We would like to thank this follower of the #EveryStoryCounts Campaign for submitting a wonderful story on Noah Smock’s behalf:
As the Executive Director of the Baltimore Community ToolBank (BCT), Noah is privy to a pretty unique purview of Baltimore: meeting those across the city who are involved in various organizations, and their myriad efforts to green, strengthen, support, celebrate, educate, heal and empower our community. Through his strategic, inclusive and creative leadership of the BCT, he has helped reinforce the agency of Baltimore’s non-profits – both through tool lending that equips them to affect change on the ground, as well as serving as a hub for connecting people, programs and projects together that amplify the impact of any one person, group or initiative. This strengthens the sustainability of these organizations, and lest he neglect to consider the role he must play in addressing that for the ToolBank itself. This is where Noah raises the bar on civic action, environmental responsibility, social justice, and simply lifting up the community around him. Through multiple projects on the BCT site, Noah is mitigating environmental impacts and leveraging his place and platform to inspire others to do the same. From rain gardens and a stormwater factory on site, to serving as a home-base for floating wetlands construction for the Inner Harbor, he preaches, he practices and he pushes positive change forward.
To find out more about how you can get involved in Maker movements like Noah, check out following organizations:
- The Baltimore Community ToolBank offers an inventory of tools to help nonprofit organizations, religious and educational institutions, community groups and their volunteers increase their impact.
- Our Made In Baltimore aims grow he market for locally-produced goods. We do this by supporting makers and manufacturers through our local-brand certification program, promotion and marketing events, and business development services.
- The Station North Tool Library is a community hub and tool-lending library with over 2000 tools, 25 classes, and a public woodworking shop. They are a welcoming environment where people can be creative, foster a do-it-yourself attitude, and learn to work with their hands.
- Open Works is a maker space that makes tools, technology, and the knowledge to use them accessible and affordable. They provide membership access to workshops; friendly, expert staff; and classes for youth, adults, and families.
- The Industrial Arts Collective provides a showcase, many resources, and connections to local makers. They are an online resource for communication, collaboration, and general education on the maker community in Baltimore.
To find out how you can create your own rain gardens and a stormwater water management systems, check out the following resources:
- Blue Water Baltimore works to reduce pollution by working hand-in-hand with the communities they serve and educating residents and school children to help them reduce pollution. They organize from organizing community tree plantings, help residents install rain gardens, and various other activities to reduce water pollution.
- Waterfront Partnership’s Healthy Harbor Initiative works to restore and protect our City’s most valuable asset—the Baltimore Harbor. Through their projects, programs, and partnerships, Healthy Harbor is educating the public about what lives beneath the surface and how we can all fight for the urban ecosystem through actions we take.
- Check out our comprehensive resource list for addressing trash and stormwater here.
The #EveryStory Counts Campaign
You don’t have to be a climate scientist or city planner to create sustainability + resilience. Everyone has a story to tell about making Baltimore a stronger, fairer and safer place for all of us.
Be a part of our #EveryStoryCounts Campaign by sharing yours on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #EveryStoryCounts, or by sharing your words and pictures through our website. Join the many people who’ve shared their stories already at everystorycounts.org.