The Rawlings-Blake Review #143: Community Job Hubs

Rawlings Blake Review Header

November 30, 2012


In this issue:

Mayor's Hot Links

Baltimore Snapshot

Special Notices
PNC Transformative Art Project

75 Journeys Home

Higher Achievement Mentoring Opportunities

Upcoming Events
Baltimore Farmers' Market and Bazaar

It's a Waterfront Life

Holiday Festival of Trains & Toys

Community Meeting on Disabilities

A Monumental Occasion

Holiday Poinsettia Display and Train Garden

TreeBaltimore Annual Meeting

Santa on Harford Road

Plants & People Sunday: Holiday Open House with Santa

Waxter Wisdom Workshop Series

Dear Friends:

Community Job Hubs

Yesterday, we celebrated the opening of one of Baltimore’s four new Community Job Hubs. Increasing access to employment services in the community was a key goal in my 2012 State of the City Address. Operated by the Office of Employment Development, in partnership with community groups that have established a trusted presence in select neighborhoods, the Community Job Hubs supplement services offered at the City’s three one-stop career centers by offering no-cost classes, taught by professional technology trainers, that prepare residents for 21st-century jobs.

Our goal of growing Baltimore by 10,000 families can be achieved if we provide opportunities and services—like the ones at the Community Job Hubs—that give the unemployed and underemployed better access to employment connections and digital job search resources. Residents can improve their computer skills and earn certifications that will help them find jobs that lead to sustainable careers.

Classes offer professional coursework, at appropriate basic through advanced levels, that can be accessed through any Internet-enabled computer for independent study. Once learners are assessed and trained on the software, they can progress at their own pace. Residents learn to complete online job applications, expand job search techniques, and create winning resumes. The Community Job Hubs also provide access to academic resources, customized skill training, employer recruitment events, job alerts, and job fairs.

Community Job Hubs are currently in operation or soon to open at the following locations:

Academy of Success, Inc.
200 South Franklintown Road
Baltimore, Maryland 21223

Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation (GEDCO)
5502 York Road
Baltimore, Maryland 21212

My Brother’s Keeper
4207 Frederick Road
Baltimore, Maryland 21229

Southern Community Action Center
606 Cherry Hill Road
Baltimore, Maryland 21225

For more information about the Community Job Hubs, visit www.oedworks.com/jobseek. Video of our announcement, including testimonials from residents can be found on our YouTube channel.

Finally, please forward information about our Community Job Hubs to anyone you may know in need of job readiness assistance. 

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


Rawlings-Blake announces commitment to expand Vacants to Value program, sets benchmarks

The Baltimore Sun

Baltimore has new opportunity for small businesses

WJZ


Baltimore Snapshot


Baltimore City's Visitation Center

This week, Mayor Rawlings-Blake was pleased to attend the opening of Safe Havens: Baltimore City's Visitation CenterThe center provides supervised visitation services that allow victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or child abuse to have parent-child contact in the presence of an appropriate third-party supervisor.

The center is the culmination of a three year development process, led by the Mayor's Office on Criminal Justice in cooperation with the Governor's Office of Crime Control & Prevention, House of Ruth, The Family Tree, and the Baltimore Police Department.

Special Notices


PNC Transformative Art Project

For the second year, the PNC Transformative Art Project will distribute funds to qualified neighborhood associations and community-based nonprofit groups to strengthen neighborhoods through major art projects. Communities will partner with artists to permanently reinvent community spaces using art. Interested communities and artists must attend an application workshop. For more information, or to learn how to apply, visit www.promotionandarts.com or call 410-752-8632.

75 Journeys Home

In January 2013, the Mayor’s Office of Human Services – Homeless Services Program, in partnership with the Baltimore Home for Good campaign, will undertake an exciting new project: 75 Journeys Home. An extension of the annual homeless census, 75 Journeys Home will identify the most vulnerable homeless people and connect them to housing and services. Volunteers are desperately needed to help with the homeless census January 27-January 30. To sign up, or for more information, visit facebook.com/BaltimoreHomeForGoodCampaign or www.journeyhomebaltimore.com.

Higher Achievement Mentoring Opportunities

Higher Achievement helps middle school students advance to and excel in top high schools through its after-school and summer programs, by pairing academically motivated and underserved youth with committed mentors. Volunteer mentors meet with students for two hours each week during the school year and do not need to have teaching experience. For more information, on mentoring through Higher Achievement, visit www.higherachievement.org or call 410-752-7753.


Upcoming Events


Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar

Sundays through December 23, 7:00 am-Sell out
Saratoga Street, Between Holliday and Gay streets

2012 marks the 35th annual Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar season. Market-goers can pick up the season’s freshest fruits, vegetables, flowers, meats, dairy products, spices, and a variety of made-to-order foods from longtime favorites and new vendors. In addition, dozens of regional artisans offer original arts and crafts. For more information, visit www.promotionandarts.com (click “Events and Festivals”) or call 1-877-BALTIMORE.

It’s a Waterfront Life

Through December 31
Inner Harbor/Harbor East

It’s the most wonderful time of year on the Baltimore Waterfront! Holiday activities for revelers of all ages include special events, discounted parking, dining specials, lantern parades, reindeer rides, carolers and more. This year sees the return of the Power Plant Holiday Light Show Spectacular, and Harbor East’s Window Wonderland with amazing window displays decorated by local artists. For more information and a list of upcoming activities and events, visit waterfrontpartnership.org.

Holiday Festival of Trains & Toys

Through December 31
Monday-Saturday 10:00 am-4:00 pm; Sunday 11:00 am-4:00 pm
B&O Railroad Museum, 901 W. Pratt Street

Festivities abound at the B&O Railroad Museum throughout the holiday season, and weekend train rides with Santa continue through December 23 (times vary). Marvel at tons of limited-showing model trains. Activities continue throughout the season, including crafts, an indoor carousel, holiday story time, and live entertainment. For detailed dates and times, or a complete list of upcoming events, visit www.borail.org.

Community Meeting on Disabilities

Wednesday, December 5, 9:00 am-3:30 pm
The Vollmer Center, 4915 Greenspring Drive

The Mayor’s Commission on Disabilities and the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) invite you to join an in-depth discussion on how the City and DDA can better serve people with disabilities. Featured speakers include Dr. Nollie P. Wood, Jr., Executive Director of the Mayor's Commission on Disabilities, and Dr. Stanley Butkus, Deputy Director of DDA. These and other guest speakers will address topics including employment, community law enforcement, housing, public transit, and accessible transportation. For more information, or to learn how to register, call 410-234-8262 or email donna.will@maryland.gov.

A Monumental Occasion

Thursday, December 6, 5:30 pm-7:30 pm
Washington Monument, 600 N. Charles Street

Mount Vernon Place celebrates the holiday season with the 41st annual lighting of the Washington Monument. Enjoy an evening of live music, refreshments from local vendors, strolling entertainment, and more! Pre-event festivities will be hosted by MIX 106.5, and the lighting ceremony begin will begin at 7:00 pm. The lighting will take place at approximately 7:45 pm, accompanied by a colorful fireworks and laser finale.

Holiday Poinsettia Display and Train Garden

Preview Event: December 7, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
December 8-30
Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens, 3100 Swann Drive

All aboard the Poinsettia Express! The conservatory's annual poinsettia show and train garden return for 2012. Poinsettias are the signature holiday "flower," and red is no longer the main attraction! The conservatory showcases poinsettias in orange, pink with splashes of white, multi-color, and more. And don't forget the fundraiser preview event! Join Conservatory supporters for light refreshment, music, and a sneak-peek of the show. For more information or to purchase tickets to the preview event, visit www.rawlingsconservatory.org.

TreeBaltimore Annual Meeting

December 7, 12:30 pm–2:30 pm
The Vollmer Center, 4915 Greenspring Drive

TreeBaltimore serves as a resource to increase Baltimore's Urban Tree Canopy. If your organization has an interest in greening the city, join TreeBaltimore at its annual meeting. Learn from tree experts how to get your community involved and discuss what your neighborhood is already doing! Topics will include record keeping, planting and maintenance, and the tree stewardship program. Attendees should RSVP to charles.murphy@baltimorecity.gov. For more information, visit treebaltimore.baltimorecity.gov.

Santa on Harford Road

Saturday, December 8, 10:30 am-5:00 pm
Harford Road

Get ready for a jam-packed day with Santa, all along Harford Road. Take in a performance from area students at Mid Atlantic Center for the Performing Arts (show times at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, and 12:30 pm, call for reservations at 443-438-4525). Enjoy holiday crafts at the Hamilton Gallery at 11:00 am. Visit the Last Chance Holiday Craft Show at Faith Community Church. At 1:30 pm find Santa at the Red Canoe; the Arcadian Rhythms will be there to lead a sing-along. At 4:30 pm, Santa’s House at 4500 Harford Road will be open for visitors. Come tell Santa your holiday wishes!

Plants and People Sunday: Holiday Open House with Santa

Sunday, December 9, 1:00 pm-4:00 pm
Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens, 3100 Swann Drive

Join Santa Claus and the Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory for a holiday open house! The conservatory is fun for the whole family. Elementary-aged children will enjoy the Exploration Station as they experience educational, hands-on gardening and create a holiday project to take home. For more information, visit www.rawlingsconservatory.org.

Waxter Wisdom Workshop Series

Wednesday, December 12, 8:30 am–4:00 pm
Waxter Senior Center, 1001 Cathedral Street

The Baltimore City Health Department’s Office of Aging & CARE Services presents this 13-month workshop series, geared toward older adults, the disabled, and service providers. Workshops will take place the second Wednesday of every month. At December's workshops, join Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake to discuss long-term care & decision making. For more information, contact Aisha Ross at 410-396-4932 or aisha.ross@baltimorecity.gov.