Strong Communities for Life
Reflections on Fiscal Year 2021
CHAI would like to thank the many members of our community who joined our virtual Annual Meeting in June. As we reflect on this year of challenge and opportunity, we are proud to have acted with a focus on our north star – strengthening the fabric of neighborhoods – and a grounding in our values: Respect, Community, Diversity, Integrity and Drive. These values guided CHAI’s work as we kept seniors safe and connected, responded to food insecurity and the tragic Labyrinth Road explosion, embarked on a journey toward racial equity and continued to build and steward affordable housing. Along with essential community partners, dedicated staff and board, CHAI’s path is lit brightly to embark on a new year of service to the community.
Reconnecting with the Community
Throughout the pandemic, CHAI has been addressing community needs with the help of technology. Now, with the state of emergency in Maryland lifted, CHAI will resume canvassing and door-knocking in the five northwest neighborhoods of our focus area. Our community organizers are excited to start reconnecting with individual neighbors in person. We will be sharing useful information about CHAI’s foreclosure and eviction prevention services, façade improvement grants, energy loans, and other community programs. We will also use this as an opportunity to find ways to connect neighbors to one another.
Bouncing Back with Ballet
During the past year, the dedicated building staff in CHAI’s Senior Living Communities took great care to keep residents safe and connected while sheltering in place. Now, with restrictions lifted, staff is excited to be reconvening residents safely for in-person programming. One such program at CHAI’s Weinberg Village is Memory through Movement, a ballet-based exercise series for seniors. This popular program has kept residents dancing their way to improved physical, cognitive and psychological wellness since 2014. The class, taught by Master Instructor of Ballet Mobile Renée Meyer, is one of the longest-running dance-based exercise classes for seniors in the world. Class participants include both women and men who are in their 80’s
and 90’s, with one current dancer a
vibrant 102!
One Park Heights Engages Community Members
Over the past several months, members of the Park Heights community came together virtually to engage in vital and difficult conversations about race, bias, power and privilege. This six-part Community Conversations series, which included a diverse group of participants, all of whom live, work, learn, play or pray in Park Heights, was facilitated by Sharlimar Douglass, a Diversity, Racial Equity, and Inclusion (DREI) expert and resident of northwest Baltimore. Ms. Douglass guided the group through topics ranging from Racial and Cultural History of Greater Park Heights to Building and Planning, Community Development Together. Participant and CHAI board member, Justin Fair, reflects on his experience: "I found the One Park Heights conversation series cathartic, which left me hungry for more."
In response to positive participant feedback, the One Park Heights Committee will be discussing the next steps in continuing the conversations.
CHAI would like to congratulate the FY 2021 award winners
who were recognized at our annual meeting:

Janet Currie, Bank of America
Business Partner of the Year Award

Allison Ciborowski, LeadingAge Maryland
Community Partner of the Year Award

Melissa Peters, CHAI Immediate Past President,
Lee Rosenberg Lifetime Community Service Award

Eugene Poverni, CHAI Vice President,
Arnold Kohn Board Member of the Year Award
 
CHAI welcomes new board members:
Rivka Bier
Reba Cornman
Justin Fair
Pete Fastow
Rich Topaz
Volunteer with CHAI

Help Older Adults with Tech
Students can earn school credit for their time assisting Myerberg members
with technology. Email Tech Concierge, Melanie Waxman, at
[email protected] to learn more.

Help Fight Food Insecurity
Support CHAI's efforts at a local community food distribution.
Learn more or register here.

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CHAI, an agency of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, is able to respond in times of crisis thanks to the funding and financial support it receives from The Associated’s Annual Campaign. Now, more than ever, we need your support to continue meeting the growing needs in our community. Please say, “Hineini: Here I am,” by choosing to support those in need through The Associated.