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Issue #162
April 26, 2013
In this issue:
Don't Miss:
Prettyboy Day: A Celebration of Our Reservoir
Saturday, April 27
9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Mayor's Hot Links
Baltimore Snapshot
Special Notices
Baltimore's Top Neighborhood Dads Nominations
Baltimore Online Citizen Survey
Encuesta Ciudadana de Baltimore 2013
Upcoming Events
Salvage: A Waste of Materials, A Wealth of Art
Prettyboy Day
Druid Hill Park History Tour
Healthy Kids Day 2013
Torn Asunder...the Civil War in Midstream
ROAR For Autism
Federal Hill Spring Block Party
Disaster Preparedness Town Hall Meeting
Heritage Center Public Meeting
Hack the Parks Meetup
Poly/Western Spring Concert
Kinetic Sculpture Race
Celebrating Abilities Annual Dinner
iConnect Generations Expo
Money Power Day
A Day to Play
Mind Your Business
National Maritime Day Expo & Career Fair
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 On Wednesday, we announced the release of a report from the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises. The advisory council—formed in 2012 and comprised of local business leaders and nationally-renowned experts—examined best practices and suggested improvements to the City’s minority and women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) program, creating a platform for the program’s future direction.
The final report highlights the shortcomings of the current MWBE program and recommends a new agenda for the City to accelerate and strengthen the rebuilding of Baltimore’s local economy through purposeful economic inclusion of all segments of its business population. Suggested improvements to vendor payment, procurement law, contract administration, and contract monitoring are included, along with proposals for pilot programs to stimulate business and job growth in communities.
The advisory council was chaired by businessman and author Robert L. Wallace of BITHGROUP Technologies. Businesswoman Maria Welch Martinez, CEO of Respira Medical, served as vice-chair. The council was comprised of 23 members of the business community, as well as representatives from the City Council and state legislature. Public forums with residents and business owners were held to discuss the effectiveness and challenges of current MWBE policies and programs.
The advisory council recommends forming task forces to develop pilot programs to support business growth. Pilot program proposals include the Green, Healthy, and Sustainable Homes Project; Urban Solar Initiative Pilot Project; and the Innovation Cluster or Technology Initiative.
For us to produce innovative and competitive new companies in Baltimore, we must address long-standing impediments to growth, and better position homegrown companies to become economic giants of the next generation. Most importantly, we need to leverage our resources to make sure the benefits of economic growth extend to all of our communities.
The proposals released this week will help us spur the development and growth of new businesses in Baltimore. It is important that we make sure our initiatives extend to the parts of the city with the highest unemployment rates to utilize our existing workforce—in addition to the focus we need to place on small, minority, and women-owned businesses. If we do this, we will have a much more robust economy to support a growing city.
The report can be downloaded from the City's website.
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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
WJZ
Baltimore Business Journal
WJZ
North Baltimore Patch
Baltimore Snapshot
 Pallets of bright and vibrant flowers line the streets at the Baltimore Farmers' Market & Bazaar. Maryland's largest producers-only market gives residents the opportunity to browse a wide variety of goods, crafts, and produce. Local farms like Big City Farms and Five Seeds Farm are often on hand to demonstrate the success of Baltimore's urban agriculture. Photo by Mark Dennis.
Baltimore's Top Neighborhood Dads Nominations
Do you have a neighbor who should be honored for the strength with which they lead your community? If you know a man who is giving back where you live, ask your neighborhood association to nominate your top neighborhood dad. The person does not have to be a parent, just a caretaker of the community. If chosen, he will join Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake at the Top Neighborhood Dads luncheon in June—just in time for Father's Day. The nomination form is available online.
Baltimore Online Citizen Survey
The annual Baltimore Citizen Survey aims to identify trends and attitudes regarding quality of life indicators and City services. Survey results will be used to inform and enhance program planning and policy development across all City agencies. The online survey is an unscientific collection of responses that supplements the randomly selected telephone survey. Check out the survey any time between April 1 and June 1. Don't miss this simple opportunity to offer feedback on the City services you rely on every day!
Encuesta Ciudadana de Baltimore 2013
La Encuesta Ciudadana Anual de Baltimore tiene como objetivo identificar las tendencias en el comportamiento y actitudes de las personas relacionadas con indicadores de calidad de vida y los servicios de la Ciudad. Los resultados de la encuesta se utilizarán para informar y mejorar la planificación de programas y desarrollo de políticas en oficinas municipales. La encuesta en internet es una colección no científica de las respuestas. Esto permitirá crear servicios gubernamentales con mayor énfasis, más eficientes y más sensibles a las necesidades de la ciudadanía. Por favor, visite sitio web de la Ciudad para tomar la encuesta en cualquier momento entre el 1ro de abril y 1ro de junio.
Salvage: A Waste of Materials, A Wealth of Art
Fridays & Saturdays through May 18, 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Baltimore Public Works Museum, 751 Eastern Avenue
Come explore Salvage: A Waste of Materials, A Wealth of Art and see over 30 works of art created from Baltimore’s curbside recyclable materials by local and regional artists. The event runs through May 18 and is sponsored by Waste Management. Admission to the museum is free. To learn more about the exhibition or Baltimore City's recycling efforts, visit publicworks.baltimorecity.gov or call 410-396-4511.
Prettyboy Day: A Celebration of Our Reservoir and Watershed Lands
Saturday, April 27, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Prettyboy Dam, 18100 Prettyboy Dam Road, Parkton
Celebrate the 10th annual Baltimore Green Week at beautiful Prettyboy Dam. Explore exhibits, tour the dam and surrounding forests, participate in plantings, and learn about local flora and fauna. For more information, call 410-545-6541 or email publicworks@baltimorecity.gov.
Druid Hill Park History Tour
Saturday, April 27, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Druid Hill Park, Chinese Pavilion (Madison Street Entrance)
Join the Friends of Druid Hill Park to explore one of Baltimore's civic treasures. This history tour explores fascinating historic landmarks and locations throughout the park. Come dressed for the weather, and bring water and a snack. Tours are $10 per person and include significant walking. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.druidhillpark.org.
Healthy Kids Day 2013
Saturday, April 27, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Druid Hill Family Center Y, 1609 Druid Hill Avenue
Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Family Center Y, 900 E. 33rd Street
Join family, friends, and the Y of Central Maryland to celebrate youth health with a free family fun festival! Enjoy a day of activities that promote healthy living and activity. The event will include fitness activities, healthy treats, face painting, a moon bounce, and more. This event is open to all community members. For more information, visit www.ymarlyand.org or contact your Family Center Y.
Torn Asunder...the Civil War in Midstream
Saturday, April 27, 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm
Hampton National Historic Site, 535 Hampton Lane, Towson
Freedom, slavery, divided families, and divided loyalties amid the tragedy of the Civil War are dramatically brought into focus. The Baltimore School for the Arts presents this four-act play in a unique and relevant setting: the slave quarters at Hampton National Historic Site. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.bsfa.org.
ROAR for Autism
Sunday, April 28, 7:00 am – 12:00 noon
Oregon Ridge Park, 13401 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville
Mark Autism Awareness Month and break the silence surrounding autism with a united ROAR to raise awareness and funds for autism research. Kennedy Krieger Institute's ROAR for Autism returns with its 9th annual 25-mile bike ride, and this year, the event includes a 5k run and 1-mile family fun walk. After biking, running, or walking, enjoy a festival with music, entertainment, carnival games, refreshments, and more. For more information or to register, visit www.ROARforAutism.org or call 443-923-7300.
Federal Hill Spring Block Party
Sunday, April 28, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
East Cross Street, between Charles and Light Streets
Ready to celebrate spring? Join the entire Federal Hill community for the annual Spring Block Party. Kick off the festival season with live music on two stages, food & drink, and arts & crafts. Admission is $5. To avoid parking hassles, take the Charm City Circulator Purple Line to Cross Street Market. For more information, go to www.historicfederalhill.org, email admin@historicfederalhill.org, or call 410-727-4500.
Disaster Preparedness Town Hall Meeting
Tuesday April 30, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
War Memorial Building, 101 N. Gay Street
The Department of Planning will unveil its new tidal flood maps and introduce the Disaster Preparedness and Planning Project (DP3). Learn about how changes to flood plain maps will impact you and your property, and learn about DP3, which integrates hazard mitigation efforts with climate change considerations. Representatives from Planning, as well as related federal, state, and local agencies will be on hand to answer questions. For more information, contact Ken Hranicky at 410-396-9508 or kenneth.hranicky@baltimorecity.gov.
Heritage Center Public Meeting
Tuesday, April 30, 6:00 pm
Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park, 1417 Thames Street
Historic Ships in Baltimore will hold a public meeting to introduce construction plans for the new USS Constellation Education and Heritage Center to be built on Inner Harbor's Pier 1, next to USS Constellation. Learn about the plans, ask questions, and offer feedback. For more information, visit www.historicships.org.
Hack the Parks Meetup
Wednesday, May 1, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Druid Hill Park, Lakeside Pavilion
Do you love Baltimore's parks and have an idea to improve them? Hack the Parks makes grants available to support innovative park improvement proposals. Join the Mayor's Office of Information Technology, the Department of Recreation and Parks, and gb.tc for a real opportunity to change our urban green spaces. At this meetup, MOIT, Recreation and Parks staff, and Friends of Parks groups will be on hand to discuss Hack The Parks, answer questions, and help develop ideas. For more information, visit gb.tc/programs/hacktheparks.
Poly/Western Spring Concert
Friday, May 3, 6:00 pm
Poly/Western High School Auditorium, Falls Road and Cold Spring Lane
This evening of music will feature the Poly/Western concert, jazz, and marching bands, as well the drum line and band auxiliary. The event will also celebrate band directors Trudy Benton (Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) and Charles Strother (Western Senior High School), who are both retiring after more than 40 years of service. Tickets are only $5, available at the door. The concert serves as the band program’s major fundraiser. For more information, contact Christopher Gee at cwgee@bcps.k12.md.us.
Kinetic Sculpture Race
Saturday, May 4, 10:00 am
American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Highway
The American Visionary Art Museum presents the 15th annual Kinetic Sculpture Race. Wacky, imaginative, human-powered works of art travel on land, through mud, and over deep harbor waters. The race starts at the American Visionary Art Museum—arrive early to take part in the Opening Ceremony and Blessing of De Feet. Other great spots to see the vehicles are atop Federal Hill, Korean War Memorial Park in Canton, the uphill mud-pit and the not-so-quick-sand pit in Patterson Park. For more information, visit kineticbaltimore.com.
Celebrating Abilities Annual Dinner
Saturday, May 4, from 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
The League for People with Disabilities will host its annual dinner, Celebrating Abilities, to recognize and honor the contributions of advocates who positively impact the community of people with disabilities. This year's honorees include Andrew Slutkin, Walt “The Wizard” Williams, The Abell Foundation, The Downtown Sailing Center, and Barbara Young, M.D. Tickets are $125 and can be purchased online or by phone. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.leagueforpeople.org or call 410-323-0500.
iConnect Generations Expo
Friday, May 10, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Stadium Place, community entrances at Ednor Road and E. 33rd Street
GEDCO (Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation) and the Y of Central Maryland, in partnership with the Baltimore City Health Department's Office of Aging and CARE Services, host this inter-generational expo to raise awareness of the resources available to older adults and their families. Activities include exercise programs, wellness seminars and screenings, live entertainment, support sessions for care partners, a job fair, and much more. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.gedco.org/iConnect.
Money Power Day
Saturday, May 11, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Poly/Western High School, 1400 W. Cold Spring Lane
Join the Baltimore CASH Campaign at Money Power Day, and arm yourself with resources, tools, and support to change your financial future. Take advantage of on-site services and walk away with the tools to make the tough decisions needed to reach your financial goals. Services and activities include a youth zone, credit counseling, benefits information, document shredding, foreclosure prevention assistance, and much more. For more information, visit moneypowerday.org.
A Day to Play
Saturday, May 11, 2013, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Wyman Park Ball Fields, Sisson Street and Wyman Park Drive
Greater Homewood Community Corporation presents A Day to Play, an afternoon of fun, food, games, and prizes. Enjoy all-day field games, including three-legged races, cornhole, dodgeball, basketball, hula hooping, and more. Compete for incredible prizes in Race Thru Remington, which challenges players to find clues at local restaurants, businesses, and residences. Softball teams can sign up for the Day to Play slow-pitch tournament. Remington residents receive discounted admission. To register for A Day to Play, or for more information, visit www.greaterhomewood.org.
Mind Your Business
Monday, May 13, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon
The Charles Theater, 1711 N. Charles Street
Mind Your Business: Home ownership Opportunities for the Creative Leaders of Baltimore’s New Economy gives Baltimore’s artists access to home buying resources. The symposium covers incentives to buying a house in Baltimore, obtaining a mortgage, using a real estate agent, the purpose of the Vacants to Value Program, tax benefits to buying and working in a home, and buying a home in one of the city’s three Arts & Entertainment Districts. The event is free, but registration is required. To register, visit whatweekly.com/mindyourbiz. For more information, call 410-752-8632 or visit www.promotionandarts.org.
National Maritime Day Expo & Career Fair
Saturday, May 18, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Port of Baltimore, Pier 13, 4601 Newgate Avenue
Interested in maritime careers? Wonder what the Port of Baltimore does? This free event showcases the companies and careers that make the Port of Baltimore the economic heart of Maryland. Learn more about the port and the wide range of opportunities that might be available for you. Explore visiting ships, browse ship models on display, and enjoy a variety of maritime heritage activities. For more information, call 410-768-3162 or email steamboatcompany@yahoo.com.
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