U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell on Tuesday announced that Baltimore has been chosen as one of 50 cities nationwide to participate in the Obama Administration's initiative to connect young people with the outdoors.
Baltimore will receive funding for two positions — a community coordinator and AmeriCorps coordinator — for two years. The coordinators will be supervised and supported by the Y of Central Maryland. The American Express Foundation is providing funding for the community coordinator through a $5 million nationwide investment.
Jewell also announced a $49,000 grant to provide employment opportunities for 34 young people who live in Baltimore as part of an effort to provide work opportunities for 100,000 young adults on public lands nationwide over the next four years.
The grant is being made to BRANCHES (Building Resources And Nurturing Community Health and Environmental Stewardship), a program that provides part-time employment for 14- to 21-year-old youth who live in Baltimore City public housing.
The program's first project will be based in the Greater Mondawmin neighborhood, where young people will plant trees and create gardens, among other work. They will also work at Auchentoroly Terrace, where plans include creating rain gardens, native plant gardens and a natural trail that covers the nine-acre site.
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