A Liberty Tree Takes Root in Baltimore, Annual Sustainability Open House This Saturday, Events, Grants, Jobs, Climate Action Opportunities and More | | | |
In this issue:
- Community Spotlight: The Liberty Tree Takes Root in Baltimore (and Beyond)
- Office Happenings: Join Us this Saturday at the Sustainability Open House on June 6th; Summer Fellows Join BOS
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Sustainability Highlights: AFRAM 2026: Elevating Culture, Uniting Communities; Make A Splash this June at Baltimore's Waterfront Week and Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week
- What We're Reading & Watching
- Local Events & Volunteer Opportunities
- Local Funding & Job Opportunities
- Turtle Tip: Summer Events & Festivals
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Community Spotlight:
A Liberty Tree Takes Root In Baltimore
| | Image: Baltimore's Liberty Tree being planted in Druid Hill Park by BCRP Director Reginald Moore and others on May 14, 2026. Photo Credit: Baltimore City Department of Recreation & Parks. | | |
On May 14th, a noteworthy tulip poplar was planted near the Susquehannock Pavillion in Druid Hill Park as part of the Maryland Liberty Tree project, a statewide commemorative project marking the 250th Anniversary of American Independence. Using seedlings grown from the only surviving genetically identical Liberty Tree scion in the United States—descended from Maryland’s original 1775 Liberty Tree in Annapolis—the project is planting a Liberty Tree in each of Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City by the end of 2026.
The Liberty Tree is one of the most powerful and enduring symbols of American resistance, community action, and shared civic responsibility. From its origins in Boston protests against the Stamp Act to its adoption across the colonies, the Liberty Tree became a living emblem of liberty itself. Today, Baltimore's Liberty Tree stands as a symbol of the City's commitment to both historic and environmental stewardship.
This initiative is a partnership between Preservation Maryland, the Maryland Center for History and Culture, the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area, and the Maryland Heritage Areas Coalition, with support from the Maryland250 Commission, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, St. John’s College, Davey Tree Expert Company, and the Maryland Forestry Foundation. Local partners include Baltimore City Forestry Division and Baltimore Tree Trust.
| | Join Us this Saturday at the Annual Sustainability Open House | | |
🗓️Saturday June 6, 2026
⏰12PM-4PM
📍 Middle Branch Fitness and Wellness Center
201 Reedbird Avenue Baltimore, MD 212225
Bring your family, friends, and neighbors for a fun-filled afternoon celebrating sustainability in Baltimore! 🌱
Hosted by the Baltimore Office of Sustainability, this free community event will spotlight the amazing efforts happening across the city to create safer, healthier, and more vibrant neighborhoods.
🎈What to expect:
✅Refreshments and giveaways
✅Games and activities for all ages
✅Sustainability Demonstrations
✅Ways to get involved in sustainability initiatives in your community
Whether you’re a long-term advocate or just curious about what sustainability means for Baltimore, there’s something here for you!
🔗Register here.
📣Help us spread the word – we can't wait to see you there!
#SustainableBaltimore #ClimateAction #Community #Baltimore #GreenBaltimore #BmoreTogether #BaltimoreSustainability
| | BOS Welcomes Two Summer Fellows | | Baltimore Office of Sustainability (BOS) is once again hosting two environmental fellows through a program coordinated by the Yale School of the Environment. Their work with BOS will focus climate communications and outreach with a focus on climate heritage and on assisting the environmental permits team. | |
Reece Pauling (she/her), holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Critical Black Studies and Environmental Studies from Bucknell University. She is a recent graduate from Yale School of the Environment holding a Master of Environmental Management (MEM) degree specializing in Urban Sustainability, and People, Equity & the Environment. She is interested in creating programs, events, scholarly work and opportunities that are environmentally sustainable and culturally, economically, and socially relevant to community members' lives. Her work intersects people and the environment through a social and environmental justice lens addressing food insecurity, community engagement with environmental concerns, and environmental education and outreach.
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Abdul Rashid Sualisu holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Integrated Development Studies, with a major in Environment and Resource Management, from the University for Development Studies in Ghana. He is also a recent graduate of the Yale School of the Environment, with a Master of Environmental Management degree, specializing in Climate Change Science and Solutions. His work spans the intersection of climate resilience, waste management, environmental health, and sustainable community development. He has previously worked with Ghana’s Environmental Health and Sanitation Department, where he supported Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programs across several communities. His experience includes community engagement, waste management, and sanitation monitoring, as well as supporting locally driven practices that improve environmental and public health outcomes.
| Images: (Above Right) Reece Pauling, (Above Left) Abdul Rashid Sualisu. Photo Credit: Baltimore Office of Sustainability. | | Sustainability Highlights | | AFRAM 2026: Elevating Culture, Uniting Communities | |
Celebrate culture, community, and creativity at the AFRAM Festival, one of the largest African American festivals on the East Coast, taking place during Juneteenth weekend from June 19–21, 2026, at Druid Hill Park. Hosted by Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, this free, family-friendly festival welcomes more than 150,000 attendees each day for a vibrant celebration of African American life, music, history, wellness, arts, food, and entertainment in one of Baltimore’s most iconic green spaces.
AFRAM also highlights the importance of community gathering spaces and the role parks play in supporting wellness, culture, and environmental connection in Baltimore. Set within the 745-acre Druid Hill Park, the festival creates opportunities for residents and visitors alike to enjoy nature, strengthen community ties, and celebrate the richness of Baltimore’s cultural heritage.
| Make A Splash this June at Baltimore's Waterfront Week and Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week | | Image (Above): Paddlers on Baltimore's Inner Harbor during a Floatilla event occurring during a past Waterfront Week. Photo Credit: Chesapeake Bay Magazine. | | |
In this region, we are never too far from streams, rivers or the Chesapeake Bay. This June there are many ways to enjoy and celebrate our connection to water.
From June 5-14, Waterfront Partnership overachieves by organizing a 10-day event series, Waterfront Week, that brings great arts, entertainment, recreation, and community events to Baltimore’s waterfront neighbors. Check out free waterfront music, try out a fitness class, or peruse local summer menus. Attend events like:
If you are interested in getting out of town this month, the Chesapeake Bay Program in celebrating the cultures, history, and natural beauty of our nation’s largest estuary from June 6-14 with a host of Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week activities. Click here to learn about events and activities you can enjoy during the week.
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Join Captain Trash Wheel as we celebrate their 8th birthday in style! Head over to Masonville Cove for an evening packed with family fun, starting at 5pm. They've got an array of exciting games, face painting, creative crafts, and some birthday gifts for Captain! Registration is required for this free event.
Join us this June for an exciting afternoon at the Middle Branch Fitness and Wellness Center as we celebrate the incredible sustainability efforts taking place across Baltimore. RSVP to attend!
Join the Carrie Murray Nature Center community of helpers who keep Nature Center and Gwynns Falls Leakin Park thriving! Each Volunteer Wednesday invites participants to lend a hand with meaningful projects that support both people and wildlife.
Celebrate the start of summer through sound, touch, and gentle movement in this calm, sensory-centered experience. Feel the textures of seed pods, dried grasses, and smooth stones while discovering how nature makes music — from the rustle of leaves to the hum of insects and the whisper of wind through trees.
Make Captain Trash Wheel proud and help clean up the shoreline at Masonville Cove.
Join the Enoch Pratt Free Library in the Filbert Street Garden for a session on all things urban beekeeping. Learn about bees from master beekeeper and FSG Coordinator Charles DeBarber, and have some up close time with Filbert Street's many beehives.
Join True Chesapeake and Greater Goods for the Summer Market at the Mill, a family-friendly event highlighting local environmental organizations and opportunities to get involved in sustainability efforts. Attendees can explore interactive activities, learn about community-based environmental work, and connect with groups helping build a greener future for Baltimore and the Chesapeake region.
Join Blue Water Baltimore for a guided walking tour of artist Bruce Willen’s Ghost Rivers art project (https://ghostrivers.com/) and one of Baltimore’s lost waterways. Participants will visit nine of the Ghost Rivers installations, learn how Baltimore’s history is currently affecting its present, and be asked to consider what the future might look like for Baltimore’s buried waterways.
Join this hands-on container gardening workshop designed to help gardeners of all levels grow successfully in small spaces.
Join Masonville Cove for an in-person craft inspired by nature! You will share stories and learn about the camouflage that protects animals at Masonville while making our own camouflaged critters. Enjoy a walk for field observations and take a moment to appreciate the outdoors! Registration required.
Join TreeBaltimore staff for a weekday evening walk through the leafy hills of Druid Hill Park. With staff, you'll learn basic tree identification and dive into other topics including park history, managing invasive species, urban foraging, and the importance of green spaces for city residents.
The rocks, roots, and riffles of our local Baltimore rivers are rife with benthic macroinvertebrate life, better known as water bugs. These tiny creatures are a big indicator of waterway health. Join Blue Water Baltimore staff to explore a local stream, search for and identify benthic macroinvertebrates, and learn about types of pollution that can affect our shared environment.
Celebrate the longest day of the year! Enjoy herbal tea, make a simple woven sun charm from natural fibers, and join a short reflective walk through the green canopy as we welcome summer’s abundance.
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Job Opportunity: Baltimore Green Space - Baltimore Greenspace is seeking an Executive Director to lead the next phase of growth for the land trust that works to preserve community-managed land in Baltimore City.
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Job Opportunity: Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) - The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is hiring a Geologist Lead to review and evaluate conditions of known or suspected contamination to determine the extent remediation needed and oversee remediation activities at potential Voluntary Cleanup Program / Controlled Hazardous Substances sites.
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Job Opportunities: Baltimore Tree Trust - The Baltimore Tree Trust (BTT) is hiring a Senior Director of Workforce Development to be responsible for all efforts to recruit, retain, support, and advance all BTT staff, an Outreach & Communications Coordinator to help implement and support strategies to promote their mission, engage the community, and raise awareness about the importance of urban forestry, and a Forestry Technician to install and care for trees.
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Internship Opportunities: City of Baltimore Government - The Mayor's Office of Employment Development (MOED) is looking for Youth Interns to participate in training sessions and workshops focused on career development, financial literacy, communication, and teamwork. The Baltimore City Office of Information & Technology is hiring a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Intern to work alongside experienced GIS professionals to perform a range of tasks, including spatial data management, map production, map application development, and coordinating with government stakeholders to support requests and projects.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources issued a request for qualifications Roots for Resilience, an initiative that aims to implement blue carbon and forest carbon projects, coordinate landscape-scale planning, enhance community outreach, increase resilience to climate impacts, and expand recreational opportunity, among other outcomes.
To assist Maryland’s communities, the Department of Natural Resources will provide a single point of entry through the Grants Gateway for organizations seeking technical and financial assistance to restore local waterways, increase their resilience to climate impacts, strengthen local economies and develop the next generation of environmental stewards.
The Chesapeake Bay Trust has several grant opportunities opening soon or currently accepting applications, including the Urban Trees Mini Grant Program and the Community Engagement & Restoration Mini Grant Program.
| | Turtle Tip: Summer Festival & Event Tips | | | |
Summer is almost here, which means festivals and events in galore!
Turtle loves having fun at events but also doesn't want our planet ad landfill to pay the price for their good time. Here are tips that you can take to be sustainable at events this summer.
Getting there
- Take public transit.
- Be sure to check schedules ahead of time to plan your route because stops and timing could be altered for big events.
- If you’re driving into town, consider parking on the outskirts of transit routes, and taking the bus or train for the remainder of your journey.
- Walk, bike or carpool with friends to reduce the number of vehicles on the road.
Sustainable swaps
- Bring a refillable water bottle instead of buying drinks in disposable containers. It could save money and time waiting in lines while keeping you hydrated.
- Pack reusable cutlery and napkins. They require very little space and typically are more durable than disposables.
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If the event involves being in or on the water, opt for reef-safe mineral sunscreen to protect our waterways and harbor. Check out this sunscreen guide.
Shop smart and lean local
- Prioritize buying merchandise that you will keep or can use again.
- Support local vendors, especially those that use locally sourced or upcycled products.
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If you're looking for a special outfit or costume for an event, visit a local thrift or secondhand shop. Check out this article by Baltimore Insider for a list of thrift shops thy recommend in the area.
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Tell us what you want to hear! Do you have ideas on newsletter content? Or would you like to nominate an organization or person to be featured? Email us at sustainability@baltimorecity.gov.
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Our Mission
The Office of Sustainability develops and advocates for programs and policies that improve Baltimore's long-term environmental, social, and economic viability.
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417 E Fayette St, 8th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21202
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| Newsletter Editor: Valerie Rupp, Climate and Resilience Program Manager. Newsletter Contributors: Joanna Birch, Floodplain Manager; Natalie Cohen, Reimagine Middle Branch Program Manager; Eden Giannini, Chesapeake Conservation & Climate Corps Member, Amy Gilder-Busatti, Sustainability Manager; Grace Hansen, Coastal Planner; Theodore Patterson, Maryland Climate Corps Member, Erica Pinket, Climate & Resilience Planner; Ava Richardson, Sustainability Director; Doug Rowland, Watershed Analyst, Valerie Rupp, Climate and Resilience Program Manager; Ebone Smith, Community & Youth Engagement Coordinator; Rachel Whiteheart, Environmental Planner | | | | |
