Shelley Halstead is the Founder and Executive Director of Black Women Build – Baltimore (BWBB), a homeownership and wealth-building initiative that trains Black women in carpentry, electrical, and plumbing by restoring vacant and deteriorated houses in West Baltimore. Once complete, the women may buy a house that they worked on at an affordable price, as well as enter a trades-related field if they desire. Since acquiring their first houses in August 2019, BWBB has finished seven homes and plans to finish 10 more this year. Shelley is also beginning development in Marble Hill where she lives with her cat, Biscuit. There, she is turning three long-vacant buildings into a café and grocery, artist lofts, and a food hall.

On Saturday, April 23rd from 12-3pm, our Office's high school intern team, organizing as Baltimore Beyond Plastic, will co-host Whose Earth (Day)? A Day of Reckoning, Celebration, & Digging in the Dirt with Vital Matters at the back gardens of The Ivy Bookshop (5928 Falls Road). The event is free and open to the public, with local food provided, and is intended for Earth lovers, justice fighters, and curious folks of all ages. Whose Earth (Day)? kicks off at noon with a reusable bag decorating workshop (bags and art supplies provided), with support from local visual artists. At around 1 p.m., the main event will begin, featuring local performers Sanahara Ama Chandra, Maura Dwyer, and Leticia Van Sant. Baltimore Beyond Plastic will open the community conversation with a discussion of Harriet Washington's book, A Terrible Thing to Waste: Environmental Racism and its Assault on the American Mind, accompanied by special guest Dr. Lawrence T. Brown (author of The Black Butterfly: The Harmful Politics of Race and Space in America). Attendees will also hear from Jordan Bethea of BLISS Meadows Farm, on experiences of urban farming. All will be invited to partake in a participatory art walk exploring The Ivy’s 2.5 acres and to assist a local gardening team in helping The Ivy to prepare for the launch of its public green space project. 

Equity Guide for Green Stormwater Infrastructure Practitioners -- Green Infrastructure Leadership Exchange

This new resource is a comprehensive guide to advancing and measuring equity within public sector stormwater management organizations’ green stormwater infrastructure policies, programs, and projects. It offers a variety of tools to support practitioners in customizing community-informed Equity Work Plans and Evaluation Plans to local contexts. The Guide is grounded in a literature review that features insights from 80 published sources and interviews with more than 60 practitioners and community-based organizations.

The Rise - and Beauty - of the Native Plant -- The Washington Post Magazine

"At a time of anxiety over the effects of climate change and the mass extinction of wildlife, ecologists say that planting natives can provide an opportunity to make a difference."

April is officially Flood Awareness Month in the state of Maryland. Flooding is the natural hazard most experienced in the state and it affects residents and infrastructure right here in Baltimore City. Baltimore experiences both riverine and coastal flooding. To ensure you're prepared you should KNOW your risk, REDUCE your risk, and INSURE your risk. For Baltimore City residents, this map is useful for locating floodplains, or high flood-risk areas. A statewide resource can be found here. Reduce your risk by following floodplain ordinances in your jurisdiction and preparing for the hazards specific to your property. Lastly, insure your home through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This insurance is available to everyone, not just those living in floodplains. Many homeowners insurance policies do not cover flooding! Frequently Asked Questions about NFIP flood insurance help provide an overview and provide resources if there are additional questions.