Reminder: YRP Meeting this Weds. 1/7
Marie McSweeney Anderson
York Road Partnership December General Meeting Minutes & Updates
The meeting on December 10th was preceded by our annual holiday potluck supper. The food was delicious and the company was even better! Thank you to Denise Blackwell and Shakahna Sutton who decorated the church hall so festively, and thank you to all who provided family favorite recipes and local fare to share! All are welcome to attend our monthly meetings (even when there isn’t a party)!
Announcements:
· Congratulations to our fearless leader, Chris Forrest who was recognized as 2014 Volunteer of the Year at the Annual Greater Homewood Community Corporation Celebration on December 10th!
· Join the York Road Partnership Team for Relay for Life at Loyola University on March 28, 2015 to raise funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society. All are welcome to join, cancer survivors and family are especially encouraged to walk. To sign up, create an account and join the York Road Partnership team here. E-mail memcs...@loyola.edu for more information.
· Habitat for Humanity invites YRP members to celebrate the completion of the first four houses on McCabe Ave. and welcome new residents in early February. There will also be an upcoming YRP Volunteer Day with Habitat in the Woodbourne McCabe neighborhood in early 2015, date TBA.
· YRP members are invited to attend the 22nd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Convocation at Loyola University featuring a discussion with Baltimore native and author of “The Beautiful Struggle” and “The Case for Reparations,” Ta-Nehisi Coates. The discussion will take place at 5:00 on January 19 in McGuire Hall. See attached for more information. Call 410-617-2261 for information or to RSVP.
· Take a stand against violence in our community. Father Muth at St. Matthews is working on an activity to honor the 3-year-old McKenzie Elliott who was killed in a drive-by shooting on Old York Rd. in August. Details TBA. For more information, contact Lisa O’Reilly at lisast...@comcast.net.
· Why do you think affordable housing is important? Share your thoughts with Students from Loyola working to create a Home campaign with our local Neighborhood Housing Services non-profit. Contact Daley Keator (413-770-7000) to participate in the survey.
· Check out pictures from the Baltimore Education Coalition open house on December 15 here. Go to http://becforourkids.org for information.
· Shout outs for the YRP! -- Edwin Johnson from Mid Govans thanked the YRP for support of projects in that neighborhood. Karen Stokes, Executive Director of Greater Homewood Community Corporation recognized YRP as a model organization in Baltimore City. Thank you for all the work you do in our community!
Belvedere Square Update:
In a great show of what community working together can accomplish, Stan Meros and Al Barry, representing Belvedere Square (BSq) management, and LaVerne Sykes from the Belvedere Improvement Association (BIA) provided an update on the Arena License application sought by BSq management. The application for the Arena License will be withdrawn and the BIA will ask Senator Joan Carter Conway to introduce legislation to repeal the moratorium on liquor licenses in the BSq area. Ms. Sykes thanked BSq for addressing concerns of neighboring residents and stated that the BIA would like to work with other organizations to address the problems created by package store liquor outlets. Mr. Meros reported that work at BSq on the south side of the street has been completed and that they will now turn their attention to the north side of the street – especially finding suitable tenants for some vacant spaces there.
Other Business:
· Ray Davis, the owner of Flight Restaurant at 5723 York Rd. encouraged folks to support this and other local restaurants. Flight offers a number of vegan and vegetarian options, a great addition to the community.
· VISTA volunteer Jordan Dorsey put out a call for volunteers to help with the after-school program at Dewees Recreation Center. Experienced or retired teachers, parents, and grandparents are especially needed as helpers! Contact Jordan at jdor...@loyola.edu. After school activities at Dewees will resume on January 12.
· Check out our “2014 Year in Review” (attached) to see all the amazing work accomplished this year by the YRP Committees. Great work, everyone! Be a part of the positive change and have your voice heard by joining a committee you’re passionate about! E-mail yorkroadp...@gmail.com for more information.
· Do you have some youth hanging out in your neighborhood looking for ways to get active in the community to fulfill volunteer hours or make a change? Shakahna Sutton (ally.s...@gmail.com) and Maggie Porter (Maggie...@baltimorecity.gov) seek youth age 13-22 to become members of the York Road Youth Council being formed by the Youth Development & Public Safety Committee.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Dent
Recording Secretary/Treasurer
The next YRP meeting will be on Wednesday, January 7, 7:15 pm, at Saint Mary’s Church Hall. All are welcome, bring a neighbor!
