Sustain B'more

April 2023 | Issue 35

Celebrating Earth Month!

Dear Baltimore Office of Sustainability Friends,

 

Baltimore is bursting with events and opportunities this month! April is Earth Month and it ushers in lovely spring weather and a host of community activities where you can enjoy Baltimore and help make it greener and more sustainable. Check out the local opportunities and volunteering section below for some highlights of ways you can get involved.

 

April is also Flood Awareness Month here in Maryland. A whole month dedicated to the cause is important to increase flood awareness and preparedness, as flooding is the most experienced natural hazard in the State. One strategy you can use to protect your home or business from flood damage is to purchase flood insurance. Baltimore is a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) participating jurisdiction, and all structures located in the city are eligible to purchase an NFIP flood insurance policy. Baltimore also belongs to FEMA's Community Rating System program, which provides a 25% discount on NFIP flood insurance rates. Don't wait - Hurricane and flood season is approaching! We recommend that you insure your property against flood damage today.

 

We also want to highlight that we are hiring for a Coastal Resources Planner (Planner II). You can find more information, as well as the job application, here. The Department of Planning also has other job openings listed here.  


Happy Reading!

Baltimore Office of Sustainability Staff

Community Spotlight

Gabby working with students at Digital Harbor High School to sort food waste.

Gabby Vinas -- Baltimore City Public Schools

Gabby Vinas is a Sustainability Analyst (SA) with Baltimore City Public Schools. She became only the second SA in February 2023 when she joined Joanna Pi-Sunyer, the system's first (and formerly sole!) SA, and Rajeshri Bachubhay, Manager of Energy Efficiency and Operations. As a team, they are working with students, staff, volunteers, and partners to make the school system greener, healthier, and more efficient.

 

Gaby was born in Peru and moved to Baltimore County at age 7. To stay in touch with her roots, she started a club in high school called The Voice to tutor students just arriving in the US. She was one of the first people to receive in-state tuition from Towson University through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, working with CASA de Maryland to challenge her initial rejection. After graduating with degrees in Graphic Design and Spanish Literature, she started a career in program administration supporting foreign students in getting summer work visas but was furloughed when Covid-19 hit. Seeking a new start, she took a role as a program assistant with Baltimore City Public Schools, quickly rising to become a Data Analyst for Facilities Planning. When the opportunity to work in sustainability arose, she saw that it was in line with her values to make the world a better place. Now she's working to increase recycling, support food waste reduction efforts, and analyze energy usage trends, with more exciting work to come! Learn more about her office's work here.

You don’t have to be a climate scientist or city planner to help improve the sustainability and resilience of Baltimore. Everyone has a story to tell about making Baltimore a stronger, safer, and more equitable place. We’ve been collecting stories on our website, and we invite you to share yours with us by posting on social media with the hashtag #EveryStoryCounts and/or by emailing us.

Office Happenings

Disaster Preparedness Plan Kick Off

We are excited to announce that our office has kicked off the planning process to develop Baltimore's 2023 Disaster Preparedness and Planning Project (DP3). We will be working with Tetra Tech, a technical services consulting firm, to support the development of the DP3. Tetra Tech will be supporting all aspects of the DP3 update, including community engagement, data analysis, strategy and action development, and plan compilation.


The DP3 is Baltimore's Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan and it is required by FEMA to be updated every 5 years. Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMPs) are important for jurisdictions to reduce hazard risk for residents and infrastructure. HMPs also enable the city to be eligible for critical federal funding related to risk mitigation and post-disaster recovery. Over the years, Baltimore's DP3 has focused on reducing the city's risk to natural hazard events, such as flooding and extreme heat. This iteration will be expanded to include priority human-caused hazards, such as cyberterrorism and hazardous materials spills.


We need your voice! There are many ways to get involved in this important planning process. We would love it if you could take our public survey and sign up for our virtual public kick-off meeting on May 2nd at 6pm. Have you experienced hazards in your community that need to be addressed? Please let us know the details by filling out this Problem Areas form!

New Staff -- Valerie Rupp

We want to extend a warm welcome to Valerie Rupp who is joining our office in a newly created position -- Climate and Resilience Program Manager. Valerie will provide support for our office's growing climate and resilience portfolio. She has prior experience as a public lands professional and is skilled in partnership building, nonprofit management, communications, planning, and project management. Before joining our office, she served as the Executive Director of the Partnership of the National Trails System. Prior to that, she worked with the Parks & People Foundation in Baltimore for eight years, led the fundraising and external relations as Development Director for the Women’s Law Center of Maryland, and worked in various positions with the Baltimore Museum of Industry. 

Valerie holds Bachelor’s degrees in history and communications from Shippensburg University and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Baltimore. She hails from Scranton, PA, and currently lives in Ednor Gardens where she feeds the feral cats on the block and makes sure all the street trees are properly mulched. She can be reached at Valerie.Rupp@baltimorecity.gov.
 

Sustainability Highlights

Engage with MDOT Planning Efforts

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is currently conducting outreach to support the development of the Maryland Statewide Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan Update. The plan will establish short- and long-range strategies to improve bike and pedestrian safety and access, including that of vulnerable road users such as those using e-scooters and mobility-assistive devices. Take the online survey to share information about your preferences and ideas and use the comment map to show where there are challenges and opportunities for biking and walking.

 

MDOT is also seeking input on the 2050 Maryland Transportation Plan, which will guide the state's transportation policy and investment priorities for the next 20 years. MDOT has a survey available between now and May 5th for input on the guiding principles, goals, and priorities for the plan.

Public Comment -- Baltimore City Public Schools Draft Sustainability Plan

Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools) is trying to reduce its impact on the environment and improve the lives of students and teachers. As such, they have been working toward developing stronger sustainability strategies for the entire BCPS system. They are strategizing on how to teach students about sustainability, save energy, create less waste, and improve the health and well-being of students and staff. Last year, City Schools updated their Sustainability Policy and are now making a more detailed Sustainability Plan! City Schools has released a draft Sustainability Plan for review and comments. The plan sets specific goals, actions, and metrics that will guide City Schools' sustainability work for years to come. Please direct any questions about the plan to green@bcps.k12.md.us.

What We Are Reading
Books + Articles our Staff are Reading

Pakistan’s Biblical Floods and the Case for Climate Reparations -- The New Yorker

"Sometimes my own compatriots tell the world, If you don’t listen, it could happen to you. The West seems unfazed by this logic: climate carnage has happened there, is happening there. Perhaps the West fears that if it acknowledges any debt to a country like Pakistan, it will no longer be able to withhold what it owes its own citizens."


Flooding in the Sacrifice Zone -- The Baffler

"Neon is now a wasteland of twisted metal. There are cars in houses, houses on top of houses, an entire building unmoored from its foundation. City Hall has had to set up in a muddy parking lot under a pop-up tent and a camper van."
Local Opportunities
Events + Volunteering

Earth Day Events 



Other Great Events


 

  • GROW Center Pop-up Events & Greening Workshops - Various dates and locations, through Saturday, May 13th. This spring, DPW is hosting 6 pop-up events and 5 workshops to provide resources for greening projects. If you're looking for free trees, mulch, and seeds or information on recycling, stormwater, and more, check out one of the pop-up events. Workshop topics include composting, nature-based mental health and resiliency, and container/small space gardening. All workshops are free but require registration as space is limited. Compost workshop attendees will receive a free compost bin!



  • On the Front Lines of Race, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - Third Thursday of the Month (April 20th & May 18th) from 1-4pm at Baltimore Unity Hall, 1505 Eutaw Place. Transformational Learning Circles are curated for participants who aim to learn about practices that advance racial justice and healing inside and outside organizational systems and communities.


  • Getting Started with iNaturalist Workshop - Sunday, April 23rd from 3-4:30pm at the Natural History Society of MD, 6908 Belair Rd. Learn how to use iNaturalist in your nature explorations and become comfortable with identifying unknown species in the wild!


  • "The Smell of Money" Film Screening - Sunday, April 23rd from 7-9:30pm at Woodberry Kitchen, 2010 Clipper Park Road Suite 126. The Farm Alliance of Baltimore and Woodberry Kitchen are joining on April 23rd for a film screening of "The Smell of Money", followed by an audience Q&A.


  • Solid Waste Management Plan Update Final Draft Meeting - Monday, April 24th from 6-7:30pm, Virtually and at Arlington Elementary School, 3705 W. Rogers Ave. The Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) is inviting resident and stakeholder engagement for developing a future-focused strategy for managing the City’s waste streams.


  • Economic Inclusion Conference 2023 - Thursday, April 27th from 9am-3pm at Coppin State University Talon Center, 2500 W. North Avenue. Collaborators in startup assistance, real estate, K-12 initiatives, student engagement, faculty research, local manufacturing, and more will participate in presentations, panel discussions, exhibits, and networking opportunities.


  • Fair Housing Forum - Thursday, April 27th from 9am-3pm, Virtual. The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights statewide virtual Fair Housing Summit will provide targeted workshops, impactful keynote speakers, and forums.


  • City Nature Challenge - Friday, April 28th through Monday, May 1st. The 2023 City Nature Challenge is a collaborative effort involving cities all over the world to identify as many wildlife species as possible in their urban setting during the event using the iNaturalist platform. Explore nature in your neighborhood, or join others for group or self-guided nature observations during the event.



  • CNC with Scientists! - Saturday, April 29th from 1-5pm at Stillmeadow Peace Park, 5110 Frederick Ave.



 

 

  • Seed Saving for City People - Saturday, April 29th from 3:30-5:30 PM at St. Luke's Church on the Avenue, 800 W. 36th Street. This specialized workshop focuses on annual vegetable seed-saving, and assumes that participants are coming with an intermediate level of gardening knowledge. Enthusiastic beginners are welcome too!

 

  • Soil Biome Walk - Sunday, April 30th from 10am-12:30pm at Wyman Park, 3699 Beech Avenue. Learn how vital soil health is for functioning ecosystems while exploring some of the soils of Wyman Park.

 

  • The Baltimore Butterfly Sessions: The Future of Labor - Monday, May 1st at 7pm at Baltimore Center Stage, 700 N. Calvert St. Join Bakari Jones, the EMPOWER Program Manager at Impact Hub, musical guests from the collective Radical Evolution, and poet Kenneth Something of the Black Arts District to imagine what’s next for workers in Baltimore and beyond.


  • Swing into Spring - Saturday, May 6th from 11am-3pm at Bon Secours Urban Farm, 1800 W. Fayette St. Swing into spring with a plant giveaway, mobile market, crafts, music, community gardening, food, cooking demos and more.

 

  • Urban Veggie Gardening 101 - Saturday, May 6th at 11am at Filbert Street Garden, 1317 Filbert Street. Learn about spring veggie gardening from Filbert Street Garden's Master Gardener team, and explore what you can grow in your urban backyard or patio space.


  • Spotted Lanternfly Infowalk - Thursday, May 11th from 6-7:30pm at 3729 Tudor Arms Ave. Join the Friends of Stony Run and Urban Forester Megan Carr to learn about this ecological invader which is beginning to establish itself in Baltimore.


  • Baltimore Birding Weekend - May 12th through May 14th at various locations. Audubon’s award-winning Baltimore Birding Weekend includes an exciting itinerary of bird-watching field trips in and around Baltimore. Excursions included guided hikes and paddles in city parks, unique natural areas, and areas with restricted public access. See the link for events and registration.

 

  • Springfield Woods Flower Planting Frenzy - Saturday, May 13th from 10am-2pm at Springfield Woods, across from 4200 Georges Ave. Join the forest stewards and Baltimore Green Space in planting many native plants and taking forest tours to learn about this amazing space!


Funding + Jobs

 

 

  • Job Opportunities: Civic Works - Civic Works is hiring for several full time and AmeriCorps positions to support programs such as Clean Corps, the Community Landscaping Program, YouthBuild, Real Food Farm, and the Center for Sustainable Careers.


  • Job Opportunities: Parks & People - Parks & People is hiring for several positions including a Volunteer & Community Engagement Manager, a Park Implementation & Support Manager, and a Director of Development.


  • Job Opportunity: Veteran Compost - Veteran Compost is hiring a Special Events Coordinator for the Baltimore area to market and coordinate composting services for special events.


  • Coming Soon: 2023 Environmental Offset Grants - The Baltimore Office of Sustainability is preparing to release a Request for Applications (RFA) for the Baltimore Environmental Offset Grants program this spring. This grant is intended for non-profit organizations that wish to implement greening or water quality-related programs and projects. The grant includes funding from the Critical Area Management Program and the Forest Conservation Program. More information about deadlines and how to apply will be shared with newsletter subscribers through an announcement when the RFA goes live.

 

  • Community Beautification Grants - Waterfront Partnership is now accepting applications for community beautification grants. In the past, this program has funded community cleanups, murals, the installation of conservation gardens, and block beautification projects.

 

  • Grit Fund Information Session & Grants - April 20th at 6pm. Learn how to apply for the Grit Fund grants, given to Baltimore doers, artists, and makers. The deadline to apply is April 30th.


  • JM Kaplan Fund Innovation Prize - Deadline: April 28th. The Prize seeks out visionary nonprofit and mission-driven for-profit organizations that are spearheading transformative early-stage projects in the fields of the environment, heritage conservation, and social justice.

 

  • The Black Philanthropy Giving Circle - Deadline: April 30th. This grant program accepts applications from nonprofit organizations that are Black-led or based in Black communities in the Baltimore metropolitan area and that provide goods or services that directly support Black people and communities.


 

  • BGE Green Grants - Deadline: June 2nd. This program funds projects involving environmental conservation, education, energy efficiency, pollution prevention, or community engagement.

 


  • African American Heritage Preservation Program Grant - Deadline: July 1st. The African American Heritage Preservation Program (AAHPP) provides grants to assist in the preservation of buildings, sites, or communities of historical and cultural importance to the African American experience in Maryland.


Turtle Tip of the Month


Spring Cleaning Disposal Tips

The time for spring cleaning is upon us! Along with several helpful events coming up in the city, here is some interesting information about items that can be trickier to dispose of.


Stony Run Friends is hosting a community-wide electronics recycling drive from 10-2 on Earth Day at their meeting house. Information can be found here. On the same day from 10 to noon, Northern Pharmacy and Medical Equipment will assist in helping to safely dispose of unwanted medications. Information on that event can be found here. If you have questions about how to dispose of some other items like old batteries, paint, gasoline, motor oil, or outdoor chemical sprays check out this article which tells you more about how to get rid of these items without putting them into a landfill where they could harm both people and the environment. Happy spring cleaning!
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Our Mission

The Office of Sustainability develops and advocates for programs and policies that improve Baltimore's long-term environmental, social, and economic viability.
 

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Lead Editor: Aubrey Germ, Climate and Resilience Planner



Newsletter Contributors: Bruna Attila, Coastal Resources Planner; Joanna Birch, Floodplain Manager; Abby Cocke, Environmental Planner; Aubrey Germ, Climate and Resilience Planner; Amy Gilder-Busatti, Environmental Planner; Durmon Jones, CAP Outreach Intern; Tara Josberger, CAP Outreach Intern; Quentin Klein-Alfano, CAP Outreach Intern; Ava Richardson, Sustainability Director
Baltimore Office of Sustainability | 417 E Fayette St, 8th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202
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