Strong Communities for Life
Myerberg Creates Safe Space for Exploration
Mary Mayhew’s popular art classes at the Edward A. Myerberg Center always seem to fill up quickly. The accomplished artist teaches oil painting on Tuesday afternoons to a group of enthusiastic students, one of whom is Carol Hawtof. Carol and her sister Rita have been taking Mary’s classes for the past several years. Just before the pandemic forced the Myerberg’s physical space to close, Carol was diagnosed with a rare ophthalmologic disorder and has since experienced an accelerated loss of sight. With news of the center reopening for in-person classes, Carol was nervous about returning to her art practice but decided to enroll. With the support of her dedicated instructor and classmates, Carol has been exploring new forms of artistic expression, moving from realism to abstraction and using color in new ways, as seen in the beautiful piece pictured here, which she and Mary collaborated to create. The Myerberg Center is proud to be a safe and supportive space for older adults to be fit, creative and connected.
Bordering Neighborhoods Collaborate on Clean-Up
Each year on CHAI’s Good Neighbor Day, community members participate in events designed to help beautify northwest Baltimore and assist older adults in the winterization of their homes. This year, CHAI added a new event specifically for the residents of Fallstaff (Baltimore City) and Colonial Village (Baltimore County). Upon learning that both neighborhood associations expressed interest in tidying the outdoor spaces and sidewalks the two bordering neighborhoods share, CHAI convened a planning meeting with representatives from both associations, Delegate Lisa Belcastro’s office and Casa de Maryland, resulting in the addition of a joint community clean-up on Good Neighbor Day. Special thanks to Senator Hettleman, Delegates Belcastro, Rosenberg and Stein and Councilman Patoka for joining Fallstaff and Colonial Village residents at this special event. A second collaborative clean-up is being planned for spring.
FMOP Hosts Drive-In Movie to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage
The mission of CHAI’s Fallstaff Multicultural Organization Project (FMOP) is to bridge cultural gaps in one of Baltimore’s most diverse neighborhoods. FMOP has held in-person community events like International Day Festival and End of Year Holiday Gathering, creating fun and safe space for members of the Latinx, African American and Jewish communities to gather, mingle and learn about their respective cultures and heritage. After an almost two-year hiatus due to COVID safety restrictions, the FMOP held its first in-person event in the form of a drive-in movie. On Sunday, November 21, community members enjoyed a free showing of Disney’s animated movie, Coco, at the Weinberg Park Heights JCC parking lot. This award-winning family-friendly film celebrates Mexico’s rich culture and music. A great time was had by all, adults and children alike, many of whom had never before experienced a drive-in movie.
CHAI Welcomes Travis Curtis
Travis Curtis joined the CHAI professional team on November 15 as our Senior Accountant. Travis comes to us most recently from Medstar Health, having previously worked at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University. He brings a decade of experience in financial accounting and grant management and is very excited to bring his passion and experience to nonprofit community work. We are thrilled to have him on our team!
CHAI congratulates The Guardians, 13 inspiring Black female leaders in Baltimore, including four from Park Heights – Sharon Snow, Pastor Terrye Moore, Cherring Spence and Sister Yeshiyah Israel – being honored in a special exhibit. Thank you for your tireless efforts toward a better, more equitable Baltimore. The Guardians exhibit is on view through December 19, 2021 at the Peale Center in Carroll Mansion.
Join CHAI CEO, Lisa Budlow, and colleagues for a presentation on
Aging Well in America:
Preparing for Our Future.
December 14 at 12:00 p.m
Join a national webinar about the affordable housing issues facing our communities.
December 6 at 1:00 p.m
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CHAI, an agency of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, can respond in times of crisis and to whatever comes next, thanks to the funding and financial support it receives from The Associated’s Annual Campaign. Now, more than ever, we need your support to continue meeting the growing and evolving needs in our community. 
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