By Aliza Rosen
For Corridor Inc.

BALTIMORE - Some say the best way to help oneself is to help others, and on Friday, August 19, 2011, Baltimore business leaders convened at the Canton Dockside crab house to discuss just that (and, of course, to enjoy the “Best Steamed Crabs in Baltimore”).

Bob Paff, local entrepreneur and community activist, opened the session with his own remarks as well as a selection from Lee Iacocca’s novel “Where Have All the Leaders Gone?” According to Paff, the way to ensure a brighter future for Baltimore is to focus first on providing a brighter future for the impoverished and undereducated youth of the city. One way to do that, he said, is to support organizations like House of New Beginnings.

House of New Beginnings is a Baltimore-based non-profit organization that focuses on motivating and enabling disadvantaged urban youth in order to boost self-esteem and economic stability. Catherine Trotter, President of House of New Beginnings, founded the organization in 2002 after graduating from Morgan State University. Trotter grew up in Prince George’s County and moved to Baltimore in 1998.

Local entrepreneur Bob Paff hopes Baltimore businesses will support House of New Beginnings and other non-profits
in their attempts to motivate and empower the city's youth.

“When we came to Baltimore, I would see a lot of young people just sitting on the stoop,” Trotter said. “It was just kind of bizarre to me that there weren’t a lot of rec[reation] centers.”

Trotter’s mission with both the organization’s outreach initiatives – the Daughters of Destiny Mentor Program and Youth Entrepreneurs of Baltimore – is to foster a new way of thinking, one that rejects the mindset that poverty predetermines one’s future potential.

“Sometimes, the very ones in their homes, their parents, … say to them that [they] cannot fulfill [their] dreams because of boundaries that might be around [them], or because of lack of resources,” Trotter said Friday as she presented her mission. “As I talk to young people, my desire is to plant hope, possibility, and ultimately to help them discover what their purpose is for their life.”

Also in attendance on Friday were two shining examples of Trotter’s vision: Jasmin Johnson and Kayanna Johnson. Jasmin attends Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and Kayanna is in her second year at Towson University in Towson, Maryland. The young women, both from a single-parent household in Baltimore City, presented the businesses they are developing.

Jasmin’s vision of “Vegolutions” is a vegan restaurant and fitness center that will turn around the impression that vegan dishes are bland and boring while promoting a healthy lifestyle and combating epidemics like obesity and Diabetes. She documents her journey from vegetarian to vegan on her blog, vegolutions.blogspot.com.

Kayanna’s Urban Naitive Boutique features handmade jewelry “with a cause.” Each month, her jewelry will promote a specific message – homelessness and self-esteem issues in teens are just two examples. In addition, Kayanna will donate a portion of the profits to a charity associated with the cause.

Kayanna and Jasmin attribute their success to their mother’s drive and encouragement, as well as the support of the House of New Beginnings programs.

“It was definitely the programs that really helped me get where I am today,” Kayanna said. “They pushed me and really showed me the things that I could possibly do.”

Currently, House of New Beginnings partners with several organizations, including Maryland Foster Youth Resource Center, Youth Opportunity Baltimore, and the Y of Central Maryland, as well as institutions like Reginald F. Lewis High School. Trotter’s goal is to develop new partnerships with schools and businesses throughout the city in order to strengthen the impact her organization has.

Paul Taylor, Executive Director of the Small Business Resource Center asked Trotter what else Baltimore’s business leaders could provide for House of New Beginnings. Trotter responded confidently.

“Property managers,” she said. “Helping transition [the youth] from foster care. We also need more mentors.”

Paff closed by alluding to the mayoral race currently underway in Baltimore, saying he hopes the candidates will realize the importance of supporting organizations such as House of New Beginnings.

“It’s not about raising taxes, or who’s better -- it’s about the youth of the city,” Paff said. “That’s what Catherine is doing, and she’s done it with [Jasmin and Kayanna], so we know it works.”

From left: Jasmin Johnson, House of New Beginnings President Catherine Trotter, Kayanna
Johnson, and Bob Paff.