Morgan Community Mile September 2018 Newsletter

Issue

in this maiden issue >>> ▪

HBCU CDAC Clean Energy Roundtable

▪

Belair-Edison Neighborhood Inc. Cam-

ONE

paign & Block Parties ▪

Hamilton-Lauraville Farmers Market Outreach

▪

The Arts Corner

▪

Presidential Notes

▪

MCM Welcomes new VP for D-RED

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A M o n t h l y N e w s l e t t e r o f t h e M o r g a n C o m m u n i t y M i l e Sept. 27, 2018

The Morgan Community Mile Inside Morgan State >>>

Morgan & Towson Students Take Part in YMCA Community Service

Morgan State Hosts HBCU CDAC Clean Energy Roundtable Panelists Discuss Solar Energy, Economic Opportunities for Underserved & Underrepresented Communities

“It was such a rewarding time giving back,” said Morgan senior softball player Damali Young. “I

Morgan State University, along with major

being created, we established what was

think it’s one of the most important things, for

players in renewable energy technology,

called the ‘energy job strategy,’ and given

the kids to see examples of how great their life

community organizers, stakeholders and rep-

24, 2018. The Special Olympics of Central Mary-

our mission to create jobs and economic resentatives from eight historically black opportunities, we thought about how we can colleges and universities commmake a difference in Baltimore,” …Implementation of (HBCUs) came together on said Natasha Campbell, Director the initiative will proWednesday, July 25th, to disof Energy Programs, Policy and vide access to state- Solutions at CDAC and Former cuss solar energy at the HBCU

land handed out free backpacks to the children

Community Development Ac-

who attended the community event.

tion Coalition (CDAC) Clean

can be…”

Student athletes from Morgan State and Towson University participated in a community service event at the Weinberg Y in Waverly on August

Energy For more information go to www.morgan.edu

Initiative.

The

of-the-art technology and associated bene-

fits to families… roundtable discussion, which was part an ofeffort toward job creation, job was the CDAC placement, and the promotion of solar energy as an effective measure to slash utility costs and save money, featured many panelists. The panelists discussed matters pertaining to economic development

opportunities for

underserved and underrepresented communities, particularly in Baltimore. “Looking at the transformation in the energy

industry and the jobs that were

Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary of Energy. The Clean Energy conference was held just months after Morgan

signed

a

Coalition

Agreement with the U.S. Department(DOE), joining efforts with ment of Energy other HBCUs in the U.S., as the institutions increase their impact on the economic climate of communities around their location, graduate more STEM majors, and promote clean, renewable energy.

2 “

The HBCU CDAC Clean Energy Initiative

residents, as well as creating job opportuni-

is absolutely critical for the improvement of

ties and training.” Some of the panelists who

the neighborhoods and communities that

participated in the Clean Energy event in-

surround the 100+ historically black col-

clude: Dr. Venus Welch-White, Program

leges and universities. It is a win-win-win

Coordinator, United States Department of

for all involved. Implementation of the

Agriculture

initiative will provide access to state-of-the-

Director, Baltimore City Department of Public

art technology and the associated benefits

Works; Carol Payne, Director, Housing and

to families that would never have had an

Urban Development, Baltimore Field Office;

opportunity before,” said Ellis Brown,

Tara Trujuillo, Former Assistant Secretary for

Grants Specialist, Morgan Community Mile.

“Implementation will also provide the community an unprecedented chance for workforce training giving anyone who desires its entrance into a growing economic sector. And most importantly, it will provide the HBCUs cutting-edge and bleedingedge

research

opportunities,

creating

awareness about solar energy and making solar available to low and moderate-income

(USDA);

Theodore

Atwood,

Intergovernmental Affairs, US Department of Energy; and Laura Vendetta, Strategic Partnership Manager, Grid Alternatives. The conversation on clean energy is happening at a time when the Energy Department is leveraging America’s solar energy resources to support extensive expansion of the nation’s solar market, which, energy experts say, will continue to pave the way to a cleaner, more sustainable

energy

future.

MCM Participates in Belair-Edison Block Parties City Agencies and Organizations Joined Efforts to Provide Resources and Services to Members of the Community

I

n a bid to raise awareness around public safety and security for resi-

“The block parties were a way for us to inform and educate the

dents, the Morgan Community Mile (MCM), joined by 20 partner

community on what the community is doing, particularly regard-

organizations and city agencies in Baltimore, participated in three

ing public safety awareness,” said Christina Delgado, an official

block parties at the Belair-Edison Neighborhoods, Inc. (BENI) from June

from the Belair-Edison Neighborhoods, Inc.

through July 2018. The block parties were part of a community-centered outreach project organized by officials at the Belair-Edison Neighborhoods, Inc. The Baltimore City Mayor’s office on Criminal Justice and BENI brought residents together through social gatherings within the Belair Edison communities to ultimately provide a community experience by disseminating information on services and resources available to the local residents. The information directed

was towards

police services as it pertains to 311 and 911 services.

emergency

The combined block parties attracted over 100 local residents, in which

city

service

providers offered insight into how to use 311 and/or 911 dialing services, allowing local residents to take full advantage of the call center service. Unlike 911 emergency calls, which create an immediate emergency response, officials explained that the 311 is a non-emergency number used for making complaints on specific issues, such as: environmental disruptions, safety concerns, or health hazards. The 311 number can also be used to access other

3 government services. Officials maintain that calling the 311 number could

The “What’s the 311/911?” community outreach project in collaboration

improve the effectiveness of 911 emergency call services by reducing the

with the Morgan Community Mile CODE 3 Baltimore City Police Grant

congestion on 911 circuits. Some of the non-emergency complaints that

also included a flyer campaign which impacted thousands of residents

could be placed on a 311 line includes: trash clean-up, illegal dumping,

within the Belair-Edison Neighborhoods. Thus, volunteers knocked on

polluted streets and alleys, high grass and weeds, water or electricity out-

residential doors and explained the 311 and 911 call system and distributed

age, rodent infestations, and so on. In addition, residents were encouraged

literature related to auto theft and larceny. By the end of the campaign,

to call 311 before calling 911 for non-emergency activities, such as aban-

approximately 2,334 residents received flyers.

doned cars, noncriminal activities and more in the community.

Many of the organizations and agencies that partnered with the BelairFollowing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) assigning of

Edison Neighborhoods, Inc. and

easy-to-use dialing code system for quick access to community infor-

311 and 911 Call Centers; (2) Baltimore Police Department; (3) Baltimore

mation, referral services, and traffic and transportation information in the

Fire Department; (4) Baltimore Pre-Trial Community Services Division;

year 2000, numbering resources such as the 211, 511 and 311 became vast-

(5) Department of Public Works; Department of Transportation; (6) De-

ly used. This action has prompted various cities within the U.S., including

partment of Housing & Community Development; (7) Northeast Housing

Baltimore, to adopt such services, as continual efforts are made to improve

Initiative; (8) Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and (9) DJ Dai-

the existing call systems and to communicate the this resource more effec-

Rock—David

Armstrong,

and

implemented the project included: (1)

the

Church

of

the

Apostles,.

tively and efficiently to residents.

MCM Supports Agro Businesses, Farmers at Hamilton-Lauraville Mainstreet Farmers Market Business District Promotes Communal Growth & Entreprenuership

I

n a sustained effort to promote entrepreneurship, transformative

point,” said Regina Lansinger, Director, Hamilton-Lauraville Main

growth and socio-economic development, Morgan Community Mile

Street Farmers Market.

(MCM) has continued to support scores of businesses within North-

east Baltimore. Beginning June 2018, the MCM supported several local businesses and community residents within the Hamilton-Lauraville Main Street Farmers Market. MCM has also interviewed and recorded the ideas and thoughts of local farmers and devised viable ways to market these budding

in-

vestments to a

From heirloom tomatoes, potatoes, fruits and vegetables—to beverages, pastries, and other fresh, small-batch foodstuffs—the Hamilton-Lauraville Farmers Market featured organic farmers, small business owners, and vendors who sold a cornucopia of ultra-fresh produce directly to customers. The MCM seized the opportunity to learn more about the entrepreneurs and their business operations, as well as the quality of products they displayed

larger base of

“Our

“Our job is to the

business

dis-

trict;

we

does well at markets like this because it is a com-

that by having

doing larger events like the Hamilton festival. The point is to bring businesses and people that live in the neighborhoods and schools together.

When we have these three things, we feel like we are at our strongest

product

speaks for itself; it

do

community gatherings like the farmers market on Tuesdays, as well as

the

market.

customers.

revitalize

at

munity-based market. The more people come out, the more exposed we are. Although we are in several stores, our product is more appreciated at the Farmers Market,” said Samuel Moody, Co-founder, Infused Spreads—a bread/sandwich spread business.

4 MCM has participated in the Tuesday farmers market events in the Hamil-

services that they receive,� said Marvin Perry, Executive Director, Mor-

ton-Lauraville business district since the market opened in June. The

gan Community Mile.

Hamilton-Lauraville neighborhood uses the farmers market as a platform for community engagement and as a catalyst to promote local produce trade.

The Hamilton-Lauraville Farmers Market continues to serve as a community hub where residents gather to not only purchase fresh and reasonably priced produce, but also an avenue to interact with other members of the

“Perhaps, our biggest assignment as an active component of Morgan

community. Since most farmers grow their produce within 100 miles of

State University, is to see that businesses in the community reach their

the market, businesses and residents may spend money they make in the

tipping point, and that residents have confidence in the products and/or

local economy.

ADVERTISEMENT SPACE AVAILABLE For inquiries contact the MCM: Marvin Perry

marvin.perry@morgan.edu 443-885-3749

The Arts Corner “The Accident Scene”

Fictional Story

5

By Dilly Okonkwo

ith a broken clavicle and a dislocated right ankle, he man-

W

cards, and a few blue-inked paper stickers that were meticulously folded

aged to crawl to the shoulder of the road. He gasped in

into halves.

labored. Blood gushed from the gaping wound on his ankle as he laid on

What felt like eternity had passed before the wail of a fire truck was heard.

the ground helpless. His Volkswagen Passat had just crashed into a semi-

Before long, more police vehicles pulled up at the scene. Three officers

trailer on the ever-busy interstate 85 from Montgomery, Alabama to

spoke with some of the first responders, while the others controlled traf-

Richmond, Virginia.

fic—constantly motioning the snooping crowd to stay away. Paramedics

desperate need for air as his breathing became even more

gently lifted the unresponsive man and placed him on a stretcher where Seconds after the ghastly accident occurred, concerned motorists alighted

prehospital care was momentarily administered. One of the physicians

from their vehicles in sheer wonderment. As people talked into their cell-

reached for a stethoscope and another dabbed the man’s bloodied face

phones, traffic began to build up. A middle-aged man struggled to de-

with a soft cloth. The taillight of the ambulance continued to dim as it

scribe the scene to a 911 operator, “He is unresponsive at this point…there

darted off, cutting through the dense highway traffic.

is blood everywhere,” the fidgety man shrieked as if he was having a nervous breakdown. Another perturbed fellow scanned the accident envi-

As the ambulance made its way to the hospital with the badly injured man,

rons in search of any important valuable that might be laying around. The

police officers spoke with the men who had recovered the victim’s belong-

men who checked the victim’s vehicle to see that no one was trapped

ings. Following a quick questioning, the men handed the items to the po-

heaved a sigh of relief when they learned that the driver was alone—and

lice and went about their businesses. The semi-trailer driver told the police

that no child was in the car.

that it appeared the victim was on his phone when the accident occurred.

The truck driver maintained he was driving at a safe speed when an

Just beside the victim’s vehicle was a broken cellphone, a bunch of keys, a

earsplitting clang shook his truck. The fast-talking, 57-year-old Alabamian

vacuum flask, and two miniature vaporizers. The windshield of the Passat

trucker said that when he looked out of his window, he saw flying debris

had taken a serious hit, leaving a rain of glass clutter all over the place.

and quickly pulled to a safe distance. “I turned off my engine and pro-

Two other individuals dug into the motionless man’s denim pants and

ceeded to find out what had happened,” he added. The quasi-interrogation

found a leather wallet, which contained an expired New York driver’s

lasted for about half an hour, after which the driver was carted away in a

license, one health insurance card, two credit cards, a couple of business

police vehicle. By the time traffic had unclogged, it was past dusk.

Life’s Indices

By Dilly Okonkwo

Now is the time to suppress those voices that surge your drill Those negative voices that push you downhill The blue remarks that paralyze your zeal

The change we seek lies in the conviction from within our minds For we must first understand that we have the very might To cause change and to experience life differently And to redeem ourselves from all shame and lameness immediately This knowing eludes apathy and sheer disbelief It motivates and negates the notion that life is a make-belief The mind, again I say, the mind is where it all begins Can you not see that your dreams are fueled by your daily premise?

Your confessions by night and even your deeds at noonday But all you do is debase yourself and expect wonders on Monday You kill the gains in your mind and still expect riches With your mouth you do all these and blame it all on witches

And keep you far away from a three-square meal Of course, positive utterances will do the job Of nourishing your mind like blood to a bedbug Look, the key to solving life’s indices is squared in your tongue That very word you say can put negativity in its morgue I can, you can, and we can Are phrases stronger than the fittest soldier of the Taliban Thus, keep your words positive and unbending Vertical and unswerving, without any misgiving

6

Dr. David Wilson

President, Morgan State University The MCM 2.0 would like to acknowledge President David Wilson for establishing and conceiving of the Morgan Community Mile. We are excited to achieve a new milestone as the MCM matures to the MCM 2.0.

David Wilson, Ed.D., the 10th president of Morgan State University, has a long record of accomplishments and more than 30 years of experience in higher education administration. Dr. Wilson holds four academic degrees: a B.S. in political science and an M.S. in education from Tuskegee University; an Ed.M. in educational planning and administration from Harvard University and an Ed.D. in administration, planning and social policy, also from Harvard. He came to Morgan from the University of Wisconsin, where he was chancellor of both the University of Wisconsin Colleges and the University of Wisconsin–Extension. Before that, he held numerous other administrative posts in academia, including: vice president for University Outreach and associate provost at Auburn University, and associate provost of Rutgers, the State University of New

Jersey.

(Bio

excerpt

from

www.morgan.edu.

See

full

bio

here:

https://www.morgan.edu/office_of_the_president/biography.html

MCM Welcomes Dr. Willie May

NEW Vice President for Research and Economic Development On behalf of MCM, we would like to welcome Dr. Willie May to the Morgan State University community and Morgan Community Mile. Dr. May is MSU's new Vice President for Research and Economic Development. Dr. May is the former Undersecretary of Commerce for the United States and former Director of the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST).

As NIST Director, Dr. May provided high-level oversight and direction for NIST, the agency that promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology. Dr. May led NIST's research and measurement service programs in chemistry-related areas for more than 20 years. His personal research activities were focused in the areas of trace organic analytical chemistry and physico-chemical properties of organic compounds, where his work is described in more than 90 peerreviewed technical publications. Dr. May earned his Ph. D. in Chemistry from the University of Maryland, College Park. His numerous honors include American Chemical Society Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Analytical Chemistry Award; Department of Commerce Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal Awards; Arthur Flemming Award for Outstanding Federal Service; National Bureau of Standards (NBS) Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Award; and the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) Percy Julian, and Henry Hill Awards for outstanding contributions in Chemistry. (Bio excerpt

from

www.morgan.edu.

See

full

bio

here:

https://www.morgan.edu/research_and_economic_development/dr_willie_e_may.html).

The Morgan Community Mile Newsletter is Published by The Morgan Community Mile Earl S. Richardson Library, Suite 207 Morgan State University 1700 East Cold Spring Lane Baltimore, Maryland. 21251 (443)-885-3749 https://communitymile.morgan.edu/

morgancommunitymile2.0

7

Dr. Tim Akers, Assistant VP for Research Innovation & Advocacy, MSU; Editor-in-chief Marvin Perry, Executive Director, Morgan Community Mile; Co-editor Christina Kelly, Educational Consultant, Morgan Community Mile; Special Editor Dilly Okonkwo, PR Strategist, Morgan Community Mile; Staff Writer/Creative Designer