For this Pride month spotlight, our Office reached out to Iya Dammons, founder and director of Baltimore Safe Haven. Founded in 2018, Baltimore Safe Haven is Baltimore's only trans-led drop-in wellness center. Here's what Iya shared with us:

"My name is Iya Dammons. I am a Black trans, lived-experience director of Baltimore Safe Haven but as a youth, I was living in survival mode. Just like the clients I serve today, I was beaten and bullied for living in my authentic truth as a trans woman. As a youth, I experienced homelessness, engaged in survival sex work, and was incarcerated. This is the very reason I started Baltimore Safe Haven -- to provide others living in survival mode with opportunities to thrive. The LGBT community is in a state of emergency as more than 500 anti-TLGBQIA bills have been introduced around the country so far this year. While other organizations rightfully focus on defeating these bills, direct response is needed for people fleeing their homes in search of sanctuary right now. As the only sanctuary state for transgender people in the South, our southern siblings are already migrating to Maryland and choosing us because they recognize Baltimore Safe Haven as the only TLGBQIA+ housing provider in the state. They know we are one of the few organizations that provide comprehensive care like a gender-affirming clinic, behavioral health, a workforce development program, legal assistance, and more. More importantly, they know that we’ve experienced the same struggles and can trust us. With your support, we can rise to meet the increased demand for Safe Haven so that all TLGBQIA+ can live an authentic, safe, and fulfilling life."

The Office of Sustainability is pleased to share that Rachel Whiteheart has joined our team as an Environmental Planner overseeing the city's Forest Conservation Program. Prior to joining the City, Rachel worked as an environmental engineer for several local consulting firms. As a licensed Professional Engineer, Rachel has developed designs for green infrastructure and helped restore natural ecological systems across the Baltimore region and beyond. Rachel holds a Master of Community Planning degree from the University of Maryland and a BS in Environmental Engineering from Cornell University. She currently lives in Remington and enjoys biking the streets of Baltimore, hiking, reading, and climbing on rocks.

Mayor Brandon Scott and Director of Sustainability Ava Richardson announced that Baltimore has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold certification through the US Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED for Cities and Communities program. The announcement was made at the annual Sustainability Open House held at Morgan State University on June 21st. If you weren't able to attend, you can see a video of the remarks on CharmTV. 

Baltimore received 66 points out of 110 to achieve LEED Gold certification. Baltimore earned the maximum possible points for demonstrating achievements in Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Performance (14/14), Transportation Performance (6/6), Innovation (6/6), and Supporting a Low Carbon Economy (4/4). Points awarded for Innovation under the LEED for Cities framework recognize several sustainability programs that promote and contribute to Baltimore’s unique character, such as the Made in Baltimore program, which supports local makers and manufacturers to create jobs and strengthen our local economy. Baltimore’s LEED Gold certification also recognized the leadership of the City and other partners in making the city’s communities and infrastructure more resilient in the face of climate change. These efforts include integrated water management, grid harmonization strategies, and leadership from the Office of Sustainability to advance resilience and disaster preparedness planning through the Community Resiliency Hub program and participation in the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System.

A special shout-out goes to Amy Gilder-Busatti, Sustainability Manager, for leading the certification process over the past few years! Well done Amy!

Radical Growth -- Baltimore Magazine

Check out this article that details the inception and expansion of Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, a worker-owned cafe and bookstore now located in Waverly. “When we started, there was zero local guidance and zero local support for anyone trying to imagine how to own and run a business democratically,” Duda says. “We found ourselves not only figuring things out as we went along, but fielding lots of demand from people trying to follow in our footsteps.” For more about books, hours, and events at Red Emma's visit their Website.

The Architecture of Trees -- Cesare Leonardi and Franca Stagi

The Architect's Newspaper proclaims, "Any landscape architect worth their soil should pick up The Architecture of Trees, an all-encompassing atlas of all things tree-related."

It's summer! Which means there is lots of fun in the sun to be had. This summer, try to use sunscreens that are both good for you and the environment. When choosing a sunscreen, opt for broad-spectrum and zinc-based mineral sunscreens, which stay on the surface of your skin and don't absorb into your bloodstream. Chemical sunscreens include ingredients like oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are endocrine disruptors that can be absorbed into your bloodstream. They are also the two main chemical culprits found in sunscreen that can negatively affect aquatic life. Many of the more environmentally friendly sunscreens have the 'reef safe' label on them.

Additionally, it is recommended to choose a cream-based sunscreen instead of a spray version since overspray is wasteful and harmful to the environment. Another important consideration is the packaging in which your sunscreen comes. Many brands now use low-waste packaging or have either a recycling or take-back program for the packaging. There are even options for compostable, push-up tubes! Check out this list of 20 Eco-Friendly Sunscreens from the Going Zero Waste blog.