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Dear Friends:

Today, I had the great pleasure of guest teaching at William H. Lemmel Middle School as part of Teach For America Week 2009, a national event that brings together leaders from a variety of sectors to serve as guest teachers and inspire students across the nation, from the South Bronx to East Los Angeles to right here in Baltimore. As a guest teacher, I had the opportunity to visit the classrooms of Teach For America teachers, known as corps members, and present a lesson plan for students based on my experiences in public service.

Teach For America is a national corps of outstanding recent college graduates who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in expanding educational opportunity. More than 178 of the nation's most promising future leaders are teaching in the Baltimore City School Public System as a part of the Teach For America program. These individuals will have a positive impact on the lives of at least 12,000 students in City schools.

View video on Teach for America

I have long been supportive of Teach For America and its innovative approach to education reform. Teach For America aims to end educational inequity—the reality that too often in America, where a child is born determines his or her educational outcomes. Its mission is to build the movement to eliminate educational inequity by enlisting our nation's most promising future leaders in the effort. (I've included a video about this special, innovative program if you are interested in learning more about the effort.)

Last August, I joined with Wendy Kopp, Founder and CEO of Teach For America, one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People, and members of the Baltimore City Council to announce a $50,000 city grant to the organization to help with local recruitment, training and support efforts for this school year. This was the city's first direct grant to the organization. During last year's budget process, City Council leaders worked collaboratively with Mayor Sheila Dixon to find funding for this successful program.

Improving public education in Baltimore is a top priority of the City Council. Teach For America helps us to put the nation's best and brightest to work in Baltimore's toughest and most challenging school classrooms. I was honored to have the opportunity to guest teach as part of Teach For America Week 2009, highlighting the effectiveness of this important national effort.

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
President, Baltimore City Council

City Council This Week

Monday, March 2

City Council Meeting
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
Draft agenda

Tuesday, March 3

Hearing: Budget and Appropriations Committee, Bernard C. “Jack” Young – Chair
4:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
LO09-0031 09-0096R - Legislative Oversight - Department of City Government
The following agencies are scheduled to attend: Baltimore City Public School System; Department of General Services; Convention Center; Dept. of Public Works.

Wednesday, March 4

Hearing: Land Use and Transportation Committee, Edward Reisinger – Chair
2:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
LO09-0029 Briefing - Downtown Circulator (Bus Shuttle)

2:30 PM
LO09-0030 Briefing - Parking - Baltimore City

Hearing: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations/Land Use and Transportation Committee
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0163 Live Entertainment - Licensing and Regulation - Hospitality Services - Promotion and Coordination
This hearing will be broadcast live on TV25.

Thursday, March 5

Hearing: Taxation, Finance and Economic Development Committee, Helen Holton – Chair
10:00 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
09-0111R Erroneous Tax Sale Notices - Special Benefit District Property

Hearing: Taxation, Finance and Economic Development Committee, Helen Holton – Chair
11:00 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0218 Building Permit Fees - Demolition 

Community Events

For a comprehensive listing of events in Baltimore, check the City Council's online events calendar.

Friday, February 27

Maryland Career Fair Sponsored by Maryland Career Consortium
Towson University’s Towson Center, 9am-3:30pm. http://asp.symplicity.com/mdcareerfair

Saturday, February 28

Starting and Financing A Small Business
Hamilton Branch Library, 5910 Harford Rd., 11am-1pm. Info: tonia.mccoy@sba.gov

Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower Open Studio Day
21 S. Eutaw St. 1pm-5pm. 443-874-3596. www.bromoseltzerartstower.com

Variety Children’s Theatre and Dance Project
Curtis Bay Recreation Center, 1630 Filbert St., 10am-2pm. This instructional program teaches children the basics of theatre and dance and is recommended for ages 8-18. Free, but you must pre-register. 410-396-1811.

Wednesday, March 4

Governor Martin O'Malley's Central Maryland Regional Town Hall
Frederick Douglass High School, 2301 Gwynns Falls Parkway, 6:30pm. Registration to ask questions begins at 6:00pm.

Thursday, March 5

Tavis Smiley Book Tour
Enoch Pratt Central Library, Main Hall, 6:30pm. Tavis Smiley discusses his new book, Accountable: Making America as Good as Its Promise. 410-396-5494. www.prattlibrary.org

Black History Program, Feb. 27, 3:30pm, Mt. Royal Recreation Center, 120 W. Mosher St., Enjoy an afternoon of dance, food and poetry in honor of Black History Month. Recommended for ages 5-12. 410-396-0374. An Exhibition of Visual Arts by Black Artists, Feb. 28, 4pm-8pm, Union Baptist Church, 1219 Druid Hill Ave., artists include Larry “Poncho” Brown, Eric Briscoe, Loring Cornish, Carlton Leverette and Gloria Mack. Art will be available for purchase. www.unionbaptistbalt.org African-American Family Festival at The Walters, 10am-4pm, a modern Harlem Renaissance with music, exhibits and dance. Thewalters.org 410-547-9000. Free. Celebrate Black History Month at the Top of the World Observation Level, 27th floor of Baltimore’s World Trade Center, 401 E. Pratt St., runs through March. 1. Enjoy historic Black Baltimore memorabilia from Philip J. Merrill of Nanny Jack & Co. Admission fee. www.viewbaltimore.org. 410-837-VIEW. Lexington Market’s Black History Month Celebration features free concert series daily (except Sundays) all month long. Enjoy narrated skits and dances based on African, Caribbean, jazz, blues, gospel, or big band swing/jazz themes and exhibits from Great Blacks in Wax, African-American authors, crafters and a special presentation from the Buffalo Soldiers in full uniform.

Upcoming/Ongoing

RecycleMORE BaltiMORE! Effective January 2009, Baltimore City residents will be able to recycle more items. New items to be included in curbside single stream recycling: wide-mouth plastic containers used for margarine, yogurt, cottage cheese, mayonnaise and sour cream; empty prescription bottles (lids and caps do not need to be removed); plastic drinking cups; aluminum foil and aluminum pie pans; clean milk and juice cartons. New items to be taken to the citizen drop-off center and placed in container marked "rigid plastics:" rigid plastics which include milk/soda crates, buckets, laundry baskets, lawn furniture, totes, plastic drums, coolers, flower pots, water bottles, pallets, pet carriers, shelving, closet organizers, empty garbage/recycling bins. Info: 410-396-4511 or www.baltimorecity.gov/government/dpw/recycle/ Cold Weather Tips: Protect Your Pipes Pipes and utility meters can freeze when the temperature remains below 25 degrees for extended periods of time. The Baltimore City Department of Public Works offers the following tips to help protect water lines during periods of cold weather: Let a thin stream of cold water run from a basement faucet. The stream should be a continuous flow, about the thickness of a pencil. This water can be caught in a bucket or pail to be recycled later as laundry or dish water. If your pipe is frozen, gently warm it with hot air from a blow dryer at the point where it enters your house. Be sure you know the location of the water shutoff valve in your home. Check it periodically to ensure itworks properly. Periodically monitor your sump pump. A frozen drain pipe could result in a flooded basement. Insulate pipes in unheated parts of your house. Be especially alert if you have had frozen pipes in the past. Keep bottled water on hand. The Department of Public Works maintains outdoor water lines up to and including the meter. Water lines running from the meter to the house, as well as internal plumbing, are the responsibility of the property owner. For water emergencies in Baltimore City, please call 311. If you are outside the City, but in our service area, please call 410-396-5352.

Dr. Maya Angelou to speak at UB School of Law’s 2009 Feminist Legal Theory and Feminism Conference, Mar. 6, 6pm, The Lyric Theatre. The conference explores the concrete ways in which feminist legal theory is (or is not) changing the law. Free. Must pre-register at http://law.ubalt.edu/template.cfm?page=931

Historic Tax Credit Informational Forum, March 7, Lovely Lane Methodist Church, 2200 Saint Paul Street, 9:30 am. Co-hosted by Charles Village Community Benefits District
& Baltimore Heritage, Inc. Planning to repair, improve or renovate your property? You may be eligible for a State Historic Tax Credit. Recover 20% of the cost of repairs, improvements or renovations and/or reduce a possible increase in the assessed value of your property resulting from repairs, improvements or renovations. Info: 410.235.4411

The Priceless Gown Project 2009 Boutique, March 7, 9am-2pm, Baltimore area high school juniors and seniors who can’t afford a prom dress, choose a dress for free; Students must present a valid school ID card to show current school enrollment. First-come, first serve. www.pricelessgownproject.org

Linercise Fundraiser for the Maryland Food Bank, Mar. 13, 12pm-1pm, Main Seminar Room at bwtech@UMBC, 1450 S Rolling Road-Halethorpe, admission is a donation of one non-perishable food item. Must pre-register by Mar. 6 at www.umbc.edu/training. 410-455-5809.

MD HOPE (Home Owners Preserving Equity) State Hotline 1-877-462-7555
For assessment and possible referral to a housing counseling agency or a volunteer attorney for assistance in your foreclosure matter. www.mdhope.org

New Baltimore City Traffic Law -- Stop on the Light Before You Turn Right .... For a 30 day period, traffic enforcement officers will issue a warning (violation notice) to delinquent drivers informing them of the civil penalty for making a rolling right turn on red. After the warning period, violators will be charged with paying the fines. The penalty for a violation is $75. Payment of the fine amount will not result in points on your driver’s license and cannot be used to increase your insurance rates. Warning signs have been posted at Red Light Camera Enforcement locations to make motorists aware of the fact that they are approaching a Red Light Camera Safety intersection. The actual locations of the cameras are listed on www.baltimorecity.gov.

Artwork is needed for the ARTcetra fundraiser for Coppin State University’s Helen Fuld School of Nursing. Artists are asked to submit 1-2 pieces, including original works, prints, limited editions (w/certificates), photography, sculpture, quilts, handcrafted jewelry & wearable art. Submit by March 27. Fundraiser is April 25. 410-466-8733 or poncho62@verizon.net.

Volunteers Needed to Help Rebuild the Playground at Stadium Place. The project will take place May 5-10. Also need help with office work, publicity, recruiting volunteers, etc. Contact the Greater Homewood Community Corporation at 443-756-6198 or friendsofourplayground@gmail.com.

Survivors Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) is offering a $1000 scholarship to a graduating Baltimore City public high school senior who has lost an immediate family member to homicide. Deadline is April 3. For details, contact Robin Singletary Haskins at 410-361-9301.

Registration is underway for 2009 Northwood Baseball League. Every Wednesday 6:30-8:30pm & every Saturday 11:30am-2:30pm, Morgan State University’s Montebello Complex, Room 124, 2201 Argonne Dr. 410-444-4872.

Registration is underway for Spring 2009 Forest Park Neighborhood Football League, for youth players, 5-15, Call Coach Quinton at 443-744-6346 or Coach Curtis at 443-506-9985. fplittleleaguer@aol.com

Free Tax Prep Clinics hosted by The Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Service through March 7. 12pm-5pm Wednesdays; 9am-2pm Saturdays. Various city locations. For wage earners making $26,000 or less. Call for an appointment 410-234-8008.

Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore’s Foreclosure Prevention Program offers emergency bridge loans to victims of predatory or exotic lending, or homeowners hit with emergencies such as illness or unemployment. Eligible low- to moderate-income homeowners can receive up to $5,000 in deferred loans. 410-327-1200.

Community Greening Resource Network (CGRN), sponsored by Parks and People Foundation, is accepting new members. The CGRN is an annual membership program to support community gardens throughout Baltimore City. It provides community-based groups access to material resources (tool, seeds, plants, mulch, and compost) training opportunities (green space planning, organization, and fundraising), and networking opportunities for sharing skills and experience among community greeners. Sarah Krones 410-448-5663.

New Conversations/Conversaciones Nuevas, Enoch Pratt’s Southeast Anchor Library, 3601 Eastern Ave., Tuesdays at 11am. Practice casual conversation for beginning English and Spanish speakers, 410-396-1580.

Food Assistance provided by Project 100, an initiative of the Baltimore City Housing Community Action Partnership and New Psalmist Baptist Church, to help families with food security for 30 days in order to pay down other bills. It’s for residents of 21217, 21216, 21201, 21223, or 21229 who have children and do not receive food stamps or a utility subsidy from Section 8. 410-396-089320

Open Minds is Creative Alliance's free book-based after school program. New visual and performing arts courses, including mural painting, photography, music production and breakdancing are beginning at Wolfe Street Academy, Hampstead Hill, Collington Square and with EBLO-Mi Segunda Casa at John Ruhrah. Call Karen Summerville at 410-276-1651.

Conserve energy, save money and protect the environment with BGE’s PeakRewards program. If you have central air conditioning or an electric heat pump, you could save up to 15% year round in energy costs. www.bgesmartenergy.com/peakrewards

Power of Parents and Partners in School (P.O.P.S. Program) is a new program to encourage and address the needs of students who are expecting or parenting teens who have dropped out and want to return to school. Developed by the Laurence G. Paquin School. 410-396-9398/9399.

Baltimore Speaks Out! Program, a great opportunity for children ages 11-15 to learn about video/film production. Offered at Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Herring Run branch, 3810 Erdman Ave. 410-338-0947. Free.