Safe Alternative Foundation for Education, Inc.
$10,000 / 2020 / Education
The SAFE Center youth facility opened in 2015 in order to provide West Baltimore middle school students with 1,250 hours of supervised, afterschool, weekend, and summer programming annually. Focusing on learning opportunities in the areas of literacy, STEAM, and health and fitness, the SAFE Center works primarily with students from Franklin Square Elementary/Middle School. The current Abell Foundation grant is designed to address the challenges with remote learning by establishing an in-person learning pod for 22 middle school students. This learning pod provides students with access to the resources they need to attend school on-line as well as receive assistance from SAFE staff who can provide classwork assistance, monitor work completion, and provide a structured learning environment for the students.
Public Justice Center, Inc.
$50,000 / 2020 / Health and Human Services
The Public Justice Center’s Health and Benefits Rights project works to ensure access to critical services through a combination of research, education, advocacy,and litigation. The project will focus on three key priorities: 1) reducing maternal mortality disparities, with a specific focus on increasing access to doula care; 2) monitoring and enforcing state and federal laws requiring Maryland to pay for treatment of Hepatitis C for individuals on Medicaid; and 3) ensuring that state agencies and private healthcare providers are complying with state and federal language access laws that require the provision of translation and interpretation services for people with limited English proficiency. This grant supports the salary of the Health and Benefits Rights attorney, and associated project expenses.
MOMCares, Fiscally Sponsored by Fusion Partnerships, Inc.
$25,000 / 2020 / Health and Human Services
MOMCares provides prenatal and postpartum doula support to women who have complicated pregnancies and/or deliveries, particularly women whose newborns require neonatal intensive care treatment. MOMCares doulas work closely with each client to develop a holistic care plan based on the needs and desires of the new mother. The organization focuses on serving Black women, who have disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality due to a variety of factors, including the impact of systemic racism and chronic stress. By providing comprehensive support to new mothers who have had high risk pregnancies and deliveries, MOMCares aims to reduce the stresses that can result in maternal mortality. This grant provides general operating support for MOMCares.
Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, Fiscally Sponsored by Baltimore Civic Fund
$100,000 / 2020 / Community Development
In response to COVID-19, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MIMA) in partnership with the Baltimore Civic Fund as a fiscal sponsor, established the Emergency Relief for Immigrant Families program. Through community partners, the fund will respond to the urgent needs of undocumented immigrant families who are excluded from the CARES Act and other governmental benefits like Unemployment Insurance and SNAP. The Fund will support case management services to help households address needs and provide direct assistance to help stabilize household finances and build Baltimore as a welcoming community.
Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence Education Fund
$40,000 / 2020 / Criminal Justice and Addiction
Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence (MPGV) began in the mid-1980s. It educates the public, lawmakers, and criminal justice stakeholders about best practices to prevent gun violence. Funding from the Abell Foundation will support its efforts with its newly created Maryland Violence Prevention Coalition. Project goals include educating policymakers and civic leaders about violence prevention strategies, fostering cooperation between the public, nonprofit, and public sectors, breaking down silos, and encouraging problem-solving to improve services and public safety outcomes.
