The Baltimore Youth Kinetic Energy (BYKE) Collective, founded in 2014, is an innovative, Black-owned, and youth-led program that supports young people in their personal and professional development through learning bicycle mechanics, practicing safe ridership, and building community. Youth members aged 10-24 can drop into the BYKE mobile bus to learn bike mechanic skills, earn credits toward a bike and/or bike parts, reflect together on issues inside and outside of the shop, get connected to summer internships, and more. BYKE's Golden Fleet Team makes up more than 75% of their staff and is comprised of Baltimore City youth that have completed at least one year of bike mechanic skills and conflict mediation. Interested in supporting their work? Check out the Race to Rise Up & Ride Out community race/scavenger hunt/fundraiser coming up on May 21st, join the Tune-Up Membership group, or donate directly.

On Friday, April 14th, Admiral Rachel Levine, Assistant Secretary of Health for the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), visited Stillmeadow Community Fellowship Resiliency Hub in SW Baltimore. Admiral Levine and her team were interested in learning about Stillmeadow's vision for resilience as well as Baltimore's precedent-setting Community Resiliency Hub Program, which the Office of Sustainability facilitates. HHS and Stillmeadow leaders were joined by staff from our Office as well as the Baltimore City Health Department, Baltimore City Office of Emergency Management, Councilman Kristerfer Burnett's Office, Senator Cardin's Office, and Senator Van Hollen's Office.

Stillmeadow serves as a gold standard for what is possible when relationships are intentionally cultivated and community vision is supported by willing partners. Since guiding their community through a devastating flood in 2018, Stillmeadow has been an effective advocate and pillar of resilience for SW Baltimore. As a result of their efforts, Stillmeadow now has solar power and battery backup capabilities, building energy efficiency upgrades, rain barrels, stormwater cisterns, a food pantry, an apiary, a community learning center, a job training center, and a native tree nursery, to name a few. They are also in the process of restoring 10 acres of land to create a community PeacePark for nature-based healing and learning. Additionally, they are committed to providing essential resources to their community such as food, water, shelter, and flood mitigation resources (among many other services) throughout the year but especially during climate hazards or other disruptive events. You can learn more about Stillmeadow's role as a Community Resiliency Hub here.

On Saturday, April 22nd, our Office hosted a community workshop at the Vollmer Center at Cylburn Arboretum as part of Baltimore's Climate Action Plan Update (CAP Update) process. Over 100 people from throughout the city were in attendance to discuss climate action solutions and priorities across the transportation, energy, buildings, and waste sectors. Check out the Baltimore Beat's coverage of the event here!

Over the past year, the CAP Update public engagement process has comprised of gathering extensive community input through a public survey, a youth survey, multiple virtual and in-person workshops, as well as regular Resident Advisory Council and Technical Advisory Committee meetings. The CAP Update process is now moving to the analysis and development phases. The public comment period for the Draft CAP Update should take place in August or September, so keep your eyes peeled!

The Baltimore Office of Sustainability's intern team, organizing as Baltimore Beyond Plastic, is hosting a free Youth Advocacy Expo from 1-5pm on Sunday, June 4th at the Chinese Pavilion in Druid Hill Park (located at the corner of Swann Drive & Beechwood Drive). Representatives from youth-led programs from around the city will share their work. Hands-on activities, food, and music will be available to all. More details coming soon on the events page of the website. Hope to see you there!

Baltimore Beyond Plastic was founded in 2016 by two Baltimore City Public School students and continues to facilitate a strong network of student advocates with the goal of increasing environmental accountability in Baltimore and across the state.

Electric tractors help vineyards fight climate change -- The Washington Post

Like other electric vehicles, electric tractors are about fighting climate change by cutting our carbon footprint.

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey -- Docuseries

This docuseries hosted by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson takes you on a journey throughout the infinite cosmos. Scientific concepts are presented in an almost universal fashion. Become enchanted by artistically crafted storytelling.

Making your own laundry detergent is an easy way to live sustainably. Typical detergents have unnecessary chemicals, dyes, and fragrances that can be damaging to your skin and the environment. There are a variety of recipes online as well as sources to obtain the ingredients needed to make your own detergent. Check out some recipes for powder detergent, liquid detergent, and detergents compatible with high-efficiency washers.

Along the same lines, traditional dryer sheets are easier than ever to ditch. The most obvious alternative is to just not use them in your dryer or to air dry your clothes. This might leave your laundry a little stiffer than you're used to, however, it's better for your clothes long-term. For those that still want that soft feel or even the fresh scent that dryer sheets provide, wool dryer balls offer a great alternative. These can be purchased locally at markets like MOM's in Hampden (who also have recipes for other household cleaners on their website), online through small businesses like LooHoo, or big box stores like Target. Switching up how you think about and do laundry is an easy and cost-effective step to take in making your home become more sustainable!