| Greetings! Director's Report to the Community March 2007
Two months and a couple of days into the new job I find myself awestruck. The Neighborhoods of Greater Lauraville can be defined as resilient, creative, determined, humorous, and forgiving. The residents are concerned, neighborly, and eager to be a part of solutions. Yes, we all have our moments of crankiness and outrage, but on an hourly basis I am interacting with the likes of Irene who wants to do events in the park to give her life meaning, or Jill who wants to use her home and yard as a gathering place for her neighbors, Jackie who wants to help publicly recognize area youth for their accomplishments, Daniel who put years of his life and loads of money into his dream house, Eric who wants to bring his professional skills to help make his community remember its past proudly, Will who uses his business as a place to connect caring people, and Nicole who has built a heart in the center of the community. I am the luckiest Director in Baltimore by far. The Neighborhoods of Greater Lauraville, Inc., the community based organization that serves the communities along Harford Road from Parkside to Echodale, has been in various states of transition for many years. The organization has managed hundreds of thousands of dollars of public and private investment in the residential and commercial sectors. It has organized and implemented the Master Plan for Harford Road, offered assistance to seniors who wanted to make modest improvements to their houses, and manages the community review panel that oversees development along Harford Road. It is also in the midst of bringing new energy and vision to its mission: improving the quality of life in Baltimore City by building on existing assets to strengthen the residential and commercial districts in our member neighborhoods.
When an area actualizes many of its community development goals and residents have achieved and significantly improved the quality of life in their community, what does the community development corporation do to remain relevant? One is to support all the talent and energy bursting from its communities by leveraging resources and building functional networks. So, to this end I have been working to link the Lauraville Business District's community review panel to the Baltimore Main Streets program by gaining access to that program's resources for Harford Road. I have been working with local leaders to create a dialogue among those who have done home improvement projects with those who want to and don't know how. And, I have developed relationships and resources to promote the Historic Tax Credits available to residents in Arcadia, Beverly Hills, Lauraville, and Mayfield.
Another way to energize an organization's mission is to energize its board. The Neighborhoods of Greater Lauraville, Inc. has just undergone a rigorous nominating process led by many skilled and committed committee members. Our Annual Meeting will be held in early May and the new board members will be introduced to the community. With the infusion of new energy we will form committees that focus on commercial revitalization, residential development, events and promotions, and organizational strengthening.
And, finally, it is important to say the Neighborhoods of Greater Lauraville, Inc. is only as strong as its member neighborhoods. The stronger the neighborhood improvement associations are the stronger this organization. The staff and board's ability to understand your needs and how you would like us to help you meet them depends on this forum for community input. Krista and I are committed to attending every association meeting each time they meet. We are committed to listening to the joys and troubles expressed there to understand how to participate as partners in creating a welcoming and safe community for residents, business owners, and visitors.
Thanks. Thanks to everyone who has welcomed me to this job. Thanks to everyone who has trusted me enough to share their dreams. Thanks to all who have made me think hard about some of the complex problems we face, and to those who helped me laugh at the absurdity of some of it. I have my work cut out for me, there is no doubt. We can make something magical happen here, together. I'm looking forward to it!  | | | Historic Landmark Designation in Morgan Park---W.E.B. Du Bois House The following is from the staff report from The Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP)  The Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP) has the responsibility of recommending to the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore the adoption of ordinances designating districts and landmarks within the limits of the City of Baltimore, having special historical, architectural, educational, cultural, social or community significance, interest, or value as Baltimore City Historic Districts or Landmarks, thereby necessitating their preservation and protection.
The W.E.B. Du Bois house, located at 2302 Montebello Terrace in the Morgan Park neighborhood, meets landmark standard for designation as a building "associated with the life of an outstanding historical person." W.E.B Du Bois owned this house from 1939 to 1950. In 1939, W.E.B. Du Bois, world renowned African American scholar and activist, hired C. J. White, an architect/builder, to design and build a house for him at 2302 Montebello Terrace. In the spring of 1940, Du Bois' wife Nina, daughter Yolande Williams, and granddaughter Du Bois Williams moved into the house. On July 1, 1950, Nina Du Bois passed away. On February 14, 1951, W.E.B. Du Bois married Shirley Graham, who between 1929 and 1932 studied music at Howard University and Morgan State College. Shortly after Nina's death, Du Bois sold the house to Leo and Geneva Woods. The house is still owned by the Woods family. In 1939, W.E.B. Du Bois built his house in Morgan Park where his family lived until 1950. During this time, Du Bois retired from Atlanta University (1944), accepted a position as director of the Department of Special Research at the NAACP, represented the NAACP at the founding conference of the United Nations, and became the chairman for the Peace Information Center in New York. In 1951, after selling his house in Baltimore he married Shirley Graham, a noted musician, teacher, and writer. During this time he was indicted by the Justice Department and tried and acquitted for subversive activity charges related to his work as chairman of the Peace Information Center. In 1961, he became a member of the Communist Party U.S.A., and in 1963 he became a citizen of Ghana. Du Bois died on August 27, 1963, the day before the March on Washington. Find out more.... | |
Sincerely,
Lorrie Schoettler Neighborhoods of Greater Lauraville
phone: 410-444-9188 fax: 410-444-9288 |
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