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Ten Years, Ten Causes Archive
Lessons in L.A. – FTLA Support Students’ Work with Habitat for Humanity
We know we’re a little late posting an update on our November cause, but it has been a busy couple of months for us, during which we received a Mayor’s Business Recognition Award, sent holiday e-cards to help reduce our carbon footprint and just as importantly, continued our work with the students from Park School and Friends School in support of their Habitat for Humanity project.
We first met with students from Park School in January 2010, when we partnered with Cho Benn Holback staff to lead them in a design charrette to brainstorm ideas for a block of homes in Baltimore City that Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake is restoring.
As part of the larger project, the Park School and Friends School students are focusing on creating a small park or community garden to replace an existing garage slated for demolition. In November and December, FTLA staff again met with students to assist with the development of site designs for the project, located on the 2400 block of Jefferson Street.
FTLA landscape architect Scott Huot advised the students to present concepts to community residents to get a better idea of what they would like to see in that space. To assist them in gathering feedback, Scott developed a base drawing with scaled benches, raised planters, shrubs and trees the students can use to incorporate the information they gather into one design.
Although November has come and gone, FTLA will continue its support of this worthwhile cause to help the students from Park School and Friends School take this project from boards to built, providing input on the students’ design and assisting with producing final construction documents. Stay tuned for updates on future developments with this exciting project.
Lurman Arboretum: The Final Cause
Ten months ago, FTLA kicked off a unique initiative to celebrate its 10th anniversary and since then has had the privilege of supporting nine terrific Baltimore-based non-profits through its 10 Years, 10 Causes campaign. As December draws to a close, FTLA turns its attention to the final cause of the campaign: Lurman Arboretum.
This important project is designed to preserve the land and buildings on a 23-acre site adjacent to Catonsville High School and the Lurman Woodland Theatre. When completed, the Lurman Arboretun will feature programs in environmental education, forestry, gardening and arts.
FTLA staff have already developed two master plan concepts for the new arboretum, and additional support will be forthcoming once the local school officials has an opportunity to provide feedback on these concepts.
Joan, Aaron and the rest of the FTLA staff would like to thank all the non-profits and everyone who supported the 10 Years, 10 Causes initiative for helping celebrate FTLA’s 10th anniversary by growing stronger, more connected communities in the Baltimore area.
Growing a Garden of Learning
With a little help from the enthusiastic design team at FTLA, within the next month Federal Hill Preparatory School students will be getting a long-awaited new reading garden where they can enjoy a good book against the backdrop of a colorful fall garden.
The October beneficiary of FTLA’s 10 Years/10 Causes initiative to grow stronger, more connected communities while commemorating our 10th anniversary, Federal Hill Preparatory School was the “People’s Choice” cause selected from three area non-profits at the start of the campaign.
The urban K-8 school serves children in Baltimore’s Riverside and Sharp-Leadenhall neighborhoods where even most backyards boast concrete instead of grass. As part of its commitment to helping public education flourish in Baltimore, the K-8 school’s PTO has worked hard to bring this reading garden to fruition. The new garden will offer students much-needed green space while also providing outdoor opportunities for reading, learning and even tending to a vegetable garden.
Working with PTO President Hugh Bethell, FTLA designed a master plan for the school’s new garden and will spend an upcoming Saturday helping to physically construct raised beds for the garden. Have a green thumb or want to lend a hand in creating a garden that will be enjoyed by hundreds of kids? Visit Federal Hill Preparatory School online to learn how you can volunteer.