Kyra McDonnell and Pastor Billy discuss what's new with the York Road Initiative as they continue to focus on youth development, food access, commercial corridor work, and civic capacity building in the Govans neighborhood! Kyra McDonnell serves as Program Coordinator at the York Road Initiative at Loyola University. Kyra and Billy also read and discuss Psalm 133 in this month's episode. 

You can email Kyra at [email protected]. Check out the York Road Initiative on Instagram and Facebook to learn more about their upcoming events.

You can learn more about all of the special events happening during Advent and Christmas at Govans on the church website, click here.

Believe in Baltimore is a podcast conversation with community leaders and change-makers in Baltimore, Maryland, hosted by Govans Presbyterian Church. In each episode, we welcome a local leader to share about their work in Charm City, as well as their hopes and dreams for our community. Govans Presbyterian Church is a theologically progressive community empowering people to make the world better. Learn more about Govans and how you can get involved at www.govanspres.org.

Stay connected to Govans Presbyterian online through our social platforms, too!

Govans Instagram Account - https://www.instagram.com/govanspresbyterian/ 

Govans YouTube Account - https://www.youtube.com/user/Govanschurch 

Govans Twitter Account - www.twitter.com/govanschurch 

Govans Facebook Account - www.facebook.com/govanschurch

For more information or to send us your show ideas, email Billy at [email protected].

Marie Herrington (she/her) works as Second Service Music Director at Govans Presbyterian Church. On this episode, she discusses her work at Govans, training at Peabody, and her hopes for music making in our community in the years ahead. You can contact Marie at [email protected] to learn more about music opportunities at Govans and our handbell program and choir. 

Believe in Baltimore is a podcast conversation with community leaders and change-makers in Baltimore, Maryland, hosted by Govans Presbyterian Church. In each episode, we welcome a local leader to share about their work in Charm City, as well as their hopes and dreams for our community. Govans Presbyterian Church is a theologically progressive community empowering people to make the world better. Learn more about Govans and how you can get involved at www.govanspres.org.

Stay connected to Govans Presbyterian online through our social platforms, too!

Govans Instagram Account - https://www.instagram.com/govanspresbyterian/ 

Govans YouTube Account - https://www.youtube.com/user/Govanschurch 

Govans Twitter Account - www.twitter.com/govanschurch 

Govans Facebook Account - www.facebook.com/govanschurch

For more information or to send us your show ideas, email Billy at [email protected].

Isabella Sarria of Johns Hopkins University joins Pastors Tom and Billy to discuss the VALUE COVID-19 initiative to increase vaccination rates against COVID-19 and decrease misinformation in our community. We are also joined by some of the amazing VALUE COVID-19 ambassadors: Tristan, Aiara, and Sophie.

You can learn more about VALUE COVID-19 (and their work) online:

You can meet the VALUE COVID-19 team in-person during Govans' Trunk or Treat on Saturday, October 29 from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm in the parking lot of the church (5828 York Road, Baltimore, MD). Email [email protected] for more information.

Believe in Baltimore is a podcast conversation with community leaders and change-makers in Baltimore, Maryland, hosted by Govans Presbyterian Church. In each episode, we welcome a local leader to share about their work in Charm City, as well as their hopes and dreams for our community. Govans Presbyterian Church is a theologically progressive community empowering people to make the world better. Learn more about Govans and how you can get involved at www.govanspres.org.

Stay connected to Govans Presbyterian online through our social platforms, too!

Govans Instagram Account - https://www.instagram.com/govanspresbyterian/ 

Govans YouTube Account - https://www.youtube.com/user/Govanschurch 

Govans Twitter Account - www.twitter.com/govanschurch 

Govans Facebook Account - www.facebook.com/govanschurch

For more information or to send us your show ideas, email Billy at [email protected].

Maura Elwood joins pastors Tom and Billy to discuss Govans Community Fridge, a new project to help hungry neighbors in our community. Maura Elwood serves as Director of Community Engagement for Baltimore Councilman Mark Conway, District 4.

You can learn more about the fridge online and on Instagram.

And special thanks to Marie McSweeney Anderson, Megan Kaiser, Ava Haag, Ana Andrade, Kyra McDonnell, Skylar Cho, The York Road Initiative, Parkhurst Dining, FED, Loyola Theatre Department, and Loyola Campus Police for their support in getting this project designed, started, and continuing.

Believe in Baltimore is a podcast conversation with community leaders and change-makers in Baltimore, Maryland, hosted by Govans Presbyterian Church. In each episode, we welcome a local leader to share about their work in Charm City, as well as their hopes and dreams for our community. Govans Presbyterian Church is a theologically progressive community empowering people to make the world better. Learn more about Govans and how you can get involved at www.govanspres.org.

Stay connected to Govans Presbyterian online through our social platforms, too!

Govans Instagram Account - https://www.instagram.com/govanspresbyterian/ 

Govans YouTube Account - https://www.youtube.com/user/Govanschurch 

Govans Twitter Account - www.twitter.com/govanschurch 

Govans Facebook Account - www.facebook.com/govanschurch

For more information or to send us your show ideas, email Billy at [email protected].

Leila Kohler-Frueh and Jeff Hardy discuss Habitat Chesapeake's work in our neighborhood to promote housing and economic development. Learn more about Habitat Chesapeake's work (and sign up to volunteer) on their website, click here. If you'd like to volunteer with Govans at an upcoming Habitat event, email [email protected]. In this episode, we also read and discuss the second chapter of the book of Haggai.

Habitat Chesapeake is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. If you have a Habitat story that you'd like to share, please email Britt Hayes at [email protected]. 

Believe in Baltimore is a podcast conversation with community leaders and change-makers in Baltimore, Maryland, hosted by Govans Presbyterian Church. In each episode, we welcome a local leader to share about their work in Charm City, as well as their hopes and dreams for our community. Govans Presbyterian Church is a theologically progressive community empowering people to make the world better. Learn more about Govans and how you can get involved at www.govanspres.org.

Stay connected to Govans Presbyterian online through our social platforms, too!

Govans Instagram Account - https://www.instagram.com/govanspresbyterian/ 

Govans YouTube Account - https://www.youtube.com/user/Govanschurch 

Govans Twitter Account - www.twitter.com/govanschurch 

Govans Facebook Account - www.facebook.com/govanschurch

For more information or to send us your show ideas, email Billy at [email protected].

Spiritual directors Therese Taylor-Stinson and Lisa Beacham join Pastors Tom and Billy for a conversation about spiritual direction (what is it, exactly?) and how we can each find our connection to the Divine and our callings as humans. We discuss Ephesians 4: 11-17 and the intersections of spiritual direction and racial identity, as well. 

Therese Taylor-Stinson is a writer, spiritual director, ordained deacon, and ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA). A graduate of the Shalem Institute and a member of the Shalem Society for Contemplative Leadership, she is also the Founding Managing Member of the Spiritual Directors of Color Network, Ltd. Taylor-Stinson is the editor of the award-winning books Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around and Embodied Spirits: Stories of Spiritual Directors of Color. Her latest book Walking the Way of Harriet Tubman: Public Mystic and Freedom Fighter will be published later this year. Therese lives her life as a contemplative, and enjoys the natural world and the people and projects that are drawn to her as gifts. She and her husband live in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Lisa Beacham is a coach, spiritual director, and retreat leader. She brings experience from the corporate world, community-based non-profits, and work as a consultant all to her current ministry of spiritual direction and coaching.

Believe in Baltimore is a podcast conversation with community leaders and change-makers in Baltimore, Maryland, hosted by Govans Presbyterian Church. In each episode, we welcome a local leader to share about their work in Charm City, as well as their hopes and dreams for our community. Govans Presbyterian Church is a theologically progressive community empowering people to make the world better. Learn more about Govans and how you can get involved at www.govanspres.org.

Stay connected to Govans Presbyterian online through our social platforms, too!

Govans Instagram Account - https://www.instagram.com/govanspresbyterian/ 

Govans YouTube Account - https://www.youtube.com/user/Govanschurch 

Govans Twitter Account - www.twitter.com/govanschurch 

Govans Facebook Account - www.facebook.com/govanschurch

For more information or to send us your show ideas, email Billy at [email protected].

Rachael Neill and Joe Santamaria from GEDCO CARES share their work providing food, emergency rental support, and job search education for our neighbors. Learn more about GEDCO and all of their programs on their website: https://gedco.org

We also discuss the Govans Presbyterian Church community garden in this episode. Learn more about that here: https://www.govanspres.org/what-we-do/earth-care/

Believe in Baltimore is a podcast conversation with community leaders and change-makers in Baltimore, Maryland, hosted by Govans Presbyterian Church. In each episode, we welcome a local leader to share about their work in Charm City, as well as their hopes and dreams for our community. Govans Presbyterian Church is a theologically progressive community empowering people to make the world better. Learn more about Govans and how you can get involved at www.govanspres.org.

Stay connected to Govans Presbyterian online through our social platforms, too!

Govans Instagram Account - https://www.instagram.com/govanspresbyterian/ 

Govans YouTube Account - https://www.youtube.com/user/Govanschurch 

Govans Twitter Account - www.twitter.com/govanschurch 

Govans Facebook Account - www.facebook.com/govanschurch

For more information or to send us your show ideas, email Billy at [email protected].

Janae Tyler of Baltimore Safe Haven shares the work and mission Baltimore Safe Haven with Pastors Tom and Billy. Baltimore Safe Haven supports local transgender neighbors with transitional housing, hot meals, mobile outreach, and more. 

Believe in Baltimore is a podcast conversation with community leaders and change-makers in Baltimore, Maryland, hosted by Govans Presbyterian Church. In each episode, we welcome a local leader to share about their work in Charm City, as well as their hopes and dreams for our community. Govans Presbyterian Church is a theologically progressive community empowering people to make the world better. Learn more about Govans and how you can get involved at www.govanspres.org.

Jessica Robey and Kisha Barnes discuss the importance of career training for local women with Pastors Tom and Billy. The Caroline Center provides free career education for women in Baltimore City. Learn more about their work on their website: https://caroline-center.org. 

Jessica Robey works as the Communications and Marketing Manager at The Caroline Center. 

Akisha Barnes is an alumnus of the Caroline Center (Group 57) from 2014. After graduation, she was selected by Pat McLaughlin to speak to City Hall and give testimony on behalf of the Caroline Center students in 2015 at an especially important meeting for funding. With that testimony, not only did C.C. receive the funding, but was also awarded an additional $20,000 from the city. She has been on panels to speak with the students of Caroline Center about the benefits and possibilities of being a graduate. She has also tried to attend as many C.C. functions as her schedule would allow in support of the organization that gave her so much. Since graduating, she took up a position as a GNA with Genesis from 2014-2015 and worked as a Childcare Provider from 2015-2020. She is presently an employee of the City of Baltimore as well as the proud business owner of a mobile CPR/First Aid company called “Voices Hearts and Hands LLC” through which she teaches the Women of the Caroline Center BLS training. If you or anyone you know is interested in taking a course with Voices Hearts and Hands LLC, they offer a wide range of courses from CPR/First Aid to BLS and Disaster Preparedness. Feel free to contact them by calling 443.648.3047 or sending an email to [email protected].

Believe in Baltimore is a podcast conversation with community leaders and change-makers in Baltimore, Maryland, hosted by Govans Presbyterian Church. In each episode, we welcome a local leader to share about their work in Charm City, as well as their hopes and dreams for our community. Govans Presbyterian Church is a theologically progressive community empowering people to make the world better. Learn more about Govans and how you can get involved at www.govanspres.org.

Dr. Kristin Mmari, Brandi Welsh, and Natasha Neale join Pastors Tom and Billy to share about Project VITAL's work to transform vacant lots in Baltimore City through greening initiatives and youth-led transformation. Learn about the project online, as well as BMORE Beautiful and the Baltimore City Green Network plan. You can also support the project by helping to identify lots and greening activities in your neighborhood by visiting Project VITAL Greening Lots (arcgis.com). 

Believe in Baltimore is a podcast conversation with community leaders and change-makers in Baltimore, Maryland, hosted by Govans Presbyterian Church. In each episode, we welcome a local leader to share about their work in Charm City, as well as their hopes and dreams for our community. Govans Presbyterian Church is a theologically progressive community empowering people to make the world better. Learn more about Govans and how you can get involved at www.govanspres.org.

Stay connected to Govans Presbyterian online through our social platforms, too!

Govans Instagram Account - https://www.instagram.com/govanspresbyterian/ 

Govans YouTube Account - https://www.youtube.com/user/Govanschurch 

Govans Twitter Account - www.twitter.com/govanschurch 

Govans Facebook Account - www.facebook.com/govanschurch

For more information or to send us your show ideas, email Billy at [email protected].