I would like to applaud Sun reporter Yvonne Wenger for her recent article, "Belair-Edison: Fighting for a neighborhood for 'the middle.'" With so much negative coverage about Baltimore neighborhoods that we see on the news or read in the paper, it was refreshing to read a story about a community where neighbors and community partners are working together to build and protect an essential Baltimore City neighborhood. The article allowed readers to experience the neighborhood through the eyes of its residents. We witnessed the passion and commitment of the people who live here and the organizations that are committed to the continued growth of this community.
When the story ran, my personal Facebook account and work email address were instantly filled with current and former residents hailing the article and reminiscing on their good times in the community. There was such pride emanating from friend to friend and such respect for the work of St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center and Belair-Edison Neighborhoods, Inc., an organization that has been serving this community for nearly 25 years by providing community marketing and outreach, community organizing, homeownership counseling and small business development.
Through BENI's marketing and outreach work, we recruit new homebuyers to the neighborhood by positioning the community as one of Baltimore's choice neighborhoods. Our community organizing work allows us to work block by block with our residents on projects that build social ties and deeper connections among neighbors. In addition, we work with just under 100 small business owners along Belair Road and Erdman Avenue with façade improvements and business/marketing planning. We also educate nearly 1,000 families a year on pre- and post home purchase counseling. We recognize the critical role that good schools play in a neighborhood and for the past couple of years have been working with our local school partners to develop projects and programming that will provide an array of education options and opportunities for Belair-Edison families.
Thank you again, Yvonne, for allowing our story to be told through our voices.
Johnette Richardson, Baltimore
The writer is executive director Belair-Edison Neighborhoods, Inc.