Spring Break
Community aligns at yearly conference
Issue date: 11/20/08
GHCC Executive Director Karen Stokes praised new Superintendent Andres Alonzo for his work in spearheading the "major revitalization of the school system," calling him a visionary who aimed to change "both the perception and the reality of the [Baltimore public school] system."
Longtime Baltimore resident Alfred Wainwright called the Baltimore school system "deceptive, never as simple as merely just a good or bad school," and Stokes responded that GHCC was aiming to improve the entire school system, not just the selective and charter schools.
Marsha Hairston, a retired Baltimore schoolteacher, taught for several years at nearby Margaret Brent Elementary, on 26th and St. Paul Streets. Hairston explained that the economic diversity of the Baltimore school system is often its downfall, recalling that many of the children she taught who were homeless and often on welfare.
The recent surge in crime rates in Baltimore was quickly brought up as a topic of discussion. Though students and residents alike had expressed concern over the recent crime outbreaks in Charles Village, the attendees of the Neighborhood Institute were nearly unanimous in their opinion that these were isolated events.
Victor Corbin, Fells Prospect Community Association president, said "grime and crime" were the top two problems for Baltimore residents. Furthermore, Corbin said, the two go hand-in-hand, as a dirty neighborhood quickly becomes a dangerous one.
Veteran Baltimore policeman John Walter said, "When the community is involved and invested, and willing to work with police, it is a win-win situation for everybody." Walter worked closely with Hopkins in training security officers, and applauded the efforts of the university to make the area a safer one for students and residents alike.
Stokes noted the "ring of security" that she saw in Charles Village as a result of Hopkins's presence in the community and said "if you're [a resident of Charles Village], one incident is too many."
Longtime Baltimore resident Alfred Wainwright called the Baltimore school system "deceptive, never as simple as merely just a good or bad school," and Stokes responded that GHCC was aiming to improve the entire school system, not just the selective and charter schools.
Marsha Hairston, a retired Baltimore schoolteacher, taught for several years at nearby Margaret Brent Elementary, on 26th and St. Paul Streets. Hairston explained that the economic diversity of the Baltimore school system is often its downfall, recalling that many of the children she taught who were homeless and often on welfare.
The recent surge in crime rates in Baltimore was quickly brought up as a topic of discussion. Though students and residents alike had expressed concern over the recent crime outbreaks in Charles Village, the attendees of the Neighborhood Institute were nearly unanimous in their opinion that these were isolated events.
Victor Corbin, Fells Prospect Community Association president, said "grime and crime" were the top two problems for Baltimore residents. Furthermore, Corbin said, the two go hand-in-hand, as a dirty neighborhood quickly becomes a dangerous one.
Veteran Baltimore policeman John Walter said, "When the community is involved and invested, and willing to work with police, it is a win-win situation for everybody." Walter worked closely with Hopkins in training security officers, and applauded the efforts of the university to make the area a safer one for students and residents alike.
Stokes noted the "ring of security" that she saw in Charles Village as a result of Hopkins's presence in the community and said "if you're [a resident of Charles Village], one incident is too many."
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