Holidays At The Michael Group: South Baltimore Station!

The holidays at the Michael Group are always a busy, hectic, fun time of year! The year we kicked off the holiday season by sponsoring a tree trimming party at the South Baltimore Station.

The South Baltimore Station is a rigorous self-help program, in a caring residential setting, supporting men, most of whom are veterans, who are transitioning from the cycle of poverty, substance abuse and homelessness to self-sufficiency. The Michael Group first worked with the South Baltimore Station in 2008 when we built their new building, allowing them to double the number of men they served. Since then we have continue to partner with the Station to help them achieve their goals.

The Michael Group staff arrived with food to feed the 100 guys that stay at the station. Our staff prepared dinner and served the guys a hot, pre-holiday meal.

 

 

We also brought and tree and holiday decorations for the guys to decorate. Everyone was getting in the holiday spirit and enjoying themselves.

  The staff looked like they were having fun too!  

As the holidays approach, we are so proud to be partners with the Baltimore Station. They do amazing work helping to change men’s lives. We are looking forward to 2011 and working with them on the renovations of their new project, the Baker Street Station, in West Baltimore.

New Song Square Breaks Ground!

Last Tuesday, friends, families, children and teachers gathered outside of New Song Center to break ground on what will be known as “1385” or New Song Square. It was a beautiful Fall day to celebrate this great new project!

 

The plans for the project include the renovation of the 1385 Gilmor Street –which was the original office and school for New Song Urban Ministries. Connected to 1385, will be a state of the art, LEED certified, school that will house classrooms, a new dance studio, art studio, rooftop gardens and outside play space. 

The Michael Group is so proud to have been chosen as the builder for this project. This is our second project with New Song Urban Ministries. Our first, Gerry’s Goods was completed in 2008.

The Development Team includes Urban Services Network, SWB Architects, Lorax Partnerships and the Michael Group. Construction is due to begin before the end of 2010.

Celebrating at St Stephen’s

On Saturday October 2, the Michael Group sponsored a Fall Cook Out for the residents of the St Stephen’s Court Apartments. The Michael Group began renovating the St Stephen’s Court Apartment in July 2010. With tenant in place rehab, the cooperation of the residents is critical. The residents at St Stephen’s have been so great to work with over these past few months. As a way to thank them, we decided to have a cook out!

It was a beautiful day after torrential down pours a few days earlier. Michael Group employees served the residents hotdogs, hamburgers, crabs, salads and desserts. 

     

Kids and adults alike enjoyed dancing to Motown favorites!

Our partner Dan McCarthy of Episcopal Housing was there-mingling with the residents and enjoying the day.

Raffle prizes were given out and lucky residents won gift cards to target and a flat screen tv! Overall it was a great day!

The Michael Group Helps GEDCO, Helps Baltimore

 

The Michael Group has a strong tradition of volunteering it’s time, talent and treasure to local nonprofit and community groups. This summer and fall, the Michael Group will be helping GEDCO raise money for the 2010 GEDCO ThanksGiving Tribute. Michael Shacklette, President and Owner of the Michael Group is heading up the Leadership Committee tasked to raise funds and increase corporate sponsorship for this event.

GEDCO is a nonprofit organization located in North/Central Baltimore City whose mission is provides affordable housing with supportive services and assist in meeting emergency needs of community residents.

GEDCO currently runs many important community programs including Ascension Homes, CARES, CARES Career Connection, Epiphany House, Gallagher Mansion, Harford House , Micah House, Shelter Plus Care and Stadium Place. They are also currently developing the new GREENHOUSE project at Stadium Place.

This year, the 2010 GEDCO ThanksGiving Tribute will honor five amazing individuals who have worked for, volunteered for, inspired and dedicated themselves to GEDCO. The honorees include:

Compassion: Becky Boynton

Spirit: Esther Bonnet 

Leadership: George J. Collins

Tenacity: Ralph E. Moore, Jr.

Vision: Kurt L. Schmoke

To become a sponsor, to buy tickets or to learn more, go to the 2010 GEDCO ThanksGiving Tribute site!

TMG and Friends Head to the O’s Game

It’s that time of year again. Last Friday night most of the Michael Group staff headed to the O’s game! This has become a great way to celebrate summer and get together outside of work for a night! It was loads of fun-despite the the fact that the O’s lost!

Michael Shacklette wins 2010 Volunteer Leadership Award

On June 29th, approximately 100 staff and volunteers from the Y of Central Maryland gathered together for a day of training, networking, planning and celebration. The day began with an amazing testimonial from James Torrence. It was a great reminder to everyone in attendance about how the Y personally touches peoples lives. Next on the agenda was a two hour training by famed sports agent and long time Y supporter Ron Shapiro. Drawing from his years of experience as a sports agent and motivational speaker, Shapiro used his book Dare to Prepare as a jumping off point to inspire and train the volunteers to be better volunteers and fundraisers for the Y.

Right before lunch, the Volunteer team that worked on the Druid Hill YMCA Family Center presented their experience as a case study of how successful projects are accomplished by dedicated volunteers. Speakers included Perry Savoy of Peristyle Design, our own Michael Shacklette, Dwight Taylor and Greg Taylor of the Druid Hill YMCA Family Center. Guests were shown a great slide show of before and after photos of the work at the Druid Hill Y. It was a real community success story!

As the last item of business for the day, John Hoey, President and CEO of the Y of Central Maryland presented Michael Shacklette, President of the Michael Group with the 2101 Volunteer Leadership Award for his tireless work on behalf of the Druid Hill YMCA Family Center. The award, created especially for Michael by Y participant Antoine Tates (shown below), was a special acknowledgement to Michael for his hard work and dedication. Congratulations to Michael and to the Druid Hill YMCA Family Center Team!

Vote for Monte Verde!

Finalist for Affordable Housing Finance Reader's Choice Award--Preservation

The MonteVerde Apartments, the Michael Group’s most recently completed project, was named a finalist for Affordable Housing Finance Readers Choice Award in the Preservation category. MonteVerde is one of only 33 finalists selected from more than 140 nominations this year.

Click here to vote for MonteVerde! If you don't already subscribe to Affordable Housing Finance, click here to do so, it's free!

Read more about the finalists in the July 2010 edition of Affordable Housing Finance.