My Philosophy
I have lived a stone's throw from Baltimore my whole life. I am a graduate of the University of Maryland Baltimore County and a current student at the Johns Hopkins University Carey School of Business in Baltimore. Needless to say, Baltimore is near and dear to my heart. From the beautiful Inner Harbor to it's quaint neighborhoods, Baltimore has so much to offer.
Despite what makes this city great, there are many challenges. Nearly a quarter of the population lives in poverty and compared to the 50 major metropolitan cities in the US, Baltimore ranks one of the lowest in several economic well-being indicators. So there is room for improvement in making Baltimore truly a "livable city"
Despite what makes this city great, there are many challenges. Nearly a quarter of the population lives in poverty and compared to the 50 major metropolitan cities in the US, Baltimore ranks one of the lowest in several economic well-being indicators. So there is room for improvement in making Baltimore truly a "livable city"
The East Baltimore neighborhood of Jonestown, the focus of my study, has a a rich history. It is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Baltimore that served as a port-of-entry to immigrants and is a symbol of Baltimore's proud industrial past. But today, Jonestown's struggle with poverty is statistically worse than the city of Baltimore. A third of the households are single-parent, 23% of the residents age 18 to 24 are not attending school, not working, or have a degree beyond high school, and 86% of children are on free or reduced lunches at school. But even aside from the statistics, walking through the streets of Jonestown, I feel a sense of "emptiness" and lack of community. The streets are quiet, neighbors aren't convening at doorsteps, buildings are boarded up, and very few stores, coffee shops, or restaurants are around to encourage citizens to gather and socialize. Jonestown is missing that “something” that fosters human connections.
Of all the strategies of creating a "livable city", I feel it is that fostering of human connections that Jonestown is missing most. I believe businesses and nonprofits must create an infrastructure for interaction, communication, and neighborliness. Being a community in transition, it may be time to re-define Jonestown's identity and create a set of values the neighborhood can rally around. By creating a sense of community around those shared values, larger problems can be solved.
Can fostering human connections help tackle poverty in Jonestown or is the cycle too tough to break? Since adults living in poverty often become parents of children living in poverty, am I fighting a lost cause?
I believe there is an opportunity to break this cycle, starting by working with children and families. When children and families flourish in a neighborhood, they can serve as catalysts to revive a community and nurture such human connections.
So how do we turn this strategy in to action? Click here to learn more about out my vision for Jonestown!
Of all the strategies of creating a "livable city", I feel it is that fostering of human connections that Jonestown is missing most. I believe businesses and nonprofits must create an infrastructure for interaction, communication, and neighborliness. Being a community in transition, it may be time to re-define Jonestown's identity and create a set of values the neighborhood can rally around. By creating a sense of community around those shared values, larger problems can be solved.
Can fostering human connections help tackle poverty in Jonestown or is the cycle too tough to break? Since adults living in poverty often become parents of children living in poverty, am I fighting a lost cause?
I believe there is an opportunity to break this cycle, starting by working with children and families. When children and families flourish in a neighborhood, they can serve as catalysts to revive a community and nurture such human connections.
So how do we turn this strategy in to action? Click here to learn more about out my vision for Jonestown!