Community Development Block Grant projects celebrated

EASTON — On Friday morning, community members and partners gathered to celebrate two Community Development Block Grant recipients: Family Support Center and Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center’s Community and Commercial Kitchen Space.

The Community Development Block Grant Program assists in strengthening Maryland’s communities by funding projects generally falling into three types: housing, public facilities and economic development projects.

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Assistant Secretary Carol Gilbert was also present for the tour.

Family Support Center, a recipient of the grant, held an open house for its Early Head Start center. This center offers year-round comprehensive early care, education and family support to children from birth to 3 years of age, as well as their families.

Mary Kay Verdery, grants administrator for Talbot County, gave opening remarks outside of the center.

Verdery told community members the renovated space, including classrooms for up to 65 infants and toddlers, office space, kitchen and laundry facilities for the program, was possible due to the grant the center received.

Maria Maguire, health officer for the Talbot County Health Department, gave a speech noting the significance of Head Start programs for the community, including research showing that children enrolled in Early Head Start programs have better social-emotional language and cognitive development.

“All babies and toddlers need positive early learning experiences to foster their intellectual, social and emotional development and to lay the foundation for later school success,” Maguire said. “Talbot County Health Department’s Early Head Start program offers daily, year-round services to families and young children in Talbot County. It provides a comprehensive array of services, including mental health, education, housing, referrals and linkages to health services.”

Community partners and members were given a tour of the center, where they were greeted by staff and children enjoying the care and benefits of the program.

Afterward, people enjoyed refreshments and baked goods before heading to the next stop on the grant project tour, the Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center Kitchen and Community Space.

This full restoration of a brick warehouse provides the resource center with a much-needed space for small groups, class opportunities and community gatherings.

Adding a full commercial kitchen will allow small food businesses to expand their economic impact on the community and provide an appropriate space to create meals and food options for the community.

Talbot County Councilmember Pete Lesher, vice president of the council, shared the council’s enthusiasm and gratitude for the community space and renovations made by the Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center.

“This is an organization that has an important mission to a growing part of our population in this community,” Lesher said. “Thanks to all of you who are already doing that. Thanks to the rest of you who have helped to make this project possible.”

Attendees were welcomed to a feast of Pakistani food created by Veronica Guevara, who used the kitchen to help launch her catering business. People enjoyed a delicious array of lentils, fresh strawberry salad, seasoned chicken and fluffy naan. Guevara explained each dish and showed the best way for attendees to eat it.

Matthew Peters, director of Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center, described this project as a “labor of love.”

“So we’ve got that whole new growth take, and all really thanks to having a little bit more space to breathe and to get people together like this provided to the community,” Peters said. “And hopefully, we keep finding more and more of our clients that are those secret gems so that I can create an amazing mission to share. So thank you all.”