‘300 Men’ Convert Vacant Properties Into Health/Community Leadership Center
“The 300 Men March Movement is making headway on converting four vacant Baltimore City properties into a health and community center. Here is the press release from Munir Bahar:
Thank you doesn’t fully capture the degree of gratitude that I have towards everyone who has invested into this critical and time sensitive mission. The abandoned and neglected children living in zip codes 21213 and 21205 now have a positive, economically sustainable, lifelong option for learning new ways of living. For 15 years we have exhausted ourselves to keep a steady flow of mentoring, martial arts and community leadership programs to counter the abundance of negativity prevalent in the lives of most youth from the hood.
As long as there are dangers that pose threats to our children, we shall not rest.
Our current mission – the conversion of 3 vacant row houses and a liquor store into the COR Health Institute – a community martial arts and leadership center. We have raised and spent 200k thus far. The building is 75-80% complete. Structural costs were higher than estimated, however we were able to successfully combine the 4 properties into one facility. Now we need another 100,000 to finish the transformation. Our goal is to be open before the cold of winter consumes the children who we see everyday roaming some of the most dangerous streets of East Baltimore; Biddle St, Preston St, Chase St, Patterson Park Ave, Montford Ave, Milton Ave, Luzerne St. and the smaller streets in between. These children are literally trying to survive in a war zone.
We aren’t waiting for anyone to do anything. We are the force of intervention ready and equipped to engage these kids. We are pleading for support for completion of the construction. We have other sources in line for operational support, however our immediate needs are finishing the construction.
· We have 29,000 due in payables for lumber and windows.
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Our heating/cooling/ventilation system for the entire facility is budgeted at 40,000.
· The additional 31,000 we need to wisely purchase flooring, insulation, drywall and drywall materials, paint, bathroom fixtures and trimming. I also have to keep paying a team of dedicated workers who have all agreed to a basic wage for their time devoted to the project.
To my community of supporters. To those who are witness to our work, please help me complete this last leg of construction. Forget the loss of money, instead ponder on the value gained for the community of 21213 and 21205.
We are proving that it doesn’t costs millions of dollars or a building doesn’t require gold door knobs to have a lasting positive impact on children.
To make a donation online please visit our website at www.corcommunity.com
Checks can be made payable to COR Health Institute and mailed to 2607 Beryl Ave Baltimore MD 21205.
Time is critical. Not because I say so, but because the daily experiences of these children are at stake. Everyday a child in this neighborhood is getting molested, physically abused, bullied, coerced into criminal acts, neglected or just left behind.
We will not abandon the children of 21213 and 21205. Stand with me by investing in these children by investing into this institution, the COR Health Institute.
Thank you.”
