In the
News

Media coverage of Strong City Baltimore and it’s initiatives

2020

1/27/20 A New Canvas for Baltimore: Housing on Henneman Avenue Complements Hoen Building Restoration, MD Department of  Housing and Community Development: Remodeled homes provide housing opportunities that complement the renovation of the nearby Hoen Lithograph building.

1/21/20 A. Hoen & Co. Lithograph Building Now Home to Strong City Baltimore, Baltimore Magazine: The 50-year-old nonprofit has officially moved into the neighborhood it hopes to help grow.

7/21/20 Ulman Foundation announces MOVE Maryland, Press Release: Collaborative initiative to raise funds for nonprofit organizations state-wide.

8/12/20 MOVE Maryland Gains Steam, Collaborative initiative to raise funds for nonprofit organizations state-wide grows.

9/22/20 Focused on the Future, Statement of Interim CEO, Reginald Davis.

10/16/20 Strong City Baltimore partners with the NAACP and local organizations to fight the spread of COVID-19, The Baltimore Sun

2019

12/28/19 Strong City steps boldly in its move to Baltimore’s east side, Baltimore Sun: Round up of new developments in East Baltimore.

12/27/19 Strong City Baltimore is getting a new home, but its mission is the same, Baltimore Sun: Op-ed from Strong City CEO Karen D. Stokes on moving to East Baltimore.

12/25/19 Homestead tax credit remains a vital protection for homeowners, Baltimore Sun: Letter to the Editor on the importance of the Homestead Tax Credit.

9/17/19 Opinion: A Pathway for Baltimore’s Student Leaders, Maryland Matters: Guest commentary about the Bank of America Student Leaders program hosted by Strong City Baltimore this past summer.

9/3/19 We don’t need legislation to crack down on anonymous owners of Baltimore’s vacant property, Baltimore Sun: Op Ed by Peter Duvall, Community Revitalization Coordinator for Strong City Baltimore.

8/26/19 At an urban farm in Baltimore, plans for activism, African American history and maybe even tiny houses, Baltimore Sun: Feature on BLISS Meadows, a fiscally sponsored project and member of the 2019 Spring Start Up Track.

6/21/19 Regulating liquor stores is a vital part of crime fighting, Baltimore Sun: Letter to the editor co-authored by Rev. Eric Lee, Strong City’s Director of Neighborhood Programs

6/10/19 Hoen Lithograph redevelopment in East Baltimore gets $1.6M federal grant, Baltimore Business Journal: Strong City mentioned in news article about federal infrastructure grant to help complete the Hoen complex

6/10/19 Feds give $1.6 million for Hoen Lithograph building renovation, Baltimore Fishbowl: Strong City mentioned in news article about federal infrastructure grant to help complete the Hoen complex

6/10/19 Trump administration chips in $1.6M for Hoen & Co. Lithograph Building, Maryland Daily Record: Strong City mentioned in news article about federal infrastructure grant to help complete the Hoen complex

6/11/19 A deeper look at Baltimore’s population loss: smaller households, Baltimore Sun: Dan Rodricks column on Baltimore population trends references the demographics work of Strong City Community Revitalization Coordinator Peter Duvall

5/16/19 Chris Wilson on Rewriting Your Destiny and Paying It Forward, WYPR-FM: “Midday” interview with Chris Wilson mentions Chris’ work as Strong City’s former workforce director

5/3/19 Get On Up!, Jmore Living interview on Facebook Live with Strong City Communications and Special Projects Coordinator Mike Cross-Barnet about the Get On Up! party and Strong City’s plans for the Hoen Building

4/25/19 50 Years Later, This Neighborhood Leader is Still Going Strong, Entercom Radio Baltimore: Public Affairs host Nathan Scott interviews Strong City Events Manager Dana Murphy and Communications and Special Projects Coordinator Mike Cross-Barnet about Get On Up!, the Hoen Building, and Strong City’s future for three local Entercom Co. radio stations (101.9, 105.7, 106.5)

4/23/19 Reversing Baltimore’s population slide: Retain more college grads, Baltimore Sun: Dan Rodricks column on Baltimore population trends includes interview with Strong City Community Revitalization Coordinator Peter Duvall

4/10/19 Art And: Corynne Ostermann, Bmore Art: Article about local designer and musician cites her work transforming the interior of the Hoen Building for the Get On Up! party.

4/2/19 Keep Maryland Beautiful grants total $215,505, Cecil Whig: News article about statewide DNR grants includes grant to Strong City for the Beautiful Barclay Project.

3/29/19 Baltimore is stronger than its crime rate would have you believe, Baltimore Sun: op-ed by Strong City Community Revitalization Coordinator Peter Duvall about positive employment, housing, and income trends in Baltimore.

3/13/19 East Baltimore Rising, WYPR-FM: “On the Record” interview with Strong City CEO Karen D. Stokes and Board member Ella Durant about the Hoen Building, Strong City’s future, and positive developments in East Baltimore

2/21/19 ‘I see hope’: Rehab of old warehouse, renovations to rowhouses spur talk of East Baltimore revival, Baltimore Sun: News article about positive changes north-of-the-tracks in East Baltimore, including Strong City’s plans for the Hoen Building and the Center for Neighborhood Innovation

2/5/19 From Prison to Achieving His Master Plan, WYPR-FM: “On the Record” segment about entrepreneur and author Chris Wilson describes how Strong City hired him as Workforce director after his return from incarceration

1/25/19 Historic East Baltimore printing plant to be revitalized, FoxBaltimore.com: Article on Fox45 News website about renovation of the Hoen Building and plans for the Center for Neighborhood Innovation

1/23/19 An opportunity for transformation in East Baltimore, Baltimore Sun: op-ed by Strong City CEO Karen D. Stokes about Strong City’s future in the Hoen Building and the potential for our project to catalyze change

2018

12/29/18 2018 has been a year of skyline changes in Baltimore, Baltimore Sun: Jacques Kelly column about development around Baltimore in 2018, including mention of Strong City’s future home at the Hoen Lithograph Building

11/26/18 Fiscal sponsorship can provide an alternative pathway to social change, Baltimore Business Journal: op-ed by Strong City Director of Project Services Tyson W. Garith

10/12/18 Philanthropy Fuels Student’s Excellence — and His Empathy, The Hub: Article profiling Johns Hopkins graduate and former Strong City intern and work-study employee Suleiman Abiola

10/12/18 “For the Culture with Farajii,” WEAA-FM: Radio program includes segment about the 29th Street Community Center’s Youth Worker program and Strong City’s Oktoberfest

9/11/18 Housing fund shows real leadership in Baltimore, Baltimore Sun: Letter to the editor co-signed by Strong City’s Joann Levy praises City Council and mayor for committing to funding for affordable housing

9/20/18 91-year old Episcopal charity closes, transfers services to other organizations, Baltimore Sun: News article shows how transfer of operations from Episcopal Community Services of Maryland to Strong City kept The Club at Collington Square open

5/24/18 A new playground comes together in Barclay, Baltimore Brew: News article about the Barclay School playground rebuild project, mentioning Strong City as an organizer and fiscal sponsor

5/4/18 Shocking developments in East Baltimore, Baltimore Sun: Dan Rodricks column about economic development activity in East Baltimore, including Strong City’s future home at the Hoen Lithography building

4/26/18 Team led by Cross Street Partners Formally Breaks Ground on Highly Anticipated East Baltimore Innovation Center, Baltimore Times: News article about Hoen Building redevelopment plans and Strong City’s planned move to East Baltimore

4/24/18 “We’re going to put this neighborhood back,” WBFF FOX-45: News report on Hoen Building redevelopment plans

4/24/18 At groundbreaking for the historic Hoen Lithograph Building, visions of a new East Baltimore, Baltimore Fishbowl: News article about Hoen Building redevelopment plans and Strong City’s planned move to East Baltimore

4/24/18 Hoen Lithograph building’s $28 million transformation begins, Baltimore Baltimore Journal: News article about Hoen Building redevelopment plans

4/23/18 Developers of old Hoen Lithography Building in East Baltimore to break ground Tuesday, Baltimore Sun: News article about Hoen Building redevelopment plans

4/21/18 At former A. Hoen & Co. lithography plant, “audacious” hope for East Baltimore, Baltimore Sun: Jacques Kelly column about redevelopment of the Hoen Building and Strong City’s planned move to East Baltimore

4/13/18 Stronger Neighborhoods, WYPR-FM: “On the Record” segment about the 2018 Strong City Neighborhood Institute

4/7/18 Beyond field and classroom, Hopkins players make extra effort in community, BaltimoreBaseball.com: Article about community involvement by Hopkins baseball team, including the nonprofit WeGo fiscally sponsored by Strong City Baltimore

3/18/18 Things to do in Baltimore this week, Baltimore Food and Fun: Blog post about Strong City’s “Local Dining Week”

3/12/18 Baltimore: The City That Loves a Good Story, Baltimore Fishbowl: Article about Stoop Storytelling series including partnership with Strong City Baltimore

3/7/18 Baltimore Diner, Baltimore Sun: Food and dining column includes information about Strong City’s “Local Dining Week”

2017

12/23/17 A quiet, steady good on a Baltimore side street, Baltimore Sun: Dan Rodricks column about The Club at Collington Square

12/20/17 Thieves steal from program serving underprivileged kids in East Baltimore, WBAL TV-11: News report on break-in at The Club at Collington Square and the mission and role of The Club

11/13/17 Brooklyn Park to benefit from $1.5 million grant to Greater Baybrook Alliance, Capital Gazette: News article about Strong City fiscally sponsored project winning state Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative funding

9/29/17 East Baltimore shaping up as community development model, Daily Record: News article about the Hoen Building mentions Strong City’s role in transformation of East Baltimore

9/5/17 A decade behind bars: The reality of life post-incarceration, WYPR-FM: “Life in the Balance” program about a man struggling with his return to society features interview with Strong City CEO Karen D. Stokes

8/30/17 Free community college in Baltimore: A good start, but not enough, Baltimore Sun, op-ed by Strong City’s Regina T. Boyce and Owen Silverman Andrews

8/18/17 Nonprofit Spotlight: Strong City Baltimore Dedicated to Equality, Anti-Racism, and Building Stronger Communities, m/OppenheimTV: Profile of Strong City and CEO Karen D. Stokes

7/20/17 Aging in place contributes to historically low housing inventory, Baltimore Sun: News article about seniors aging in place in Baltimore references Strong City’s HUBS program and quotes HUBS Organizer Danielle Bouchard

6/25/17 Nonprofit aims to breathe new life into vacant East Baltimore warehouse, Baltimore Sun: News article about Strong City’s plans to move to East Baltimore, renovate the A. Hoen & Co. Building, and establish a Center for Neighborhood Innovation on the site

6/15/17 “Open and shut” restaurant column, Baltimore Magazine: Article mentions opening of The BBQ in Harwood and Strong City’s role in revitalizing the Greenmount LINCS Corridor

6/9/17 Father and son open The BBQ restaurant along Greenmount, Baltimore Business Journal: News article about the first business to open on Greenmount in Harwood since the launch of the Strong City-supported LINCS initiative

6/3/17 Esther C. Bonnet, longtime volunteer who focused on schoolchildren and the elderly, Baltimore Sun: Obituary for Ms. Bonnet, former Strong City board member and Barclay School library champion who was still volunteering at age 101

3/30/17 Baltimore Public Education: Cuts to After-School Funding, WEAA’s “The Marc Steiner Show”: Marc Steiner interviews Strong City’s Sharicca Boldon and others about planned cuts to community schools and after-school programs in the Baltimore City Public Schools

3/20/17 More than 50 residents to donate portion of proceeds to Baltimore nonprofit this week, Baltimore Sun: Blog post on Strong City’s Mouthwatering March restaurant promotion for community wealth building

3/17/17 “Listen Up” with Farajii Muhammad, WEAA 88.9-FM: Interview with Strong City Baltimore representatives about the 29th Street Community Center’s Gertrude S. Williams Speaker Series

3/16/17 ‘I’d Be Hurt and Upset’: Cities Fear Trump’s Cuts to Urban Programs, The New York Times: News article focusing on Strong City’s Adult Learning Center examines the effect that cuts in the president’s budget — in this case, eliminating the Community Development Block Grant program — would have on programs for low-income city residents.

3/16/17 Bill giving the liquor board power to order mediation stirs debate, Baltimore Brew: News article quotes Strong City Neighborhood Programs Director Karen DeCamp on a bill that would allow the city Liquor Board to impose a costly mediation process on individuals and associations challenging the renewal of a liquor license

3/8/17 Education Roundtable: Baltimore School Budget Deficit, WEAA’s “Marc Steiner Show”: Interview with Strong City’s Sharicca Boldon and other education advocates about the city schools budget crisis

2/10/17 Learning English, Gaining Independence, WYPR’s “On the Record”: Sheilah Kast interviews Strong City’s Regina Boyce and ALC learner Jiseon Yu about the Adult Learning Center, being an immigrant in Baltimore, and Strong City’s Stoop Storytelling event

2/5/17 Diane Lyn Show, Mix 106.5 and 105.7 The Fan: Interview with Regina Boyce and Mike Cross-Barnet about Strong City Baltimore programs and upcoming events

1/28/17 ‘Changing Lives With Each Stitch,’ Baltimore Sun: Dan Rodricks column about Strong City fiscal client The Chill Station/Root of Jesse’s plan to employ returning citizens in the garment industry

2016

10/26/16 Revitalization efforts at Anne Arundel’s edge get another boost, Capital Gazette: News article on developments in the community-driven Brooklyn/Curtis Bay/Brooklyn Park revitalization plan organized by Strong City

10/14/16 A vital fund for Baltimore, letter to the editor by Tyson Garith (Strong City Director of Partnerships and Business Services), Baltimore Sun

9/21/16 E.R. Shipp, prize winning author, on Baltimore, journalism and community, The Afro: News article on Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist E.R. Shipp’s talk at the 29th Street Community Center

9/19/16 Baltimore’s core neighborhoods quietly transformed, op-ed by Karen Stokes (Strong City CEO), Baltimore Sun

8/29/16 The Barclay Elementary/Middle School welcomes back students with rally, WMAR-Channel 2 segment on Strong City-coordinated back-to-school event for Barclay students

8/12/16 First Edition With Sean Yoes: Strong City Community School Coordinator Sharicca Boldon discusses education funding on WEAA-89.9 FM (relevant segment at 23:15 minute mark)

7/13/16 $90K grant from Wells Fargo targets growth in six Central Baltimore neighborhoods, Baltimore Business Journal: News article reports on grant won by Strong City Baltimore that will be administered by Central Baltimore Partnership to create a resident-driven community improvement plan in six key neighborhoods

6/14/16 Baltimore’s vacancy problem is not as bad as you think, by Peter Duvall (Strong City Community Revitalization Manager), Baltimore Sun

5/18/16 For Brooklyn Park, new state grants could revitalize Anne Arundel’s ‘forgotten area,’ Capital Gazette: News article quotes Strong City South Baltimore Project Manager Ira Kowler on the planning process aimed at revitalizing Brooklyn/Curtis Bay/Brooklyn Park

5/11/16 Mount Royal, Strong City Baltimore partner on vacants, Daily Record: News article about the partnership between Strong City and the Mount Royal CDC to tackle vacant properties in the Mount Royal District

4/15/16 Don’t wait for the election to make change, by Karen Stokes (Strong City CEO), Baltimore Sun

4/13/16 Cuts as unrest anniversary nears, Baltimore Brew: News article quotes Strong City Neighborhood Programs Director Karen DeCamp on the mayor’s proposed funding cuts to after-school programs

4/11/16 The Neighborhood Institute: connecting the communities of Baltimore, Maryland Morning (WYPR 88.1 FM): Strong City CEO Karen Stokes is interviewed about Strong City’s Neighborhood Institute and the role of community organizing in strengthening Baltimore

4/6/16 Can methadone clinics and their neighbors find common ground? City Paper: News article about the concentration of methadone clinics in a small area of central Baltimore references work by Strong City Community Revitalization Manager Peter Duvall

4/4/16 Brooklyn Park: Community association gets update on revitalization plan, Capital Gazette: News article describing the work of Strong City’s South Baltimore Project Manager, Ira Kowler, in helping to create a comprehensive planning process for the Brooklyn Park-Curtis Bay-Brooklyn area

3/8/16 A long life of public service, with a remarkable last act, Baltimore Brew: News article about death of retired Liquor Board chairman Judge Thomas Ward quotes Strong City CEO Karen Stokes

2/11/16  Education Bill would provide more funding for community schools, WBAL segment notes Strong City’s role in facilitating Johns Hopkins University’s funding of the new engineering lab at the Barclay School

1/29/16 Staff members shovel snow so learning can resume in Baltimore, WJZ segment on Waverly School’s response to snow emergency quotes Strong City community school site coordinator Jerrell Bratcher

1/27/16 Strong City Baltimore 2016, Afro.com, on Strong City’s VISTA Impact Taskforce launch event

1/13/16 Before Hogan’s Demolition, Community Building, by Karen Stokes (Strong City CEO), Baltimore Sun letter to the editor