I don’t often mention it in this space, but every print issue of Baltimore Beat has a resource guide printed inside. The guide, which offers information about employment services, food giveaways, employment support, and more, is our way of being active and helpful members of our community. We provide it every two weeks in these pages and also on our website — always for free.
I love journalism and storytelling, and I know they are important, but I also know that in times like these, people need material support, too. That’s also why, when we relaunched three years ago, we rolled out our Baltimore Beat boxes. In addition to serving as places to pick up the paper, the boxes are points of contact where people can help provide for their neighbors.
In times like these, people need material support.
Things haven’t exactly been easy for any of us for some time, but we are winding down a particularly brutal year with hundreds of thousands of federal workers waylaid by the government shutdown. Additionally, as this issue went to print, lots of questions remain about if and when people who are Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients will get access to benefits.
It’s important that every one of us step outside of ourselves and do more to help one another than ever before.
To that end, in this issue, we are republishing a piece from our friends at Baltimore Magazine detailing the ways that Baltimore organizations are showing up for federal workers impacted by the shutdown. In their list, you’ll find information about places to get or give food, places offering discounted meals, and more.
Beat contributor Logan Hullinger also wrote about the steps city and state leaders are taking to bolster food programs, childcare assistance programs, and more during this difficult time.
Though things are grim, there are always things to celebrate and in this issue, Baltimore Beat contributor Angela N. Carroll writes about the genius of Amy Sherald’s new exhibition “American Sublime,” now on view at the Baltimore Museum of Art.
“Sherald paints portraits that are more than paintings,” Carroll writes. “They are iconic ruminations that read you while you think you’re reading them.”
Journalist Teri Henderson sat down with Sherald ahead of the artist’s Baltimore homecoming and detailed some of her thoughts. She told Henderson that coming back to the BMA was truly a full-circle moment.
“I used to be a waitress here at Gertrude’s, and at that time, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but I was gonna keep pushing forward until something did.”
Images of Sherald were captured by SHAN Wallace.
There’s so much more within these pages, including a photostory on Baltimore marching bands, November tarotscopes, and a review of Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein.” We hope you enjoy them.
As always, thank you so much for reading.