September 2021

BNHA looks to always represent the diverse neighborhoods and cultures of Baltimore. With an eye to even better serving our partners I have decided to turn our Annual Meeting over to our heritage area partners and have you experience a thought provoking and powerful message on diversifying cultural institutions from author, Debby Irving. She is going to reveal how being "a good person" is not enough when it comes to removing bias from our lives and work.

Also, BNHA is excited this month to encourage all of you to enter our It's A SNAP! 2021 contest and to submit your entries for the Neighborhood Placemaking Grant. Both of these projects look to enhance the Baltimore story. Details can be found on both below.

Finally, last month I had the tremendous experience of presenting to the Ride to DC organization. Ride to DC is an organization that was founded to create an inclusive community for cyclists in NYC with a focus on bike accessibility for women and people of color. We shared with them the history of the heritage area and the key roles that women and people of color have played in shaping Baltimore's story. This group was energized and excited about the history and future of our City!

Image: Ride to DC Event with Sage Hamilton-Hazarika, Director of Partnerships & Co-founder of Ride to DC and Visit Baltimore's Mia Bloom
Shauntee Daniels
Executive Director
A discussion around how our own personal biases can shape the impact of our cultural institutions on the communities they serve.

Let's take a deeper dive into why certain communities may not engage with your cultural institution. Are we truly as diverse in our offerings as we believe we are? Does our staff reflect the community that we serve? Are we telling complete narratives in our institutions? To what degree does my upbringing and diversity views impact my ability to successfully serve my institution and its constituents?

Join us for this important conversation around if simply being "a good person" is enough when it comes to making sure that our institutions are diverse, equitable and inclusive. The conversation will be led by Debby Irving.

Irving brings to racial justice the perspective of working as a community organizer and classroom teacher for 25 years without understanding racism as a systemic issue or her own whiteness as an obstacle to grappling with it. Her book, Waking Up White, tells the story of how she went from well-meaning to well-doing and how she unpacked her own long-held beliefs about colorblindness, being a good person, and wanting to help people of color. She reveals how each of these well-intentioned mindsets actually perpetuated her ill-conceived ideas about race.


ARE YOU AN ASPIRING PHOTOJOURNALIST OR JUST AN AVID SHUTTERBUG?


It's a SNAP! Baltimore
Photo Contest 2021 is OPEN!
Entries Due By October 29th.

No matter your level of expertise, here’s your chance to share your special photographs that reveal the best of Baltimore - the people and places of Charm City!

Winning photographers receive prizes, and the best images will be showcased on BNHA’s social media channels and a special Baltimore National Heritage Area promotional product in 2022.

Photographs must be taken within the Baltimore National Heritage Area. All hi-res entries must be submitted electronically by October 29, 2021.





The Neighborhood Placemaking Grant Program (NPG) will open in late September 2021 on BNHA’s website. Requests can be from $1,500-$5,000 with a required match (any combination of cash or in-kind match).
Keep a look out!

This grant program is supported by the
The Small Capital Grant Program (SCG) will open in late September 2021 on the BNHA website. Requests can be up to $15,000 with 1:1 match required. Match can be any combination of cash or in-kind. This program is supported by the City of Baltimore.
BNHA Out in the Community!

BNHA has been out supporting our partner events and spreading the word in the community about BNHA funding programs, contests and heritage area initiatives.

Catch us at:

B&O Farmer's Market
Thursday, September 16th
4p-7p

Charles Street Promenade
Saturday, September 25th
9a-3p
*** Mount Vernon Walking Tour Available***
1p


We want to be part
of your events!
Please email your events to

We Want to See You at President Street Station!

Hours of Operation:
Daily
10 am – 4 pm

Learn about Baltimore’s involvement in the Civil War, Box Car Brown’s escape to the north and William and Ellen C (Kraft’s) disguise to escape to Freedom.


DONATE

A $5 donation to BNHA gets you one of our one-of-a-kind Baltimore themed reusable tote bags. These eco-friendly bags feature some of the best Baltimore images by many of your favorite local photographers.




The Baltimore National Heritage Area works to promote, preserve, and enhance Baltimore's historic and cultural legacy and natural resources.

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