Wednesday, May 4 was a great day in Baltimore. LifeBridge Health’s new Jill Fox Center for Hope officially opened with a ribbon cutting event attended by many in the community including LifeBridge Health leadership, elected officials, community leaders, friends of Center for Hope and of course Manny our Center for Hope facility dog.
The program included remarks by Dan Blum, president of Sinai Hospital and Grace Medical Center and senior vice president at LifeBridge Health who welcomed everyone and explained why we were gathered. Adam Rosenberg, LifeBridge Health vice president of Violence Intervention and Prevention and executive director of Center for Hope thanked the many, many individuals and organizations who made this day possible. Adam gave some background on what Center for Hope does and why it is such an important player in the health and welfare of the Baltimore community.
“We have reached a new dawn in victim advocacy,” said Adam Rosenberg. “No one in the nation is doing the work that we are doing the way we are doing it. This is a vision that has been long in the making and is the result of hard work by many.”
Shantay Jackson, director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement spoke on behalf of Mayor Scott about the importance of collaboration. Steven Johnson, president of Pimlico Terrace Association, was engaging and energetic as he explained to the crowd the importance of hope. And Denielle “Denny” Randall, manager of PAAVE (Pathways to Advocacy Against Violence Every day) spoke eloquently on behalf of a Center for Hope client. Following remarks, the ribbon was cut – several times – to allow us to celebrate all who helped get Center for Hope to this moment.
Attendees took tours of the building and refreshments were served. Everyone left the event smiling and feeling good about the important and meaningful work being done at Center for Hope in this brand new state-of-the-art building.