Civic Works, Inc.

Civic Works' Real Food Farm is improving access to affordable nutrition in Baltimore City and Baltimore County by distributing healthy, fresh food from both our farm and other local/regional farms. We also provide urban farming education to families and children and cultivator/composting training that prepares future Urban Agriculture leaders. We directly deliver healthy food to the doors of low-income families, older adults, and people with disabilities; our Mobile Food Market and our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program provide direct access to healthy food at local farmers' markets, community events/centers, and senior centers; and we expand access to affordable produce for people with federal nutrition benefits (e.g. SNAP).

Civic Works' Elder Services programs provide older Baltimore adults with resources, support, and critical home repairs that enable them to safely age in place, maintain independence, and improve their quality of life. We believe our City's older adults are a core part of vibrant, healthy communities. Cities for All Ages, our comprehensive fall-prevention program, provides Baltimore residents over age 65 with safety education, home upgrades & repairs, referrals to supportive services, and occupational therapy. Housing Upgrades to Benefit Seniors (HUBS) is a collaborative project that places social workers & case managers at five Baltimore sites who connect seniors with home accessibility & safety improvements; home rehabilitation, weatherization, and environmental hazard remediation; home supplies; and application assistance to local & national government benefits programs for which they are eligible, such as utility bill assistance, and healthcare, and nutrition program benefits.

REACH! Partnership School is an innovative Baltimore City public high school operated by Civic Works. As a college-focused transformation school, we prepare students for postsecondary education and provide students with opportunities to learn marketable skills in Construction and Healthcare professions. Graduates of REACH! Partnership leave the school with certifications that enable them to secure jobs or apprenticeships as nursing assistants, pharmacy technicians, carpenters, or electricians. Students learn the importance of attending college and are encouraged to enroll in college courses during their senior year. REACH! Partnership is a school of choice and students throughout Baltimore City are eligible to apply.

YouthBuild gives a second chance to Baltimore City youth who have dropped out of high school. We provide construction training and certifications, assistance in earning a high school diploma or GED, and wrap-around services that support young adults in meeting their goals. Each year, YouthBuild provides comprehensive services to a minimum of 30 participants per year between the ages of 16 and 24. YouthBuild is a national model and is 80% funded through the US Department of Labor.

Civic Works' Energy Programs expand access to family-sustaining careers and improve the financial resilience of low- and moderate-income families through housing upgrades. We provide residents with a variety of services to increase their home energy efficiency and comfort, reduce their utility bills, and limit exposure to health hazards such as carbon monoxide and lead paint. Our Center for Sustainable Careers participanWe provide free quick installs and energy efficiency education that reduce home utility bills; free comprehensive home energy assessments (audits) and the no- or reduced-cost installation of the recommended improvements; and most recently, free induction stoves. We also make it easy for low-income residents to go solar through our collaborative programs, Baltimore SHINES with Baltimore DHCD and Community Solar in partnership with Baltimore B-corp Neighborhood Sun. Through our Solar Co-op, Maryland residents receive home solar panel installation at a pre-negotiated rate.

*Civic Work’s Tiny Homes program is temporarily on hold.*

Residents can own an affordable, sustainable Tiny House built in Baltimore.

Civic Works Tiny Homes are built on trailers for easy transport. They feature a living area, sleeping loft, kitchen, and bathroom in less than 500 square feet. You can select one of five models with options to customize.

Civic Works Tiny Homes are built by Baltimore City youth who are learning construction skills and earning a GED through the YouthBuild program. They work under the guidance of trained professionals and are building the tiny homes to RVIA certification standards, making financing and insurance easy and affordable.

The Community Landscaping Program transforms vacant and abandoned lots in Baltimore City into community gardens and green spaces while training young adults for landscaping apprenticeships. AmeriCorps members, community residents, local artists, and volunteer groups work together to create and maintain thriving community spaces.

Civic Works has worked in Baltimore's communities for 30 years and is deeply committed to service. Many of our programs, such as Community Landscaping and Food & Farm, regularly recruit community members to volunteer with us on projects within their neighborhoods. These projects provide leadership and skills development opportunities for our AmeriCorps participants. Our AmeriCorps programs recruit young adults to perform community service projects while gaining job skills, earning a stipend, and receiving an education award upon completion. Each year, hundreds of volunteers join Civic Works on our annual Ricky Meyers Day of Service to complete service projects throughout Baltimore