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B-More Hope

An Art Show By Members of The Club at Collington Square

There will be a special opening reception on
Friday, September 18, 2009
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Area 405 Gallery
405 East Oliver Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
(Corner of Greenmount Avenue and Oliver Street in the North Arts and Entertainment District).

Art will be on display from Friday, September 18, 2009 through Sunday, September 20, 2009.

There will be a suggested donation of $5. B-More Hope t-shirts and student artwork to benefit The Club.  The proceeds from the students' artwork will benefit The Club program and the individual student artists.

To view the student artwork for sale, please click here.

If you cannot attend the show but would still like to contribute, you are welcome to make a donation through ECSM's Online Donation Form. Please be sure to note "Bmore Hope" in the comments section of the form so that we may identify your gift.

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Have you heard of Harbor City Services?

Harbor City Services, Inc (HCS), founded in 1987, employs individuals with mental and/or substance abuse diseases. It is a self supporting social enterprise, i.e. “an organization or venture that advances its social mission through entrepreneurial earned income strategies” (Social Enterprise Alliance). Harbor City Services is a Minority Based Enterprise (MBE).

Please click on the links below for more information.

Click here for more information on Harbor City Services, its history, and its current operation.

Click here to see a flyer from Harbor City Services.

Click here for more information about Harbor City Services' document shredding and recycling service.

Click here to visit the Harbor City Services website.

Please consider Harbor City Services for your office furniture, office moving, shredding needs, and much more!

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U.S. Department of Labor announces nearly $5.5 million in awards under President's Prisoner Re-entry Initiative

Grants made to faith-based and community organizations in 18 areas nationwide

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced nearly $5.5 million in awards to 18 faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs) as part of the President's Prisoner Re-entry Initiative (PRI). Each chosen group was awarded more than $300,000.

"These $5.5 million in grants will advance local faith-based and community organization efforts to equip ex-prisoners with basic job skills, counseling and opportunities to earn an honest living in our communities," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

In spring 2008, the U.S. Department of Justice awarded grants to selected state correctional agencies to provide pre-release services to exiting prisoners. The Department of Labor, in turn, announced a competition in early September to follow through with post-release services for those same newly released civilians. Each of today's award-winning organizations will serve at least 100 recently released individuals during the program's first year.

"These faith-based and community organizations will partner with ex-offenders and equip them with the skills necessary to compete as members of the modern-day workforce," said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Brent R. Orrell. "Steady employment, mentoring and moral support help break the cycle of despair and disordered, often criminal, lives."

Introduced by President Bush in his 2004 "State of the Union" address, the Prisoner Re-entry Initiative helps strengthen urban communities and assist ex-prisoners re-entering the community through an employment-based program that incorporates mentoring, job training and other services.

Today's announcement follows 30 awards granted in November 2005, and 23 projects chosen last April. As a result, FBCOs and their partners have enrolled more than 17,000 ex-offenders in programs, and ex-offenders have been placed in more than 11,000 jobs. Those entering PRI programs have a recidivism rate of 15 percent, or almost two-thirds below the 44 percent national average. For more information on the Prisoner Re-entry Initiative, please see http://www.dol.gov/cfbci/reentry.htm.

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A Special Letter from Desmond M Tutu Archbishop Emeritus

12 January 2008

Download PDF »

Dear Friends

It gives me much pleasure to endorse the outstanding work that ECSM has been doing in Baltimore for more than 80 years.  

The present varied programmes have been nurtured and grown out of a history of caring and concern for the vulnerable.   As Christians, we are called to be God’s agents in caring for the widow, the orphan, the child and the stranger.    I am impressed to learn of the dedication and commitment with which the ECSM staff and volunteers serve those who are less fortunate than themselves.  You are doing a fine job!   

I support the work of ECSM enthusiastically and hope that many more in your community will be drawn to offer themselves to help either financially or in service.   

This is God’s work and he calls us to get involved.

God bless you

+Desmond M Tutu Archbishop Emeritus