Can an urban garden like the one pictured above help bring blighted neighborhoods together, impart some measure of hope or peace where little exists? That's the question a group of community activists and Baltimore's chief arborist will tackle on Friday (May 7) during a daylong "urban revitalization expo."
Organized by Civic Works, Baltimore's "urban service corps," the expo features some hands-on work completing a pathway through a rain garden, exhibits and presentations on the group's residential energy-upgrade efforts, plus film screenings and art installations.
Discussing what impact community greening might have on urban violence will be representatives of Civic Works, BUILD, Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coalition and other community and nonprofit groups, plus Brian Henry, chief city arborist. WYPR's Maryland Morning with Sheilah Kast previewed this discussion on her show this morning, which you can listen to here.
The expo runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and includes breakfast. The forum is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. All events - except for the rain garden work -- will be held at the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Community Center, 901 N. Milton Ave. on the third floor. The rain garden to be fixed up is across the street.
(2003 Baltimore Sun photo by Algerina Perna, garden at Lafayette & Mosher)