Day Six: Nneka and Maggie

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

HUD gave us a presentation about demographic data they had recently collected and their plan for improving the housing situation in Baltimore City. Their data linked race and employment opportunity with community development, finding that underdeveloped communities in the city were often isolated from employment and predominantly African American. Their plan for improvement included several objectives:

1.       Giving marginalized communities better opportunities by helping them move to a more affluent area.

2.       Attempting to integrate the racially segregated neighborhoods of Baltimore.

3.       Preserve and add affordable housing to marginalized communities.

4.       Increase opportunity in marginalized communities by building transit infrastructure and keep areas livable.

In reflection that night, there were varying opinions about the plan. There was support for the red line but some thought that moving people to more affluent communities was a poor idea. The concern was what would happen to the neighborhoods when people left, would they get worse or better? And how would the plan improve education, if at all? Many of us thought that the plans were decent but the funding was in question, which the officials also mentioned.

City Steps/Restoration Gardens

After lunch, we journeyed to Park Heights to visit the Restoration Garden transitional housing facility. Their mission is to provide apartment-style housing for young adults ages 18-25 years old. They gave us a tour and asked for our suggestions about how we would improve the facility for the residents. It was a nicely renovated, spacious building and we made some suggestions about building community among the residents.

We then went to Carriage House, a branch of the same organization on North Avenue. It was a much smaller building that had essentially the same purpose as Restoration Gardens but with shorter turnover. It was a newly-acquired building and they had recently finished renovating. We fixed some furniture and cleaned the first floor of the house.

T. Rowe Price

We were invited to a pizza dinner at T. Rowe Price because someone who worked there was a sponsor of Alternative Breaks. We spent most of the time talking about their Corporate Social Responsibility program. In this program, the foundation gives grants and employees spend time volunteering at various community organizations. They explained how their focus was financial literacy and they had developed a game and lesson plans regarding that issue. We were a little mystified by this because it had little to do with the issues we were working with. Their program was also problematic because they didn’t ask the community or any teachers if this was something that was needed or wanted. It was also an electronic game that only families with computers and access to the internet would be able to use, something many poor families lack.

Our visit to T. Rowe Price sparked a long conversation about how corporations should help the community. Several people had the opinion that corporations such as T. Rowe should have their employees teach money management skills to nonprofits so those organizations can have the necessary funds. When we brought this up to the T. Rowe employees, they seemed less than thrilled at the idea. We came to the conclusion that this was because they didn’t want to give up their services or create a situation where nonprofits no longer need their grants. 

Day Five: Chloe

Today started with one of my favorite things: art. I wanted to incorporate art into our experience here in Baltimore, especially with the city being such a huge art hub. Luckily, an exhibition about art and its place in the healing process of local veterans was open at a local art gallery. We packed into the van and visited the gallery, which made me really happy, and I think the others got a lot out of it too.

To see how something I'm so passionate about can affect others in such a positive way gave me a lot of hope. I'm hopeful that I, too, can turn my passions into social change.

Later in the day, half of our group visited Weinburg Housing and Resource Center, and the other half visited My Sister's Place Lodge. Both organizations are under the umbrella of Catholic Charities, and both are shelters, though for different populations. I visited Weinburg; we made sandwiches for those that would not be able to stay at the shelter at night and would not get a meal for dinner. We then toured the building and heard from some of the men that worked as supervisors on the dorm floors; they described the sense of helplessness that often overcomes those that stay at the shelter for extended periods of time.

When we got back to the church, we watched a film called Legacy. After watching, I understood how easy it can be to start feeling helpless; when the system is essentially against you, or not willing to support you, it can be difficult to get yourself back on your feet. We reflected on the day and discussed the politics of self responsibility, but I think we all came back to a conclusion we've been learning all week: homelessness is much more complex than we could have imagined, and it's impossible to think of a one-stop answer to the problem.

Day Four: Corinne

Today was definitely my favorite of the break so far. Going to the Ark Preschool in the morning was an experience we all enjoyed because it was probably the first time in a while any of us played on a playground! The smiles on the 3 and 4 year olds faces, despite the fact that they all have unstable housing situations, were an inspiration to all of us. As a government and politics major, going to the Citizens Planning and Housing Association was also super enlightening because we were able to get a glimpse of the processes necessary for creating policy that can help or hinder efforts in reducing Maryland’s homeless populations.

Day Three: Aaron & Katherine

In the morning our AB group went to Bea Gaddy’s Family Center near Johns Hopkins University. The program leader, Cynthia, talked about the serious issues between the people of city and the intricate relationship with the University. She expressed that the University could be their ally and a bully. The school sends lots of community service workers who help out but they also buy out houses where people are living and force them to find a new location to live.   We unpacked food from trucks, organized canned goods, and learned more about the community that the family center was learning.

Our next service experience involved walking around Marble Hill surveying trees for “Parks and People”. In groups of three, we walked between Druid Hill and Madison streets with clipboards and measuring tapes. This was a unique experience because we got to observe the lively neighborhood. Children were getting out of school and people were sitting on their porches watching us awkwardly measure the plots for planting trees. Unfortunately, not all of us enjoyed it as thoroughly because it was not as personal. The other two places we did service involved a lot of communication with community members.

Our last outreach program which we participated in was with Christopher Place Employment Academy. We learned a lot from it. At this rehabilitation center or half-way house we got to eat dinner and exchange stories with recently reinstated citizens. They told us about how they wound up in their situation and their plans for the future. They were all extremely positive and vibrant. They wanted their stories to have a real effect on us. The Director, Mr. Green, especially shared this sentiment with his words.

Day Two: Nunu

On Sunday morning, while I initiated thought we would all gather in our infamous white van, we rather caught the bus around downtown to what would be a memorable day. This memorable day was filled with laughter, dog chasing, grandpa running in shorts, the saint Patrick day parade, and a magician who could balance a bowling bowl, a knife, and a fired stick on his two hands. It was a beautiful day to parade the city and learn about the history of blacks and artistry in Baltimore. Need I mention, Ann Marie tricked the whole group into thinking that the circulator in downtown would arrive at our bus stop in 16 minutes? Our adventure started when we had to chase the bus while I tried my best to keep my hair out of my mouth. We caught the bus and passed several places we are yet to visit, but it was an eye opening bus ride around the city. As we got off the bus, pictures were taken, “woahs” were heard, because we have arrived at our destination. We finally walked to the Reginald Lewis Museum, but it wasn't open until 12:00pm. Instead of waiting around for 15 minutes for the museum to open, we all decided to utilize our time efficiently. “Hmm can we all take pictures?” Iyanu asked. In case you didn't know, every time we wanted to take a picture, Iyanu does three things. She smiles uncontrollably, fixes and shakes her hair, and finally smiles for the picture. 

The pictures taken were absolutely memorable mainly because it was an absolute struggle to take a selfie with all faces in it. Finally, we resorted to Andrew’s height to help take the ultimate selfie. The group selfie was fire. At the commencement of our tour of the museum, the entire group sat in a room and watched a movie on the influence of black people on art, labor, and the influential life of Reginald Lewis. Everyone separated after watching to movie to explore various parts of the museum. The museum was filled with rich stories of  blacks in America from slavery, labor, World War 2, Arts, Movies, and segregation of schools. 

Although most of the group hasn't been to the museum, it was an absolute honor to enlighten ourselves on the works of past African American and their impact on the lives of many others.

Day Two: Ann Marie

We showed up at City Arts Gallery knowing nothing of what was about to happen, except that there would be poetry and music at this event called “Poets for Dinner.”  What we found was a community of artists and artist-appreciators who come together every third Sunday to share their thoughts and laughs.  Throughout the night we were wowed by performances that dealt with heartbreak, punctuality, unwanted advice, and sexuality.  Mr. Gun even made an appearance in a poem where he talked about how he could “impregnate the dirt with bodies.”  The featured act was an incredibly talented saxophonist and poet who combined his arts to create a beautiful auditory experience. 

All these performances invited audience participation, blurring the lines between performer and observer and drawing us in even further.  The acts were punctuated by energetic hostesses who balanced the seriousness of some poems with playful banter and hugs.  Our group couldn't help but be drawn in by the raw honesty of the people who openly shared their stories and embraced vulnerability.  At the end, everyone in the gallery held hands in a circle to again mix the serious and humorous by doing the wave and then reflecting on all that is good in our lives.  As we left, we realized we had just experienced a community gathering that will never be exactly the same again.  Moving into this week we will carry the idea that everyone has hidden talents, and that Baltimore cannot be defined by a “single story.” 

Day One: Stephanie

Our team decided to do a SNAP challenge during our ASB experience. The national average benefit for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is $4.44 per person, per day.  Using this as a budget, we learned some ideas about how to shop for healthy food with limited food dollars and planned meals for the week. The group split up into smaller groups to plan and shop for specific meals.  We used the USDA What's Cooking website, which allows users to search recipes by price per serving, and several other resources to brainstorm meal ideas.

We went to a nearby supermarket and spent about two hours comparing unit prices, looking for generic brands, buying in large volumes, calculating servings, and comparing fresh, canned, dried, and frozen versions of the foods we wanted. While finding healthful and affordable choices was time consuming, we managed to buy groceries for 12 people for the week for less than $300.  But, we had advantages of an economy of scale with such a large group and hours of planning and shopping that many families with limited resources do not have.

Our first meal was brown rice, sautéed vegetables, and chicken.  We also made kale chips for a late-evening snack. We have yet to experience much strain related to the challenge, but several people felt hungry after dinner.  It will be challenging to snack less between meals, be more flexible with types of foods, and eat less than we normally would, especially as the week carries on.

Day One: Andrew

I felt closer to the Dominican Republic today than any other day since I have returned. There are so many parallels between my first day in-country there and today. Both here and there we all piled in to a van/guagua with all of our stuff and we went to a grocery store. But most importantly in both instances we stepped outside of our comfort zone and local context. Interning in the Dominican Republic was one of the most valuable experiences of my life; I hope AB will have a similar impact. Since returning from the DR it has been easy to retreat into classes, family and friends but I am very excited about the opportunity to serve again.

One undeniable difference between the 2 experiences will be the food. In the Dominican Republic, we stayed with homestay families who were given an eating allowance for our stay. Every family I stayed with made sure I got to enjoy authentic Dominican cuisine and filled my plate until I couldn't eat any more. My homestay families stuffed me, and I probably gained 10 pounds while living there. Although I got the opportunity to witness poverty and live in struggling communities while in the DR, hunger was not something I experienced. AB will be very different in this regard, we will be living on the food budget that many families struggle with in the communities we are serving. We will get to understand the role hunger plays in their lives on a much more intimate level and their struggle to stay healthy. It will be challenging to deal a limited food budget but I know it will absolutely make this experience more meaningful.

Courtney Holmes

Hey!! I'm currently a senior at the University of Maryland majoring in sociology with a concentration in stratification and inequality. After graduation I plan to take a couple of years off before going to graduate school.  I was born and raised in a suburb outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In my free time I enjoy watching sports and cooking. I'm looking forward to learning and exploring a new city. In general, I want to gain a greater understanding of the concepts I have learned about during my classes.

Andrew Tlsty

My name is Andrew Tlsty. I am a Junior Accounting and Information Systems major at the Robert H. Smith School of Business. I am a Technology and Business Transformation fellow. This past summer I completed a study abroad trip to the Dominican Republic with the Maryland Social Entrepreneurs Corp. While there I lived with homestay families and interned for a nonprofit; this experience drove me to participate in AB.

Corinne Paul

Hi! My name is Corinne and I am a junior government and politics major minoring in international development and conflict management. I'm a member of several orgs, including Humanity First, the Student Labor Action Project, America Reads*America Counts, and the Student Justice Coalition. I love doing yoga and hope to learn lots of languages one day. I am excited for Alternative Breaks at Baltimore because it is so close to campus yet so different from College Park!

Nneka Mezu

I'm Nneka Mezu. I am 20 years old and a junior Cell Biology and Genetics major. I am also pre-med. I hope to become a doctor and specialize in either allergy or infectious disease as well as get involved with public health research. I love being active (running, dancing, playing basketball or football). I am going on Alternative Breaks because I would always spend my spring breaks at home studying and everyone that I know that had done AB always had amazing stories to tell. They always ended up having fun. So on this trip, I hope to get to know you all a little better and making a positive impact on the lives of those that I will be serving.