By Megan SaylesAFRO Employees Writermsayles@afro.com
United Means of Central Maryland is celebrating 100 years of strengthening lives and neighborhoods throughout Higher Baltimore with a profit live performance on Oct. 11. The present, which can happen on the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Corridor, can be headlined by Grammy-award successful artist Frequent with extra performances from Billboard-music award-winner CeCe Peniston and Baltimore-based singer-songwriter Elyscia Jefferson.
For many years, United Means of Central Maryland has labored to construct wholesome, resilient communities, create alternatives for youth and increase financial safety for households. The profit night time can be an opportunity to rejoice the facility and promise of the Higher Baltimore area, whereas mobilizing neighborhood members to additional assist the work of the group.
“United Means has achieved superb issues over the previous century,” mentioned Franklyn Baker, CEO and president of United Means of Central Maryland. “We’ve helped our neighborhood via wars, melancholy, monetary crises, main well being challenges— together with a world pandemic— and extra, and we’ve all the time developed to satisfy new wants in our area.”
Established in 1925, United Means of Central Maryland is one in all greater than 1,000 native chapters of the bigger United Means international community that foster community-based options to native challenges.
Baker mentioned a few of United Means of Central Maryland’s high accomplishments in its historical past have been launching its office giving mannequin; increasing into direct providers in housing, well being, schooling and financial development; and being acknowledged as a flagship, go-to accomplice throughout the international and nationwide United Means networks.
For him, the group’s legacy is demonstrated within the tales of individuals and neighborhoods who’ve been impacted by its work.
(Picture courtesy of United Means Central Maryland)
“There are tales like struggling highschool college students who’ve graduated and gone on to school or commerce faculty, veterans who dedicated a minor authorized offense who at the moment are main stronger, extra purposeful lives and households in monetary crises and on the verge of dropping their properties who at the moment are in secure, steady housing— and so many extra,” mentioned Baker. “The individuals we serve have such power and tenacity, and we leverage that to assist them succeed.”
The upcoming profit live performance will reaffirm United Means of Central Maryland’s pledge to advertise fairness and enhance entry to primary wants in Higher Baltimore.
Peniston, who’s an envoy for United Means Worldwide, will carry out a tune written in regards to the work of the group known as, “United is the Means,” with accompaniment from the Baltimore Metropolis Faculty Choir. She mentioned being part of the live performance appears like a blessing.
“The attractive factor is it’s not only a live performance— it’s a motion. It’s to proceed to assist the neighborhood to develop via alternative,” mentioned Peniston. “Giving again to the neighborhood is one thing that I utterly like to do. I really feel like God offers me a lot and having the ability to give again to the neighborhood is a mission for me.”
Jefferson, a local of Baltimore County, additionally echoed Peniston’s sentiments, noting that she admires the mission of the group.
“I really like how devoted they’re to the longer term and their love for serving to individuals,” mentioned Jefferson. “I believe that’s actually essential on this day and time and for this neighborhood. I do know a number of instances we don’t see a number of that— neighborhood, love and serving to one another— but it surely aligns with what I stand for. I’ve such a love for individuals and for transferring our future in a greater route.”
For United Means of Central Maryland, success appears like communities the place everybody thrives. Baker mentioned this implies the group should obtain excellence in each space of its work whereas doubling down on innovation, analysis and assist for finest practices.
He inspired individuals to snag their profit live performance tickets to rejoice the historical past and way forward for the group.
“It is a once-in-a-century celebration—bringing artists, neighborhood leaders, and neighbors collectively to shine a highlight on hope, resilience, and the facility of neighborhood,” mentioned Baker. “The live performance is about consciousness to gas our mission for the longer term—so that each household and neighborhood in Central Maryland has the chance to thrive.”
Tickets for United Means of Central Maryland Centennial Profit Live performance will be discovered at uwcm.org/live performance.
