Everyday Heroes: Providing a Lifeline

Dear Baltimoreans:

In the minds of some, people suffering from the recent financial crisis fell into an unsympathetic camp: those who had run up credit with reckless abandon and used legal loopholes, such as filing for bankruptcy protection, to escape mounting debt.  But that image didn’t fit with the reality that Rebecca Coleman knew.

Photo courtesy of OSI-Baltimore

The vast majority of bankruptcy cases, said Ms. Coleman, involve working people who had been doing fine. They were paying all of their bills on time when suddenly they lost a job or were faced with a medical emergency. The combination of quickly mounting debt along with decreased wages can cause people to feel helpless, Ms. Coleman said.

As a result, many turn to unscrupulous credit relief agencies that use fees and deceptive practices to prey on low-income people, she said, often sending them deeper into debt and eventual bankruptcy.

After graduating with honors this past May from the University of Baltimore’s School of Law, Ms. Coleman could have had her pick of high-paying law jobs. She opted instead to use her legal background in fair lending practices to work with Baltimoreans who have been the victims of creditor abuse. Ms. Coleman is one of seven people recently selected to receive a 2010 Baltimore Community Fellows grant from OSI-Baltimore. Over the next 18 months she will use her $48,750 Community Fellows grant to launch the Baltimore Creditor Abuse Prevention Project to help Baltimoreans fight back against the companies that have violated consumer protection laws.

“Certainly some people do live beyond their means and were not good at budgeting,” Ms. Coleman said. “But for the most part these are hardworking people who want to pay their bills, and just can’t.”

Ms. Coleman has begun offering training to dozens of attorneys who have promised to work on a minimum of two victims’ cases in bankruptcy court. She has teamed with Civil Justice, Inc. to develop a free curriculum and course for the attorneys. Ms. Coleman said she hopes to have the attorneys begin working on cases as soon as January.

“It’s not just about helping an individual keep their house and avoid bankruptcy,” Ms. Coleman said. “When you have two, three or four houses on a block that are foreclosed, that negatively impacts the entire community. Abandoned houses attract all sorts of bad elements and keeping people in their homes is a key to stabilizing communities.”

To learn more about Ms. Coleman’s Baltimore Creditor Abuse Prevention Project please contact her at Civil Justice, Inc. at 410-706-0174.

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

City Council Finalizes Government Transparency Bill

The Baltimore City Council on Monday granted President Bernard C. "Jack" Young's Transparency and Accountability Bill (TAB) final approval, and the legislation now awaits action from Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake to become law. The bill would allow proceedings from the Liquor Board, Board of Municipal Zoning Appeals and Board of Estimates, which represent three of the city’s most influential decision-making bodies, to be televised.

Most citizens are kept in the dark about decisions made by these powerful boards – which rule on everything from zoning changes to the awarding of multi-million dollar construction contracts – because they are not currently televised, and the meetings often take place during the day when people are at work.

“Tonight’s passage of my landmark Transparency and Accountability Bill (TAB) is a major step toward true government openness and accountability," President Young said. "I look forward to Mayor Rawlings-Blake’s immediate adoption of this resolution." 

Since being elected Council President, President Young has worked hard to ensure that the City Council is focused in a tangible way on government transparency. In April, the City Council passed new ethics legislation that helped make government more transparent by expanding and strengthening the ethics board and clarifying the qualifications for ethics board members. And last month, President Young introduced legislation to enhance the city’s rules governing lobbying.

"With today’s passage of TAB, Baltimore is truly moving in the right direction," the President said. "Together, we are creating a stronger city built on increased transparency.”

Please contact Mayor Rawlings-Blake at 410-396-3835 to urge her to fully fund the Council President's transparency legislation.

BARCS Succeeding as Shelter/Control Combination

As part of National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, City Council President Bernard C. "Jack" Young commended the hard work and significant progress of the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) and its staff. Since the organization became a nonprofit in 2005 and began sheltering animals in its facility, BARCS has seen great success in improving the conditions for homeless animals in our city.

Jennifer Brause, BARCS' executive director since 2005, said under her leadership, BARCS has gone from a 98 percent euthanasia rate  to 60 percent adoption rate (including using rescue groups to get the animals out alive). 

"The care of the animals has improved, the staff has grown, and housing has improved, and we've gone from about 90 adoptions per year in 2005 to more than 3,000 per year," Brause said.

In 2008, Brause instituted a foster program that currently has some 200 pets living with foster families, and the sixth annual BARCStoberfest, which took place in Patterson Park on October 23, 2010, raised more than $65,000. BARCS also has two veterinarians on staff now and receives volunteer services from community veterinarians to spay and neuter animals and provide medical care.

"Jennifer and her dedicated staff of workers have made incredible strides to tackle a difficult challenge," President Young said. "She has been innovative and a passionate advocate for the animals in our city, and the hard work of all of BARCS' staff and volunteers is inspiring."

Still, Brause said the shelter is understaffed, as BARCS receives an average of 33 new animals every day and currently houses 400 animals. To help control Baltimore's animal population, she said pet owners should spay or neuter their pets, keep current on all vaccines, and provide preventative care to maintain pet health.

For more information about BARCS or to volunteer, call 410-396-4695 or visit baltimoreanimalshelter.org.

Honoring Our Country's Brave Veterans

City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young would like to thank the men and women who have bravely served this country.

Please take time out of your day on Thursday, November 11, 2010, to publicly thank the courageous men and women of America’s Armed Forces for their patriotism and continued sacrifices for our freedoms.

On Veterans Day, Thursday, November 11, 2010:

• Trash and recycling WILL NOT BE COLLECTED.
• Saturday, November 13, 2010, will be the make up collection day for trash and recycling in those areas that are regularly scheduled for collection on Thursday.
• There WILL BE NO BULK TRASH collection scheduled.
• Citizen drop-off centers WILL BE CLOSED (all yards including Quarantine Road Landfill, the Northwest Transfer Station and the Eastern, Western and Northwestern Sanitation Yards).
• Parking meters will be in effect.

Graphite on Paper
November 12 through December 31, Wednesday-Saturday from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
School 33 Art Center, Main Gallery, 1427 Light Street
During this group exhibition, regional artists employ graphite on paper as their primary media.  The exhibit is a celebration of drawing.  Since this show is using Graphite on Paper as its thematic current, preliminary drawings, sketchbooks, doodles as well as refined and "finished" works will be included.
For more information, visit www.school33.org.

Mobile Mexican Consulate and Health Fair
Saturday, November 13 from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Friendship Academy, 801 S. Highland St.
Attendees will be able to renew passports, apply for matrículas consulares (Mexican Consular IDs) and birth certificates, as well as health screenings and family services.
For more information on required documents, call 202-736-1000. To make an appointment, call 1-877-639-4835.

Come Plant A Tree!
Saturday, November 13 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Calvert Street Park, 2200 block of N. Calvert Street
You are invited to plant trees generously donated by TreeBaltimore. Free trees and information on how to properly plant them will also be available for city residents.
For more information, call 443-650-8278 or email dzwick@greaterhomewood.org.

Give Thanks To Nature
Saturday, November 13 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Carrie Murray Nature Center, 1901 Ridgetop Road
In honor of Thanksgiving, come learn what part nature plays in the celebration. What would your Thanksgiving table look like without it? The cost is $4 for adults and $2 for children 5 and under. Please pre-register.
For more information or to register, call 410-396-0808.

Art Guitars Auction and Concert
Saturday, November 13 at 7:00 PM
Ram's Head Live!, 20 Market Place
Music 4 Maryland hosts this auction and concert featuring The Pat McGee Band, The Paul Reed Smith Band, The Jon Bailey Band and The School of Rock. A silent auction of 18 "art guitars" designed by local celebrities and artists will benefit Music 4 Maryland, a project of Music 4 More. Proceeds will be used to purchase instruments, repairs, and supplies for music programs in Maryland schools.
For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.music4maryland.com.

Soup 'n' Walk Series: Bark, Berries, and Buds
Sunday, November 14 from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM
Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Avenue
Discover the gardens and woodland trails at Cylburn Arboretum. Join a naturalist for a guided walk, followed by soup and salad prepared by Atwater's. Tree identification will be the focus of this walk. See oak, dogwood, persimmon, beech, big leaf magnolia, spicebush, lacebark elm, maple, birch and more. Pre-registration is required for each walk.
For more information, call 410-367-2217.

Vendor Development Series for Minority and Women Business Enterprises
Monday, November, 15, 22 and 29 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Small Business Resource Center, 1101 E. 33rd Street, Suite C-307
These seminars will expose minority-owned and women-owned businesses to the proper policies, procedures and processes, including the law for conducting business with the City of Baltimore. The seminars cost $25 per class or $100 for the entire series
For more information or to register, call 410-396-3818.

How to Pay for College
Monday, November 15 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Enoch Pratt Free Library Central Branch, 400 Cathedral Street
Congressman Elijah E. Cummings hosts the 14th annual "How to Pay for College" seminar. Learn about higher education opportunities and financial assistance programs. This free seminar includes a financial aid panel and the opportunity to meet with representatives from colleges, universities, and scholarship programs.
For more information, call 410-685-9199.

Renters in Foreclosure Workshops
Tuesday, November 16 and December 14 at 6:00 PM
Public Justice Center, 1 North Charles Street, Suite 200
The Public Justice Center is holding two free upcoming workshops designed to help tenants whose landlords are in foreclosure. Attendees to these workshops will receive detailed information as to their rights as tenants throughout the course of a foreclosure, as well as one-on-one consultations with Public Justice Center attorneys and paralegals. Please RSVP by Nov. 10 or Dec. 8.
To RSVP or for more information, call at 410-625-9409.

Parks & People Community Grants Application Training Workshops
Wednesday and Thursday, November 17 and 18 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Parks and People Foundation, 800 Wyman Park Drive, Suite 010 (entrance in rear)
These workshops will provide up-to-date information on Neighborhood Greening and Partnerships for Parks Grants programs offered by Parks & People and its partners.  Find out what kind of projects P&P does and does not fund, get information and resources and connect with people around the city who are working on similar ideas.  Staff contacts for applicants will be assigned at the workshops and we will help you with your project ideas.  Refreshments will be provided.
All new applicants are required to send a representative to one of the two workshops.  Returning applicants are encouraged to send a representative who has not attended in the past.  Space is limited!  RSVP by Friday, November 12.  Grant application deadline is Friday, January 28, 2011 at 5 p.m. by mail or in-hand.
To RSVP or for more information, call 410-448-5663 x115 or email portia.smith@parksandpeople.org.

Gwynns Falls Habitat Restoration Project Event
Thursday, November 18 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
1900 Annapolis Road (parking on Claire Street)
Join Enterprise (Rent-a-Car), Westport Waterfront, Maryland Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects, REI, Gwynns Falls Trail Council and the Parks & People Foundation to clean and green a section of riparian buffer along the Gwynns Falls adjacent to the Gwynns Falls Trail. This project will make much-needed improvements to the health of the habitat and water quality and provide community access to the water that has been blocked for decades. We recommend that you bring a reusable water bottle and gloves and dress for removing invasive plants (no open toe shoes and wear long pants and long sleeves). ASLA will provide expert advice on plants to be removed.
For more information or to register, call 410- 401-5037 or email Jessica.L.Schuleri@erac.com.

Washington Wizards/Washington Mystics Holiday Hoops Camp
December 28-30
St. Frances Academy, 501 E. Chase Street
Register for a spot in the only authentic NBA and WNBA camp in the Baltimore metropolitan area. Campers receive professional instruction, an official T-shirt and a one free ticket to the Wizards home game on Wednesday, December 29. Register before November 30 to get the early bird price of $170 (regular cost is $185). Boys and girls ages 8-17 are welcome.
For more information or to register, call 202-527-7503 or visit wizardsbasketballcamps.com.