MAYOR'S HOT LINKS

Summer Academy of Mathematics and Science

Summer Food Service Program Seeks Sites

FEDirect Federal Job Application Workshops

Money Power Day

Baltimore Builds Workshop

Shamrock Shindig

St. Patrick's Day Parade

Grants 101

Lady Maryland Benefit Dinner

Sojourner Truth: A Journey of Truth

Top O' the Mornin' St. Patrick's Day Enrichment Fest

Baltimore Greek Week

Historic Tax Credit Workshop

Art at the Top

African Film Festival

Neighborhood Institute: Love Where You Live

African Ancestry: Trace Your DNA, Find Your Roots

Maryland Greek Independence Day Parade

On Tuesday, I joined Baltimore City Public Schools System CEO Dr. Andres Alonso on a tour of two public schools to highlight the need to increase funding for school construction and renovation. We visited Barclay Elementary/Middle School and Dr. Bernard Harris, Sr. Elementary School. Both schools have dedicated staff and bright young children, but face infrastructure problems that hinder their ability to teach and learn effectively throughout the year.

Our schools are challenged both by having the oldest school buildings in the state of Maryland and a local property tax base that is insufficient to meet the current and future funding needs of the school system’s construction and renovation plan. Raising property taxes on Baltimore's families is not an option to address this major need. The only way to make real progress is to put real new funding into play—and that means making tough choices by raising new revenue without raising property taxes on homeowners and businesses.

The Better Schools Initiative will increase the City's annual contribution to school construction and renovation by 140%, beginning in July of next year. This is an unprecedented commitment that can make a real dent in our schools’ infrastructure challenges. Never before in Baltimore's modern times has an administration stepped up and proposed a dedicated revenue stream just for schools—this is a great opportunity to make it happen.

The Better Schools Initiatives includes a variety of new revenue streams, including dedicating proceeds from the proposed 5-cent beverage container fee, 10% of City revenues from the proposed Video Lottery Terminal facility land lease, and by leveraging additional State funds from the City's contribution to teacher-retiree healthcare benefits. The combined package of proposed new revenue streams could leverage as much as $300 million in bond funding for school construction and renovation or could be pumped into shovel-ready projects as early as next year.

The schools we visited this week are not unique. Parents and teachers have raised money to purchase needed supplies, and many volunteered on holiday weekends to put fresh coats of paint on the walls. Their investment of sweat equity in the schools is laudable, but not enough to overcome large infrastructure issues common in old buildings. We need to step up and do our part for Baltimore’s children, too.

The needs of our school buildings are great, and we will not be able to begin to address our challenges unless members of the City Council allow for a hearing and vote on the issue. I know that many members of the Council are willing and ready to take concrete action to help improve our school buildings. It is important that the legislative process be allowed to move forward and not be delayed by arbitrary timetables.

In the coming weeks, we will continue to visit public schools to highlight the need for new school construction funding. It’s not the entire solution, and it’s not the last word, but it’s a big step forward for our city, and I need your support to make it happen now. I urge you to contact your Councilmember in support of the Better Schools Initiative. Help our students and get Baltimore growing again.

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

High school students interested in attending university will benefit from this six-week academic residential program sponsored by the Actuarial Science Program at Morgan State University. Selected students will receive classroom instruction and hands-on experience in mathematics, English, and computer science, and investigate careers in the sciences. Participants can obtain university equivalent course credit. Registration is $50, but all other expenses are covered. Students will receive a weekly stipend. For more information, or to obtain application materials, email nicassia.williams@morgan.edu, call 443-885-4374 or visit the website. The program runs June 18-July 27, and the application deadline is March 16.

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.

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.

Irish Eyes will be smiling at the Waterfront Partnership’s latest event. At this free, family friendly event, enjoy live St. Patrick’s Day themed music, shamrock crafts, cookie decorating, a strolling leprechaun, and more! Children will receive shamrock derby hats, shamrock pins, beads, and Irish flags--everything they need for the 57th Annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, which kicks off immediately following the event. To RSVP, email Beth@WaterfrontPartnership.org. For more information, visit www.waterfrontpartnership.org.

Baltimore's St. Patrick Parade is truly the jewel in Maryland's emerald crown. For more than 50 years, thousands of spectators from the region have crowded the streets and sidewalks of downtown Baltimore and the famous Inner Harbor to watch thousands more march and celebrate Irish culture, music, song, and dance. The parade steps off at the Washington Monument and continues to Pratt Street and Market Place. For more information, visit www.irishparade.net.

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.

Wear your green and celebrate St. Paddy’s Day at the Zoo! Enjoy a yummy green treat (while supplies last), face painting, pictures with animal ambassadors, and a visit with Sphen (Sven) the penguin mascot. Roam the Zoo, where the animals will receive Irish-themed treats as zookeepers explain the importance of enrichment activities. The event is free with zoo admission. For more information, visit www.marylandzoo.org.

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.

Thinking about a home renovation project? If you're working on your historic house, you may be eligible for the Maryland Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit program, which offers incentives for home-owners in designated historic districts across the city. Join Baltimore Heritage for this historic tax credit workshop and get an introduction to the State and City tax credit. For more information, contact Eli Pousson at pousson@baltimoreheritage.org or 301-204-3337. RSVP today!

The Top of the World Observation Level offers a unique view of Downtown Baltimore and beyond. For a limited time, you can come for more than just a great view. Top of the World Observation Level hosts a collaborative exhibition featuring the works of resident artists from Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower and School 33 Art Center. Observation Level admission is required. An opening reception will be held on Friday, March 23 at 7:00 pm. The reception for the exhibition is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.viewbaltimore.org.

This engaging film series features critically acclaimed short-format and feature releases by African directors. All films have English sub-titles. Please note: Some content may be unsuitable for young children. Single Day Passes are free for BMA Members, $10 for non-members, and $5 for students with I.D. Tickets can be purchased online, at the BMA Box Office, or by phone at 800-919-6272. For more information, visit www.artbma.org/calendar/films.html.

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.