Grassroots Mural Project: 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.