Bon Secours Community Works Dedicates Community Resource Center to Late Congressman Elijah Cummings, Unveils Sculpture Honoring His Likeness
Community celebration held to commemorate the late Congressman’s legacy and impact on West Baltimore
BALTIMORE (October 30, 2024) – Bon Secours Community Works dedicated the Bon Secours Community Resource Center in West Baltimore to the late Congressman Elijah Cummings on October 24, alongside community leaders, elected officials, local residents, and Cummings’ family members. During a dedication program, leaders unveiled a sculpture honoring the late Congressman, who served as the U.S. Representative for Maryland’s 7th Congressional District from 1996 until his passing in 2019. Bon Secours Community Works commissioned the sculpture by artist Frederick Hightower, whose portfolio includes sculptures of prominent African American athletes, educators, and scientists. Members of the West Baltimore community assisted Community Works in selecting the artist, design, and placement of the sculpture.
At the event, Elijah Cummings’ younger brother, James Cummings, delivered a moving speech recounting some meaningful moments indicative of the close bond that the two shared throughout their lives, and reiterating the impact that Elijah Cummings had on his district and the country at large. Several other members of the Cummings family were on site to celebrate and admire the sculpture, which now sits just outside of the Community Resource Center.
Besides holding his congressional position for Maryland’s 7th District, a role he served in for more than two decades, Elijah Cummings was a tireless advocate for Baltimore’s communities. Congressman Cummings used his position to fight for economic revitalization, social justice, and civil rights. He advanced community development projects aimed at improving housing, schools, and infrastructure, and worked to bridge the gap between the community and law enforcement. “Cummings had a profound impact on West Baltimore, and his life and career are a testament to the power of resilience and public service to make a difference in urban communities,” said George Kleb, executive director of Bon Secours Community Works.
For more than 30 years, Bon Secours Community Works has served West Baltimore, working to further the mission of the Sisters of Bon Secours as a compliment to the Bon Secours Baltimore Hospital (now Lifebridge Health’s Grace Medical Center). Today, Bon Secours Community Works continues to provide the West Baltimore community with programs, services, and affordable housing designed to improve the social determinants of health and contribute to the long-term economic and social viability of West Baltimore neighborhoods.
The Community Resource Center opened in April 2022 and marked an expansion of Bon Secours Community Works’ long standing workforce development and financial services programs in West Baltimore. In addition to serving as an essential gathering space in the Boyd-Booth neighborhood, the Community Resource Center offers a variety of walk-in and scheduled programming for both children and adults. Program offerings include a focus on youth services, educational programming, wellness activities, workforce development, financial education, job training, and more.
Attendees at the family-focused dedication and unveiling event enjoyed music and dance performances by the Mary Ann Winterling Elementary School Dance Team, Violinist Yalira Walker, and hip-hop drummer Malik Perry. A variety of art, music, and educational activities took place throughout the Center to mark the occasion. In addition, attendees contributed artifacts to a time capsule that will be sealed in January of 2025 and reopened in the year 2050.
For more information about Bon Secours Community Works, visit www.bonsecours.com/communityworks. For more information about the Community Resource Center, call 410-801-5100 or email Community_Works@bshsi.org.
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About Bon Secours Community Works
Bon Secours Community Works serves the West Baltimore community with a focus on community health programs including youth and family services, economic development, coalition building, community engagement, housing and community development, which includes more than 800 affordable housing units. Bon Secours Community Works is part of Bon Secours Mercy Health, one of the 20 largest health systems in the United States and the fifth-largest Catholic health system in the country. The mission of Bon Secours Mercy Health is to extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus by improving the health and well-being of its communities and bring good help to those in need, especially people who are poor, dying and underserved. For more information, visit BonSecours.com/CommunityWorks.
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Bon Secours Contact: Jenna Green
804.357.2298