Congratulations to the graduating class of Business Volunteers Maryland’s GIVE Fellowship. On Friday, November 13, 2020, Business Volunteers will host a virtual celebration to recognize forty-six rising professionals who amplified their civic engagement, deepened their relationship with Baltimore, and connected with community leaders from across the region. The 2020 class of GIVE will join a network of 450+ GIVE alumni.

When Business Volunteers transformed the fellowship into a virtual experience due to COVID-19, the GIVE Advisory Projects (GAP) remained a core component of the program. The GAP connected nonprofits with GIVE fellows who served as skilled volunteers over a six-month period. From conducting interviews to participating in volunteer activities, GIVE Fellows worked in small teams to learn about their nonprofit partner, the community served by the organization, and the challenges faced by the nonprofit’s leaders. Teams were paired with a GIVE alumnus who served as their project mentor as fellows followed a collaborative process. Each year, GAP teams develop recommendations and solutions that increased nonprofits’ capacity to do good. better.

This year’s GIVE fellows were introduced to collective impact practices and partnered with organizations committed to strengthening Baltimore for youth. GIVE fellows will present their projects with their teams during graduation.

Our graduating fellows, their GAP teams, and the alumni mentors are presented below.

2020 GIVE Advisory Project Teams

Baltimore Food Parks 

Works to improve vacant lots, conduct scientific research, and help conserve Baltimore’s greenspace/wildlife through community engagement. 

• Alec Mitchell, CBRE, Inc.
• Brian Lasan, City of Baltimore
• Jessica Duvall, Rosenberg Martin Greenberg LLP
• Rebecca Moschina, Continental Realty Corporation
• Zainab Farhat, Annie E. Casey Foundation
• Project Mentor: Kaitlin Brennan (GIVE 2019)

Community Law In Action (CLIA) 

Develops young people to be leaders and advocates to advance positive community change through public policy.  

• Ashley Monroe, BGE
• Benjamin Fertig
• Jesse Haladay, T. Rowe Price
• Michael Mercado, Northrop Grumman
• Sandra Herrera
• Project Mentor: Samantha Myrick (GIVE 2019)

HASA (The Hearing & Speech Agency) 

Connects people to their worlds through hearing and speech-language services, interpreting, and education.  

• Aaron Nichols, Whiteford, Taylor & Preston
• Lauren Novsak, Business Volunteers Maryland
• Tamara Arnold, Baltimore Corps
• Timothy Sugrue, PWC
• Project Mentor: Ashley Webb (GIVE 2014)

iMentor 

Builds mentoring relationships that empower first-generation students from low-income communities to graduate high school, succeed in college, and achieve their ambition.  

• Aaron Fishbein, Transamerica
• Alicia Dennis, CohnReznick LLP
• Emily Plahanski, SIG
• Molly Hayeslip, Baltimore Collegetown Network
• Project Mentor: Jhonell Campbell (GIVE 2017)

Improving Education (Bedtime in A Box) 

An initiative of Improving Education, Bedtime in A Box partners with community institutions to distribute a curated package of components designed to increase regular and routine exposure to literacy.  

• Brian Gordon, Brown Advisory Inc.
• Catherine Patterson, de Beaumont Foundation
• Elie Calm Gorfine, Schiller & Gardyn PA
• Jennifer Bove, Atapco Financial Services, Inc.
• Meagan Mallen, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School
• Project Mentor: Craig Heron (GIVE 2017)

Middle Grades Partnership 

Provides students from both Public and Private schools with widely different life experiences the opportunity to work together toward a common goal.  

• Angela Bossle, Prometric
• Brett Sanders, PwC
• Eryn Lessard, KIPP Baltimore
• Kyle Jenson, M&T Bank
• Project Mentor: Austin Tremblay (GIVE 2018)

MissionFit 

Provides a safe space, resources for health, and an environment for continued personal growth. 

• Beth H. McGuire, BGE
• Kevin Shields, Harborside Group
• Moe Shoots, Baltimore Ravens
• Rachel Feldman, Pearlstone
• Tatiana Beato, Erickson Living
• Project Mentor: Rachel Thompson (GIVE 2019)

Patterson Park Public Charter School, Inc. 

Provides a community-centered learning environment that values diversity and embraces a whole child approach to develop well-educated citizens.   

• Alex Chiang, SimplyAgree
• Amanda Parsley, State Employees Credit Union (SECU)
• Jheannelle Laguerre, Exelon Corporation
• Stephen Pfaffenhauser, T. Rowe Price
• Project Mentor: Colleen Helak (GIVE 2019)

The One Love Foundation 

Educates young people about healthy and unhealthy relationships to empower them to identify and avoid abuse and learn how to love better.  

• Amanda Chong, Gordon Feinblatt LLC
• Benjamin Suttman, Under Armour
• Derrick Pendleton, Legg Mason
• Jamie Nash, Think Stack
• Katie Blacketor, Mindgrub Technologies
• Project Mentor: Kelly Tallant (GIVE 2018)

Y in Central Maryland 

Advances a holistic approach to well-being that strengthens the community’s commitment to healthy living, youth development and social responsibility.  

• Callie Tucker, Kramon & Graham, PA
• Colin Kendall, SC&H Group
• Joseph Creamer, Planit Advertising, Inc.
• Laura Collins, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C.
• Trena Oakley, Sontiq, Inc.
• Project Mentor: Krystina Wales (GIVE 2018)

Applying for the 2021 GIVE Fellowship

Are you interested in learning more about the GIVE Fellowship? Would you like to nominate an individual for the 2021 class? Complete this interest form. Applications for the 2021 GIVE Fellowship will open in December.

About the GIVE Fellowship

GIVE is a multi-month fellowship offered through Business Volunteers Maryland that prepares rising leaders in Baltimore for civic engagement and community leadership. Over 125 companies in Baltimore have committed to community engagement through sponsoring GIVE fellows. To learn more, visit the GIVE program page.

About Business Volunteers Maryland

Business Volunteers Maryland works with regional employers to build strategic connections between businesses, professionals and the nonprofit community.  Business Volunteers consults with businesses, trains and places business professionals on nonprofit boards; develops civic leaders; manages and matches teams with meaningful skilled and direct service volunteer opportunities; creates partnerships between companies and the community, and much more.

We had a blast at our second Civic Leadership Workshop of the 2019 series – based on Patrick Lencioni’s “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” – and yesterday we covered… conflict!

Participants gained an understanding of the different conflict-handling modes affecting interpersonal and group dynamics: competing, collaborating, compromising, avoiding, and accommodating. Participants can now identify the mode used by others, as well as choose the appropriate style for any situation.