Gratitude, Development Without Displacement, Fall Leaf Pick-Up, + More! |
Dear Baltimore Office of Sustainability Friends,
It's hard to believe that it is already November! As we pause this season to express gratitude, please know that our Office is grateful for your continued readership. We appreciate the work and support of all of our residents and partners and strive to use this newsletter as a platform for highlighting your contributions to Baltimore's progress. So cheers to YOU!
There are so many things to love about the fall season, but one of our favorites is the fall leaves! Every year, nature gives us this carbon-rich resource which can often end up in local waste streams. Leaves are some of the best "browns" to use in your compost pile - so don't throw them away! You can also create leaf mold, which is produced when leaves break down over time. Leaf mold can support a healthy soil structure. Fall leaves can also be used in various craft projects. Try making a leaf wreath, leaf confetti, or create some fall decor.
Speaking of leaves, Baltimore's Department of Public Works leads an annual fall leaf collection on regularly scheduled trash collection days. Solid waste crews will collect up to 5 bags of leaves from each address every week during this period. It is best to avoid sweeping leaves into the streets, alleys, gutters or storm drains. City residents may also drop off bagged leaves at one of the five Citizens’ Convenience Center locations found here.
Happy Reading!
Baltimore Office of Sustainability Staff
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Jules Dunham Howie, Director,
UPC Westside CDC
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Jules Dunham Howie -- Facilitating Development without Displacement in Upton |
Jules Dunham Howie is the Director of the Upton Planning Committee Westside Community Development Corporation, otherwise known as the UPC Westside CDC. She has worked on organizational development issues for over 20 years. The UPC Westside CDC is working intentionally on the revitalization of the West Baltimore Upton community. It was formed in 2018 as the implementation arm of the 2026 Upton Master Plan, which was adopted by the Planning Commission on August 1, 2018. The Plan prioritizes homeownership in the community and Upton’s homeownership strategy is at the heart of the communities 'Development Without Displacement' commitment.
Since 2018, the UPC Westside CDC has garnered over $5 million to support the rehabilitation of 75 homes for homeownership and estimates there is $70 Million in development underway in the community. UPC has facilitated unprecedented partnerships with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Baltimore City's Department of Housing and Community Development, developers, and the community to provide much-needed gap financing and ensure that the community has an equity stake in the development process.
Currently, UPC is working with the developer Upton Renaissance, LLC on the revitalization of 38 vacant houses in the 800 block of Harlem Avenue and the 800 block of Edmondson Avenue. This partnership is removing blight and facilitating community sustainability with whole block outcomes. The first five homes have been completed on Harlem Avenue and the first three new homeowners have moved into the community. We invite you to check out these beautiful new homes here.
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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, fairer, and safer place for all of us. 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.
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Climate Action Plan Advisory Council Kick-Off |
On November 3rd, our Office hosted the first convening of our Climate Action Plan Advisory Council! Baltimore's original Climate Action Plan (CAP) was written in 2012. Now, ten years later, we are starting the community engagement process to create a new CAP that addresses climate inequities in our city while setting new and ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and strategies. The Advisory Council (AC) is comprised of 16 residents, 3 of whom are also Sustainability Commissioners, and will help guide the stakeholder engagement and plan development processes. The AC will hold us accountable for centering equity and ensure that we are effectively utilizing the engagement process to empower residents and stakeholders to act on climate solutions.
The AC's first meeting was full of energy and innovative ideas from our members, whose backgrounds include community beekeeping and urban farming, youth and community organizing, accessible design, and crime prevention. You can read more about our AC members here! Our second meeting will take place in mid-December and will focus on setting the community engagement strategy for the CAP Update.
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Sustainability Highlights |
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Graduates of the job training program at Civic Works. Photo c/o Civic Works. |
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Civic Works Trains 1,000 Residents in Family-Sustaining Careers |
Civic Works’ Center for Sustainable Careers (CSC) announced a milestone achievement of 1,000 Baltimore residents trained to pursue quality employment. Since 2003, Civic Works has expanded access to family-sustaining careers for unemployed and underemployed Baltimore residents. CSC provides participants with the technical and soft skills training needed to succeed in one of its five career tracks: solar installation, home energy efficiency, brownfields remediation, stormwater management, and utility infrastructure. Participants earn industry-recognized certifications, learn employability skills, and receive case management and extensive on-the-job training to remove barriers to steady employment. The program maintains an average job placement rate of 88% and average starting wages of over $17.50 per hour.
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Baltimore DOT Community Transit Survey |
The Baltimore City Department of Transportation has launched a survey to solicit feedback for the creation of the city’s new Transit Development Plan (TDP). The Community Survey is open now through November 30th, 2021 and DOT would love your input! The TDP will include strategies and potential route changes to the existing four Charm City Circulator routes and three Harbor Connector routes. It will include:
- Recommendations to reconfigure the Circulator Routes
- An analysis of Circulator service gaps
- Service changes needed to reach employment centers
- Reconfiguration opportunities with institutional shuttle services
- Suggestions on how to refocus the Harbor Connector to serve job centers and accelerate tourism
For more information on the Transit Development Plan, visit here.
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Books + Articles our Staff are Reading |
The air in Baltimore isn’t as toxic as it once was - in 2005 it had the worst air pollution mortality rate among the 20 most populated cities in the country. But still, residents and activists continue fighting to reduce pollution.
Both a resource for people in need and a local up-cycling initiative, the Baltimore Furniture Bank works with organizations across the region to get furniture to people, including the unhoused.
The 26th Conference of the Parties, or COP26, recently concluded climate negotiations in Glasgow, Scotland, and a new global agreement, the Glasgow Climate Pact, was reached. The Pact aims to reduce the worst impacts of climate change. BBC News summarizes the content included in the Pact.
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How to Clean your Reusable Bags! |
Did you know that one reusable bag can keep a whopping 20,000 plastic bags out of the landfill over its lifetime? Though this is impressive, it's easy to forget how dirty our reusable bags can get while serving as our eco-friendly catch-alls. Here are some tips for keeping your bags clean and free of bacteria:
- Wipe down your bags after each use, and aim to wash them around once a month.
- Store bags in a clean, dry space, and be sure to let them dry completely after cleaning to discourage mold and mildew growth.
- Keep separate bags for items such as meat, seafood, produce, and non-food items to avoid cross-contamination.
- Wrap raw meat separately before putting it into your bag to prevent the spread of bacteria.
To more deeply clean your bags, follow these laundry guidelines for various materials that reusable bags are commonly made of:
- Polypropylene bags: Machine wash on a gentle cycle or hand wash with soap (not detergent) and cold water.
- Nylon, polyester, or insulated bags: Hand wash with soap (not detergent) and warm water (don’t forget the inner and outer seams).
- Bamboo or hemp bags: Machine wash on a gentle cycle with mild detergent or soap, or hand wash.
- Cotton bags: Machine wash with hot water and regular detergent or hand wash.
For drying, all the materials can be hanged or machine-dried, except for polypropylene, nylon, or polyester bags, which shouldn't be put in the dryer.
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We Love Feedback
Tell us what you want to hear! Do you have ideas on newsletter content? Or would you like to nominate an organization or person to be featured? Email us at sustainability@baltimorecity.gov.
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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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417 E Fayette St, 8th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21202
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Lead Editor: Aubrey Germ, Climate and Resilience Planner
Newsletter Contributors: Bruna Attila, Coastal Resources Planner + Acting Floodplain Manager; Abby Cocke, Environmental Planner; Aubrey Germ, Climate and Resilience Planner; Amy Gilder-Busatti, Environmental Planner; Kimberley Knox, Green Network Coordinator; Lisa McNeilly, Sustainability Director; Ava Richardson, Sustainability Manager; Kas Tebbetts, Climate Community Engagement Fellow; Sara Kaiser, Baltimore Public Allies Fellow
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