COVID-19
Response
Donate to Strong City Baltimore’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund
How We Are Serving the Community
Check out just some of what the Adult Learning Center, The Club at Collington Square, the 29th Street Community Center, Community Schools, and our neighborhoods program have achieved as of August 2020.
Adult Learning Center
April 2020
- Completed over 60 tutor hours by 18 tutor pairs
- Provided 81 Adult Basic Education studentsover 370 hours of class instruction each week
- Provided 66 English Language Acquisition students a 300 hours of class instruction each week
- Instructed and provided support to 30 different classes taught by 21 teachers Utilized effective distance learning techniques for students without access to the Internet
August 2020
- Taught 145 new Adult Basic Education students in spring and summer with an average of 473 hours of weekly instruction over two semesters.
- Taught 120 English Language Acquisition students in spring and summer with an average of 393 hours of weeklyinstruction over two semesters.
- Completed 44 total classes over spring and summer, taught by 21 different teachers.
18 volunteer tutor pairs completed more than 100 hours of one-on-one instruction. - Teachers utilized effective distance learning techniques for students without access to the Internet, and innovative technology for students with access.
The Club at Collington Square
April 2020
- Distributed 1,500 hot, grab-and-go meals; 100 bags of food; 100 fresh chickens for Easter; and 100 bags of toiletries
- Prepared over 100 education packets per grade for Colington Square Elementary/Middle School students
- Provided Wifi, Chromebooks, and socially distant assistance to over 48Club Scholars per week
- Classroom Coaches spend an hour weekly with each Scholar on Instagram Live to give emotional support
- Staff check in with parents and caregivers weekly to provide additional resources
August 2020
- 27 scholars in grades K-5 participated in day-long summer camp during July.
- Summer camp activities included academics, arts and crafts, physical activity, and two day long camping trips to Woodberry Crossing.
- All staff were tested for COVID-19 prior to the start of camp and ensured CDC guidelines were followed.
Continued to distribute prepared meals and groceries to Club scholars and Collington Square residents twice weekly since April.
29th Street Community Center
April 2020
- Completed over 150 wellness check-in calls and texts to Center families
- Provided over 60 check-in and tutoring sessions with Center students, equivalent to 20 hours of one-on-one support
- Provided 21 hours of professional development tothree Center youth staff
- Conducted one-call support and resource sharingon the topics of parenting, food security, wellness, and health
August 2020
- Held a 5-week pilot summer camp from July 13th through August 14th for 17 students in grades pre-K-8.
- 20 students, ages 7–18, improved their hoops skills during Bulldog Basketball Camp (a fiscally sponsored project of Strong City).
- Distributed 225 grab-and-go meals to youth and families since July 13th.
- Distributed 560 boxes of food, produce, and supplies since May in partnership with the Abell/Charles Village Mutual Aid Society.
- Digitally hosted 10 Youth Workers for 6 weeks (1 week longer than the city-wide program) with professional and leadership development.
- Sent over 500 calls and text messages to check in with community families.
- Provided a total of 163 check-in and tutoring sessions, equaling 73 hours of one-on-one support for students.
- Provided livestreamed family fun activities via Facebook and Instagram that have reached over 4,000 people to date.
Community Schools
- Communicated to families daily via text, phone and email
- Transferred 50 meals worth of food and additional supplies from resource pantries to meal sites
- Prepared 330 student-based homework packets weekly and assisted with laptop distribution
- Providing parents with employment and eviction assistance
- Organized volunteers to read and record storybook sessions for students
Neighborhood Programs
- Held virtual Civic Engagement Week, April 6–11, an alternative to the postponed Neighborhood Institute
- Coordinated and distributed content from Baltimore Votes, No Boundaries Coalition, the Census Complete Count Committee, Black Girls Vote, the U.S. Census Bureau, Eutaw Place Play Days, and the founder of the Baltimore City Voters Facebook group
- Culminated in a live mini-institute with 6 presentation from civic engagement partners, receiving 534 views
Fiscal Sponsorship Services
Beyond direct programming, Strong City’s fiscal sponsorship program has worked to pivot support to our fiscally sponsored projects to focus on assisting them through programming and funding interruptions. While some projects are currently paused in their work, many have evolved to focus on COVID-19 response efforts.
- 31% of projects in our portfolio have slowed down or paused their work until pandemic restrictions are lifted
- 35% are stable in their fundraising and continuing their work
- 25% are increasing their activity to focus on addressing the COVID-19 impact on the populations they serve
- Most projects are stepping up their work to address the education, food access, advocacy, mental health and housing security needs
In response, Strong City has:
April 2020
- Hosted four Virtual Town Halls to address concerns, provide updates, and stabilize communication with fiscally sponsored projects. Virtual Town Halls will continue monthly
- Convened education- and youth-focused projects to share sector-specific challenges and advice for continuing programming and fundraising.
- Executed bi-monthly surveys to track our service performance and the needs of projects
- Advocated to funders and provided resources to projects to advocate for the reallocation of funds to focus on COVID-19 response needs
- Organized COVID-19 specific digital resources, workshops, tools, and funding opportunities into special sections in the online Toolbox
- Hosted monthly COVID-19 Fundraising workshops to prepare projects to apply for COVID-19 specific grants
July 2020
- Hired an Accounting Manager, Director of Development, Grants Coordinator, Director of Fiscal Sponsorship, and Staff Accountant.
- Partnered with a funder to receive grants management training for staff.
- Contracted with an expert consultant for accounting software training.
- Attended weekly conversations with other fiscal sponsors discussing the effect COVID-19 has had on the sector.
- Launched an extensive financial review as part of the year-endclose process to ensure accurate reporting across the organization.
- Portfolio Managers (PMs) held monthly touchpoints with all projects. Approximately 25 occurred in July.
- 25 PM and project leader meetings held in July, plus additional “walk-ins,” emails, and support from other staff.
- Monthly Virtual Project Town Halls with Strong City leadership.
- Monthly progress reports to projects from leadership.
- Actively recruiting project leaders to re-establish the Project Advisory Council.
- Instituted multiple weekly meetings to address specific finance topics including accounts receivable, ledger changes, and other processes.
- Completed ledger changes submitted for May financial statements.
- Prepared and issued monthly statements.
Operations
Strong City Baltimore is operating through COVID-19. Our main offices at the Hoen Lithograph Building are closed to the public. We are following the guidance of the Baltimore City Health Department in terms of when to reopen our offices and other facilities. When restrictions are lifted, we will carefully consider the needs and health of our staff before we reopen the offices.
Programs and Other Locations:
The 29th Street Community Center – Hosting a 5-week pilot summer program for 17 students grades K through 8th from 12 pm to 4 pm. Serving as a virtual work site for Youth Works. Providing meal pick-up, supplies, and STEM and art activity take home kits for community families.
The Club at Collington Square – Hosting summer camp for grades K through 8th during July. Serving as a meal distribution site and resource center for community members.
Adult Learning Center – All classes have transitioned to a distance learning format. In-person testing is occurring as needed. Plans for the Fall semester will be announced soon.
COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund
You can help us continue to support our communities and leaders. Donate to Strong City Baltimore’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. All donations to this fund will go directly to support the COVID-19 response efforts of Strong City programs and fiscally sponsored projects.