About Us
Welcome to Greater Homewood!
Established in 1969, Greater Homewood Community Corporation (GHCC) helps neighborhoods in north central Baltimore City to become safer, better places to live. We serve 48 neighborhoods with a combined total of approximately 70,000 residents - nearly 10% of Baltimore City's population. Our geographic boundaries stretch from the county line in the north to Mt. Royal Avenue in the south, and from the Jones Falls River in the west to Lake Montebello in the east.
GHCC carries out its mission to strengthen neighborhoods through improving educational opportunities, constructively engaging youth, building a new sense of community, and promoting positive economic development. We manage four core program areas: Experience Corps, Neighborhood Programs, Community Economic Development, and Adult Literacy and ESOL.
GHCC's work has always been rooted in grassroots community organizing tradition. Our 48 constituent neighborhoods in north central Baltimore represent a broad spectrum of socioeconomic and ethnic diversity. Our staff link communities not only to the municipal, nonprofit, faith-based, and other resources they need to accomplish self-defined goals; they also link these communities to each other. GHCC pursues a sense of common cause in which the well-being of each neighborhood depends on that of the others.
Our Work
- Our Neighborhood Programs promote urban living by supporting robust civic involvement in neighborhoods, providing technical assistance and training to community leaders, improving public schools, and expanding youth opportunities. Last year, Neighborhood Programs collaborated with over 100 partner organizations and leveraged $1.5 million dollars in resources and volunteer hours for approximately 4200 students in our eight partnership public schools.
- Our Experience Corps program trains nearly 400 older adult as mentors who serve over 7,000 students in 20 elementary schools citywide. One of the largest of its kind, the program has been named by the Experience Corps National CEO as a flagship for programs across the nation. Experience Corps schools report improved school climate, while participating seniors benefit from increased physical and mental health throughout their golden years.
- Our Community Economic Development program strengthens commercial corridors by helping neighborhoods attract businesses and pursue capital investment projects. We also administer the city's Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative low-interest home loan program. Last year, Community Economic Development's efforts led to $3.4 in investments in Greater Homewood.
- Our Adult Literacy and ESOL program offers free instruction in basic reading, writing, math and English skills. These newfound skills enable learners to compete in the workforce, developing Baltimore's pool of employable workers equipped with the skills they need to succeed at home, at work, and in their communities. The program, currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, served a record 569 adult learners in fiscal year 2009.
