Baltimore: Where I Grew To Value Community

       Baltimore is a place where I struggled to call home for years, yet eventually came to appreciate the essence of community. Before I moved to Baltimore back in the Summer of 2013, I had this vision to live in a missionary house and a friend of mine eventually let me stay with her. This Summer I live downtown, in an area called Mount Vernon. People may come to Baltimore to flee for refuge from conflict in their country, receive support for their families, partake in social events or invest in the community. I didn’t realize what to expect but after many years of traveling and relocating for business I grew to understand the value of living in one place for years, a place like Baltimore, MD.

      Just to give you a better understanding of why I came to Baltimore, I was really led by God to live in a missionary house. I didn’t know it would be in Baltimore but the door opened up as a place of refuge. I had a hard time in my living situation back in New York because I struggled with getting along with my roommate. At first, I didn’t understand that when choosing a place to live in, cost, amenities, location and room availability are things to consider but it’s also important to have discernment about what spirit is in the person you live with. With that, as a growing adult I was thankful that once I left New York, my friend immediately let me live with her in the missionary house I had a vision for in Baltimore. 

      During that season she was planning for her wedding and we used her house to hold planning meetings. With that, I got the chance to help her with that in return which really set the tone for me growing to value investing in another’s family goals. The house was brick, brown, and had this large porch. Upon entering there was this mural that had grass, flowers, a seat and water in the background in the front room. It was a 4 bedroom house with a kitchen, living room and a spacious backyard. This place eventually became a safe place for me to fellowship with other young adults. 

      Nowadays, I live downtown in a community called Mount Vernon. I live in a tower apartment with this wonderful view of the city, where I can view other apartment buildings, the Walters Art Museum, the historic George Washington statue landmark, and some trees planted down the sidewalks. I noticed that oftentimes Baltimore can be quite noisy with sirens blaring from emergency medical service, police and fire department vehicles. Sometimes there are arguments held by neighbors on the street and loud music played by the car drivers. Sometimes the smells are delightful where the aroma of food from local restaurants can draw you into what they are serving for the day. Finally, this inner city living has come with me meeting new people I enjoy being around. 

      Although Baltimore is pretty diverse in terms of people with different heritage backgrounds, it is also a place where some people find value in investing in their community. I think what could contribute to the diversity in terms of heritage backgrounds is because immigrants are welcomed here. However, the local government may not join other Maryland counties to consider it a sanctuary city. Some have fled here for safety and I remember meeting a man from Africa who fled from a civil war in his country. He served with me in a reading program at Moravia Park Elementary, a title 1 school where some Americorps staff members and I set up a reading center for the first time. People from the community of various professional backgrounds came to read with the children which resulted in an increased reading level and the mayor of the city recognizing us at one of his award ceremonies. Baltimore was declared by Mayor Kurt Schmoke in his 1988 inaugural address as “The City that Reads” and I remember seeing a brown bench by the bus stop with this same phrase on it. Understanding this history helped me see why people in the community value coming together for special events.

      In terms of community, the locals also like doing bike rides. For example, one day this Summer, as I was relaxing in my room, I heard the noise of a crowd cheering, cars honking and the sound of bike riders chiming their bells. It was another bike ride event in the city. There had to be over 300 bikers making their way down my street. Some of the bikers stopped oncoming traffic while the others went. They had to halt for a while in the intersection due to the red light up ahead. This was interesting because it was unexpected yet reminded me of how much people value biking together. Finally, with so many people there is a lot to get involved in. 

      Since Baltimore is the largest city in Maryland, it is pretty populated. While living in downtown Baltimore, I noticed that there are many apartment buildings, some abandoned homes, some local businesses, parks, and buildings displaying murals on them. Just to further expand on the population, it is common for people to share housing yet there is still homelessness that people go through in the community. With that, sometimes people have to come together to support the homeless and show mercy towards them. I think as I learn how to live in Baltimore by grace through faith, it helps me to consider the needs of others in Baltimore. 

      This Summer I got to continue to do missions at a local leader's house, called Be Transformed. It is a brown brick row house, so the house is built in connection to other homes. They provide food, clothes, and do Bible studies with the families there. My church family and I continued a program for young teen girls in Bel air Edison on Saturday’s. The house is situated right on the corner in front of a convenience store and diagonal from Bel air Edison school. On the front of the house there is a sign that welcomes people to come by for food. Overall, it’s been a great way to edify young people in the Lord.

      Ultimately, being in Baltimore has changed my perspective of what it’s like to grow up away from my family and value investing in the community. I realize it requires learning how to value people in the place. To learn their roles and what they are committed to. To also value what it is that I should learn to take forward in life. In conclusion, I’m thankful I got the chance to grow up here in my young adult years.