T H E P O T E N T I A L O F - Junior League of Baltimore

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS & PROJECTS
“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning,
but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”
MARIA ROBINSON
MENTORING AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS
The Junior League of Baltimore’s Women’s Mentoring
Program was proud to graduate 10 participants this past
year, all of whom were enrolled in services at Waverly
Family Support Center. Each participant successfully
completed our intense, 9-month mentoring program,
attending two sessions a month focused in job readiness
and life skills. Through mentoring and support, and hard
work, six passed their Graduate Equivalency Diploma (ged)
and six secured jobs! These women’s lives have been
transformed through their participation in this program,
directly due to the generosity of the Allstate Foundation.
Last year, the Junior League of Baltimore also dedicated
much time to the development and implementation of the
Wise Penny Internship Program, a new component of the
Women’s Mentoring program. Many of the women who are
participants in our program have never been employed. The
creation of a 12-week Internship at the Junior League of
NEARLY ONE-THIRD OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN
NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA WILL BE OVERWEIGHT BY 2010.
THE INTERNATIONAL OBESITY TASK FORCE
KIDS IN THE KITCHEN
The Junior League of Baltimore held our 3rd annual Kids in
the Kitchen event at Port Discovery in March of 2008. Kids
in the Kitchen is part of an International initiative led by the
Association of Junior Leagues International (ajli). The goal
of the Junior Leagues’ Kids in the Kitchen initiative is to
empower youth to make healthy lifestyle choices and help
reverse the growth of childhood obesity and its associated
health issues. Over 255 Leagues in Canada, Mexico, the
United Kingdom and the United States conducted the Junior
Leagues’ Kids in the Kitchen program in their communities
in 2007. The Junior League of Baltimore’s local event
in 2007 reached approximately 1,700 attendees of Port
Discovery, including the children that the Junior League
of Baltimore brought from our program and partner sites,
Govans Elementary School, the Hampden Family Center
and Hampden Elementary School.
Baltimore’s Wise Penny Thrift Store provides these women
with transferable retail experience, coaching in appropriate
work behaviors, and a professional reference to strengthen
their position for future employment. Additionally the Junior
League of Baltimore volunteer mentor assigned to each
Intern will continue to provide assistance and resources for
resume writing, interviewing, and job searches.
This year, we developed the program’s application process,
including submission of a resume, essay, and interview,
assisted five women in completing the process, and selected
two women for the first 12-week Internship, which began in
the summer of 2008. Two additional Internships will be
available in the fall of 2008 and again in the spring of 2009.
This program is made possible to the generous support
from the Allstate Foundation.
The day imparted a lot of information to participants
and was even more fun! Trader Joe’s led children in
making “fruit sushi” and “creative crepes”. Coach Tom
from the Ravens Youth Program, along with Ravens
running back, Musa Smith, ran football drills with children.
Students from the Goucher College Dance program
led children in interpretative dance and the Baltimore
Blast led soccer drills on Port Discovery’s mini soccer
field. Event lead sponsor Kaiser Permanente, offered an
interactive computer game station, entitled the Amazing
Food Detective.
Together, we set a wonderful example of how to have
healthy and active lives and work together to combat
childhood obesity.