Family League Quarterly Newsletter

From President & CEO Jonathon Rondeau

We are just one month and a few days into 2016. January brought a historic weather event that resulted in two feet of snowfall in Baltimore City. Despite school and business closures, Family League and its City partners worked together to deliver 10,000 meals to over 30 Baltimore City Recreation and Parks Rec Centers, schools and community centers during the week.

Family League was proud to sponsor the effort to deliver these meals at a time when families urgently needed the nutritional support typically provided during the school day. We would like to give special thanks to Overlea Caterers who supported our efforts by mobilizing their resources to deliver meals to sites in the aftermath of the storm. Winter is not over yet and Family League remains committed to ensuring equitable food access year-round for children and youth in Baltimore City.

Family League continues to celebrate our 25th anniversary this year. We have come a long way since our humble start just a few blocks away from our current location. Since our beginning, Family League has been at the forefront of child welfare reform, ensuring access to programs and services for our youngest citizens and supporting a broad group of community-based organizations.

This year will be no exception. We will continue to strengthen organizations by granting more funds in FY16 than any year to date and providing more robust, diverse professional development; leading collaboration through the work of Family Literacy Coalition, the Summer Funders Collaborative, My Brother’s Keeper-Baltimore and many more. Our work in influencing systems continues to build through our food policy initiatives and the state bill on community schools proposed during this session.

Thank you for being a part of the work we do. We look forward to bringing you additional news about the progress we will make this year towards our vision of a Baltimore where every child grows up in a family that thrives.

New Grants Management System for Funded Partnerships

Family League continues its commitment to innovation with the launch of a new web-based Grantee Portal for FY 2017 RFP applications and funded partner contracts. Through this system, partners will have the ability to apply for funding, review and execute contracts, and submit progress and financial reports.

Also, the Grantee Portal will improve processes, streamline communication between funded partners and Family League, keep our partners informed, and satisfy the deliverables and expectations associated with contracts. Users must register to access the system and its tools. Click here to enter the portal.

To assist existing and new partners in this process, Family League is hosting a live webinar on February 11, 2016 to guide users through the registration process. Space is limited so register now.

If you are unable to take part in the webinar, it will be available on our website following the session.

My Brother’s Keeper-Baltimore

My Brother’s Keeper-Baltimore (MBK-B) has grown significantly since its re-introduction in November 2015. MBK-B is housed at Family League, in partnership with the City of Baltimore and Baltimore City Public Schools, and has a Task Force comprised of representatives from local public, private, and philanthropic sectors and the community.

“Together, we have a clear sense of what our assets are, where we need to build bridges and fill gaps. The work of the Task Force is focused on opening up opportunities to ensure all boys and men of color have a clear path to lead a fulfilling and productive life,” says Glenn Love, Family League’s Director of Equity & Opportunity and co-chair of MBK-B with Congressman Elijah Cummings.

In the months to come, the MBK-B Task Force will foster partnerships with and build the capacity of organizations currently serving and looking to serve boys and men of color in Baltimore.

The MBK-B website launches in mid-February. The site will serve as the go-to place for news, resources and events relevant to its mission, goals, and needs of those it champions.

Family League Tracks Maryland Legislation

Family League engages, informs and collaborates with leaders and policymakers to create an efficient network of opportunities for children and families in Baltimore. We aim to influence the allocation of resources across systems and are committed to affecting change, ensuring all children have access to high quality opportunities.

As we journey through the next 12 weeks of Maryland General Assembly session, Family League is tracking various pieces of legislation and key state policy issues that affect children and communities.

We invite you to keep up with the latest developments on relevant topics such as the Community School Act of 2016 by signing up for Family League’s legislative updates on our website.

Did You Know? – B’more Fit for Healthy Babies Offers Fitness Classes in Spanish

B’more Fit for Healthy Babies is a postpartum wellness program offering weight-loss support, wellness education and group exercise classes to mothers with children aged 5 and younger. Classes are offered in Spanish at the Patterson Park location to accommodate the growing Latino population in the area. Over 260 women from the community have enrolled and received education about nutrition and physical fitness since the site launched in 2012.

The Patterson Park B’more Fit group reached a significant milestone in 2016—they have collectively lost nearly 3,000 pounds over the last 4 years. The group is about more than education on healthy eating and workout classes. It is an extensive social network where members participate in many community events. The women of Patterson Park B’more Fit will present a Zumba routine at the Centro SOL/Judy Center Community Health Fair on February 27th.

B’more Fit is part of B’more for Healthy Babies, a citywide initiative led by the Baltimore City Health Department with Healthcare Access Maryland and Family League. Baltimore Medical System Inc. oversees site logistics and community outreach, and the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks hosts the program each week at the V.S. Baker Recreation Center.

Family League in the Media

On January 26th, WBAL TV 11 reported on the healthy lunches provided by Family League of Baltimore to city children and youth at 19 recreation centers earlier that day.

Read the complete article here.

WMAR ABC2 News Baltimore reported on the 1,000 meals delivered to each open meal site by Family League on Tuesday, January 26th. During an interview for the report, President & CEO Jonathon Rondeau discussed Family League’s commitment to ensuring children in Baltimore City have access to nutritional meals.

View the complete segment here.

Family League’s Program Director of Food Access, Melissa Moore and Principal Rochelle Machado of community school Arundel Elementary/Middle, spoke about the efforts to serve 100 meals in just 20 minutes on Tuesday, January 26th with Joel McCord of WYPR. The discussion aired on Thursday, January 28th.

Listen to the complete audio here.

Save the Date: Celebrating 25 Years of Family

In honor of our 25th anniversary, Family League will hold a celebration on Wednesday, May 4th from 6-9pm at The Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202.
For sponsorships or ticket information visit www.familyleague.org/25thanniversary or email development@familyleague.org

Invest in Baltimore’s Children and Families with Family League

Family League invites you to invest in Baltimore’s children and families. Donate now and let your generous contribution enable us to continue our work in Strengthening Organizations, Leading Collaboration and Influencing Systems so that every child and family in Baltimore can reach their full potential. There is more than one way to donate to Family League. If your employer participates in the Workplace Giving Campaign, you can support us through United Way. Our United Way designation number is 88567.