Inez Robb bought her home in the Sandtown Winchester Condominiums 22 years ago and has been working to improve the neighborhood ever since. The expression “When you want something done, get a busy person to do it” was invented for her! Up until very recently when she retired, Inez Robb worked full time at the Social Security Administration, but that didn’t stop her from serving on at least five different organizations. She was also one of the first community leaders to partner with the Cleaner Greener Baltimore Initiative.
It was in front of the First Mount Calvary Baptist Church in the Sandtown-Winchester and Fulton Community that Mayor Dixon recently announced the launch of the Baltimore Neighborhood Energy Challenge – because this community was already involved. Ms. Robb has already switched her light bulbs and has an energy saver thermostat. She is always leading the way, educating her friends and neighbors.
Ms. Robb has served as the President of the board of her condo association for 17 years. The condo includes 17 buildings with 51units which could be a fulltime job by itself! In addition, she chairs the Fulton Community Association and the Western Police District’s Community Affairs Council. She serves on the Watershed 263 Stakeholder’s Advisory Council; Parks & People’s Grant Committee; and she is on the board of the Lead Coalition. She works with the Community Law Center, has been on the Citizen’s Planning and Housing Association Board for 10 years and is now co-chairing a committee that is helping the City disperse the federal government stimulus package.
Perhaps the single most visible testament to her hard work is the Fulton Avenue median that has been restored to its historic origins. Fulton Street was originally designed and built as a boulevard with a green median bursting with foliage and trees. However, in the 1940s, the boulevard was removed, leaving behind a very wide street and hard concrete. When Ms. Robb learned of the history of the street, she worked tirelessly bringing together the leadership on the state and local levels to re-design the street with its boulevard. And, today it is once again full of foliage and beautiful trees, supplying oxygen and shade for the community. The City of Baltimore and the community work together to keep the median free of litter, watered and beautifully maintained.
Whereas the Fulton Avenue median is visible, Watershed 263 is not. Ms. Robb has been dedicated to communicating and educating residents about the importance of our water. She says, “Those that are aware of the watershed and make the connection between greening, renovating lots, the Harbor and the Bay, I think they love it…But, with the water being underground, where people can’t see it, sometimes it is hard for them to make the connection.” She wants people to understand the connection between eating crabs from the bay and the trash on Baltimore’s streets.Ms. Robb not only serves on boards, but she makes it her job to make sure that people are “cross communicating”, that the organizations “speak” to each other and work in partnership to best spend their time, money and other resources. All of this is done with passion, a twinkle in her eye and a lot of good humor.
Passionate about learning and keeping things fresh, Ms. Robb completed the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Professional Studies in Business and Education; and the Citizen’s Planning and Housing Association’s Leadership and Community Building Fellowship in 2000. She shares her leadership skills with the members of the community.
In addition to the many activities offered through the First Mount Calvary Baptist Church in partnership with the neighborhood, the Fulton Community Association operates a summer learning camp for children in the neighborhood and an after-school evening study program during the school year.
The Fulton Community Association has also partnered with Parks & People to convert 10 vacant lots into open green spaces for the community to enjoy. And, recently, Ms. Robb started a Garden Club with the Sandtown-Winchester Community Association so residents can learn best practices from each other.
The way she manages all of her good work is by helping others build their capacity. “I like empowering, sharing what I know to help you grow,” says Ms. Robb. “I’m there with you 110 percent, but you need to do it.”
Contact:
Inez Robb at 410-728-2726
For email please use Mrs. Prettyman, Roxane Roxane.Prettyman@ssa.gov
| PHOTOS (click on an image to view larger) |
 Ms. Inez Robb |
 Using Program Partners Grants, Mrs. Robb is helping citizens create a cleaner, greener Baltimore! |
