Purpose Built Communities Cherry Hill Initiative, Fiscally Sponsored by Dream Big Foundation
The Dream BIG Foundation is the lead partner in the effort to formally establish the Purpose Built Communities – Cherry Hill Initiative. It is a three pronged placed-based community revitalization effort focused on mixed income housing, community wellness, and cradle-to-college education pipeline. This grant will support expenses associated with the recruitment and hiring of key staff who will cultivate and coordinate investments in the three pillars of the Purpose Built Model.
Public Justice Center, Inc.
Public Justice Center is leading a multi-year campaign to advocate for changes in laws and practices that limit tenants’ rights and deny due process to tenants in Baltimore City’s Rent Court, which results in more than one in 17 renter households being evicted each year. According to a 2020 Stout Risius Ross, LLC report on right to counsel for Baltimore tenants facing eviction, 96% of landlords have lawyers or specialized agents in eviction cases, while only 1% of tenants do. This grant supports PJC’s Rent Court Reform and Eviction Prevention Initiative, which employs a combination of litigation, administrative advocacy, and legislative advocacy to advance the rights of tenants in Baltimore, prevent evictions and reduce household insecurity.
Parks & People Foundation
Parks & People Foundation offers a paid youth internship and environmental education after school and summer YouthWorks program called ‘Branches’ to address two critical issues: the need for meaningful employment for economically disadvantaged youth and the need for a trained workforce caring for parks and green spaces in the City. Participants in the Branches program gain hands-on experience and skills designing and implementing projects that have a community impact while contributing to the areas where many of them live and attend school, including neighborhoods which have high levels of poverty and few opportunities for positive development of young people. During COVID-19 in person restrictions the program will be offered virtually.
Parity Baltimore, Inc.
Parity is an equitable development nonprofit organization launching in Harlem Park, one of Baltimore’s many culturally and historically rich African American neighborhoods. Parity intends to acquire vacant houses and renovate them for sale to new homeowners. Parity has cultivated a cohort of pre-committed and pre-qualified homebuyers. Grant funds will be used for four homebuyer purchase incentives of $10,000 each to support redevelopment and reduce the cost of each house purchase.
Innovation Works, Inc.
Innovation Works is the urban domestic strategic partner of the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University, a leading global accelerator for enterprises. The organization addresses social entrepreneurs’ needs through a five phase pipeline strategy. It recruits and encourages members of disinvested communities to build and own successful social enterprises. These entities will create sustainable neighborhood economies and reduce Baltimore’s neighborhood and racial wealth divide. Innovation Works will expand and support its mentor network, a highly committed and mission-oriented group of Baltimore-based executives and Founders who provide weekly mentoring and pro-bono support. This grant will support staff costs associated with support of entrepreneurs along each stage of the IW pipeline.