Here’s what Middle School Coordinators Zara Cadoux and Denise Mack had to say about the event.

Could you describe Mapping Day?

Zara: Mapping Day is a day for students in Operation AWARE to identify the resources in their community. Often communities are looked at in terms of their needs and not in terms of the things that they offer, it’s for us to emphasize to our students that they are not in a community that merely lacks.

Denise: Mapping Day is when we get the 7^th grade class out of the building; they explore the community to see what resources are available to them and throughout the day meet with community leaders to learn strategies to make changes in their community.

What do you hope students learn from the experience?

Zara: We hope students will see things in their community that they may have walked by and never noticed. We want them to talk to people with whom they have never spoken before. Foster a sense of pride in where they live.

Denise: We hope students learn to recognize the world around them; notice things they take for granted and realize they have the power to change their community.

What do you think was a highlight of this year’s Mapping Day?

Zara: A highlight for many of the students was hearing commissioner VanHook speak about change and the importance of setting personal goals. He is a very powerful speaker and made quite an impression on our Highlandtown youth.  A personal highlight was seeing all the groups arrive at the library as they returned from mapping, everybody looked so happy because they had so much fun.

Denise: I think the panelists were a highlight. A lot of them engaged with the students.  I remember Commissioner VanHook asked a student “what do you want to be when you grow up?” and her eyes lit up, as if no one had ever asked her that before or taken an interest in her future. This is part of our purpose, to show our students that they can shape their future. The  panelists also  served as mentors to students.

How did you recruit volunteers?

Zara: We were lucky enough to have Sherri Goodall, the Community Outreach Manager of Downtown Locker Room bring some of her staff to volunteer.

Denise: We also used staff members of Highlandtown Middle School.

What do you think volunteers gained from the event?

Zara: I think volunteers had fun working with and meeting Middle School students. For many it was a chance to brush up on their group facilitation skills, see a part of Baltimore they might not know that well, and get a chance to hear panelist speak about different community projects.

Denise:  I think volunteers gained a renewed appreciation and understanding of youth, because they got to see that young people care about their community.

High School Club of the Year Winners of Towson High School with the honorable Katie O'Malley

On May 5^th, Students Sharing celebrated another successful year with our annual Civic Engagement Awards Ceremony.  Our staff, Board of Directors, students, parents and community partners gathered at the Enoch Pratt Southeast Anchor Library in Baltimore City.  Special guests WJZ-TV’s Marty Bass and First Lady of Maryland Katie O’Malley also joined our celebration.

This year two high school students Rickey Brunson and Meredith Chasney were awarded the Jake Fowley Scholarship for Service awards, for their demonstrated dedication to their involvement in Students Sharing and their commitment to becoming civically engaged young adults.  Community partners Highlandtown Middle 215, Lanvale Transitional Housing, Stevenson University and Towson High School were also honored for their work with us this year.  Lanvale Transitional Housing is our newest partnership, every weekend our high school club members work on art projects and play with young children staying at Lanvale as a part of  “Art Escape” a new Community Action Project (CAP).  Stevenson University students put together a wonderful promotional video for Students Sharing highlighting our students and our programs; we were able to unveil this video at the event. Towson High School’s SSC club under new student leadership was revived, 60 new members were recruited, students began to regularly attend CAPs and student leaders are members of our Just Wear Committee. Highlandtown Middle 215 has partnered with Students Sharing for the past three years, where we have successfully implemented our OperationAWARE and Justice Circles programs.  The evening also featured student presenters from Chinquapin Middle, Highlandtown Middle 215, and Patterson Park Justice Circles. Students Sharing 2007 alumni, Liz Flamm, shared how her experience at Students Sharing continues to influence her decisions after college.  The event marked our 4^th Civic Engagement Ceremony, we take this time to honor those who partner with us and help us further our mission in developing Baltimore’s youth.

High School volunteers prepare the dining room for the arrival of guests

Students Sharing Coalition is proud to report that its 18^th Annual Spaghetti Dinner for the Homeless was a great success! On April 25, 70 high school volunteers from all over Baltimore came and helped out. We provided hot, nourishing meals and delicious desserts with an array of fun activities for approximately 150 guests. A couple of  Towson High School students  provided music, helping make this Spaghetti Dinner one of our most entertaining.

Music was not the only source of fun at the Spaghetti Dinner however, we also had bingo, arts and crafts, manicures and a kids’ corner for our younger guests. Our Justice Circles students assisted with all of our activities, especially with friendship bracelets. Additionally, we provided the invaluable services of legal advice, health consultation and hygiene packets.

Spaghetti Dinner for the Homeless is not just about providing a night of fun and nourishment to our guests; it also gives our students the opportunity to engage with their community and connect with their less fortunate neighbors. This night would not have been possible without our enthusiastic volunteers. Thanks to everyone who took part in Spaghetti Dinner for the Homeless. We hope to see you next year!

For you chronic “Colbert” and ”Daily Show” watchers, the following speech may not come as a surprise. We at the Students Sharing Coalition most certainly raised our eyebrows at Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer’s opinions on poverty prevention. Hear for yourself.

Bauer’s Speech 

We also found a commentary on this speech in the Baltimore Sun.

“Who Speaks for America’s poor? Nobody”

Writer Leonard Pitts Jr. raises  important questions in this article:

Do you agree with Pitts’ statement that people can get away with making negative statements about the impoverished? Why or why not?

Would the public react more negatively if Bauer had been degrading a race or religion? 

Could the public outcry against Bauer’s statement indicate that perhaps there are people out there who care about the impoverished? 

Who speaks for America’s poor?

In a society where most of the political and economic power is given to the upper and middle class, how can we help those who are especially vulnerable, the impoverished, advocate for themselves?

Can America’s Urban Food Deserts Bloom?

Reflection Questions

What is a “food desert” and where are food deserts most common?

What causes food deserts?

Where do people get their food if they don’t have access to a supermarket?

What consequences do people, communities, and society face when there’s little to no availability of affordable healthy foods?

What are some community based solutions to food deserts?

‘Food desert’ blooms in the Bronx; Wholesale Farmer’s Market Opens 

Reflection Questions

What are some drawbacks of farmer’s markets?

Other possible solutions:

Food co-ops

Community gardens

Tax incentives for companies to locate to low income areas

Here is a really interesting article about food stamps with a supplementary map and slide show that was given to SSC by one of our fellow SEC members, Kitty Close.  If you are interested in social welfare programs, this is the article for you! Also, if you would like to contribute an article that you found interesting, feel free to email Sarah (sarah@studentssharing.org) because we would love your input.

Food Stamp Article

Interactive Map

Slide show

Reflection Questions

What are some of your stereotypes of individuals utilizing food stamps?

How is the recession affecting the food stamp program? Who is applying
for food stamps and why?

Arguing that aid discourages work and marriage, Mr. Rector said food stamps 
should contain work requirements as strict as those placed on cash assistance. 
“The food stamp program is a fossil that repeats all the errors of the war on 
poverty,” he said. Why do you think Rector and other food stamp opponents hold
this opinion? Do you think their opinion is founded?

The article states that Mr. Dawson’s, the electrician, health insurance premiums
have soared. What is the relationship between healthcare and food insecurity?