The Rawlings-Blake Review #125: Strengthening Our Business Community

Rawlings Blake Review Header
July 19, 2012

In this issue:
Bicycle Parking Survey
BARCS Adoption Events
Tipsy Tails
Flicks from the Hill
Belvedere Square Summer Sounds
Artscape
Aqua Zumba
Family Music Jam & Movie Festival in the Park
Youth Bmore Summer Block Parties
Tats for Tails
Films on the Pier
Baltimore Builds
Summer Social at West Shore Park
Art Bytes
Baltimore Restaurant Week
Curator Talk: Growing up AFRO
Jazzy Wednesday Evenings
Teacher's Workshop: The Civil War and Reconstruction
Rising Senior Seminar
Dear Friends:

Mayor Rawlings-Blake creates Advisory Council on Minority and Women-Owned Business
Today, we announced the creation of the Mayor’s Council on Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises. The advisory council, comprised of local business leaders and nationally-renowned experts, will recommend improvements to the City’s minority and women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) program, examine best practices, and create a platform for the program’s future direction. The advisory council will begin work immediately by holding meetings to discuss the effectiveness and challenges of current MWBE policies and programs.

We appointed businessman and author Robert L. Wallace of BITHGROUP Technologies to head the advisory council. Businesswoman Maria Welch Martinez, CEO of Respira Medical, has been appointed vice-chair. In addition to Wallace and Martinez, the advisory council will be comprised of 23 members from the business community, as well as representatives from the City Council and State legislature.

The City of Baltimore must have a comprehensive strategy that institutionalizes MWBEs into the overall business equation. A strong minority and women-owned business enterprise program benefits and strengthens our entire business community.

“The issues that small, minority, and women-owned businesses face are increasing in a challenging business environment,” said Council Chair Wallace. “The mayor is to be commended for having the vision to face these problems head-on by creating a platform for future growth.”

“Until we rectify the problems and rethink our approaches to growing the economy, we will continue to have the same conversations years from now,” added Sharon R. Pinder, director of the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development. “Through this advisory council, the mayor has provided the opportunity for us to positively shape the future of the program.”

The Mayor’s Council on Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises will submit its report by January 15, 2013.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at my website or by email at mayor@baltimorecity.gov. You can also follow the Mayor’s Office and be a part of the conversation on Facebook or Twitter.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
Mayor, City of Baltimore

Mayor's Hot Links


Baltimore Police honor sergeant who served amid segregation

The Baltimore Sun

Artscape crowd expected to again reach 300,000

Baltimore Business Journal

Baltimore Convention Center, Constellation enter energy conservation deal

Baltimore Business Journal

Special Notices


Bicycle Parking Survey

The Baltimore City Department of Transportation, the Department of General Services, and the Parking Authority of Baltimore City are exploring secure bicycle parking options in the Parking Authority's Baltimore City garages. If you currently bike to work, or would consider biking, the City would like your feedback.

BARCS Adoption Events

Join the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) for adoption events throughout Baltimore to meet cats and dogs that need a loving home. Pets from both the shelter and currently in foster care will be on site to meet you. Bottled water, dog treats, and BARCS merchandise will be available for purchase, with proceeds going to help the animals. For more information and a listing of events, visit baltimoreanimalshelter.org/posts.

Upcoming Events


Tipsy Tails

Thursday, July 19, 5:30 pm-8:30 pm
Miguel's Cocina y Cantina, 1200 Steuart Street
Join the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) for this monthly happy hour fundraiser. Enjoy a $15 Buffet and drink specials, and visit the BARCS table to learn about pets that need a loving home. Proceeds go to help the animals at BARCS. This event will be held every third Thursday until September. For more information, visit baltimoreanimalshelter.org/posts.

Flicks from the Hill

Thursdays through August 23, 9:00 pm
American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Highway
Grab a blanket, picnic under the stars, and watch a great film selection inspired by AVAM's current exhibition ALL THINGS ROUND: Galaxies, Eyeballs & Karma. The Hughes Family Outdoor Theater features seating for more than a thousand on the natural amphitheater formed by Federal Hill. Enjoy a twinkling view of the city and an amazing FREE community experience. Admission to the museum is free between 5:00 pm and 9:00 pm on movie nights! For more information, visit avam.org or call 410-244-1900.

Belvedere Square Summer Sounds

Fridays through August 31, 6:00 pm-9:00 pm
Belvedere Square, 518 East Belvedere Avenue
Belvedere Square's ever-popular Friday night outdoor concert series is back! Enjoy gourmet food and drinks from the restaurants and market at Belvedere Square while listening to the sounds of summer with some of Baltimore’s hottest bands! For more information, visit www.belvederesquare.com.

Artscape

Friday-Sunday, July 20-22, All Day
1200 Block of Mount Royal Avenue
America's largest free arts festival, Artscape features continuous musical performances by local and national talent on four outdoor stages, indoor and outdoor visual arts exhibitions, film, theater, the Artists' Market with crafts and works of art for sale, special activities for children, and much more. For more information, or a list of events, exhibitions, and performances, visit artscape.org.

Aqua Zumba

Saturdays through September 1, 10:00 am-10:45 am
Druid Hill Park Pool
Join the Zumba pool party! Aqua Zumba blends Zumba with traditional aqua fitness in a safe, challenging workout that’s cardio-conditioning, body-toning, and exhilarating. Classes, presented by the Department of Recreation and Parks, are $7 per person. Call 410-396-3838 for more information.

Family Music Jam & Movie Festival in the Park

Saturday, July 21, 3:00 pm-11:00 pm (movie begins at 8:00 pm)
Joseph Lee Park, 6200 E. Pratt Street
Featherstone Music hosts this open mic jam session, including instrumental music, singing, and poetry. All ages are encouraged sign up and share their talent. Following the open mic jam session, enjoy an outdoor movie in the park. This month's movie is Up. Don’t forget to bring a chair. For more information, visit musicjamparkmoviefestival.org.

Youth Bmore Summer Block Parties

The Baltimore City Youth Commission, in conjunction with wpbradio.com and DTLR, presents this free concert series. Enjoy refreshments, live music, and a variety of vendors. For more information, call 443-984-3587.
  • Saturday, July 21, 12:00 pm-3:00 pm
    Solo Gibbs Recreation Center, 1044 Leadenhall Street
  • Thursday, July 26, 12:00 pm-to 3:00 pm
    C.C. Jackson Recreation Center, 4910 Park Heights Avenue
  • Friday, August 3, 12:00 pm-3:00 pm
    Druid Hill Park Pool, 800 Wyman Park Drive
  • Thursday, August 9, 7:00 pm-10:00 pm
    Collington Square Recreation Center, 1409 Patterson Park Avenue
  • Thursday, August 16, 7:00 pm-10:00 pm
    Gilmor Elementary School, 1311 N. Gilmor Street

Tats for Tails

Sunday, July 22, 11:00 am-7:00 pm
Baltimore Tattoo Museum, 1534 Eastern Avenue
The Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) teams up with the Baltimore Tattoo Museum to help Baltimore's homeless cats and dogs. At this tattoo fundraiser, animal lovers and tattoo lovers can choose from six designs for $100 each. All proceeds go to help the animals at BARCS. For more information, visit baltimoreanimalshelter.org/posts.

Films on the Pier

Wednesdays through August 29, 8:45 pm
Broadway Pier, Fells Point
The Films on the Pier series is presented by The Sound Garden and Su Casa. New releases will show weekly at the end of Broadway. Bring a chair and enjoy a summer evening with friends and family. For more information, visit www.fellspointmainstreet.org.

Baltimore Builds

Wednesday, July 25, 6:00 pm-7:00 pm
Southeast Anchor Library, 3601 Eastern Avenue
Learn how to purchase City-owned property at this Vacants to Value workshop presented by Baltimore Housing. To register, call the Baltimore Housing Office of Land Resources at 410-396-4111 or email v2v@baltimorecity.gov. For more information, visit www.baltimorehousing.org.

Summer Social at West Shore Park

Friday, July 27, 5:00 pm-8:00 pm
West Shore Park, Inner Harbor
This summer, the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore presents live music, a beer & wine garden, food trucks, and a kids/family play area at West Shore Park. This month's social features live music from Beach Bumz. For more information and a listing of events, visit www.waterfrontpartnership.org or email beth@waterfrontpartnership.org.

Art Bytes

Friday–Sunday, July 27-29, 10:00 am–05:00 pm
The Walters Art Museum, 600 North Charles Street
During Baltimore’s first art museum hackathon, technology and creative communities will work together to build programs and applications inspired by art or to address specific challenges faced by museums. Baltimore’s museum community will present ideas and challenges they would like solved. Throughout the weekend, technologists, innovators, scholars, and artists will form teams to develop their solutions, using the museum’s galleries for inspiration. For more information, or to register, visit shar.es/tXIFC.

Baltimore Restaurant Week

July 27-August 5
Various Locations
Baltimore Restaurant Week offers a unique dining experience that encourages guests to dine their way through Downtown. Participating restaurants will offer specially selected three-course prix-fixe dinner menus for $30.12 and $20.12. Some restaurants will also offer two-course lunch menus for $15.12. Reservations are strongly encouraged. For a list of participating restaurants, visit www.baltimorerestaurantweek.com.

Curator Talk: Growing Up AFRO

Saturday, July 28, 1:00 pm
Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 East Pratt Street
Join John Gartrell, curator and AFRO archivist, in a discussion of Growing up AFRO: Snapshots of Black Childhood from the Afro-American Newspapers. To commemorate the 120th anniversary of the Afro-American Newspapers, the second-longest running black periodical in the United States, this pictorial exhibition features 120 images from the AFRO’s archive collections that demonstrate the vital role young people played in African American history. The exhibition is on view through December 30. For more information, visit www.AfricanAmericanCulture.org.

Jazzy Wednesday Evenings

Wednesday, August 1, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens, Druid Hill Park
Enjoy fine jazz and R&B as you relax on a gorgeous summer evening. Browse Baltimore's newest farmers market and enjoy the beautiful sights of the Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens. This month's performance will feature SMUV. For more information, call 410-396-7459.

Teacher's Workshop: The Civil War and Reconstruction

Wednesday-Friday, August 1–August 3, 9:00 am-2:00 pm
Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 East Pratt Street
Explore African American involvement in the Civil War and the Reconstruction. This course includes lectures, interactive sessions, and a field trip to Washington, D.C. to visit the Frederick Douglass House and the African American Civil War Memorial & Museum. Registration is $25, and one MSDE credit hour can be earned. For more information, or to register, call 443-263-1829 or email taylor@maamc.org.

Rising Senior Seminar

Tuesday, August 7, 8:30 am-1:00 pm
BCCC Fine Arts Building, 2901 Liberty Heights Avenue
You're finally a high school senior! What's next? Join the CollegeBound Foundation's 13th annual seminar to jump-start your college search. Learn how to make the most of your senior year, apply to college, find money for college, and other essential skills. The registration deadline is Friday, July 13. For more information or to register, email info@collegeboundfoundation.org or call 410-783-2905 ext. 200.