Charm City Care Connection
$100,000 / 2019 / Criminal Justice and Addiction
Abell Foundation support will allow CCCC to open a daytime Harm Reduction Drop-in Center (HRDC) for people with a substance use disorder to provide a safe space to access needed services and support. The HRDC will include low barrier and easy to access services, including the following:syringe exchange,fentanyl test strip distribution, naloxone distribution, community meals and case management.
Center for Urban Families, Inc.
$350,000 / 2019 / Workforce Development
The mission of the Center for Urban Families (CFUF) is to strengthen urban communities by helping fathers and families achieve stability and economic succes. STRIVE Baltimore, the cornerstone of CFUF’s programming, emphasizes attitudinal training, job placement, and post-placement support, with a strict, demanding, three-week workshop that focuses on workplace behavior, appearance, and attitude. Upon completion of training, STRIVE graduates are placed in jobs, and are followed by STRIVE staff for two years. Last year,180 participants graduated from STRIVE Baltimore, with 93 graduates (or 52%) being placed into jobs; 104 graduates of other CFUF programs and 138 former graduates were also placed into jobs, bringing the total number of job placements to 335. STRIVE graduates placed in employment earned an average of $12.20 per hour, and 74% remained employed for at least six months.
BUILD
$125,000 / 2019 / Workforce Development
Turnaround Tuesdays is a BUILD jobs initiative in which residents meet at Zion Baptist Church on Tuesday mornings from 9 am to 11 am to receive help in finding employment. Over 125 people participate in Turnaround Tuesdays each week, completing a 10-week leadership training curriculum that focuses the skills needed to sustain employment. The jobs movement is working: last year, 202 people were placed into jobs, earning an average wage of $14.50 per hour. According to BUILD, 74% of those placed have remained employed at least a year. Retention is higher (84%) at anchor institutions such as Johns Hopkins Medicine and the University of Maryland Medical System. BUILD is establishing an employment pipeline to “good paying jobs” at these and other long-standing large, anchor institution employers, encouraging them to hire people with criminal records.
Fair Housing Action Center of Maryland
$25,000 / 2019 / Community Development
Fair Housing Action Center of Maryland is the only fair housing organization in the state. The organization will target West and East Baltimore communities for delivery of eviction prevention support and outreach materials. This grant provided support for outreach efforts centered around tenants’ rights and responsibilities and landlord education in Baltimore City.
Baltimore Tree Trust
$69,891 / 2019 / Community Development
Baltimore Tree Trust developed an “Urban Roots Apprenticeship,” a tree planting and care/training and mentorship program for unemployed and underemployed individuals. BTT staff worked closely with tree care and landscaping partners to develop a curriculum that prepares graduates for hire in full-time and permanent positions. The twice annual six week, 40-hour a week program will be held with ten trainees in spring and fall, 2019. Participants are paid $12 an hour throughout the training and awarded a final $240 upon completion, taking the wage to $13 an hour.
