CCHD awards luncheon stresses importance of working past impasses for social change

Social change, funding and diversity were the dominant themes coursing through the conversation at the annual Catholic Campaign for Human Development awards luncheon Aug. 10 at St. Bernardine in West Baltimore.

In his opening remarks, Auxiliary Bishop Bruce Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., urban vicar for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, said the work of CCHD was all about overcoming impasses. He praised the work of CCHD-funded groups that work to overcome those impasses to create new opportunities in their communities.

When there are roadblocks and dead ends in communities, “God finds a way,” Bishop Lewandowski said.

Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., thanks everyone for their dedicated work in the community during the Catholic Campaign for Human Development luncheon August 10, 2023 at St. Bernardine Catholic Church in West Baltimore. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

“We are not just here to give you dollars,” he stressed. “We are here to walk with you. Thanks for being a shining light.”

He said the CCHD grant awardees receiving their funds at the luncheon “go beyond roadblocks and impasses to do great work.”

CCHD is the domestic anti-poverty and social justice arm of the U.S. Catholic bishops. Established in 1969, CCHD has a dual mandate to address the root causes of poverty by supporting community-controlled, self-help organizations and to build solidarity between the poor and the non-poor through transformational education for justice.

Every November parishes in the United States take up a collection to raise funds for the program.

CCHD-funded projects aim to create jobs, improve neighborhoods and build affordable housing. All grants are intended to provide low-income people with the means to change the conditions that make poverty possible.

Grants are based on need, not religious affiliation. Grant recipients must effect institutional change; benefit a poverty group; members of the poverty group must have the dominant voice in the organization; and the group must show development of ongoing leadership and a financial self-sufficiency plan.

The Baltimore Diocesan Committee that researches and shepherds groups through the grant process is comprised of 15 volunteers. The committee, which meets monthly, holds technical assistance workshops and hosts an annual social justice convocation each spring (April 13 at Calvert Hall in 2024).

Katie Zinler, lead organizer for one of the funded CCHD groups, Anne Arundel Connecting Together, said her interfaith organization was grateful for the partnership and support. She too spoke of impasses, relaying a rabbinical Jewish tale on Naschson, the man who jumped into the sea.

She said people need to take “ownership in repairing the world.”

Catholic bishops throughout the nation attempt to do just that with the CCHD grant program.

This year’s national CCHD grants for Baltimore-area groups totaled $280,000.

Zo Tum Hmung, with the Chin Association of Maryland, shares stories of the plight of refugees from his native Myanmar (formerly Burma) during the Catholic Campaign for Human Development luncheon August 10, 2023 at St. Bernardine Catholic Church in West Baltimore. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Those receiving grants included:

$40,000 – ANNE ARUNDEL CONNECTING TOGETHER, INC. (ACT) (actaaco.org)

ACT is a young organization working to empower low-income people in Anne Arundel County. It launched the Turn Around Thursday movement March 2, hosting weekly classes to help train and connect returning citizens and unemployed, underemployed and residents to living wage jobs.

$50,000 – CHIN ASSOCIATION OF MARYLAND (chinmd.org)

The CCHD grant aids CHIN’s efforts to improve the protections offered to immigrants from Burma, provide continuing education and job training and conduct research on refugee issues. CHIN advocates for Howard County to include in its budget a liaison officer within the public school system for the CHIN community. The organization is looking to expand to other counties, including Baltimore and Frederick. It also is seeking to expand its agricultural program, which is a space for social cohesion, food provision, and potential income for the community.

$50,000 DRINK AT THE WELL The Well (drinkatthewell.org)

The economic development grant will enable this self-help group/worker cooperative to support its social enterprise, “Hon’s Honey.” Hon’s Honey creates and sells various bath and personal products made and packaged by hand by the at-risk women of the Curtis Bay area. Also, raw honey is curated from local community hives and packaged and sold. The enterprise gives women at risk purpose and hope, making Hon’s Honey the means for positive community change in the Curtis Bay area.

$30,000 PATH MD: PEOPLE ACTING TOGETHER IN HOWARD: PATH (pathmaryland.com)

This CCHD grant enables PATH to continue to organize residents in high-poverty areas of Howard County and work on many issues, including affordable housing and environmental justice. They have successfully organized several recent campaigns to help pass legislation in areas such as improving prenatal care for low-income residents and lowering energy costs.

$60,000 – SOUTH BALTIMORE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST (sbclt.org)

SBCLT is a community land trust with a goal of “development without displacement and zero waste.” This CCHD economic development grant will be used to develop housing units in Cherry Hill and continue SBCLT’s organizational development in its plan to build generational wealth and stabilize and revitalize the community.

Monsignor Richard J. Bozzelli holds a ceremonial envelope for a grant to be mailed to several community outreach organizations during the annual Catholic Campaign for Human Development luncheon August 10, 2023, at St. Bernardine Catholic Church in West Baltimore. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

$50,000-UNITED WORKERS (unitedworkers.org)

The United Workers Association organizes low-income people, helping make significant changes in the Baltimore City area by assisting the poor. The grant will help the group’s plans to expand to other counties west of Baltimore.

Zo Tum Hmung, interim secretary for Chin, said the grants for his organization were important for worldwide education on the plight of refugees and to help them assimilate in American culture. He said the CCHD grant recently helped them get a liaison hired for refugees in Howard County schools and helped prepare a report on refugees’ conditions and persecution of Christians in other parts of the world.

“The CCHD funds were very important for our group,” he said, noting that it helped the organization network with other charitable Catholic groups. “We are very thankful for the grants.”

In his closing remarks, Monsignor Richard Bozzelli, pastor of St. Bernardine and the local CCHD director, emphasized the importance of expanding CCHD’s scope beyond the immediate Baltimore area. He also paid tribute to his predecessor, Monsignor William Burke, who led the local committee for more than 50 years, and died in March.

Marge Trenkle, chairperson of the Baltimore CCHD committee, said she and the committee, which includes 100-year-old Glyn Bailey, a former committee chair, feel blessed to work with the groups.

“We meet a lot of angels in our work,” Trenkle said.

Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@CatholicReview.org

To view more photos from the CCHD awards luncheon, click through the slideshow below: