Baltimore community partnered with the Maryland Guard
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”2041″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1500581202700{margin: 0px !important;border-width: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;}”]By Staff Sgt. Thaddeus Harrington, Maryland National Guard Public Affair Office[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1500580876842{margin: 0px !important;border-width: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;}”]Just 15 minutes away from the historic 5th Regiment Armory in Baltimore, Maryland, is a struggling community. A community like many others in the city and nation. This Baltimore community is working towards revitalization and has a new partner, the Maryland National Guard.
Members of the Maryland Guard’s Counterdrug Program have been on duty in the McElderry Park community since late July. These Service members are providing the administrative support and workforce needed to jumpstart efforts to reestablish the community resource center.
“You would not recognize this place – the before and after. We did a lot of work,” said Staff Sgt. Derek Tucker.
The McElderry Park Revitalization Coalition has a nearly $1 million grant through the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program funded by the U.S. Department of Justice and administered by the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office on Criminal Justice. The BCJI launched in 2012 to develop and implement place-based, community-oriented strategies to transform distressed communities into communities of opportunity.
Home to 7,800 people, the 48-square block East Baltimore neighborhood is the spot for a disproportionate amount of crime. Like many other inner-city neighborhoods the community struggles with unemployment, distressed properties, and poverty.
In an effort to reach out to the Hispanic population in the community, the team used a Spanish-speaking team member to translate. Many Spanish-speaking residents did not know that the community resource center existed.
“I’ve never done any translations on this level,” said Spc. Christopher Sanchez. “I feel like a connection between the two parts of the community.”
The community resource center will have workforce development programs that help the community such as computer training that could lead to Comp TIA A+ Certification, GED prep training, and instruction in 3D printing.
“They don’t know this [resource center] is turning into a one-stop shop. They came here for one thing and they can leave here with much more,” said Tucker.
The Counterdrug team even picked up the 500 laptops/tablets to be used in the Computers for Guns program that takes place on Sat., Aug. 9. This initiative aims to get guns off the streets and could narrow the digital divide.
“Meeting residents in the community and then seeing them in the office (resource center) is very fulfilling,” said Staff Sgt. Maria Frazier. “I’m very grateful for doing what I’m doing.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]