ASF Resource Guide

RESOURCE GUIDE

FORWARD Summer 2021

6 AMessage From the Director 10 Dr. Lela Campbell: TakingA Step Forward

32 America’s Most Prolific Racial JusticeMovements 36 Disparities in Mental Health Care 38 The Chains of Mass Incarceration 40 Addressing Substance Abuse

14 MarkWeaver: A Personal Profile 18 Roxanne Prettyman: Strengthening ThroughGod 22 Dr JoAnne Fisher: Helping FemaleVeterans 26 Kamala Harris: The First of Many 28 Growth and Support of BlackOwned Businesses 30 The Black Vote: The Increasing Influence

42 Rates of Homelessness

46 A Step Forward Keeps Progressing 50 Katrina LeonardKeeps TakingA Step Forward 54 Fayette Street Outreach Continues

58 JaneMcAliliy Is Growing

LEGACY CONTRACTORS

LEGACY CONTRACTORS is a construction company that has over 50 years combined experience in renovating both residential and commercial properties.We specialize in French drains, roofing, siding, drywall repair, painting, custom design ceilings, decks and much more! As a minority business, we focus on keeping a solutions-oriented mentality and making sure the customer has a pleasant experience when using our services. Integrity is a priority with LEGACY CONTRACTORS and that is what separates us from the competition!

FULL RENOVATIONS DEMOLITION ROOFING

• • • • • •

BASEMENT WATERPROOFING DRYWALL REPAIR & PAINTING CERAMIC TILE & HARDWOOD FLOORS

(443) 903-5432

MHIC# 13395 Legacycontractorsllc1@gmail.com

|

|

8630-M Guilford Road Suite 335 Columbia, MD 21046

legacybcs.com

Message from the Director

W hen I think about the humble beginnings of A Step Forward, Inc. (ASF), it reminds me of a quote that I read...Faith is like Wifi... It’s in- visible but it has the power to connect you to what you need. In 2001, we set in motion an ambitious plan to align multiple systems of care within the state of Maryland to deliver welcoming, integrated mental health and substance use disorder services to individuals and families in need of critical well- ness, recovery and resiliency supports. Over these past 20 years, ASF continues to remain relevant and connected to what it needs to serve its community. With so many people with diverse needs, the effectiveness of our efforts to create a more inte- grated and responsive system of care is vital. Since 2001, ASF staff and leadership have navigated an integration planning process, including participa- tion by community stakeholders in services and program design for our system of care. Pilot initia- tives around integration, such as co-located mental health services at partnering agencies and the inte- gration of mental health and substance use disor- der services at community centers, governmental agencies, and churches, have helped us to explore the benefits of integration and the most effective routes to improve service delivery. Our core philosophy of “Returning to our Com- munities with Hope and a Future” is supported by a framework of strategies, actions and measures that will propel forward action on our key priorities, including: • Strengthen

Collectively and in partnership with our network of partner agencies and organizations and the other Divisions within the Health Services Depart- ment, we will continue to make progress in our key priorities and ultimately function as an integrated, customer-oriented system of care that is complexi- ty-capable, trauma-informed, culturally-competent, and recovery- and resiliency oriented. We are committed to continuous quality im- provement, flexibility, and innovation, all of which enhance our efforts to successfully transform our system of care now and in the years to come, thus transforming consumers, families, and communi- ties. Thank you for your ongoing dedication and com- mitment to the individuals and families we support. Sincerely, Dr. Lela Campbell, LCPC, ACS Executive Director A Step Forward, Incorporated

• Educate • Engage

• Enlargement • Sustainability

(410) 462-6001

takeastepforward.org

800 NORTH FULTON AVENUE, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21217

HELPING BALTIMORE RESIDENTS TAKE A STEP FORWARD

“A vision sent from God” encouraged Dr. Lela Campbell to found a residential treatment facility called A Step Forward, Inc. (ASF) in 2002. Camp- bell was born in Baltimore and raised in a small, close-knit family in many of its neighborhoods. As a teenager, her life was forever altered when she became pregnant and gave birth to a baby, Lamar. In the ensuing years, Campbell realized that she wanted to work with teenage mothers to help them face life’s difficulties and challenges. She received additional motivation from her brother, who at the time struggled with substance abuse and was fre- quently incarcerated. Ultimately, Campbell’s teen- age pregnancy and the plight of her then-troubled sibling inspired the creation of ASF. She partnered with Omar Muhammad, the late Charles Moore, and her husband, Robert, to achieve her goal and launch a facility. Meanwhile, in the impoverished Harlem Park neighborhood of West Baltimore , a young woman was looking to sell her mother’s house and move her into an assisted living facility. Robert expressed interest in purchasing the property to use it as the organization’s recovery home. Campbell subse- quently received resistance from some locals who were wary about the potential drawbacks of estab- lishing a treatment facility there. “I remember presenting the idea at a community

association meeting, feeling good about the oppor- tunity to offer such services to a neighborhood that suffers from the perils of drugs,” Campbell said. “I was surprised when the community said ‘no.’ They do not want drug treatment facilities in their neighborhoods. I asked the community, ‘Would you rather have drug dealers in the community or folks in the community who are trying to get well?’” Campbell eventually overcame the objections and began providing support to locals experiencing homelessness. However, she was blindsided by many of her patients’ questions and requests and recognized that she needed to return to school. “When we began to provide housing, residents would ask for assistance with benefits, bus passes, vocational services,” Campbell recalled. “I thought, ‘Where is all this coming from?’ All I wanted to do was housing. With an associate’s degree in biblical studies and a bachelor’s degree in political science pre-law, I decided to go back to school to study vocational rehabilitation. I completed my master’s degree at Coppin State University in 2007 and, shortly thereafter, became a licensed counselor. In 2009, I was accepted into Morgan State University, where I obtained a Ph.D. in social work research.”

- DR. LELA CAMPBELL, FOUNDER OF A STEP FORWARD, INC “I believe that if a person attempts to get better, we must meet them where they are.”

A Fulfilling Purpose Nearly two decades after founding ASF, the faith- based, non-profit organization remains a safe and secure establishment for people trying to recover from drug and alcohol addiction and other life-threatening issues. Moreover, Camp- bell remains as passionate and committed as ever to assisting Baltimoreons in need. “A Step Forward takes on the role of a hospital,” Campbell said. “As people enter treatment torn down physically and mentally, and in need of help, I love how our team takes action. I believe that if a person attempts to get better, we must meet them where they are. They are entrusting us with their lives.

There have been a few times when I wanted to step away to work a 9-5 job. Just then, a past or present client pulls me aside to tell me how much of an important impact the organization has made in their life. I then remember the purpose and realize it’s all worth it.” Over the years, ASF has participated in multiple programs, including Leadership Baltimore County (LBC), Associated Black Charities (ABC) and the Coppin State University Leadership Pro- gram, and expanded its services to work with veter- ans, seniors, recently incarcerated persons, and other individuals in need. ASF has also part- nered with agencies and organizations to complete community projects, such as serenity gardens, walk- through theatres, food giveaways, and neighbor- hood cleanups. Campbell, who will soon be featured on a mural for the positive influence she’s had on the community, credits her staff, interns, volunteers, board members, and late brother, Frederick Blue, with helping ASF reach the heights it has. “We survived so much and we are still here,” Camp- bell said. “I have a beautiful, compassionate team who believes in the organization’s mission and vision. Our goal, through self-improvement oppor- tunities, is to return to our communities men and women who have hope and a future. It has been quite a journey and it is still underway.”

takeastepforward.org

800 NORTH FULTON AVENUE BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21217 (410) 462-6001

Dr. JoAnn Fisher is DETERMINED TO HELP WOMEN VETERANS

W hen the CEO of A Step Forward Inc., Dr. Lela Campbell, wrote her dissertation, she focused on women veterans. She realized her sample size of Baltimore homeless veterans was not large enough, so she had to include men. However, Campbell still had a heart to see women veterans recognized for their service and receive fair treatment. Her work with veterans to include the Congressional Black Caucus Veterans Braintrust allowed her to cross paths with Dr. JoAnn Fisher. The U.S. military is currently comprised of 20 percent women and there are more than 50,000 women veterans in Maryland alone. One of those roughly 50,000 Marylanders is a resilient and inspiring woman named Dr. JoAnn Fisher, who served in the U.S. Navy Reserve on active duty for 15 years before receiving an honorable discharge. However, Dr. Fisher had to overcome major obstacles and hardships before she joined the U.S. Navy Reserve. For eight years, the then-married mother of three was a working, welfare recipient who joined the Navy Reserve and lived in the San Francisco Bay Area in Section 8 housing with her twomdaughters, son, and mother. After struggling for nearly a decade, Dr. Fisher personally contacted

provided my family and me with housing on Treasure Island. At that moment, I promised myself that I would honor Congressman Dellums by doing everything possible to help women veterans.” In 2015, Dr. Fisher realized her dream when she and several women veterans established the Women Veterans United Committee, Inc. (WVUCI) in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

former California Congressman Ron Dellums about becoming a reserve enlisted sailor. Congressman Dellums responded to Dr. Fisher’s inquiry and, shortly thereafter, she was placed on active duty. “I can’t say enough great things about the late congressman,” Dr. Fisher, who was

born and raised in Southeast Washington, D.C., said. “He changed my life. Workers at the California Department of Social Services said they had never had a woman welfare recipient go on active duty while taking care of their family.The U.S. Navy Reserve

“Women veterans have already dealt with enough,”

-JoAnn Fisher

“Our mission at WVUCI is to work with women veterans to let them know they are not alone,” Dr. Fisher, a department commander of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Department of the District of Columbia, Inc., who earned her doctoral degree in 2014, said. “We want to be the voice to recognize the hardships and celebrate the accomplishments of women veterans. We also want to ensure the needs of women, such as clothing, food, care for their children, protecting them from domestic violence, and more, are met. We are women, and things can be tough for us.” Over the past six years, WVUCI has changed directors and experienced many other transitions Nevertheless, Dr. Fisher “refused to let it go,” and she is now the organization’s CEO. Nowadays, Dr. Fisher is as determined as ever to assist women veterans and motivate them to reach their personal and professional goals. “What we do has reached deep into women veterans’ souls and hearts,” Dr. Fisher said. “Although some are bruised and hurt, we have given them a chance to speak. We want women veterans to know that they can do, and accomplish, anything they want. If I can walk away from welfare and Section 8 housing, they can do the same. Grab my hand and come forward. No matter how hard it gets, we can do this. Yes, we can do this!” Although WVUCI is “a very strong sisterhood,” Dr. Fisher said that she relies on her organization’s directors and other organizations, such as A Step Forward, to work together to reach women veterans in need. Moreover, in 2020, WVUCI setup over two dozen events to help women veterans cope with living through the pandemic. “Women veterans have already dealt with enough,” Dr. Fisher said. “Some women have returned from war with military sexual trauma (MST) and post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that have negatively impacted their families, especially their children. Helping Woman Veterans

Doing a Great Job Women veterans have higher rates of divorce than both civilian women and veteran men. Unfortunately, since the onset of the pandemic, cases of domestic violence involving women veterans has dramatically risen. Women veterans need to know that we are here for them.” Dr. Fisher believes that women veterans are in a better position today than they were a couple of decades ago. Specifically, she is thrilled to see how many women veterans have secured key leadership roles in major organizations. Still, Dr. Fisher is adamant that women veterans, who have sacrificed their “blood, sweat and tears for America,” must be provided with more resources both when on active duty and after returning home from military deployment. “Psychiatrists must be available to assist in addressing the needs of women with children.” Dr. Fisher said. “Sometimes, after being away from their children for extended periods of time, women feel like they no longer fit as a mother. We need to help veteran mothers who have been away from their children.They need more benefits, and they need to have access to more qualified doctors. Basically, they need to be taken care of better.” As a nonprofit organization, WVUCI depends on donations to ensure that women veterans are “taken care of better.” Dr. Fisher, whose two daughters, Phyllis and Ericka, also served in the United States Armed Forces, urges caring people to support their great cause. “We are doing a great job,” Dr. Fisher said. “Still, there is always room for improvement, and we need donations to help our heroic women who served in the military. We constantly have fundraisers and people can always donate to our cause. One person’s help can go a long way.” Despite having ample room for growth, WVUCI is “doing a great job” and Dr. JoAnn Fisher has come “a long way.”

takeastepforward.org

800 NORTH FULTON AVENUE, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21217 (410) 462-6001

WITHOUT A STEP FORWARD be lost BELIEVES HE’D Mark Weaver

Mark Weaver was “just ready to give up on life” before he went to A Step Forward, Inc. (ASF) for help. Born in Riverside, California, Weaver was a military brat who lived all across the United States while his father served in the Air Force. Eventually, Weaver and his mother and sister permanently relocated to Baltimore. Regrettably, for quite some time, Weaver’s life was anything but easy in Charm City. “My parents got divorced and, after moving, I didn’t really have any contact with my dad,” Weaver, the youngest of seven children, said. “I think my dad didn’t know how to have a long-distance relationship with us. After my sister and mom had it out, it was just me and my mom. With my brother being in prison and my sisters so far away, I struggled not being able to have sibling relationships.” “Before my daughter turned 1, her mother and I split due to my drinking,” Weaver said. “Not only did the drinking cause our relationship to end, but I lost my job of 10 years as an account manager, my townhouse, and cars. I also became homeless and started having trouble with the law. Worst of all, my family got tired of me. All of this happened to me before the age of 30 and I was just ready to give up on life.” Fortunately, rather than quitting, Weaver persevered and decided to battle his demons. During a hospital visit, his life was forever transformed when he learned about ASF, a Baltimore-based residential treatment facility. “ASF is a faith-based, non-profit organization that aims to help people who are trying to recover from drug and alcohol addiction and other life-threatening issues,” Weaver said. “I liked that because I’m a spiritual person and, at the time, I was homeless and needed shelter. But I also needed housing in a stable environment to create a foundation. I knew that ASF had helped me start to turn the corner when I realized I had been there for more than two months. The staff was always there to help with any issues and always checking with me to make sure everything was okay. I really started to grow spiritually, got back in touch with myself, and discovered who I truly am.” A disheartened Weaver began using alcohol as a crutch and as a way to self-medicate. Predictably, this decision only created more problems and left him facing further challenges and complications.

“I don’t know where I’d be without ASF’s staff.”

-Mark Weaver

A CLEAR MIND

Despite his litany of achievements, Weaver is especially proud of the positive relationships he’s forged with his 3-year-old daughter and her mother. “Since I came here, I’ve gotten back into my daughter’s life and I now have a good friendship with her mother,” Weaver said. “My court case was also dropped and I’ve cleaned up my credit report. ASF has also helped me become even more spiritual, and that’s very important to me. But more than anything else, I have a clear mind and I’m there for my daughter. In the future, I want to become even closer to my family and just enjoy being with them.” In addition to spiritual and personal growth, Weaver has developed new professional skills while at ASF. Specifically, he’s become more computer literate thanks to ASF’s computer lab. “I’m in my comfort zone in the computer lab,” Weaver said. “Plus, I’m able to help others there, which is something that I love to do. This organization has opened the door for me and given me so many opportunities to showcase my skills.” Weaver raved about ASF’s “awesome” staff and strongly recommended their services to anyone in need. Furthermore, he discussed his present and future goals and promised to never become complacent. “I don’t know where I’d be without ASF’s staff,” Weaver said. “My present goals are to just continue on this path while not becoming content with life. My future goals are to get fully on my feet financially so that I can purchase land for my daughter to build her dream house on. But I want to buy land in a few different states, so she can choose where she wants to live.”

From homeless to looking to buy land, Mark Weaver is a true testament to the human spirit.

DETERMINED TO STRENGTHEN BALTIMORE THROUGH GOD

Giving Back to the Community

Roxane Prettyman is a pious and diligent Baltimorean who likes “making people feel happy and loved.” Prettyman worked for 39 years as a paralegal specialist for the Social Security Administration before retiring in 2018. However, as the vice president of the Western District Police Community Relations Council, vice president of the Fulton Community Association, and an avid, 30-year member of the First Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Prettyman remains as busy as ever. Prettyman discussed the First Mount Calvary Baptist Church and explained why going there has inspired her to give back to the community. “We call ourselves a compassionate, Christ- centered community,” Prettyman said. “Our focus as an outreach center is to try to service the needs of the people in the community in a Christian manner as best we can. I believe that being a resident of the community, knowing the needs and the people, allows me to communicate to the church family the needs of the community. In return, the church reaches out to build a community of loving, forgiving, and caring believers who share their lives and who are committed to serving God by serving others. I am so determined to do all I can to help others because I believe that God has assigned me this task.”

For more than three decades, the First Mount Calvary Baptist Church has offered free lunches to locals on Wednesdays. Even so, since the onset of the pandemic in March, the church has expanded its soup kitchen from one day per week to Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. “We serve everybody who walks up for a lunch,” Prettyman said. “It has helped those who would normally go hungry get a nice meal for the day. Since the pandemic, we have been serving grab- and-go lunches that basically consist of the same meals we would serve inside just in takeout containers. And now, instead of once a week, we are serving three days a week. Also, because kids have been out of school due to the pandemic, we make sure to serve them with a special treat.” Prettyman spoke about some of the key partnerships that she, along with Rev. Dr. Derrick DeWitt Sr. and her fellow churchgoers, have forged to help support the church’s mission. She also expressed appreciation for nearby businesses and mentioned the efforts of Dr. Lela Campbell, who founded a West Baltimore-based residential treatment facility called A Step Forward, Inc. (ASF) in 2002.

“We call ourselves a compassionate, Christ-centered community...”

- ROXANE PRETTYMAN

Working Together

In the meantime, expect Roxane Prettyman to stay focused on “making people feel happy and loved.”

“We have an established relationship with the Western District Police,” Prettyman said. “They are a valuable part of our community and the community outreach here at the church. The officers often come and help out or partner with us for any of our outreach programs and food service. I am well acquainted with the police majors we have had. We also have a wonderful partnership with A Step Forward, which is located just three blocks down from the church. The participants in this program have been tremendous. Dr. Lela Campbell is the director of this program and I serve on the Baltimore City Democratic State Central Committee with her for this district. We are also connected to some of the businesses in the area and can solicit their help for different events.”

Although encouraged by Baltimore’s upgrades, Prettyman knows there is ample room for improvement. Ultimately, she envisions a vibrant, bustling community that locals can enjoy without fretting about crime. “We need more people willing to help where needed,” Prettyman said. “I would like to see better housing and resources for the community. I’d also like to see a clean, crime-free community that has mixed-use development, commercial establishments, a physical fitness center, and a supermarket. I believe that, by working together, we can make this happen.”

Kamala Harris: The First of Many

Dressed in a purple coat and ensemble and with pearls around her neck, Kamala Harris stood beside the podium with her right hand on the Bible. A smile was pressed onto her lips as she waited to repeat the phrases of her oath of office as the newly elected vice president of the United States. She was both the first woman and Black woman to stand in that position. Born in Oakland, California to parents who emigrated from India and Jamaica, Harris grew up in the environ- ment of advocacy. Her parents were justice advocates and often brought her to demonstrations during the Civ- il Rights Movement. At a young age, she was introduced to activists like Constance Baker, Charles Hamilton Houston and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. She has said these individuals were role models whose work furthered her interest in attending law school. She boasts educational accomplishments and graduated from Howard University and the University of California’s Hastings College of Law. Once in her career, Harris became the first Black woman to serve as the district attorney for the county of San Francisco. In 2017, she was elected to the Senate and was only the second Black woman to serve in that position. Through her work, Harris has backed and sponsored legislation supporting criminal justice reform, an- ti-lynching and policies benefitting women and young girls. In her first speech as vice president-elect in No- vember 2020, she said she hopes to inspire and encourage other women across the country to shatter the barriers surrounding them in school, work and politics. “While I may be the first woman in this office, I won’t be the last because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.” During her initial campaign, Harris became one of only 11 Black women in the history of the United States to run for president. Though none of them won their

political races, the representation and historic events of their campaigns often encouraged minority voter registration and created valuable points of inspiration and progress for women and African Americans. Harris tailored her running points to Black Americans and con- sistently underlined her Jamaican and Indian roots.

“We did it, Joe. We did it.”

When she accepted Joe Biden’s request to join his campaign as vice president, she further opened a path that had been previously uncharted for minority groups across the country. “We did it, Joe. We did it,” she said after learning of their victory. While the iconic words signaled the end to efforts to win the election, they were a celebration of progress for the women, Black Ameri- cans and other minority groups who later watched the reaction. All throughout her campaign and the election, Kama- la Harris’ first name was often mispronounced, raising questions of how to enunciate the syllables containing the Indian meaning of “lotus flower.” Many Black men and women could identify with having names over which native English tongues would stutter. Hearing her name spoken correctly, however, in front of an audi- ence of the country’s top politicians and to the ears of millions of Americans on inauguration day solidified the tone of representation and respect Harris, her role models and activist predecessors have advocated for.

My mother would look at me, and she’d say, ‘Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last. That’s why breaking those barriers is worth it. As much as anything else, it is also to create that path for those who will come after us. - Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States “ ”

Crisis Growth THE and Support of BLACK-OWNED Businesses During THE Economic In a 2020 Pew Research study, 43% of Black adults surveyed reported they or someone else in their house- hold either was laid off or took a pay cut because of the pandemic, compared to 38% of white Americans who were surveyed.

able to rehire staff members that were laid off due to the financial stresses of the pandemic. For those that were not able to bring on their full staff, the increase in revenue went to paying all or portions of their building leases or purchasing prod- uct resources to keep up with the sudden surge in customer support. While customer contributions were soaring during this period, governmental assistance was at a low. As access to busi- ness funding has been historically more difficult for Black businesses to achieve than their white counterparts, receiving federal relief assistance during the pan- demic was also a struggle. With the distri- bution of the Paycheck Protection Pro- gram (PPP), only 20% of these loans were allocated to areas in the country with a lower proportion of Black businesses. The Small Business Majority group reported that 23% of Black owners who did not receive a PPP loan were told their appli- cations to receive the loan were denied, whereas only 9% of white owners from the survey were denied funding. Though federal support was generally lacking for these minority businesses, the strides of the business owners con- tinued. Black people who still had their jobs during the pandemic expanded their work hours to create businesses they ran in their time outside of their full-time jobs. Social media accounts, company websites and blogs dedicated pages of their platforms to creating informational content specifically for Black business owners. The momentum from the busi- ness support of 2020 paired with the growth of Black ownership generated a continued increase in the interest and founding of Black-owned businesses that were started with the hope of leading generational wealth and providing inde- pendence from biased financial systems. Buyers showed up virtually in droves to support Black businesses in whatever ways were feasible.

During this time, however, there was a surge of Black entrepreneurship and pro- motion of these businesses that served as additional sources of income for the minority group. In 2020, events around racial unrest led to heightened conversations around how to support independence and pros- perity among Black people. At a time when jobs and finances were at a spot of turmoil for many people, supporting Af- rican Americans financially became a fo- cal point. Buying from Black businesses was the most direct way to accomplish this and served as a way to increase wealth distribution among the communi- ty. It would also be an avenue to gradu- ally close the Black-white wealth gap. In June, many owners felt the surge of customers supporting their business- es. Many saw double, sometimes triple, their monthly earnings in the span of weeks. Customers slashed their frequent allegiance to large companies like Ama- zon, Target, and mall-based stores and redirected their attention to the local mi- nority shops trying to keep their doors open. Because many people were tighten- ing their wallets after experiencing the economic downturn from the pandemic, already established businesses encoun- tered difficulties in maintaining a con- sistent customer base. However, buyers showed up virtually in droves to support Black businesses in whatever ways were feasible. Hashtags like “#Blackbusiness,” #Blackowned,” and “#Buyblack” were trending on social media platforms as users encouraged supporting local busi- nesses and purchasing from Black-owned companies. Facebook donated $40 mil- lion in grants to small Black businesses across the country, and Yelp reported a 617% increase in reviews containing phrases like “black-owned.” As a result of these actions focused on financially assisting these business- es, Black companies saw an exponential climb in customer engagement, height- ened brand awareness and press cover- age along with their increase in service requests and product orders. Many were

The Increasing Influence of America’s Black Vote Since 1992, no candidate has won the Democratic nomination without receiving a majority of the black vote

A s Biden took his official oath during the presidential inauguration alongside Kamala Harris on Jan. 20, 2021, he and Black voters across the country were aware of their pivotal factor in the two leaders winning the election. This was reflected during the voting period in cities with large populations of Black voters. Preliminary national exit polls showed about 87% of Black voters favored Biden over Trump. Those numbers were specifically divided between the votes of 19% of all Black men and 9% of all Black women in America. Exit poll data also show that Black Americans represented more than 50% of all Democratic voters in Geor- gia. Large numbers were also reflected in states like Michigan and Pennsylvania. In February 2020, Rep. James Clyburn, the House majority whip and highest-ranking African American in Congress, endorsed Biden three days before the South Carolina primary. Many Demo- cratic voters living in the southeastern state said Clyburn’s endorsement was a swaying factor in their decision to vote for Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris. Last year, the number of votes Black Americans accounted for was more than triple what they were only a few decades ago. While the influence of the Black vote held a significant role, its power was overtly apparent in the 2016 campaign that followed the 2008 election garnering 13% of Black votes, 95% of which were for Barack Obama. It’s why Donald Trump focused so much of his campaign on winning the vote of Black Americans during his 2016 campaign. “What do you have to lose by trying something new, like Trump? I will produce for the inner cities. I will produce for the African Americans,” he said. Trump’s effort to appeal to African Americans portrayed the growing dynamic of catering to Black voters that had been growing since much earlier years in history. In 1972, Shirley Chisholm launched what was a historic campaign and became the first African American to run for a Democratic presidential nom- ination. She’d become the first Black U.S. Congress- woman and was a co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus. Under her slogan “Unbought and Un- bossed,” Chisholm wanted her campaign to be an in- augural avenue for other Black Americans to run for the presidency. She strived to change the narrative that only white men could run for or hold the coun- try’s executive position. and her campaign picked up record numbers of votes from Black women.

In 1976, on the day before the New Hampshire primary, presidential candidates Sargent Shriver, Morris Udall, Jimmy Carter, Henry Jackson, Fred Harris and Milton Shapp were the Democratic names on the ticket. This election was like the oth- ers during its time, as all-white spreads of candidates were typical. The Voting Rights Act was just 10 years old at the time, and Black voters would only make up 10% of the voting population. In 1984, however, the leader of Operation PUSH, Rev. Jesse Jackson, became the second African American to run for president. His campaign en- couraged extensive voter registration among African Americans. Black voters in New Jersey, for example, represented 20% of the June Democratic primary electorate. This was nearly triple the percentage these votes accounted for in 1980. On Super Tues- day, Jackson received 21% of votes in Georgia, a state known for its large Black population. His campaign expanded the role of Black voters in U.S. elections. Last year, the number of votes Black Americans accounted for was more than triple what they were only a few decades ago. Forty years later, by the time campaigns began for the 2020 election, much had changed, and Black voter registration was steadily on the rise as the U.S. displayed one of its most diverse list of candidates. There were four Black major Democratic candidates, including Wayne Messam of Florida, Cory Book- er of New Jersey, Deval Patrick of Massachusetts and Kamala Harris of California. A much wider spread of representation on the Democratic ticket brought higher percentages of Black voters to the polls. These numbers were exponentially higher and incomparable to the 1976 election and several others of its time. Since 1992, no candidate has won the Democratic nomination without receiving a majority of the black vote. As a minority group, the growing influence of the votes of Black Americans will often be respon- sible for bringing historical change to the United States.

Then and Now: A Look at Two of America's Most Prolific Racial Justice Movements

The protests and demonstrations that followed characterized black Lives Matter as a grassroots movement

T wo movements. Two vastly different periods in history. One cause. The Civil Rights and Black Lives Matter movements were cre- ated for the purpose of establishing and furthering positive societal practices and treatment of African Americans. Though they differ in time periods, leaders and specific motivating events, they were both led and founded upon activism for justice and equality for Black people. Started in the mid-1950s, the Civil Rights Movement was a social movement with the goal to end discrimination and racial segregation toward African Amer- icans. It was known for its non-violent approaches to addressing and calling attention to acts of racial discrimination. Lunch counter sit-ins and the Montgom- ery Bus Boycott that involved 42,000 people and lasted more than a year are some of its most notable examples. Black Lives Matter is an international political and activist movement that be- gan in 2013 within the Black community to demand and support practices against violence toward African Americans. Dismantling platforms and operations that are breeders for racial violence and police brutality are one of its foundation- al pillars. In its early development and throughout demonstrations and protests, social media users rapidly increased the prominence of the movement by circu- lating the hashtag “#BlackLivesMatter.” The Black Lives Matter Network was later formed and provides an online platform for organizers and activists to share plans, resources and goals. Posts and conversations arose after the unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmer- man, a neighborhood watch coordinator. Zimmerman was acquitted following Martin’s death. The protests and demon- strations that followed characterized Black Lives Matter as a grassroots move- ment whose participants were often will-

ing to radically approach their cause. For both the Civil Rights and Black Lives Matter movements, violence of- ten ensued, even if not intended by its participants. Demonstrators during the 1950s and 60s were met with fire hoses cranked to dangerous pressures, attacked by police dogs and shot by police. Those involved in Black Lives Matter protests have been protesting police brutality both outside of and within their demon- strations. On Aug. 10, 2014, protests and riots brewed after 18-year-old African American Michael Brown was shot and killed by a white police officer in Fergu- son, Missouri. Tensions grew between protestors and police, and officers arrived in riot gear to dispel crowds looting and vandalizing property. The following day, police deployed tear gas and rubber bul- lets at protestors. The movement again received height- ened international attention after George Floyd was killed outside a convenience store by a white police officer. More than 20 million people were estimated to have participated in the national protests as thousands of others also marched in the streets of countries around the globe. “I can’t breathe,” “No justice, no peace,” “Defund the police” and “Don’t shoot” were words that became common during these protests. With the modern-day widespread use of social media, people around the world are able to learn about and participate in Black Lives Matter demonstrations. During last year’s protests, activists in other countries plastered the movement’s hashtag as they tore down and shattered statues of historical figures who were known to be slave owners. The global attention placed on these events brought national attention to the movement and a continued understanding of the events and calls for change that fueled the Civil Rights Movement.

takeastepforward.org (410) 462-6001

800 NORTH FULTON AVENUE, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21217

takeastepforward.org

(410) 462-6001

800 NORTH FULTON AVENUE, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21217

TO REACH BALT IMOREANS Outreach continues Fayette Street A Step Forward Inc. has been blessed to have Timothy Bridges, a staple within District 44 A, heading its board. A Step Forward has also part- nered with Mr. Bridges at Fayette Street Outreach as a means of giving back to our community. Here is more on Tim Bridges and Fayette Street Outreach... Edna Manns-Lake, Timothy Bridges, and Sterling Brunson have spent decades trying to ensure that Baltimore keeps its Charm. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Southwest Baltimore was impoverished and suffer- ing the negative consequences of its losing battle against drug abuse and drug trafficking. In the midst of this tumultuous era, Manns-Lake and some local community members met at her mother’s house to devise a com- prehensive plan to combat the flow of narcotics and restore order and safety. That meeting ultimately led to the creation of a nonprofit organization called Fayette Street Outreach (FSO) in 1993. “Our first ever project was the youth beautifi- cation,” Manns-Lake, who also serves

as FSO’s president, recalled. “We cleaned up the neighborhood and boarded-up houses. We also began working with the police to identify drug hot spots in the area. Back in the mid-’90s through the middle of the 2000s, drug trafficking was very heavy on the west side and the community came together to fight against the drug activity that was going on. We actually stood in front of payphones to disrupt the dealers’ business. We didn’t eliminate it, but it’s down to a crawl. People feel much safer. There is also some new development underway in the area.” Bridges, who graduated from Southwestern High School and serves as FSO’s vice president and as the board chair of A Step Forward, a local non profit alcohol, drug and mental health organization, discussed the state of local drug dealing. He also applauded the community as a whole and noted the importance of funding to support their mission. “Currently, a lot of drug activity is being done by youngsters who we watched grow up,” Bridges said. “Many of these children were always

counted out and told that they wouldn’t amount to anything. Some of the kids feel like they have no other options, and the street corners are always hiring. Basically, because some feel like they don’t have an alternative to drug dealing, we aren’t on an even playing field. Fortunately, one thing that makes our communi-

ty strong is the resilience of the people. We have people who will put them to work and aren’t afraid to teach them different trades, but we need the funding.” A graduate of nearby Morgan State University, Brunson is proud of the impact that FSO has had on the community. He also emphasized the essential importance of building trust with locals and how it causes a trickle-down effect. “We’ve been in existence for 27 years,” Brunson, FSO’s treasurer, said. “Our goal is to make the community better than when we received it, but our passion for work comes from giving people a chance to better themselves. What drives me is the gratitude on people’s faces when we help meet a need for them and I think we are good stewards in the community. Integrity and word of mouth are what allow us to grow. You can advertise all you want, but your word has to be your bond. You have to do what you say you are going to do and our work speaks for itself and the community sees that. Once you establish trust, people come in droves. You may start by helping a grandmother in need, but you end up also helping her grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. It’s all about trust.” Among accomplishments over nearly three decades, FSO has developed a coding program, erected a green-

house, unveiled children and youth mentoring pro- grams, and opened an internet radio podcast station. Perhaps most importantly, the organization founded the Fayette Street Outreach Center in April 2019. Manns-Lake and Bridges credited the invaluable efforts of the late Elijah Cummings, who was a civil rights champion and the former representative for Maryland’s 7th congressional district. In 2002, Cummings secured $100,000 from the Baltimore City Department of Hous- ing and Community Development (DHCD) to help construct the center. Manns-Lake also expressed appreciation for the key contributions of Del. Keith Haynes of Baltimore. “(Keith) is very supportive of our cause,” Manns-Lake said. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without him.” Bridges echoed Manns-Lake’s sentiments and laud- ed Haynes’ commitment to FSO. He also praised the efforts of FSO’s many partners, Del. Ruth M. Kirk, Del. Jeffrey A. Paige, and the former president of Bon Sec- ours Baltimore Health System, Dr. Samuel Ross. “Our partners are crucial to our organization,” Bridges said. “Our great partners include, but are not limited to, Wells Fargo, the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), Kaiser Permanente, LifeBridge Health, Care- First, the Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF), Nation’s Best Moving & Hauling, the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF), L&J Waste Recycling and Busy Bee’s Child Care. We are incredibly thankful for all of their help.” It is evident that, with assistance from residents, pol- iticians, community leaders and non profits such as A Step Forward, FSO has had an extremely positive impact on Baltimore. It is also evident that, with much work remaining, Edna Manns-Lake, Timothy Bridges, Sterling Brunson, and their colleagues remain deter- mined to further strengthen and reinvigorate Charm City.

“Our goal is to make the community better than when we received it, but our passion for work comes from giving people a chance to better themselves.”

-Sterling Brunson

Mental

Disparities

in

Health

Care

in the

Black

Community

W hen it comes to addressing mental health in the Black community, there are a num- ber of barriers and stigmas an individual may need to overcome if they desire to receive treat- ment. This accounts for the gap in the rate of Black people who receive treatment for concerns about their mental health as compared to white people. This can be attributed to several factors, including stigmas associated with mental illness, a lack of diversity and cultural competency among treatment providers and difficulty accessing affordable insurance and services. Thus, those offering treatment in this field must work to recognize, understand and address these factors to ensure they are overcoming these obstacles and providing quality care to this minority group. Mental health therapists and counselors working specifically with Black clients report a stigma that is attached to mental health services that creates a gap between mental health awareness and solutions. Black families often have the narrative of keeping family business private, or not inviting outside sources into matters within the home. “What happens in this house stays in this house,” is a mantra many individuals can recall hearing. However, phrases like this create men- talities that inhibit constructive expression or discus- sion of these situations to licensed professionals who can assist in working through specific issues. According to the Department of Health and Hu- man Services Office of Minority Health, Black adults are more likely than white adults to report persistent

symptoms of emotional distress. Of that group, those adults who live below the poverty line are more than twice as likely to report serious psychological distress than those who are more financially secure. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) reported Black people are 20 percent more likely to experi- ence serious mental health problems than the gen- eral population. This can be largely explained by a hesitance to seek care until they experience a crisis in their mental health. Additionally, historical factors play a part in af- fecting the access and quality of care that may be available to people of color. Slavery and segregation, along with other race-based exclusions, have created socioeconomic disparities within the Black commu- nity. These exclusions range from nearly every field, including education, finance and certainly mental health. Systemic racism has spanned further than just social implications, but it has also grown to affect the medical education, practice and research that creates the opportunity for qualityn care. The APA reported Black people are less frequently included in medical research and studies that can lead to more adequate treatment, funding and outreach for mental health programs and services. The organization found, compared to white people, Black clients are less likely to receive guideline-consistent care. They also often receive poorer quality of care, with less access to cul- turally competent care. With respect to a lack of diversity within the men-

“Black clients are less likely to receive guideline-consistent care. They also often receive poorer quality of care.”

tal health field, the APA found only two percent of psychiatrists are Black. A study from the University of Michigan reported white people account for about 95 percent of psychologists, 85 percent of social workers and 80 percent of counselors. With these sweeping percentages, many of the theories and practices of mental health have come from under- standings of the majority population, leaving little room to thoroughly study and apply those of minori- ties. To address these factors of diversity and cultural competency, those working in the field of mental health have the responsibility to improve the lives of their Black patients. This will require thoughtfully considering the historical, cultural and individual factors that influence the care that is given to this population of patients. Counselors can work to en- sure they educate themselves on the experiences of Black patients and the obstacles they have worked to overcome by seeking out care. Providers must also actively listen and evaluate each relationship to strengthen their alliance with patients and be more intentional in including more people of color in their staffing. Within the Black community, both families and individuals can work toward a more accepting perspective of taking mental health assessments and receiving care. These intentional actions can begin to bridge the gap in the Black community in regards to mental health and improve standards of psychological care.

Katrina Leonard explored many unique professional fields before becoming an independent contractor at A Step Forward, Inc. (ASF), a spiritually based, nonprofit organization in Baltimore that provides support services to individuals recovering from drug and alcohol abuse. Born and raised in Cleveland, Leonard began studying communications at The University of Akron in nearby Akron, Ohio. Around this time, she accepted a position as an account executive for a broadcast television network and then later as an account executive at a popular radio station in Philadelphia. Following a successful stint in the City of Brotherly Love, Leonard started working with a California-based bail bond insurance provider called American Surety in 1997. Roughly 23 years later, in April 2020, the entrepreneur began representing Bankers Surety, a Saint Petersburg, Florida-headquartered bail bond insurance provider. It was here that Leonard became Maryland’s first African-American woman to secure employment as a managing general agent. “Before becoming a managing general agent, I had already established a great friendship with A Step Forward’s founder, Dr. Lela Campbell, and her husband, Robert Campbell,” Leonard, who serves as the CEO at Greater Baltimore Bail Agencts Inc., said. “In fact, Robert is like a brother to me and he helped me become a managing general agent. Last year, Dr. Campbell and I flew to Florida and discussed a holistic approach to criminal reform and I asked if she’d partner her organization with my company to address mental wellness and substance abuse issues. I thought about our respective clients and realized that many of them, especially ones in Baltimore City, are repeat offenders because they suffer from substance abuse or mental wellness. Many of these people aren’t receiving the right diagnosis and they’re getting wrongly placed in criminal systems. So, Dr. Campbell and I kind of became partners, and things are really starting to gel.” Leonard takes great pride in her clients’ success stories. In fact, she marvels at some of the stunning transformations she has witnessed over the years.

-Katrina Leonard “I never want to stop learning.”

Keeps Taking A Step Forward atrina Leonard