40th Anniversary Program

Chesapeake Center
for Youth
Development
40th AnniversaryCelebration
Lifting Young
Lives
1974-2014
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Embassy Suites Grand Historic Venue
6:00 to 9:00 pm
Board Presidents
Melvyn Leshinsky, 1974 - 1978
Dr. Loretta Bender, 1979
Dr. Robert Davenport, 1980
William Dugdale, 1981 - 1990
Dr. Sanford R. Cohen. 1991 - 1999
Richard Watkins, 2000 - 2002
Victor Romita, 2003 - 2004
Sharon A. H. May, 2005 - 2008
Peter Saar, 2009 - 2013
Michael Lortie, 2014
Current Board
Calvin Anderson, Jr.
Lorraine Cornish
Edward Drum
Theresa A. Furnari
Jerome C. Gray, AIA
Michael Lortie
David Marvel
Arthur C. Robinson
Brian Sturdivant
Sam Ulan
Kerry Vayda
Elizabeth Ann Whitehurst
Briana W. Wilton
Visit us at
www.ccyd.org
Event Committee
Michael Lortie, Theresa A. Furnari, Lorraine Cornish, Peter Saar, Brian Sturdivant
Honorary Committee Members
Chief Judge Robert M. Bell (Retired), Karen L. Sitnick, Ian Neuman, Paul Graziano
Kurt L. Schmoke
Kurt L. Schmoke was appointed President of the University of Baltimore in May,
2014. Mr. Schmoke earned his undergraduate degree in history from Yale University. While at Yale he co-founded a child care center that has been in continuous operation as the Calvin Hill Day Care Center and Kindergarten since 1970. He pursued
graduate studies on a Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford University and earned his Juris
Doctor degree from Harvard Law School. Mr. Schmoke served as the mayor of Baltimore City for 12 years from 1987 to 1999, and was the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City from 1982 to 1987.
During his tenure as mayor, Mr. Schmoke initiated a number of programs in the areas of housing, education,
public health and economic development. In 1992, President George H.W. Bush awarded him the National
Literacy Award for his efforts to promote adult literacy, and in 1994 President Bill Clinton praised his programs
to improve public housing and enhance community economic development. Mr. Schmoke’s other public service includes his appointment as Assistant Director, White House Domestic Policy Staff under President Jimmy
Carter, and service as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Maryland.
After completing three terms as Mayor of Baltimore, Mr. Schmoke returned to the practice of law. He was a
partner in the law firm of Wilmer, Cutler and Pickering. Mr. Schmoke was appointed Dean of Howard University School of Law in January, 2003 and served in that capacity until July, 2012, at which time, he was appointed
General Counsel for the university. Mr. Schmoke is married to Dr. Patricia Schmoke, an ophthalmologist. They have two adult children, Gregory
and Katherine.
Program
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6:00 PM - Cocktails
7:10 PM - Welcome/Introductory Remarks
Ivan Leshinsky, Executive Director
7:15 PM - Diner
8:00 PM - Key Note Speaker and Honored Guest
Kurt Schmoke, President, University of Baltimore
8:20 PM - Closing Remarks
Michael Lortie, President of the Board, CCYD
8:30 – Dessert
Tim McFadden Glass Art Sale
with proceeds to benefit CCYD
Sponsors and Recognition
Table Sponsors
Theresa A.Furnari
Mecu
Carroll Nordoff
Neuman Family
Peter Saar
Sam Ulan
American Federation of Teachers
Special Appreciation
Victor Romita Family Fund
William and Susannah Rienhoff
Family Fund
Aaron and Lillie Straus Foundation
Special Thanks to Flexprint Graphics in
Brooklyn for their assistance with printing.
CCYD’s 40 Year Odyssey
As local school systems developed
their own special education programs
after the passage of the 1974 Special Education for the Handicapped
Act, the Chesapeake Educational
Foundation (CCYD’s former name)
began redefining its mission to offer
programs for young people that had
come to the attention of the Department of Juvenile Services. Programs
and services, then and now, focused
on socialization and helping students
prepare themselves with education
and skills that would lead to a brighter future.
In 1978, after years of operating
from Sunday school rooms unused
by churches during the week, the
Chesapeake Center, as it had come
to be known, established its headquarters in the long abandoned Crisp
Memorial Presbyterian Church in the
Brooklyn neighborhood of Baltimore
City. The organization took an important step in securing its future by
eventually purchasing the church and
property for $115,000 in 1982 from
Nelson Neuman. Mr. Neuman held
the mortgage, which originally had
been amortized over 13 years, only to
turn the property over to CCYD free
and clear after 5 or 6 years.
The organization was renamed the
Chesapeake Center for Youth Development (CCYD )in 1996 to better
reflect its mission. Having secured
1974
1975 1976
Chesapeake Educational Foundation and Chesapeake School
established in
Annapolis to
serve special
education students
1977
a permanent home, in the late 80’s
and 90’s, the organization could now
concentrate on expanding programs,
adding new services and improving
facilities. Funded by the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development and
more recently under the City’s Community Development Block Grant and
foundation grants, one of these new
offerings was the South Baltimore
Career Center – a “One Stop” for
out of school youth – providing GED
preparation, job training and internships for older teens.
CCYD ultimately established a building trades program and prepared
students for careers in food services
in conjunction with the operation
of Baltimore’s iconic Hollywood
Diner. After-school programs were
initiated at two neighborhood sites
during 2000 to address a long standing community need. In 2005 with a
21st Century Learning Center Grant,
CCYD opened “Changz” another
after-school program at Ben Franklin
Middle School.
CCYD’s emerging Clinical Social Work
Department under the guidance and
supervision of Erica Rosen, LCSWC, also made great strides during
this period. In 2000, CCYD assumed
operation of the JIFI Project (Juvenile
Intervention Family Independence)
in Anne Arundel County, followed
by a growing presence there which
1978
1979
now includes the Rediscovering Me
Clubhouse and the Peak, a new Youth
Services Bureau in Glen Burnie. CCYD
is also proudly facilitating and coordinating the Northern Lights Against
Substance Abuse Coalition in Northern Anne Arundel County.
In what can best be described as a
tumultuous year, 2014 also saw the
Department of Juvenile Services end
its contract with CCYD essentially
forcing the closing of CCYD’s MSDE
certified Chesapeake Alternative
School and continuing a government pattern of defunding community based programs. The school
affectionately described by its MSDE
monitor as “The last twig on the
branch”, had a 36 year run in the
Brooklyn community.
Lastly, CCYD being IN, OF and FOR
the community, was recognized by
the Mayor’s Office of Employment
Development as a Community Job
Hub and took on the leadership role
in expanding “Docs in the Park.” This
latter collaborative program model
is a partnership with Baltimore City’s
Department of Recreation and Parks
and the American Academy of Pediatrics. These combined efforts provide
powerful tools and resources to address the many health-related issues
facing the City and CCYD’s primary
constituency.
1980
1981
1982 1983
Chesapeake Center establishes
a home in Brooklyn
Career Center established in Crownsville
for Anne Arundel
County youth
ivan Leshinsky (right) appointed
Executive Director
William Douglas (left) elected
President
Mission and Programs
Mission
Founded in 1974, CCYD’s mission addresses the educational and developmental needs of youth at high risk
of encountering serious problems due to educational deficits, troubled family relationships, juvenile delinquency, and limited employment opportunities. To help and encourage young people to set realistic goals
for themselves and help them realize those goals, CCYD provides high quality and comprehensive services
through programs and partnerships with other organizations.
We’ve been lifting young
lives for 40 years.
J
ust because young people dig themselves a hole, doesn’t mean they can’t pull themselves
out. Since 1974, The Chesapeake Center for Youth Development has been providing educational opportunities, vocational training, counseling, and recreational activities for thousands of young people with programs and services built around concepts of positive youth
develop­ment, based on proven evidence and actual best practices. Through the Chesapeake
Alternative School, the “Changz” after school program, the Rediscovering Me Clubhouse, the
Peak Youth Services Bureau, many Workforce Development initiatives, Active Community Days,
Docs in the Park and other programs, young people have learned to be responsible, self-sufficient, productive and goal oriented.
19841985 1986 1987
1988 1899 1990
1991
1992
1993
First Bowl-A-Thon
fundraiser draws 200
participants
CCYD’s Furniture Refinishing
workshop shifts
to woodworking
and manufacture
of lawn chairs and
tables
City of Baltimore and the
Department of Juvenile Services turn over management
of Kids Diner to Chesapeake.
Restaurant is renamed Holywood Diner.
Staff and students
move into Chesapeake
Center’s new educational and administrative wing.
In Their Words
New Years Resolution
My biggest goal is to get my life together for my family and myself. Part of getting my life
together is getting my G.E.D. and saying good bye to probation. I want to complete my
G.E.D. so I can go to college. I am really hoping that the program at Chesapeake Alternative
School will help me with everything I am struggling with right now so I can move on with
my life. (E.T.)
“ I would return to CCYD to learn a million times
and over.” E.W. (AOP)
I am Learning New Things
Today is my first day in the PreGED class and I am beginning to remember some things I thought I had forgotten. I am also learning new things. In Math this morning I learned Angle Skills. My teacher also made me
solve an equation so that she would see if I remembered my algebra skills. I learned how to set up the body of
a 5 paragraph essay using the 1-3-1 rule. I really feel like I am learning and my memory is being refreshed on
things I had forgotten. The staff is very helpful, and so far, I am glad to be here. (T. K.)
“I learned that no matter what the statistics say against me, I can make it.”
Workforce Development
The school has been very helpful to me. They helped me find a job at
Barking Lots which is amazing because I get to work with animals. I am
taught in my class at my own pace by my teacher which helps me retain
what I have been taught. this is the first school i have attended without
being kicked out. I am maintaining an A/B
average and I am constantly reminded that
I am an execellent student which never
happened before. I wish school would start
later than 9 AM. That is the only thing I can
say I would like changed in the school. (E.C.)
“I now earn better grades than I did in the past.” T.K.
1994 1995 1996 1997
1998
1999
2000 2001
Chesapeake receives
certification from
Maryland Department of Education as
first nonpublic, nonresidential General
Education School for
adjudicated youth.
Erica Rosen,LCSW-C, increases
CCYD’S outreach to youth and
families through expanded clinical services.
2002
2003
2004
South Baltimore Career
Center opened, offering GED
prep, job training and internships for young people.
Director’s Message
A 40th Anniversary Message from Ivan Leshinsky
Executive Director, CCYD
Personally, I like to be part of things that are evolving.
From its inception 40 years ago, that’s exactly how it’s been at CCYD.
While government funding and contracts may come and go, the Chesapeake
Center is an organization that always works at being an organization. We’ve
been ceaselessly humming along while staff and volunteers go about the
business of helping clients, teaming up with partners and planning new strategies. Headquartered in Baltimore with satellite locations in Anne Arundel
County and operating programs demanding very mobile staffing, sometimes
it’s hard to keep it all assembled and there’s more to the story.
Naturally, winning government grants and contracts has helped us build momentum over the years. On the flip side, losing funding often dooms an organization unless it’s able to generate innovative ideas and seek out new opportunities. These are the attributes
that have aided CCYD’s evolution as a community anchor, enabling the organization to override economic and
the political uncertainties. At the same time, we cannot underestimate the importance of the private financial support, not only from those who are with us today to help celebrate our 40th Anniversary, but also from
those who wished us well and are here in spirit. You may go faster when you go it alone, but you can go a lot
farther when you join forces with others. We’ve traveled a rocky road, maneuvered around sharp curves and
detours and encountered a few dead ends but we’ve also covered a lot of ground in 40 years and now we find
ourselves again at a crossroads.
Deprived of funds to continue operating our alternative school, CCYD is now looking to form new partnerships.
We are devoting more resources to helping families in need and providing support to distressed neighborhoods where traditionally our program participants have resided. The Docs in the Park initiative, Northern
Lights Against Substance Abuse and 88 Acres are three current examples. We’re working to sustain the Chesapeake Center as a vital anchor in the Brooklyn community of south Baltimore.
CCYD has operated countless programs throughout its 40 year run. Regardless of the apparent purpose of this
program or that service, the ultimate value of CCYD may lie in its ability to bring people together and share the
strengths and skills of staff, volunteers, a vast network of supporters and community minded people with those
who are less fortunate. In this way, they too can find success in their lives and become assets to themselves,
their family and their community. When the world says, “Give up,” Hope whispers, “Try it one more time”.
2005 2006
2007
CHANZ, a 21st Century
Program, begins in the Ben
Franklin Middle School.
2008
2009
2010
Building Trades
youth work on a
Habitat for Humanity
house
2011
2012
Rediscovering Me Clubhouse
a substance abuse diversion
program for youth living in
N. Anne Arundel County.
2013
2014
Docs in the Park Programs
encourage local youth to
get active.
South Baltimore Business Alliance
Joins in the Celebration of
CCYD’s 40th Anniversary
Congratulations
on 40 Years
Best Wishes
From the Neuman Family
Salutes Chesapeake Center for
its 40 years of service to the
youth of Baltimore City and
Anne Arundel County.
Shapiro Sher Guinot & Sandler
Congratulates
The Chesapeake Center for Youth Development
On its 40th Anniversary
For three consecutive years, Shapiro Sher Guinot & Sandler
has been named the “Top Midsize Law Firm in Maryland for
Business & Transactions” by Super Lawyers®, a Division of
Thomson Reuters.
www.ShapiroSher.com | 410.385.0202
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS
PLEASE VISIT
WWW.CCYD.ORG