Living Classrooms Foundation - 2023 Rising Stars

Hi, My name is Noah Kness. I started working with the Living Classrooms Foundation as a part of the Rising Stars Group in the Summer of 2023 to support their community-outreach initiatives. Community outreach and service has always been a big part of my life. After moving to DC from Baltimore, I am excited to begin working with the Living Classrooms Foundation to support both of the places that I call home. The Living Classrooms Foundation was founded in 1985 and focuses on providing unique learning opportunities, workforce development, and health and wellness throughout the Baltimore-Washington Area. 

The nonprofit seeks to disrupt the cycle of poverty and make our community safer, stronger, and healthier by meeting individuals where they are and building skills for life. Living Classrooms inspires children, youth, and adults to achieve their potential through hands-on education, workforce development, health and wellness, and violence prevention programming. Living Classrooms has developed a distinctive competency in experiential learning – literally learning by direct experience – or “learning by doing.”  They utilize their environmental campuses, athletic fields, community centers, and historic ships as “living classrooms.”  

While each of the program areas are distinct, in combination they create a powerful synergy. The maritime heritage sites create opportunities for employment training. The education programs use our environmental and maritime resources as living learning laboratories. The employability programs create stronger communities that are better prepared to exercise environmental stewardship.  Together, we can improve the lives and futures of children, youth, and families.  

To name a few, here are some of the initiatives that Living Classrooms supports and manages: 

Baltimore

• Fresh Start - is a non-residential, community-based program that consists of vocational, academic, and social skills development training to adjudicated and out-of-school youth ages 16-19, most of whom are referred by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. The program uses carpentry as a medium to teach academic, social, and job readiness skills.
• Project Serve - Service, Empowerment, Revitalization, Validation, Employment training) addresses high recidivism rates and barriers to meaningful employment among returning citizens in Baltimore City.  While still incarcerated, participants begin receiving “wrap around” services, and on the day of their release, they become full-time SERVE members.
• Operation Respond - creates a safe space for Baltimore City residents to hold an open forum to develop strategies to combat crime within the community 

Washington DC 

• Kingsman Rangers - is a job training initiative in Washington, DC that prepares out-of-work adults for entry-level jobs in the green sector while helping to beautify Kingman and Heritage Islands.
• James C. Dent House - is a recently renovated historical landmark in Washington D.C. which has been re-opened through the strategic partnership of Pepco and Living Classrooms to facilitate workforce development, education, and health and wellness in Ward 6

To learn more about other initiatives visit: https://livingclassrooms.org/programs

You can support Living Classrooms in the following ways:  

1. Donate right here on my fundraising page! It is simple, fast, and secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts.    
2. Purchase a ticket to Living Classrooms’ biggest fundraiser and best party in Baltimore, Maritime Magic, on Friday, October 6, 2023, where the other Rising stars and I will be honored by The Living Classrooms Foundation and the Baltimore Business Journal for our support and fundraising efforts towards the great organization. This year’s event celebrates its 35th anniversary and features music by the Grammy-nominated band Tank & the Bangas. 
3. Sponsor Maritime Magic and/or other Living Classrooms Initiatives

Purchase Tickets Here: https://app.tickethive.com/e/maritime-magic?utm_source=promoter&utm_id=64c9793d3e5c46508f044c710ad1e040

Learn More About the Event - https://app.tickethive.com/e/maritime-magic?utm_source=promoter&utm_id=64c9793d3e5c46508f044c710ad1e040 

To Sponsor Please Contact: 

Noah Kness: 443-838-5005;noahkness@gmail.com

Thara Taylor: 410-428-5301;thara@livingclassrooms.org

Thank you in advance for supporting me and a meaningful cause -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too! Together, we can make a difference.  

Sincerely,    

Noah

* All donations made through Mightycause are tax-deductible. To purchase tickets to Maritime Magic, or to sponsor the event, please refer to the information above. No goods or services will be received through your Mightycause donation.