baltimorecity.gov
Copyright (C) 2010. All rights reserved.