MAYOR'S HOT LINKS

Harvest for the Hungry

Star-Spangled Sailabration Community Proposals

Summer Food Service Program Seeks Sites

FEDirect Federal Job Application Workshops

Family History Fridays

Building Houses out of Chicken Legs

Sip, Savor, and Stroll

Money Power Day

Baltimore Builds Workshop

Grants 101

Lady Maryland Benefit Dinner

Sojourner Truth: A Journey of Truth

Baltimore Greek Week

Neighborhood Institute: Love Where You Live

African Ancestry: Trace Your DNA, Find Your Roots

Maryland Greek Independence Day Parade

Eligible groups can receive up to $1,000 to produce community events that revitalize neighborhoods and engage residents. Projects can include back-to-school rallies, block parties, flea markets, health fairs, neighborhood clean-ups, street festivals, and talent shows.

Applications are available online at www.promotionandarts.com under the “Grants” tab. Required materials include a completed application, financial statement, and tax exemption documentation. Grant winners will be announced by mid-April 2012. Nonprofit groups applying to receive a cash grant must be based in Baltimore City. Proposed events have to be free and open to the public. The deadline for submission is Friday, March 30, 2012 by 5:00 pm.

Recipients are obligated to send one representative from the organization to attend the Events Mandatory Workshop on Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm at the MECU main office, located at 7 E. Redwood Street, 20th floor, Baltimore, MD 21202.

As we work to grow this great city, we must foster great partnerships that help the committed leaders in our community associations strengthen and beautify our neighborhoods for current residents and make new residents feel welcome. We are grateful to MECU for joining us to help the Neighborhood Event Grants Program touch the lives of people throughout Baltimore.

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

Baltimore City is proud to participate in the 26th Annual Harvest for the Hungry food drive, which has a healthy twist this year. From March 2-10, Baltimore City residents are encouraged to donate healthy, nonperishable food for our area’s food insecure. Food donations can be dropped off at local Safeway stores and Coldwell Banker offices or, if you have a mailbox, left next to it for your letter carrier to pick up. To see a list of recommended items to donate or a list of locations, visit www.uwcm.org/harvest.

From June 13-19, numerous U.S. and International Navy ships will visit Baltimore’s harbor as part of the Star-Spangled Sailabration. The Baltimore Heritage Area Association, Inc. (BHAA) is managing the community service project aspect of the event. Government, community, and nonprofit organizations can propose short-term, high impact community service projects for military personnel to participate in while they are in port. Please note: Applying for assistance in no way guarantees acceptance into the program. The deadline for applications is March 6. For more information or to apply, call Baltimore Heritage Area Association, Inc. at 410-878-6411.

Baltimore Housing’s Office of Community Services is pleased to offer the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Thousands of children in Baltimore rely on the meals provided at school. When schools close for the summer, children miss out on free or reduced-price meals. Through the SFSP, children can continue to receive nutritious meals while on break. The SFSP is seeking community organizations to become feeding sites. Meals are provided at no cost to the children and are prepared daily and delivered fresh to feeding locations. For more information about the 2012 Summer Food Service Program, or to become a feeding site, visit www.baltimorehousing.org/food.

Baltimore City’s One-Stop Career Center Network recently introduced the FEDirect Federal Job Application Workshop to provide jobseekers with the skills they need to successfully compete for positions with the federal government. The workshop curriculum includes information about the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, which has brought thousands of new federal jobs to Maryland, an overview of the security clearance process, tips for federal resume writing, and more. The workshop is free, but participants must pre-register and meet several eligibility requirements. For more information or for dates and times, contact any of the City's One-Stop Career Centers or Mike Volk at wvolk@oedworks.com.

Begin your family tree at the museum's Resource Center. Visitors will participate in genealogy starter sessions, identify public records, and devise a research strategy. For more information, call 443-263-1816.

Using a recipe of scholarly analysis, personal interviews, film, advertisements, cookbooks, and literature, University of Maryland Professor Psyche Williams-Forson will examine the complexities of food, gender, and race. This lecture is part of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum's Generations Series. Museum admission is required. For more information, visit www.AfricanAmericanCulture.org.

Enjoy an unforgettable evening during this progressive event, perfect for foodies and fun-loving city dwellers. Baltimore’s hottest restaurants and bars will offer signature drinks, wines, and appetizers paired perfectly for a one-of-a-kind experience. "Strollers" will visit five destinations in small groups with a guide. Space is limited. The cost of $45 includes drinks and appetizers at each location. For more information or to register, visit www.harboreast.com.

Since 2005, Money Power Day has provided a fun & engaging way to help you achieve your financial dreams. Take advantage of on-site services, such as one-on-one credit counseling, tax preparation, financially-focused activities for youth, housing counseling for prospective homeowners, and so much more. Money Power Day is presented by the Baltimore CASH Campaign. For more information, visit www.moneypowerday.org or call 443-692-9488.

The Housing Authority of Baltimore City presents this Baltimore Builds Workshop, part of Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's Vacants to Value initiative. Learn from the experts how to purchase City-owned property. Seating is limited and pre-registration is required. For more information, call 410-396-4111 or email V2V@baltimorecity.gov.

This is Activate Your Inner Citizen Workshop, part of CPHA's free leadership training series, will focus on finding and writing small grants for your community or organization. Learn the skills needed to gain additional funding. The workshop is presented by Abby Cocke of Baltimore City's Office of Sustainability. For more information, or to register, visit CPHA's website at cphabaltimore.org/events or call 410-539-1369 ext. 104.

After 25 years of providing hands-on educational programming for over 250,000 students of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, Living Classrooms' flagship, Lady Maryland, has been hauled out for extensive repairs. Proceeds from this fundraiser event will support the ship's restoration costs so she can continue to serve. Enjoy a four-course dinner and behind the scenes tour of the restoration project. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.livingclassrooms.org/news/ladymd-dinner.html.

Storyteller Denise Higgs portrays an icon of freedom: Sojourner Truth. Born Isabella Baumfree, Truth was perhaps the most famous African American female abolitionist and women’s rights activist in the 19th century. Despite the scars of slavery and illiteracy, she traveled the country using her powerful voice to advocate for freedom and equality. This event is part of the It’s More Than History brown bag lecture series. Make sure to bring your favorite brown bag lunch and photo ID for entry. For more information, contact Baltimore National Heritage Area at 410-878-6411.

More than 20 Baltimore area Greek and Greek American owned restaurants and businesses will offer specials, tastings, and lectures. Baltimore Greek Week culminates with the Maryland Greek Independence Day Parade on Sunday, March 25 in Greektown. For a complete listing of events and specials, visit www.BaltimoreGreekWeek.com.

Greater Homewood Community Corporation (GHCC) is pleased to present its Fifth Annual Neighborhood Institute: Love Where You Live. This exciting day of informative workshops is led by Baltimore's best and brightest activists, artists, educators, and leaders. Learn what you can do to build and strengthen vibrant urban neighborhoods. Topics will include engaging city government, building community gardens, energy efficiency, creating community art, and much more. This event is free and includes lunch, but attendees are encouraged to RSVP no later than March 17. Visit www.greaterhomewood.org/neighborhoodinstitute for more information.

Reginald F. Lewis Museum hosts this special event. Trace your genetic ancestry through African Ancestry's African lineage database, the largest of its kind, which draws from over 30 countries and 200 ethnic groups. Lectures will explore the cultural and scientific importance of DNA testing in the global African community. Museum admission is required. To register, or for more information, call 443-263-1816.

Enjoy Greek culture, food, and history at this annual event. Colorful groups from Maryland, DC, and Virginia will march wearing traditional Greek attire to commemorate the 191st anniversary of Greek independence. For more information, visit www.GreekParade.com.