Co-working space for women of color, mental health support among 2021 Howard County Changemaker Challenge winners
Baltimore SunNov 12, 2021
The winners of the Howard County Changemaker Challenge were selected during a virtual ceremony Tuesday after 10 finalists pitched their ideas for social change to a panel of five judges.
Sponsored by the
The 3rd, a co-working space in
In his presentation, Alston, a
“Unfortunately, coaches go through no formal mental health training,” said Alston, 26. “Coaches are required to go through CPR training, but you are actually three times more likely to use youth mental health first aid training.”
Developed by the
With the
“My purpose is to help the next generation of athletes,” Alston said.
Judge
“The practical nature of what you are proposing is fantastic,” Brown said. “Coaches are interacting with athletes probably more than teachers [or] educators. [It’s a] great opportunity to train them to understand the signs of mental illness.”
The 3rd won the
Additional plans for the building include office space, board rooms, a stage and two restaurants.
“Our goal is to open a small cafe and food store before the end of the year to start serving the community on a regular basis,” Bacon said, with the larger space opening in January.
As the winner of the support for women and girls award, Su plans to continue providing cancer kits for patients while expanding into creating curated art therapy kits, too, she said.
“I am really excited to provide another resource,” said Su, 28, of the first art therapy sessions that will be virtual. “We will provide all the materials. These are not classes. They are therapy sessions, a support group. If you don’t want to talk, there is another way to let out all those feelings.”
Su, who is also a cancer survivor, started Kits for Heart after receiving a care package during her final treatment.
“My morale, my hope, were at an all-time low,” Su said. “To walk in my hospital room and see this gift left on my bed put together by a former patient, really encouraged me and motivated me. I wanted to do the same, but I wanted to make a bigger impact.”
As the winner of the audience choice award, the
Nourishing gardens are designed for the lawns of homes, businesses and schools to grow food and provide ecological benefits by including native plants and pollinators, too, D’Amore said. Trained volunteers will help those interested plant their gardens to grow their own food and enhance the environment.
“Our three-year goal is to transform 15 acres of private and commercial properties into nourishing gardens,” D’Amore said. “I feel like we can do it.”
©2021 Baltimore Sun. Visit baltimoresun.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.