logologologologo
  • Home
  • About Us
    • COVID-19 Response
    • Building Blocks
    • Hoen Lithograph Building
    • Employment
    • Staff and Board
  • Programs
    • Adult Learning Center
    • The Club at Collington Square
    • Neighborhood Programs
  • News & Events
    • Blog
    • In the News
    • Civic Engagement Week
    • Neighborhood Institute 2020
  • Donate
    • Donate to COVID-19 Response Fund
    • Donate to Strong City
  • Contact
Strong City, Healthy Neighborhoods partner to support homeowners
October 16, 2020
It’s Not Only About the President
October 30, 2020

Neighborhood Conversations explore pandemic response, election challenges

October 16, 2020

After the COVID-19 pandemic forced cancellation of our annual Neighborhood Institute, Strong City launched a new program: Neighborhood Conversations. The first two Conversations were a big success, reaching a combined audience of well over 2,000 on social media. 

In September, we presented “Neighborhood Leaders Respond to the Pandemic,” with 35 attendees joining us on Zoom for an exploration of how local leaders were adapting to meet their neighbors’ needs during an unprecedented public health an economic crisis.  

The panel included Arianna Koudounas of Madison Park, founder of the Eutaw Place Play Days, which promotes art, recreation and community; Ashley Esposito, founder of Village of Violetville, a wellness-based neighborhood organization in Southwest Baltimore; Lucia Islas of Highlandtown, President of Comité Latino de Baltimore, the city’s first Latino community group; and Sandi McFadden of Mid-Govans, longtime York Road community leader and Strong City’s Community School Coordinator for Govans Elementary School. Our moderator was Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Vice Dean for Public Health Practice and Community Engagement at the JHU Bloomberg School. 

One thing that conversation brought to light is that neighborhoods that were well-organized before the pandemic were better positioned to keep functioning and to respond to the crisis with energy and creativity. Many of the neighborhoods that did well were places where Strong City had a history of working to support community leaders. 

In October, we shifted the focus to “The 2020 Election: Community Views and Challenges.” Our diverse panel, with backgrounds in community organizing, youth mentoring, civil rights, politics, and election disinformation, made for a lively discussion and generated more than 300 Engagements on Facebook.  

Appearing on the panel were Joshua Harris, Vice President of the Baltimore City NAACP and former Green Party candidate for Mayor; Diana Emerson, Director of Community Relations for the HARBEL Community Organization in Northeast Baltimore; David Troy, disinformation researcher and co-founder of the Baltimore City Voters Facebook Page; and Don Gatewood, Co-Director of The Initiative, a youth engagement and mentoring program. Tasmin Swanson, Director of Programs at Baltimore Votes, served as moderator. 

One of the big takeaways from our second conversation: Civic engagement can’t end with Election Day but must be a year-round, citywide, multigenerational process, in which everyone feels they have a stake. 

Share
0

Related posts

November 4, 2020

Community Perspectives on Crime and Policing at Third Neighborhood Conversations Series


Read more

Interim CEO Reggie Davis voting early at Camden Yards.

October 30, 2020

It’s Not Only About the President


Read more
October 16, 2020

Strong City, Healthy Neighborhoods partner to support homeowners


Read more
ABOUT US

Strong City Baltimore helps people who do good do more. We believe that Baltimore is made stronger by the work of community-based initiatives and leaders. Through fiscal sponsorship and other capacity-building efforts, we provide financial management and strategic supports that empower grassroots leaders to carry out their vision of community change.

Toolbox Access
CONTACT INFORMATION

Strong City Baltimore
2101 E. Biddle Street
Stone Building
Suite 1100
Baltimore, MD 21213

Email: info@strongcitybaltimore.org

Phone: (410) 261-3500

Looking to rent space at
The 29th Street Community Center?
Call (443)213-0394

Disclosures

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER!


© 2020 Strong City Baltimore. Web Design by Baltimore Web Design