Dear Friends:
This week the City Council’s Education Committee met with Jonathan Brice, Baltimore City’s Executive Director of Student Support and City Schools Police Chief Marshall Goodwin to discuss two City Council Resolutions focused on school violence prevention. In September, at the beginning of the school year, I introduced the resolutions [links] to urge for the creation of a new hotline for parents, teachers, and students to report and help prevent violence in public schools; and to urge for the development of a new training program for teachers to help identify youth most at-risk for gang recruitment.
Reports of suspected gang activity, threats and acts of violence are all very serious matters. We really needed to establish a better system that allows students, parents and teachers to report actionable information directly to city school police and top school administrators.
The city school system acted quickly on the recommendations and by mid-November, launched a new Student Safety Hotline, 410-396-SAFE (7233). According to Mr. Brice’s testimony at the City Council hearing, the hotline has already received hundreds of calls from students related to bullying, fights and gang activities. Students are now stepping up to help school police prevent violence. The hotline provides students with a safe and anonymous method of sharing critical information.
During the hearing, I suggested that in addition to a revamped hotline, city schools look to Broward County Public Schools in Florida, where officials have created a new text messaging system that allows students to report anonymous tips about potential threats. This is an innovative program that another large school system has implemented for very little cost. Baltimore should be looking at new ways to encourage more students to come forward to help prevent school violence.
Chief Marshall briefed the City Council on recent efforts to train school personnel to help identify youth most at-risk for gang recruitment. School Police are now providing gang prevention presentations to faculty and staff throughout the school district and are delivering intervention programs to targeted schools.
Schools CEO Dr. Andres Alonso and his top staff at City Schools have been tremendous partners working with elected leaders, communities, parents and teachers to improve our public schools. There is no doubt that these collaborative, innovative efforts have helped to make our schools better, safer, and stronger.
Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
President, Baltimore City Council
City Council This Week
Monday, March 16
Hearing: Highways and Franchises Subcommittee, Sharon Green Middleton – Chair
10:00 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0234 City Streets - Opening - Diamond Street
10:05 AM
08-0235 City Streets - Closing - Diamond Street
10:20 AM
08-0240 City Streets - Opening - Pleasant Street
10:25 AM
08-0241 City Streets - Closing - Subterranean Rights Under Pleasant Street
City Council Meeting
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
The Council meeting will be broadcast live on TV25.
Draft agenda
Wednesday, March 18
Hearing: Land Use and Transportation Committee, Edward Reisinger – Chair
2:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0230 Zoning - Conditional Use Pharmacy: Drive-in - 1301 Baylis Street (a/k/a 3500 Boston Street)
Hearing: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations/Land Use and Transportation Committee
6:30 PM
LO09-0032 08-0163 - Live Entertainment - Licensing and Regulation - Hospitality Services - Promotion and Coordination
FIRST COMMUNITY WORK SESSION - SOUTHEAST
To be held at: Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, 420 South Chester Street.
Thursday, March 19
Hearing: Taxation, Finance and Economic Development Committee, Helen Holton – Chair
10:30 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0220 Fire and Police Employees' Retirement System - Benefits - Post-Retirement Increases
Community Events
For a comprehensive listing of events in Baltimore,
check the City Council's online events calendar.
Friday, March 13
Linercise Fundraiser for the Maryland Food Bank
UMBC Main Seminar Room, 1450 S. Rolling Road, Halethorpe, 12pm-1pm. Admission is a donation of one non-perishable food item. 410-455-5809.
Saturday, March 14
Maryland Zoo in Baltimore: Opening Day
Druid Hill Park, 10am-4 pm. Come see what's new at the Zoo and say hello to some of your zoo favorites -- the giraffes, polar bears, elephants, penguins, leopards, cheetahs, chimps, ducks and farmyard animals are waiting for you! Be sure to come early: the first 500 children under age 10 will receive a free bag of animal crackers! www.marylandzoo.org
Save the trees with the Friends of Druid Hill Park and the Jones Falls Watershed Association
Jones Falls Trail in Druid Hill Park, 9am-12pm. Help with removal of invasive species. Meet at the trailhead at the northern border of the park, where Parkdale Avenue dead ends into the trail near the switchback, behind the new Clipper Mill development. Mike 410-897-7460.
Fest-of-All Gala to benefit Federal Hill Main Street
Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Highway, 7-11pm. Features a fashion show, food & drink, dancing, silent auction, and more. $60-$75. 410-727-4500. www.historicfederalhill.org
How to Apply for a Mortgage Workshop
Enoch Pratt Library Central Branch, 400 Cathedral St., 10:30am-12:30pm. Presented by Live Baltimore. Learn the fundamentals that you need to understand how the mortgage process works. 410-637-3750.
Baltimore Stadium Trek to benefit the American Lung Association
Oriole Park at Camden Yards, check in is 8am, Walk begins at 10am and ends on the 50-yard line of Ravens Stadium. Log onto www.BaltimoreStadiumTrek.org or call 410.560.2120 ext. 232.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Eastern Region Day of Service: Focus on Domestic Violence
St. Frances Academy Community Center, 501 E. Chase St., 10am-2:30pm. Talks on the warning signs, medical aspects, and survivor stories, a children activity center and free food. Keynote speaker is Lt. Governor Anthony Brown. Info: bmac_dst@yahoo.com
Sunday, March 15
Baltimore St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Shamrock 5K Race
The 5K race begins at 1:15 at Charles and Franklin Streets. The Parade steps off at 2pm at the Washington Monument, down Charles Street to Pratt Street and disbands at President Street. www.irishparade.net TRAFFIC AND PARKING ADVISORY
Wednesday, March 18
Save Money with Homebuying Incentives & Save Energy with BGE
Enoch Pratt Library Central Branch, 400 Cathedral St., 6-7:30pm.
Presented by Live Baltimore. Learn about tax incentives to downpayment and closing cost programs to energy-wise tips. Co-sponsored by BGE. 410-637-3750.
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/
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Charm City Community Festival Foundation Fundraiser, Mar. 21, 9pm-1:30am, Maryland Institute of Art Brown Center Atrium. Contact Rashidi Scott cccbf@yahoo.com
Empowering Leadership Breakfast with Congresswoman Maxine Waters, March 21, 9-11am, The Forum, 4210 Primrose Ave., benefits The Links’ Scholarship Program. $30. Charlene Cooper Boston 410-465-6652.
Harbor Ball 2009, March 21, 7pm-Midnight, Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Museum, 1417 Thames St., to benefit the Society for the Preservation of Fell's Point and Federal Hill, enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres, drinks, a silent auction, live music and more. $75-$85 www.harborball.com
Extension of the “A Slice of Historic Black Baltimore Exhibition,” now through March 22 at the Top of the World Observation Level, 401 E. Pratt Street, 27th floor of Baltimore’s World Trade Center.
Scrabble Fundraiser for Literacy, March 28, The Calvert School, 4300 N. Charles St., 5pm. Proceeds benefit the Adult Literacy and ESOL program at the Greater Homewood Community Corporation (GHCC). Games offered at both competitive and social levels. Pre-registration $20-$30. 410-261-3520.
2009 Job Fair presented by Congressman Elijah Cummings, March 30, 9am-3pm, Fifth Regiment Armory, 19th Division St., 410-685-9199.
City of Baltimore Procurement and Outreach Fair, April 6, 8:00 am–12:00 noon, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, 1400 W. Cold Spring Lane. The fair is an opportunity for businesses to network with City, State and Federal quasi-public government agencies and corporate companies to increase procurement opportunities with the City of Baltimore. Information: 410-396-3818.
Baltimore Franchise Opportunities Seminar for Women and Minorities: How to Be in Business for Yourself, But not By Yourself, April 18, 9:00 am–1:00 pm, War Memorial Building, Memorial Hall, 101 N. Gay Street. The seminar will promote minority-owned and women-owned business opportunities in franchising, attract attention to the need for franchisees in the minority business community and provide information to those who wish to become franchisees. More information here. Space is limited, so call 443-451-7160 or register online at www.sbrcbaltimore.com
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
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, 2201 Argonne Drive, Room 124. 410-444-4872.
Registration is underway for Spring 2009 Forest Park Neighborhood Football League for youth players ages 5-15. Call Coach Quinton at 443-744-6346 or Coach Curtis at 443-506-9985. fplittleleaguer@aol.com
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.
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.
