Opposite page: Members of the Mera Kitchen Collective team. Bottom row, left to right: Aishah Alfadhalah, Iman Alshehab and Emily Lerman. Top row: Courtney Turner and Emilienne Zongo( with Emilienne ' s two kids, Mia and Angela).
Speaking of serving residents, entertainment options also can provide a bit of joy during these times. Enter the Hippodrome Foundation in Baltimore, which“ works to introduce Maryland students and community members to the arts and all of the assets of the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center.” Before the pandemic,“ we would do this by providing access to shows, in-person workshops and master classes, literacy programs and more,” explained Olive Waxter, the foundation’ s executive director. But when the pandemic forced the Hippodrome’ s
theater to close, the foundation( like many others) shifted to a virtual approach.
“[ We ] lined up premier Broadway talent to visit virtual Maryland classrooms so cast members could talk to the students, teach them to dance and sing, and really have some fun. Cast members from‘ Disney’ s The Lion King,’‘ Hamilton,’‘ Aladdin,’‘ Phantom of the Opera’ and more jumped on the opportunity to work with Maryland students, as they were out of work and understand that this is a form of therapy for people,” Waxter explained, noting that the Hippodrome Foundation also is collaborating with school systems, the Maryland State Department of Education, teachers and principals to offer free arts education and provide cheer during difficult times. As part of this work, the foundation continues to host online programming for older adults, dance master classes, and“ At This Stage” programming for teachers and students to learn about everything from empathy to identity.
If you want to support this dramatic
STEP
UP cause, visit the theater’ s website at HippodromeFoundation. org, and keep
an eye on its ticket sale offerings for the coming months, and into 2022.
Giving back— in any capacity, whether through your time, patronage or something else— will help our community recover from the pandemic. We thank you for your ongoing support of Baltimore businesses and our neighbors who work, live and thrive in this city! VB
Alma Cocina Latina, in Station North, features a menu inspired by Venezuelan culinary roots and using contemporary techniques.
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