Public Justice Center, Inc.
$25,000 / 2019 / Health and Human Services
The Public Justice Center (PJC) is a nonprofit, legal services, and advocacy organization that addresses social justice, economic and race equity, and fundamental human rights for individuals in Maryland. With funding from the Abell Foundation, PJC has led a multi-year campaign to research and advocate for changes in laws and practices that limit tenants’ rights and deny due process in eviction cases in Baltimore City’s rent court. As a member of the Renters United Maryland coalition, PJC has been advocating for a legal right to counsel for tenants facing eviction. This grant will fund a study of the cost-effectiveness of providing counsel to tenants in eviction cases in Baltimore City.
Smart Surfaces Coalition
$170,000 / 2019 / Environment
Baltimore will have the opportunity to be the very first city in the country to customize and utilize an analytical tool to document and weight the costs versus the health and fiscal benefits of investment in smart surfaces (cool and green roofing, porous paving, tree canopy and green infrastructure) to address a city that is about 70 percent paved or roofed. As low income residents suffer disproportionate impacts of air pollution and higher summer temperatures in areas characterized by little greenery and prevalence of dark impervious surfaces, the tool will be used to help Baltimore adopt cost-effective solutions to cut excess heat radiation from buildings and hard surfaces, reduce flood risk and manage surface water runoff, an improve livability, health and equity while saving money and creating jobs.
Southeast Community Development Corporation
$20,533 / 2019 / Community Development
SECDC will consult with the CASH Campaign of Maryland (CASH) for their expertise to provide training and technical assistance to the organization’s housing counseling team. CASH will conduct an analysis of current practices and staff capacity in the area of financial capability. They intend to develop a financial coaching program that is integrated into SECDC’s homeownership counseling service delivery and will train staff in financial coaching techniques to comprehensively serve Baltimore City households, particularly among low income communities of color.
Strong Schools Maryland, fiscally sponsored by Fund for Educational Excellence
$35,000 / 2019 / Education
Strong Schools Maryland, founded in Spring 2017, is a time-bounded advocacy initiative with a goal for an adequately-funded education system in which virtually all Maryland students graduate on time from high school. At stake are the education funding and policy recommendations put forward by the mandated Kirwan Commission in 2019. Strong Schools will continue its grassroots statewide advocacy through the 2020 Legislative Session to educate the public and state decision-makers using its successful organizing strategy of Teams of Ten; a monthly education and action meeting of over 188 community-based teams engaging 2,000 individuals in all of Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions. The outcome of the advocacy is to pass the Kirwan Commission educational funding and policy recommendations in the 2020 session.
TurnAround, Inc.
$126,280 / 2019 / Workforce Development
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, sex trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery, in which women and girls are forced to engage in the commercial sex trade. Since 2012, with funding from the Abell Foundation, TurnAround, Inc. has provided services to 880 trafficking survivors (187 survivors last year). TurnAround works with clients in three phases: emergency and assessment, stabilization, and support and transition. Services provided include emergency response, trauma therapy, intensive case management, food, shelter, and social service advocacy. With this grant, TurnAround plans to serve at least 100 trafficking survivors over the next year.
