Community Partners are essential to the ongoing work of the Baltimore Curriculum Project (BCP). Dozens of organizations and nonprofits assist in the daily work of our network schools to help BCP improve the lives of students, teachers/staff, and the families served by BCP’s network of neighborhood conversion charter schools.
This month, we are pleased to showcase The Church of the Redeemer, a historic Episcopalian church in North Baltimore, and its longstanding work with Govans Elementary School. BCP’s founder Dr. Muriel Berkeley is a parishioner at The Church of the Redeemer. Her foundational work with and vision for BCP were key to Redeemer’s over-two-decade partnership with BCP. The Rev. Cristina Paglinauan, Associate Rector for Community Engagement, has helped to guide and coordinate Redeemer’s partnership with Govans Elementary for over a decade.
The relationship connects at a foundational level that aligns with the church’s and school’s mission for being engaged in the wider community.
We’re neighbors and are about a mile apart. Trying to be a good neighbor is at the heart of our partnership with Govans.
Backpack and school supplies distribution
Over the years, Redeemer staff and volunteers (parishioners) have tutored in classrooms, read to Govans students, and addressed immediate needs through generous drives to support families. While today, Govans’ partnership like Loyola University Maryland students address classroom needs, Redeemer continues to sponsor coat drives in the winter and most recently, donated school supplies for back to school last month.
Redeemer focuses much of its community engagement on supporting Govans’ educators. The church is one of the sponsors for Teacher Appreciation week and for the first week in August when educators return to school.
Christmas gifts from Redeemer
Redeemer members volunteer in some capacity for Govans. Each December, Govans Principal Bernarda Kwaw, is a reader at Redeemer’s Lessons and Carols, after which she picks up the the holiday boxed dinners that Redeemer creates – each dinner also includes mittens and other winter necessities – and delivers them to Govans families in need.
The Redeemer Parish Day School also partners with a Govans’ 1st grade class through the Parish Day School’s “Hi, Neighbor” outreach program. The students communicate and participate in activities together each year. Two years ago, Fox Baltimore news covered this unique collaboration.
Another highlight is Dale Dabney, a Redeemer parishioner and noted children’s book author, who has visited Govans to work with students on writing their own books.
The partnership has grown in recent years to include Govans loaning books from their school library to Redeemer to have available for children from southwest Baltimore to read during the weeklong “Paul’s Place Summer Camp” hosted by the church in July.
“A successful school partnership is built on a shared vision, mutual respect, and collaboration where both institutions grow together,” says Principal Kwaw. “The Church of the Redeemer has exceeded the expectation and continues to help Govans Elementary provide a conducive learning environment where every student and staff member thrives.”
Thank you, Church of the Redeemer, for your commitment to your neighbor, Govans Elementary, and for your ongoing mission of helping Baltimore’s communities in need.
To learn more about the Redeemer/Govans Partnership, contact:
The Rev. M. Cristina Paglinauan
410-435-7333 ext. 230
Interested in partnering with BCP schools? Learn more and read about other community partners.
