Public Justice Center
In 2015, with support from the Abell Foundation, the Public Justice Center launched its Home Care Worker Initiative to address wage theft. Through this initiative, PJC works to enforce a new federal regulation that, for the first time, granted HCWs (who are mostly women and people of color) federal minimum wage and overtime protections. With this grant from Abell, PJC will educate 400 HCWs concerning workers’ rights and advancement opportunties, represent at least 20 HCWs and and other workers to recover at least $100,000 in lost wages, and advocate for state-level legislation that will benefit HCWs.
Ms. Frances’ House
Ms. Frances’ House provides housing and substance use disorder treatement services to women and their children in Coppin Heights. Funding from the Abell Foundation will support a gap in its operating budget for the fiscal year.
Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City
The original Mayor’s Fellowship Program provided a summer internship that enabled the City of Baltimore to establish a pipeline to full time employment to high caliber young professionals, many of whom remain high profile leaders in City and County government today. With the support of Baltimore Corps, up to 10 graduate school students will be recruited for a ten-week Summer internship working on executive-level projects in high-functionning Baltimore City agencies and offices. Fellows meet weekly to learn about City government, and present their projects and findings to City Hall leaders at the end of internship. The goal of the Mayor’s Office is to hire successful Fellows in the two years following the internship experience.
Maryland New Directions
Maryland New Directions, Inc., (MND) is a private, nonprofit, career counseling and job placement agency that provides occupational skills training, including the Maritime Transportation Distribution and Logistics training program and the Commercial Transportation Careers training program. MCAT also provides other employment services, inlcuding computer literacy training, walk-in job search and application support, individual job coaching, and other personalized support services. Funding from Abell will support MND in assisting more than 300 job seekers in Baltimore.
Marian House, Inc.
Marian House is a supportive housing program for homeless women and children located in the Better Waverly neighborhood of Baltimore City. Funding from the Abell Foundation will support Marian House’s Impact Study which will track outcome data for Marian House residents who exited the program between 2011-2016. Findings from the evaluation will help Marian House to identify any gaps in programming and to support its fundraising efforts.