TOOLBANK NETWORK NEWS – APRIL 2024

In March, the Baltimore ToolBank paid tribute to AmeriCorps Week by participating in their Connect podcast. Notably, all three of the Baltimore ToolBank’s full-time personnel are AmeriCorps alumni. Their episode provides valuable insights into their service and how it contributes to social justice work at the ToolBank. We encourage you to listen to this episode to gain a deeper understanding of ToolBank’s operations in conjunction with AmeriCorps.

Speaking of Social Justice, here is a message from the Baltimore staff about what they’ve most recently accomplished at their ToolBank: We are proud to share successes from our recently completed service year. These accomplishments relate to our pillars of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility+. It is vital that our intention to serve equitably has action behind it to make it actual. Action includes expenses in our budget correlating to tangible outcomes. We do not treat these as checklist items that are considered and completed just once. Rather, we interrogate ourselves daily about how we can continue to serve equitably, sustainably, and for the economic benefit of our partners and region.

ID – A background image tinted in blue depicting a ToolBank generator in the foreground and volunteers in an outdoor setting in the background. Over the image, these words are written in white:

Action Items –

• Participated in the Baltimore Pride Parade.
• All staff attended the American Sign Language 101 course.
• Implemented social media policy for enhancement of visually impaired audience.
• Collected ‘Why Statements’ from all board members.
• Opened rolling applications for potential board members on the website.
• Added accessibility trainings to weekly staff meetings.
• Empowered all staff to choose their own holidays.
• Implemented progressive parental leave policy.