Baltimore, MD

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement

Description: Many intersections in the Johnson Square neighborhood were unsafe for pedestrians, and especially for children walking to school. The Re-Build Johnson Square Neighborhood Organization created the Bee Safe program, a crosswalk art project. Local teenagers and other residents worked together to create artistic crosswalks, meant to slow down traffic by catching driver's attention. Volunteers worked to paint floral designs onto the pavement. Other improvements -- including flexible delineators and painted bump-outs -- separate pedestrians from street traffic and shorten the distance needed to walk across the street. Additionally, project organizers added a new crosswalk with accessible ramps at the main crossing point to and from the local elementary school.

Baltimore, MD

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Bringing resident insight and volunteer power into local government

Description: Organizers with the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service hoped to help Baltimore's older adults advocate for their housing, health and consumer needs. To do this, they hosted a series of trainings for older adults. The meetings allowed participants to share their lived experiences and strategize about how to achieve their advocacy goals and reach policymakers. Equipped with new skills, the residents then took part in a public hearing, testified before the Baltimore City Council and submitted public comments to proposed regulations. Through this engagement, raining participants made their voices heard on water affordability, reverse mortgages, tax sales and other issues.