CCA Year in Review; what we did in 2023, and what’s in store for 2024
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2023 brought new board members, new volunteers, and renewed interest in ongoing CCA committees. This brings Canton added resources and a fresh approach to helping our neighbors and local businesses. Our members appreciate the positive results they see in our community, but they rarely get a glimpse of the hard work, dedication, and intense level of volunteerism behind the scenes. This issue features a letter from our President, Amanda Bourgeois, who shares her experience as well as a list of 2023 accomplishments and 2024 goals from our board members, committee chairs, and lead volunteers.
Dear Neighbors,
2023 was a year of engaging with both long-standing and new volunteers to continue the great work we do as well as the start of some new projects! The Dog Park team organized a wildly successful fundraiser for improvements at the Canton Dog Park which are being designed and implemented with city approval. The Public Safety team received funding from the State of Maryland to install public safety cameras in the neighborhood and have actively been working on implementing the cameras as well as formalizing the process for requesting and evaluating footage. The Transportation team worked with the Department of Transportation (DOT) to bring some traffic calming measures to Boston Street and assess the loading zones in and around O'Donnell Square Park. (Neighbors can look for improvements at ODSP and the I Wonder Garden in 2024.) We are very excited to partner with Canton Ace Hardware to sell CCA/Canton merchandise, so neighbors have more opportunities to shop items that show their Canton pride!
We continue to hold hybrid (in-person/live-streamed) public meetings as well as hybrid (in-person/Zoom) monthly board member meetings. There has been an increase in the neighbors attending virtually as well as in person which has been encouraging to see.
In 2024, we hope to apply for more State of Maryland grant funding to expand upon the public safety camera program, design and implement additional traffic calming/greening measures throughout the neighborhood, and make upgrades to O'Donnell Square Park, Friends of Canton Dog Park, and the I Wonder Garden for the entire community to enjoy!
The team also partnered with WTMD, Living Classrooms, Healthy Harbor, and Baltimore Industrial Group to learn more about our area nonprofits and HHA, Target, Carefirst, Drift Bar, Floyd’s 99 Barbershop, and ProMD Tox Bar to support community businesses, volunteerism, programming, and events.
Every year we strive to complete the goals we set for ourselves to help improve our community. It is not always easy and there are times when we fall short of what we want to accomplish, but at the end of the day, we make progress, and I am proud of our hard-working volunteers.
All the best,
Amanda Bourgeois
CCA President
Amanda Bourgeois, President
2023 Accomplishments:
- Recruited new volunteers for committees- Created process for Public Safety Cameras and identified the vendor for the cameras
- Worked with Baltimore City Dept. of Transportation (DOT) to improve safety for drivers and pedestrians on Boston Street
- Partnered with Canton Ace Hardware for the “RoundUp” Fundraiser and to sell CCA merchandise
- Increased communications with CCA Individual and Business members
- Represented the CCA at pop-ups at the Canton Ace Ladies Night, Canton Dog Park Fundraiser, Canton Day of Giving, and during ODSP clean-ups to meet neighbors
2024 Goals:
- Strive to foster a more welcoming, diverse, and inclusive Canton
- Continue to engage with our community to meet neighbors and recruit volunteers for committees
- Work to increase CCA technical capabilities to produce a better live stream from in-person meetings
- Continue to help facilitate the process to create a community-driven plan to redesign and rename O’Donnell Square Park
- Increase communications with CCA Individual and Business members
- Implement (newly awarded) grant funding from the State for security measures in the neighborhood and continue to apply for new grants
Joe Koehler, Treasurer
2023 Accomplishments
- Reconciled 2023 P&L activity
- Created reports to track relevant data and improve processes
- Assisted outside CPA with tax information/filing
2024 Goals
- Continue duties as Treasurer
- Report financial status at monthly board meetings
- Volunteer at CCA/community events, cleanups, etc.
- Bring new interest to the Block Captain Program and Cop Walks
Denise Aversa, Secretary
2023 Accomplishments
- Attended all CCA Board and Public meetings as well as some Economic Development (EDC) meetings
- Continue to record and send out meeting minutes in a timely manner
- Monitored CCA voicemails and directed them to officers and Board members as appropriate
- Served as Block Captain sharing information with my neighbors via email and Facebook
- Volunteered at CCA community events including the Canton Day of Giving and Dumpster Days
- Co-organized the annual Steeper Street Block Party
2024 Goals
- Serve as secretary to attend and record CCA Board and Public meetings
- Encourage more neighbors to join the CCA
- Inform my neighbors by emailing the monthly newsletter and posting relevant information on our block's Facebook page
- Help to keep my street clean so we can continue having one of the best blocks in Canton
Adrienne Ekas, Education Chair
2023 Accomplishments
- Worked with school representatives to compile regular updates for Life In Canton, the CCA e-newsletter
- Worked with CCA Marketing Committee to plan how to support and share information about our community schools
2024 Goals
- Continue to spotlight Open Houses and ongoing information about school programs, events, fundraisers, etc. in the newsletter
- Produce Community Education Fair
- Recruit more members for the Education Committee
- Work with Jim Hamilton of COTS to combine the education and family programming
Maura Taylor, Board Member
2023 Accomplishments:
- Planned 3 successful community dumpster days resulting in the diversion of hundreds of pounds of metal and other items from the landfill
- Organized St. Patrick's Day Safe Space night to hand out water and snacks and help individuals on the square connect with friends and rides
- Attended numerous CCA events as a volunteer and as part of the Public Safety Committee
- Worked with the Canton Anti-Racism Alliance
- Crafted correspondence on behalf of the CCA in support of the City Council affordable housing legislation
2024 Goals
- Execute four community dumpster days with the goal of more diversion from the dump
- Assist with public meeting planning
- Assist with planning a Candidate’s Forum
- Continue efforts to update CCA bylaws
- Assist with membership recruitment
Doug Kaufman, Economic Development Chair
2023 Accomplishments
- Liaised and tracked communications between our community, builders, and government- Led monthly EDC meetings
- Continued negotiations of the MOU for Lee's Pint & Shell and neighbors for outdoor events
2024 Goals
- Transfer the EDC Chair position to a new member
- Continue to support the EDC and CCA
Jayne Miller Chair, Friends of Canton Dog Park Chair
2023 Accomplishments
- Collaborated with a strong team of community volunteers
- Worked with Baltimore City Rec and Parks to get a leak repaired at the main entrance
- Formed “Lake Committee” to address the water retention problem on the large dog side of the park
- Hosted “Pawty at the Park” fundraiser in June; raised over $20k towards repairs and new projects
- Worked with Councilmember Cohen’s office and the committee to liaise communication between major city agencies including BCRP, DPW and DOT
- Awarded Tony, Allie, and Jason CCA Volunteers of the Year!
- Expanded the CCA Commemorative Buy-A-Brick Program to include the Friends of Canton Dog Park
- Hosted community meeting to discuss the needs of parkgoers and share updates on the improvement plans
- Install temporary fencing to improve safety and health concerns surrounding the “lake”
2024 Goals
- Continue to increase volunteer participation and work with the Friends of Canton Dog Park Committee
- Designate new Lead Volunteers for both the Small and Large sides of the Dog Park
- Work with BCRP to resolve the source of the water retention
- Replace old signage with new, legible signs with park rules, hours, etc.
- Install new commemorative bricks
- Install a new bulletin board to increase communication in the community
- Work with the committee to plan social events for users of the park and in support our fundraising needs
Zach Spedden and Julie Kichline, Marketing/Newsletter (PHOTO)
2023 Accomplishments
- Helped plan, promote, and execute the Pawty at the Park fundraiser for the Friends of Canton Dog Park and the Canton Day of Giving
- Increased membership via giveaways and promotions with WTMD, Hampstead Hill Academy and Canton Ace Hardware
- Informed and engaged the community via monthly newsletter and social media platforms
- Produced CCA popups to increase community awareness and membership
- Improved streaming technology for hybrid public meetings
- Liaised communication and helped spread the word about the I Wonder Garden, Compost Initiative, Canton Canopy, and other CCA-related community offshoots
2024 Goals
- Promote public safety initiatives through the CCA’s website
- Engage the community and support Canton businesses/organizations with informative content via Life in Canton, social media platforms, and other non-digital communication methods
- Seek new ways to promote area nonprofits, volunteer opportunities, and CCA business members
- Find new solutions for selling CCA merchandise at in-person events; expand merch offerings
- Explore new methods to recruit volunteers for CCA committees and special events
Deborah Manarin, Membership / Social Chair
2023 Accomplishments
- Distributed welcome packages to new members
- Visited new businesses to share info about the CCA and recruit new members
- Represented the CCA at community Popup events
2024 Goals
- Engage with the community and increase membership, equity and inclusion
- Represent the CCA at community events
- Brainstorm new events to support local businesses and engage neighbors
- Encourage new members to join the committee
Transportation (Chris Broughton, Lead Volunteer)
2023 Accomplishments
- Worked with Councilmember Zeke Cohen's office to implement pedestrian improvements along intersections of Boston Street
- Worked with Councilman Zeke Cohen's office and DOT to improve intersection safety at Conkling & Elliott
- Continued work towards finalization of Greenway Trails Network
- Continued push for Complete Streets (building roadways for all users, not just automobiles)
- Worked with transit engineers to build out city cycle network and connect to existing infrastructure
- Worked with representatives of MDOT and BDOT and other neighborhood associations to begin the process of planning the Red Line transit line
2024 Goals
- Address more problem intersections within Canton with a focus on Boston Street to improve safety and traffic calming
- Partner with the other waterfront community associations to move forward with the Red Line
- Work with affected communities and transit engineers to build and improve the city’s cycle network
- Apply for pedestrian and cyclist safety grants for problem intersections and blocks in Canton
Public Safety
2023 Accomplishments
- Continued communication with the Baltimore Police Department (SE Division)
- Collaborated with other SE community leaders to brainstorm joint safety projects
- Restarted the Community COP Walks
- Received a $100k grant to support public safety (details to follow in future newsletters in 2024)
Goals 2024
- Recruit a new Safety Committee Chair
- Increase awareness of and participation in the Block Captain and Get Lit projects; continue meetings and COP Walks
- Work with the Southeastern Police Community Relations Council (SEDP-CRC)
- Apply for more grants to support public safety
Canton Anti-Racism Alliance
2023 Accomplishments
- The Canton Anti-Racism Alliance gathered like-minded community volunteers dedicated to affecting long-term, impactful changes to foster a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and welcoming community
- Researched and revised the Canton History timeline (led by John Ford) to reflect the role of Indigenous people and people of African descent more accurately in the story of our neighborhood's development and extend the timeline past 2000 to the present day
- Continued reviewing the process of how to rename O’Donnell Square Park, removing the name of an enslaver
- Created guidelines for addressing actions in our community that might be racist or unwelcoming, and submitted those guidelines to the CCA
- Hosted a symbolic Juneteenth Freedom Walk to the sites of the Frederick Douglass History Panels
- CCA Board Member Sheila Anderson formed a working relationship with sister neighborhood O’Donnell Heights
2024 Goals
- Host bi-monthly meetings to brainstorm ideas and share progress reports
- Facilitate more “Conversations With” local authors to provide expert-led educational virtual forums
- Spotlight legislation and policies that support anti-racism, equity, and equalit - Frame the proposed process for renaming O’Donnell Square Park and make it accessible to Canton residents
- Install a new Historic Marker memorializing people enslaved when Canton was a plantation
- Continue outreach to engage new members and the community
- Host 2nd Annual Freedom Walk or other Juneteenth-related event
- Update the CCA website to include a dedicated page for Alliance information
Historian Canton History Project (Dr. Raymond Bahr, Founder)
2023 Accomplishments:
- Completed installation of Historic Marker on the site of the former St. Brigid Catholic Church
- Received the 2023 Historic Preservation Award from Baltimore Heritage Inc. in recognition of "Bringing the History of Canton to Light"
- Worked with Zeke Cohen, Bill Ferguson, and Eric Holcomb (CHAP) to designate the Railroad Transfer Bridge as a "Baltimore City Landmark" with the goal to do the paperwork and have it become a "National Historic Landmark.”
2024 Goals:
- Form a committee to plan the 200th Anniversary (in 2028) of the Canton Company, which was considered the earliest, most successful Industrial Park Development in America's History
- Install new Canton History panels that illustrate the Industrial Revolution that took place in Canton (1828-1980s)
- Work with the Canton Anti-Racism Alliance for a new historic marker
Community Clean Up (Kurt Hoffman, Lead Volunteer)
2023 Accomplishments
- Organized and participated in monthly community cleanups and some plantings at O'Donnell Square Park (ODSP)
- Co-organized cleanups at Two Rivers Park
- Organized trash pickups along Boston Street and at Canton Waterfront Park
- Volunteered at CCA events
2024 Goals
- Organize and lead monthly community cleanups at O'Donnell Square Park (ODSP)
- Collaborate with other neighbors to organize and oversee cleanups at other Canton parks
- Recruit cleanup volunteers and new CCA members
O’Donnell Square Park Buy-A-Brick Program (PHOTO)
2023 Accomplishments
- Sold commemorative bricks to fundraise for the upkeep of O’Donnell Square Park
- Identified new brick locations in the park since the areas around the flower beds were full
- Added commemorative brick sales to the Canton Dog Park
- Transitioned the role to new lead volunteers Ted Hart and Kristen Mills
2024 Goals
- Install the new commemorative bricks at the Canton Dog Park and ODSP
- Identify new additional potential commemorative and fundraising opportunities inside ODSP and throughout the neighborhood
Canton Canopy
2023 Accomplishments
- Planted 75 trees in Canton
- Hosted 3 weeding and mulching events
- Hosted 5 pruning events
- Recruited new volunteers
2024 Goals
- Host 2 planting events for a total of 50 new trees added or replaced in the neighborhood
- Host 2 pruning events
- Encourage new voluntee
I Wonder Garden
2023 Accomplishments
- Rebuilt the bottle fence and removed debris
- Partnered with Target for Spring Cleanup
- Continued the Community Compost Drop Off Station
- Applied and received Healthy Harbor Grant
- Recruited new volunteers
- Continued community plot rentals
- Encouraged regular cleanups from plot holders and volunteers
2024 Goals
- Share and implement the new site plan
- Install fencing to protect community plots
- Plant new native perennials
- Host regular cleanups
- Work with DPW to add I Wonder as a regular trash pickup location
- Encourage new volunteers
- Continue compost and community garden plot programs
- Apply for more grant funding