Celebrating MLK Jr. at the Druid Hill YMCA Family Center

The Y of Central Maryland celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr at it’s 36th Annual MLK Breakfast at the Druid Hill YMCA Family Center. The Michael Group is proud to have played a leadership role in the renovation of this historic center.

This year’s breakfast featured Dr. Carnell Cooper, a surgery professor and founder of the Baltimore City Violence Prevention Program. Dr. Cooper credited programs like those at the Druid Hill Y Family Center for making the life saving difference in many youths lives.

The audience, including Lt. Governor Anthony Brown was captivated by 17 year old Kenneth Franklin and his story about the positive roll the Druid Hill YMCA Family Center has had in his life. Franklin passionately told a story of his friend who was shot and killed in his neighborhood. Franklin was at the Y that night instead of hanging out with his friends on the street. He credits the Y with saving his life that night.

 Left to Right: Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, Dr. Carnell Cooper, Founder of the Violence Prevention Program, Michael Shacklette, The Michael Group, Y Baltimore City Community Advisory Board, Perry P. Savoy, Peristyle LLC, Y Baltimore City Community Advisory Board (Chair), Commissioner Evan Richardson, MD Commission on African American History & Culture, Andrea Jackson, DPN Group LLC, Y Baltimore City Community Advisory Board

Positive Change is Coming to Coppin Heights

On a cold January morning, dignitaries,community stake holders, leaders of Copping university, staff of the Michael Group and many others came out to celebrate the beginning of the Coppin Heights Urban Revitalization project. Lead by a partnership between Coppin Heights Community Development Corporation, Coppin State University and the City of Baltimore’s Vacants to Values program, the Coppin Heights Urban Revitalization will bring new housing, increased public safety, jobs and more to the west Baltimore corridor of North Avenue.

 

As the General Contractor, The Michael Group Inc will begin by renovating one existing row house, building one new town house from the ground up and installing one modular home on a vacant parcel on North Avenue. In addition to the Coppin Heights Urban Revitalization project. The Michael Group has been working in Coppin Heights for last year on the St. Stephen’s Court Apartments project. Each of these important community projects will have a lasting positive effect on the neighborhood.

Stabilization of the existing home has begun. Developer Wendy Blair, together with the Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake and Dr. Gary Rodwell, Executive Director of Coppin Heights CDC stand inside the existing unit reviewing the long term plans for the neighborhood.

We’ll keep you updated on our progress!

Photos by Mark Dennis, Office of the Mayor.

Celebrating with New Song!

The spirit of giving permeates all of the work New Song Urban Ministries does in Sandtown. The Michael Group has been partnering with New Song Urban Ministries for the past several years. Our first project with New Song was Gerry’s Goods back in 2008. Gerry’s is a corner store/cafe owned by Gerry Palmer in partnership with New Song Urban Ministries. To celebrate it’s 2nd Anniversary, Gerry’s is donating over 150 snacks to the students at a local school.

Our current project with New Song is the construction of New Song Square. This exciting project includes a complete rehabilitation of an existing structure to include teacher’s offices, lounge and conference room. An addition will be constructed which will provide a new dance studio, art studio, preschool and kindergarten as well as classrooms for first through fourth grade. The new school will be connected to the existing school by a bridge that spans over Presstman Street.

To celebrate the holidays, the Michael Group donated and delivered over 150 cups of hot chocolate and bags of chocolate chip cookies to the students and New Song Academy.

Together with staff from Gerry’s Goods and New Song Urban Ministries, the Michael Group went classroom to classroom handing out treats from Gerry’s.

 

The kids loved every minute of it! (So did we!)

We’re looking forward to continuing our work with New Song in 2011! We’ll keep you updated on our construction progress as New Song Square gets started.

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!