Monday, July 12, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
About Glenn Ross
In 1980 as a single parent with two young daughters Glenn Ross bought and rehabbed a decaying and vacant house at 509 N. Milton Avenue. He soon realized his home was rat infested and began tearing down every wall until his entire home was gutted. It would appear this is where Glenn began his interest in urban environmental issues and community development.
Since that time he has worked as a community advocate in the McElderry Park and surrounding communities addressing the environment, public health, community empowerment and economic development. Glenn often speaks about the disconnect that happens between people in understanding key issues that affect one another. His work is rooted in developing trainings and educational strategies that address these disconnects and get people speaking the same language.
Glenn has been considered the face of urban environmentalism as he educates on relevant concerns of the urban community; rat infestation, trash, lead poisoning, illegal dumping. Glenn speaks of Environmental Racism, referring to the environmental injustices that plague low income and minority communities. Initially, he developed The Rat Rub-Out and Sanitation Program that in 1985 won him the “Baltimore’s Best” Award. He has worked with a number of local and city wide groups to develop job training and green space projects. In 2001 he developed the Toxic Tour as a way to mobilize his education of East Baltimore’s past and present and physically show the truths of what is happening in his community.
In addition, Glenn has implemented customized community development and leadership training programs for McElderry Park residents, such as family life learning skills, conflict resolution, personality assessment, crime prevention and strategy techniques, and leadership skills. This has created over three dozen block captains and leaders in McElderry Park. These program have trained residents in how to run effective community organizations and utilize the democratic institutions available to everyone, so that more residents can lobby and advocate on behalf of their community.
Glenn understands that the people's strength lies in their sense of community, and has devoted his life’s work to this principle. To make himself available to the community Glenn provides services out of his home office.
Urbanite Magazine April 2007
Investigating the Creation of the Ghetto
Since that time he has worked as a community advocate in the McElderry Park and surrounding communities addressing the environment, public health, community empowerment and economic development. Glenn often speaks about the disconnect that happens between people in understanding key issues that affect one another. His work is rooted in developing trainings and educational strategies that address these disconnects and get people speaking the same language.
Glenn has been considered the face of urban environmentalism as he educates on relevant concerns of the urban community; rat infestation, trash, lead poisoning, illegal dumping. Glenn speaks of Environmental Racism, referring to the environmental injustices that plague low income and minority communities. Initially, he developed The Rat Rub-Out and Sanitation Program that in 1985 won him the “Baltimore’s Best” Award. He has worked with a number of local and city wide groups to develop job training and green space projects. In 2001 he developed the Toxic Tour as a way to mobilize his education of East Baltimore’s past and present and physically show the truths of what is happening in his community.
In addition, Glenn has implemented customized community development and leadership training programs for McElderry Park residents, such as family life learning skills, conflict resolution, personality assessment, crime prevention and strategy techniques, and leadership skills. This has created over three dozen block captains and leaders in McElderry Park. These program have trained residents in how to run effective community organizations and utilize the democratic institutions available to everyone, so that more residents can lobby and advocate on behalf of their community.
Glenn understands that the people's strength lies in their sense of community, and has devoted his life’s work to this principle. To make himself available to the community Glenn provides services out of his home office.
Environmental Racism: Baltimore’s Toxic Tour by Urban Environmentalist Glenn Ross
Environmental Racism / Toxic Tour
Investigating the Creation of the Ghetto
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Project Description
The project recognizes and honors current grassroots East Baltimore community leaders and commemorates their contributions. The murals are large-scale panoramic environmental portraits. Text around the exterior of the portrait is directly linked to the context of the photograph, which highlights struggles, successes and each unique approach to advocacy. The portraits are created in collaboration with the community leader and also serve to educate and celebrate the culture of the East Baltimore community.
• Experiment with image making using Gigapan technology.
• Capture stories and details indicative of an individual leader’s advocacy work and incorporating this information with the still image – thus creating a narrative.
My understanding of community begins by locating the individuals that hold the “unofficial” leadership and guidance roles; the confidant, the advisor, neighborhood watch, the peace keeper. The neighborhood seeks council from these individuals depending upon their knowledge and expertise. Their committed engagement builds the culture and dynamics of a community. These gifted individuals hold the ability to make real change in communities, yet they often encounter political struggle or resistance from others who possess “official” titles and perceived power. In enacting change what real sacrifice is necessary? What risks? What do the struggles and successes look like? The story of contemporary grassroots leadership is necessary to understand the complexity of communities.
www.gigapan.com
Public education is assured and reality is depicted in the mural images that will be present on the Gigapan website. Detailed information about the murals, the specific leader’s story and the community will be available. This information has the potential to connect both East Baltimore community and other communities wishing to unite and share similar stories. Additionally commentary and related projects can be posted to the site creating virtual conversations.
• Continue connecting with and photographing grassroots leaders
• Begin discussion with grassroots leaders and residents in how to engage the community with the murals (such as events or community projects)
THE PRESENT
PHASE I:
Goal:
Establishing a successful philosophical and aesthetic approach to photographing that balances individuality, monumentality and honor of the subject.PHASE I:
Goal:
Objectives:
• Develop relationships and building trust with local community grassroots leaders in East Baltimore. • Experiment with image making using Gigapan technology.
• Capture stories and details indicative of an individual leader’s advocacy work and incorporating this information with the still image – thus creating a narrative.
Background & Methodology
For the past year (Fall 2009 - Summer 2010) I have been the community artist and organizer during the development of the MICA sponsored Center for Community Arts and Design (CCAD), scheduled to open in East Baltimore, Fall 2010. My understanding of community begins by locating the individuals that hold the “unofficial” leadership and guidance roles; the confidant, the advisor, neighborhood watch, the peace keeper. The neighborhood seeks council from these individuals depending upon their knowledge and expertise. Their committed engagement builds the culture and dynamics of a community. These gifted individuals hold the ability to make real change in communities, yet they often encounter political struggle or resistance from others who possess “official” titles and perceived power. In enacting change what real sacrifice is necessary? What risks? What do the struggles and successes look like? The story of contemporary grassroots leadership is necessary to understand the complexity of communities.
The large-scale panoramic environmental portraits were created using Gigapan Technology:
The Gigapan camera is a simple robotic platform for capturing very high-resolution (gigapixel and up) panoramic images from a standard digital camera. The Global Connection Project has also developed software which places you inside the panorama and lets you explore.www.gigapan.com
Significance
The work pays homage to current working leaders while simultaneously exposing realities and needs in present day low income and minority communities, which often go unrecognized. Grassroots leadership often remains behind the scenes until a subject reaches a critical mass. Public education is assured and reality is depicted in the mural images that will be present on the Gigapan website. Detailed information about the murals, the specific leader’s story and the community will be available. This information has the potential to connect both East Baltimore community and other communities wishing to unite and share similar stories. Additionally commentary and related projects can be posted to the site creating virtual conversations.
THE FUTURE
PHASE II:
Goal:
View in progress mural designs with community leaders and residents to achieve a message relevant and meaningful to the communityPHASE II:
Goal:
Objectives:
• Work with grassroots leaders and residents to establish mural locations• Continue connecting with and photographing grassroots leaders
• Begin discussion with grassroots leaders and residents in how to engage the community with the murals (such as events or community projects)
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