Over the past several months there has been an ongoing dialogue about bringing the Surgance platform to the City of Baltimore. Baltimore is a city of extremes. Wedged into the I-95 coridor along with Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City, Baltimore draws millions of tourists to the world famous Inner Harbor, while at the same time being number two on the list of problem cities when it comes to both homicide and AIDS.
While there have been many diverging theories on why the city is facing such struggles, the one constant is the state of the Baltimore City Public School System. The school system has been the target of much criticism, and was recently the target of an HBO documentary detailing many of the struggles that a school system blighted by urban poverty (of 190 schools in the BCPSS 115 schools warrant Title One designation) faces each day.
Enter rejuveNATION.
On Wednesday, January 7th, Brian Audia and I spent time connecting with the principal of Eutaw-Marshburn Elementary School. Located in the Madison Park neighborhood of Baltimore, Eutaw-Marshburn has approximately 350 students, 98% of whom qualify for federally funded meals. As Brian, Principal Marylin Jackson and I spoke, a partnership began to form, and future possibilities began to be discussed. Coming away from this meeting I am excited to see the potential that we have to impact not just this one elementary school, but the entire neighborhood of Madison Park.
Eutaw-Marshburn Elementary School. Notice the Boarded up windows of the building next door.
Another neighbor of Eutaw-Marshburn elementary. A majority of the housing immediately surrounding the school consists of boarded up vacant row homes, or section eight apartments.
And so, the adventure begins... We are currently in the very early stages of planning out what we are going to be doing this summer, but we already have businesses, community groups, and volunteer teams lining up to be a part of this huge undertaking.
Matt
