 As recently covered in the Baltimore Sun, Baltimore City has recently released an outreach plan in advance of the 2020 Census. The City's goal is the increase participation by 5% from 2010. For each person who is not counted in Baltimore, the City could lose an estimated $1,800 per year in available federal funding. This funding goes to support critical programming such as Head Start, food stamps and more.
This summer, the Department of Planning hosted three YouthWorks students who focused on assisting our agency with outreach around the 2020 Census. Above, we feature two of these students from their presentation to Planning staff on August 2.
An important component of the outreach involves developing a team of trusted messengers across the community. These may include teachers, community leaders, health providers and community organizers. Our YouthWorks interns canvassed at Artscape this summer to recruit Census Ambassadors as messengers.
We are looking for community support around outreach for the Census! If you have an idea or or want to serve as a Census Ambassador, contact Austin Davis at austin.davis@baltimorecity.gov.
If you are seeking part time work, the Census is also hiring for their Baltimore office over the coming year. Apply and learn more via this link.
 Teams of professional and youth artists have been developing murals in Govans, Brooklyn, and Curtis Bay as part of INSPIRE’s partnership with the Art @ Work program.
BOPA’s Art @ Work program is a five-week mural artist apprenticeship for Baltimore City youths enrolled in the YouthWorks program. Young people ages 14–21 are hired to work under lead teaching artists and artist interns to create beautification projects throughout their neighborhoods. Through Youthworks they participate in leadership training and other professional development workshops.
The 2019 lead artists include Megan Lewis, Iandry Randriamandroso, S. Rasheem and Ernest Shaw.
This project was featured on WMAR news; you can read and watch the story here.
 In July, the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation gave final approval for the construction of a 5-story, 33-unit apartment building at 115 W. Hamburg Street in the Sharp Leadenhall historic district. The building replaces a warehouse located near the intersection of S. Hanover and W. Hamburg Streets.
 On July 17th, 2019, the Department of Planning hosted a Substantial Damage Assessment Training. It was facilitated by the Region III office of Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA).
The City voluntarily participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which provides flood insurance and disaster assistance for residents. Both the NFIP and local code requires that post-flood repairs include flood protective measures such as elevating structures.
This training focused on post flood field assessments, which require inter-agency coordination. In attendance were staff from the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management, The Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Department of Planning. Each agency is reviewing its flood damage assessment responsibilities.
Questions may be directed to Victor Ukpolo or Bruna Attila at the Department of Planning via (410) 396-7526 (PLAN).
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