How wealth inequality has changed in Baltimore since 2010: Baltimore Divided

Submitted by CNSMaryland t3_112gs4p in baltimore

Capital News Service journalists sought to understand how wealth inequality was changing in Baltimore after the last census. We compared neighborhood-by-neighborhood income data and then set out to speak to residents about the changes they were experiencing.

Which neighborhoods did your reporting focus on?

Although we studied demographic and income data across all of Baltimore, our stories focused on residents of Mondawmin, Bolton Hill, Sandtown-Winchester, Belair-Edison, McElderry Park and Old Town and Upton.

What are some historic reasons for economic disparity?

The CNS team researched the Mondawmin neighborhood. A 1979 survey showed the 13 biggest lenders in Baltimore provided only 1.6% of their mortgage loans to majority Black census tracts, author Antero Pietila wrote in the book, “Not in My Neighborhood: How Bigotry Shaped a Great American City.” Andrea Limauro, a former Baltimore City Department of Planning official, said the racial discrimination feeds into wealth inequality. Other issues residents and leaders in this neighborhood stated were the elderly population aging out and lack of positive media coverage.

What community efforts did you report on?

The CNS team focused on several efforts to combat inequality — both within and from outside the community. Here are some of their stories:

  • The Rev. Dr. Derrick DeWitt started an organic urban farm for Sandtown-Winchester, an area he describes as one of the most economically underserved communities in America. He is also director of the Maryland Baptist Aged Home.
  • Residents of underserved neighborhoods rely on faith-based organizations and other programs like The Central Baltimore Partnership, which focuses on revitalizing 11 neighborhoods, creating youth programs, and supporting women- and Black-owned businesses.
  • YouthWorks summer program pays McElderry Park students $500 every other week for participating in a variety of college preparatory, leadership and basketball workshops.
  • Fight Blight Bmore helps residents identify, report and track blight, defined as when properties become vacant or abandoned.

If you’d like to stay in the loop with our coverage, you can see our content on https://cnsmaryland.org/. We are a student-run news organization at the University of Maryland, Philip Merrill College of Journalism.

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pk10534 t1_j8ktq0o wrote

I know many on the left are uncomfortable with religion, and that’s valid, but I wish we took more advantage of how churches operate in many communities. Not only do they serve as a gathering place and social center for many people, they often do a lot of charity work and provide useful resources and connections for people. Many times they hold after school programs, soup kitchens, and do other volunteer work and can be cornerstones in their neighborhoods. I’m not advocating tax dollars go to churches or saying all churches are good, but frankly I think we need to use every tool in our box to start helping people out and helping underinvested neighborhoods recover

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why_grapefruit_why t1_j8lf9ic wrote

I agree with the general sentiment here— with some caveats.

I support tax breaks for churches if they provide a demonstrable positive impact in the community.

The issue is that is some churches/congregations do not do this.

Edit: I do not agree that churches should be a primary source of mental health care.

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dopkick t1_j8lllc2 wrote

I read an interesting article that barbershops are effective outlets for disseminating health-related information and services among black communities. Many are skeptical of the healthcare system after many decades of abuse/racism/abhorrent things but barbershops can help reduce the barrier to trusting. Are barbershops ideal places for this? Absolutely not. But if it works… maybe it’s a bridge to a more ideal future. Same could be held for churches.

It’s pretty eye opening when you read the big subreddits. It’s pretty clear they’re full of vocal white people with strong opinions who have never talked to anything but the token black person in their life. They view everything through the lens of their somewhere in the middle class white suburban upbringing. And while their views are total valid for growing up in boring ass Ohio, the experience in many Baltimore neighborhoods is totally different.

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S-Kunst t1_j8m8uqf wrote

Too many think the role of churches (and other religious organizations) are mostly about religious belief. In America, churches have always been much about providing services, for immigrants, social, cultural, and yes job opportunities. Many of Baltimore society churches are places where the upper crust meet and greet and get face time with potential employees. My first summer job (age 14) working in a country club kitchen, was through a church connection. Marriages have always been arranged in church communities.

With the decline of church attendance, there has been a great decline in community socialization. Church membership has always been a collective of people who are interlaced into the greater community. Look at the number of people posting, on this site wanting to know where to meet people. Seems that a bar is the most common answer. Not the place where people are being the most honest, with themselves or others.

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danhalka t1_j8muude wrote

>the place where people are being the most honest, with themselves or others.

Nor is "church" an answer that springs to mind

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S-Kunst t1_j95gawk wrote

Still I see no other non church publicly funded effort to support orphanages, hospitals, food banks immigration support centers, health clinics.

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SnooRevelations979 t1_j8k8bho wrote

Thanks for this. To be a bit pedantic, this would be income inequality, not wealth inequality (which would probably be worse).

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z3mcs t1_j8mjog2 wrote

Any insights on the topic of the post itself? I know you mentioned you did some graduate work.

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