Category: Community

It’s the title of a new book by Rhizome Collective members Stacy Pettigrew and Scott Kellogg. I was fortunate to hear Scott speak last night about this excellent city living users guide to a more holistic life. The talk began as I sat on a couch watching the sun go down though the brilliantly lit stain glass windows of the St. Paul’s church.

The book, as Scott describes highlights proactive uses for basic humans needs; how to pasteurize your own water because who needs all that added chorine from the water treatment plant. There are plants that can be easily grown in your small cement padded backyard, for example duckweed that has, as Scott mentions has more protein and nutrients then some meats. After the talk Red Emma’s hosted a reception complete with yummy vegetarian bean and corn dishes!

The Neighborhood Design Center works throughout the Baltimore and Prince George’s County area helping residents, small non-profit organizations, and community development corporations do what they typically otherwise couldn’t: improve their communties. These communities many times are seeking to improve blocks and homes, renovate parks and school grounds, reclaim abandoned structures for new community uses, improve neighborhood commercial districts, etc., but simply lack the means. The Neighborhood Design Center helps by offering multiple free services: conceptual building and site plans, preliminary feasability studies and cost estimates, neighborhood master plans, and community development guidance. As the center itself is a non-profit, it does all this by mobilizing volunteer architects, planners, landscape architects, engineers, and other design professionals who donate their professional services to help neighborhoods in their initial revitalization efforts. Through their work the center hopes to strengthen community participation in neighborhood improvement efforts, educate the public about the value of good design, and serve as a catalyst for increased investment in neighborhood development.

Upon reading about us in City Living Baltimore Jana Murrell contacted GOforChange to find out more about Baltimore’s growing eco-scene. Jana, who is enjoying her new reign as Miss Earth United States 2008 , has worked as a newscaster in her hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, is currently a traveling physical therapist.

In her capacity as Miss Earth US, Jana has been involved with several eco-related promotions to build awareness for environmental causes. To continue her support, Miss Murrell and the team at GOforChange visited the Mill Valley Center and Farmers Market on Friday Aug. 1st from 6-8pm to highlight the garden center, great local vendors and the Baltimore Biodiesel Coop .

Read on for more details …… Continued

This past Sunday I came across artist Nicole Herbert, now showing at MICA in the Pinkard Gallery . The photos on display site a few walls and walkways surrounding the Institute that have a missing brick. By making her own mold she returned to these spots and delicately replaced what had gone missing with a white plaster brick.

Green School of Baltimore is an elementary school with a different approach to learning. Adopting a curriculum that embraces what they call “EIC” (Environment as an Integrating Context”, the school’s surroundings and community are used as the context for math, reading, science, and social studies. Each grade participates in year-long studies and projects that include creating rain gardens, planning and growing an edible, organic garden, developing a recycling program, and creating a tree nursery. The school’s mission is not only to educate its students, but help them increase environmental stewardship through experiential environmental education. 

Normals is one of Baltimore’s oldest and well respected and collectively run used music and bookstores. You could spend hours locked between the stacks. It’s like an archaeological dig, you never know what you’ll find. Although, if you do need something specific they’ll know where to find it. Check out the Redroom, the adjoining music venue, for some of the best in experimental and improv music.

Greater Homewood Community Corporation (GHCC) is a non-profit organization serving 40 different neighborhoods in and around the north central areas of Baltimore City. Founded in 1969 to strengthen and safe guard communities the corporation helps to improve education, youth development, adult literacy and economic development and community revitalization.