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Bester Community of Hope

Cultivating Hope & Well-Being in Children, Families & Communities, Hagerstown MD.

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Call for Artist for Community Art Project at the South End Community Block Party

Bester Community of Hope is seeking an artist to host a community mural/interactive art project at the 10th Annual South End Community Block Party. The community project will take place at Hagerstown City Park on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 11:00AM-3:00PM. We are seeking a passionate and community-minded artist to design and facilitate a collaborative art experience that will engage residents of all ages. The selected artist will guide participants in creating a mobile mural that celebrates community pride, creativity, and connection.

The art will be used as a mobile piece throughout the years to be featured at local community events & celebrations. The piece should foster community engagement through the arts, celebrate the spirit and culture of the South End, and create a vibrant, inclusive artistic experience for children, youth, & families. The final artwork should be sturdy and capable of being transported within reasonable means, yet large enough to easily be seen, interacted with and enjoyed.

ELIGIBILITY:

  • Open to individual artists or artist teams
  • Must have experience with community-based or participatory art projects
  • Must be available for planning check-ins prior to event
  • Must be available onsite for the full duration of the event. Set up must be completed by 10:45am
  • Must provide design, all materials, and final product
  • Materials should be of high quality and designed for longevity

SELECTION CRITERIA
The applicant’s design should demonstrate:

  • Artistic or design excellence and technical merit
  • Experience working on a community-based project
  • Responsiveness to community context
  • Conceptually integrate Bester Community of Hope’s Unconditional Care Principles of: Whatever it Takes, Better Together, Relationships Matter, Having Fun is Priority and Everyone Has Strengths

SELECTED ARTIST WILL RECIEVE $5,000-$12,000*.
This project is funded through Bester Community of Hope by The Governor’s Office for Children under award number ENGH-2025-0020.

*Amount dependent upon scope and materials

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Email the following items to Alicia Taluskie at [email protected]:

  1. A brief Artist Statement describing the artist’s interest and design intent. Be sure to include contact information.
  2. Design concept for Community Art Project (please do not exceed more than 3 concepts)
  3. Samples of previous or similar projects completed

The application deadline is Friday, August 29, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.

Timeline for the COMMUNITY ART PROJECT:

August 18, 2025 – Call for Artist / Press Release
August 29, 2025 – Deadline to Apply via Online Submission by 4:00pm
September 2, 2025 – Review Artist submissions
September 4, 2025– Notify selected Artist
September 20, 2025– Lead project at Hagerstown City Park 11am-4pm

PRESS RELEASE 7.28.25

 

 

 

 

 PRESS RELEASE

*****For Immediate Release 7/28/25****

10th Annual South End Community Block Party

Bester Community of Hope is thrilled to announce the 10th Annual South End Community Block Party, set for Saturday, September 20, 2025, at historic Hagerstown City Park. Running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the free, family-friendly event invites residents of all ages to celebrate community spirit with a day full of entertainment, activities, and essential local resources. Block Party has grown into one of the South End’s most anticipated annual traditions, attracting hundreds of community residents who come together to connect, celebrate, and support one another.

This year’s event will once again include a designated area for children with inflatable games spread throughout the park to keep young attendees engaged and entertained for hours. Also returning this year will be a special costumed character available for complimentary meet-and-greets and photo ops.

Beyond the fun and games, Block Party serves as an important way to connect to vital community resources. Local nonprofits, health providers, and service organizations will be on hand with information tables providing a means for attendees to learn about and connect with programs related to health care, housing support, employment training, education, mental health resources, and more, all in one place.

The highlight of the afternoon will be a live performance by the legendary Chuck Brown Band, known for carrying on the musical legacy of the “Godfather of Go-Go,” Chuck Brown. The band’s high-energy blend of funk, jazz, and Latin beats has earned them acclaim nationwide, and their show promises to get the crowd dancing and singing along.

Families attending should plan to spend the afternoon visiting sponsor booths, enjoying the kids’ activities, and capping the day with spirited music from the Chuck Brown Band. Food trucks and the concession stand will also be on-site for those seeking snacks and meals.

This event is completely free and open to people of all ages. For more information, please follow our Facebook page at: https://facebook.com/besterhope or contact Alicia Taluskie at 240-513-6370.

 

Funding and support for the annual community training is made possible by an ongoing partnership with multiple community stakeholders, and lead support from the Washington County Department of Human Services, Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Foundation and the Governor’s Office for Children under award number ENGH-2025-0020.

***All points of view in this document are those of Bester Community of Hope and do not necessarily represent the official position of any State or Federal agency.***

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Rhymes and Resources: Growing Together

On April 5, 2025 Bester Elementary School was transformed into a hub of family fun and community engagement when Bester Community of Hope hosted their 9th annual Babypalooza Community Baby Shower. This annual event saw 161 families and 500 people come together to celebrate and honor the youngest members of the community.

As families were welcomed into the nursery rhyme themed event they had the opportunity to visit the Early Learning Carnival, where five local early intervention agencies created a space filled with engaging activity stations featuring interactive games, sensory play and motor skill exercises designed to encourage motor development. Attendees were also able to capture some of the magic of the day by snapping a photo at the ‘row, row, row your boat’ photo booth sponsored by the Washington County Family Center and interacting with Goldilocks and one of her famous 3 bears.

Once families transitioned from the Early Learning Carnival into the gymnasium space, they were greeted by over 40 resource vendors who were ready for the chance to connect with families by offering vital information related to healthcare, family services, childhood development, home safety,  and so much more. Brienna Fields, a representative from The Community Free Clinic expressed her enthusiasm for the event, stating, “This was the first year I attended this event and I am quite impressed. Providing an event that has so many community partners in one space for residents to connect with is amazing. I look forward to working together again next year!”

Parenthood is an amazing journey, but it can also come with challenges. Learning how to prioritize self- care and resilience helps us show up as the best versions of ourselves to those we care for. The Jack E. Barr Center for Well-Being once again hosted the Parental Resiliency Room which provided families an opportunity to unwind in a calm space. Here, individuals could engage in relaxing activities like coloring and listening to music.

As we all know, no celebration is complete without food and prizes! Thanks to funding from the Governors Office of Children through the ENOUGH Act, families were able to enjoy a meal catered by Chick-fil-A and a nursey rhyme book. To cap off Babypalooza, 14 prize bundles, sponsored by Bester Community of Hope and the generosity of their community partners, were raffled off. One parent shared their favorite part about the day was “having a fun place to take my kids, and get connected to resources that I needed all in one place! People were able to answer questions that I have had and getting diapers was a big help. My kids loved the face painting and balloon animals!”

As Babypalooza came to an end it was clear that this event is more than just a baby shower. It is essential gathering that brings together local organizations in an effort to provide a nurturing environment where EVERY parent and child thrive, showcasing the power of community, resilience and support.

Bester Community of Hope provides supports and opportunities for families in the South End of Hagerstown through the partnership and funding by The Governors Office of Children ENOUGH grant, Washington County Department of Social Services, and the Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Foundation. If you are interested in learning more about our efforts please contact us at: 240-513-6370 or visit us at www.besterhope.org.

The Governor’s Office for Children funded this project under award number 2025- ENGH-008. All points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of any State or Federal agency.

‘Building Bridges’ Inspires Vision & Grit

Celebrating it’s 10th gathering of community members advancing progress for children, families and communities, Bester Community of Hope brought together close to 450 registered guests on March 26th for it’ s annual training at the Maryland Theatre. This event was titled ‘Building Bridges’, and built on past events focused on trauma informed practices and collective impact, with a particular focus this year on the role of vision and grit on successful outcomes. The unique conversation cut across sectors, and spoke equally to both audience members and those who they serve. San Mar Family & Community Services CEO, Keith Fanjoy, opened the event sharing, “our goal today is to ensure that dreaming is not a luxury. We have to also be sure that when those opportunities arrive, we’re prepared to do what it takes.”

With speakers from across the country, the program kicked off with the founder of PUSH for Dreams, Dr. John Gaines, who launched the event with an inspiring message of hope, and love under the most difficult of circumstances with his own story. He also was able to come full circle in not only mentoring and providing positive affirmations to other youth through his non-profit, but being an agent of change in several generations of his own family, repeating ‘Love is the Solution’.

Next up was Casey Family Programs Senior Director of Judicial and National Engagement, Sheldon Spotted Elk, who was able to highlight the flip side of grit. Exploring the tremendous adversity already experienced by Native Americans and continuing as a result of historical injustices and loss of culture through intentional efforts such as Indian boarding schools that existed including one in nearby Pennsylvania. He shared the power of previously meeting Olympian Billy Mills, one of two Native American gold medalists, who was a symbol of hope, and someone who had overcome great challenges. As helpers consider approaching others with messages intended to support, doing so through a lens of cultural humility must remain a priority. When considering the pathway to hope, he shared in tribal communities, “when we talk about issues like poverty, it’s most typically the poverty of hope”.

Afterwards, author of “Getting Grit” and “Big Goals” Caroline Adams Miller, focused on the science of grit and goals. She explained, “Grit says “why not me”, but it can only be cultivated when you know the big dream.” She provided a framework for helping communities by walking through a series of difficult circumstances in her journey battling bulimia, along with professional set backs, to convey what interventions made the difference in her life. She also conveyed the unintended consequences of the “self-esteem parenting movement” and that not allowing failure with boundaries actually removes the opportunity to build strength that adults are looking for in youth. “We all play a role in bringing grit back. Grit is a superpower!”

The day culminated with a memorable and captivating presentation by NASA Astronaut Don Thomas. He took audience members on a journey from humble beginnings and early adversity in his home to convey the impossibility of his childhood dream of being an astronaut. He reflected on repeated rejections from NASA, and what seemed like the end of the road. After finally breaking through and being accepted into the space program, life threw him another curve ball: cancer. But, through a relentless determination to achieve his dream, Don was able to finally achieve the impossible, space travel!  He shared, “About 650 people have had the opportunity to be in space, and when you’re up there looking down at Earth from a distance it is so clear that what we have is fragile and we need to take care of it, But the other thing that is clear is that we need each other: we have this common ground. I’m not from Ohio, I’m from Earth. And we are all earthlings.”

 

The Governors Office for Children funded this project under award number 2025-ENGH-008, all points of view in this document are those of the author and do no necessarily represent the position of any state agency. Bester Community of Hope is an initiative of San Mar Family & Community Services, and ‘Building Bridges’ was made possible by support from the Governor’s Office on Children ENOUGH Initiative, the Washington County Department of Human Services, the Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Foundation and Casey Family Programs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENOUGH Grant Provides Unprecedented Opportunities for South End

On Thursday, close to 100 leaders including representatives from the Governor’s Office for Children gathered at Meritus Park to announce signature investments in the South End of the City of Hagerstown through Governor Wes Moore’s signature policy, the ENOUGH Act. The award originally announced at a press conference with Governor Moore on December 12th, will be overseen by the San Mar Family & Community Services initiative known as Bester Community of Hope.

The kick-off event highlighted the history of the Bester Community of Hope effort focused on prevention and root causes, and the next steps to fill strategic community gaps. It also highlighted the need for a marriage between the needs of downtown economic development and the needs of current families living in the community with a goal to move the South End from “Surviving to Thriving”. The initial award of $3 million, will expand to $6 million in FY26, with additional funding potential the following two years, focused on tackling generational poverty and shifting long-term outcomes for families.

BCOH plans to spend the month of February finalizing contracts with partner agencies and working with partners to recruit staff and residents to join the comprehensive effort. The group will post the initial committee structure, members and leadership table to the community at the end of February and plans to aggressively pursue implementation throughout the Spring. There will be a variety of information and opportunities initially shared through besterhope.org website, social media and other outlets. The initial five areas of focus from the needs assessment include: Housing, Poverty & Concrete Supports, Workforce Development, Mental Health & Substance Use, and Child care. These areas will be targeted within a resident driven framework of neighborhood improvements of the compliment not only services to children and families but addressing the lived environment and spaces that residents live and play. Only about 15% of the grant program will support new staffing, whereas the vast majority of initial funding will go directly towards investments in families, neighborhoods and their identified needs. The initial funding and partner agencies include but are not limited to:

Resident Driven Neighborhood Opportunities – Bester Community of Hope, a San Mar Initiative

  • Neighborhood Revitalization Zones – Focused on arts & culture, belonging, environmental and safety improvements. Creating spaces for families.
  • Annual Special Events – South End Block Party, Babypalooza, and new signature resident events
  • Annual community training and evidence-based practices
  • Lead Neighborhood Ambassador
  • Six Neighborhood Ambassadors/ 20 hours monthly
  • Parent Peer Navigator (2 positions)
  • Data & Neighborhood Impact manager
  • Neighborhood Partnership Coordinator (core funding)

Housing

  • Housing support moving from emergency assistance to home ownership, with a goal of serving existing South End residents to plant roots from renter to owner. Washington County Community Action Council (WCCAC)
  • South End Housing Navigator (WCCAC)

Poverty

  • ENOUGH Family Subsidy – Incentives for working poor between 125% and 200% of poverty to access financial assistance to support basic needs while pursuing education and workforce development for a sustainable living wage. The initial target is 150 families with focus on childcare, transportation, and food. Consultation from UMD Innovation Institute to blend access to opportunity with accountability metrics.
  • After school subsidy to underwrite enrichment clubs for school-age youth in South End; Cash N’ Dreams Scholarships for SHHS

Substance Use Support and Education

  • Two Care Coordinators supporting Parents and Youth impacted by Substance Use (Potomac Community Services)

Trauma and Grief

  • South End Bereavement Coordinator (Hospice of Washington County)

Concrete Supports

  • Mobile Resource delivery vehicle including bright start newborn supplies (WCCAC)
  • South End Mobile Resource Coordinator (WCCAC)
  • Bilingual Community Worker- 2 positions (Hagerstown Area Religious Council & Asian American Center of Frederick)
  • Resource Wagons for Young Families (Children in Need)
  • South End Hygiene Supplies for Families (United Way of Washington County)

San Mar Family & Community Services

  • ENOUGH Subsidy Manager
  • ENOUGH Grant Finance Manager
  • Community Solutions Hub data portal – ENOUGH performance measures

Workforce Development & Child Care

Planning two new roles – Processing Coordinator, Business Development Manager to support expanded childcare resources (Partner to be decided)

Interested in learning more and getting involved? Reach out here: [email protected]

Check out today’s front page story from the Herald Mail Media by Julie Greene: Hagerstown’s South End to Benefit from Millions through Enough Act Anti-Poverty Grant

The Governor’s Office for Children funded this project under award number 2025- ENGH-008. All points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of any State agency.

Photography courtesy of Wertman Photography

PRESS RELEASE 1.24.25

 

 

 

 

 PRESS RELEASE

*****For Immediate Release 1/24/25****

NATIONAL SPEAKERS COMING TO HAGERSTOWN, MD CATALYZING INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION IN SUPPORTING CHILDREN & FAMILIES

Bester Community of Hope is proud to announce our annual community training “Building Bridges: Lessons on Vision and Grit for Families and Communities” with national speakers focused on cross sector collaboration and innovative strategies to address the expressed needs of children, families, and communities. Join us at the magnificent Maryland Theatre in Hagerstown, MD on March 26, 2025, as we explore the importance of vision and grit in overcoming barriers and together building a brighter future for all.

Featured Speakers

Caroline Adams Miller: Caroline is a globally renowned expert in positive psychology, with a special focus on goals and grit. For over 30 years, she has been a trailblazer in advancing these fields, helping individuals and organizations reach their most ambitious goals and improve overall wellbeing. She was among the first to earn a Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006, a program pioneered by Dr. Martin Seligman, the founder of positive psychology. Caroline also graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University, laying the groundwork for her future achievements in psychology and personal development. She is a black-belt martial artist and a Masters swimmer.

Astronaut Don Thomas: Don is an astronaut, scientist, professional speaker, educator, and author of Orbit of Discovery about his STS-70 mission aboard space shuttle Discovery. A veteran of four flights, Don has spent 44 days in space and orbited the Earth nearly 700 times. His impossible dream of becoming an astronaut had constant obstacles from the beginning, and his ultimate success and commitment to giving back to the next generation has become the ultimate testament to perseverance.

Dr. John Gaines: John shares his personal journey from hopelessness to hope, sharing his unwavering drive to uplift others. It is through his own story that he earned the nickname “PUSH” (Persevere Until Something Happens), symbolizing his firm belief in the transformative power of perseverance. As the Founder and CEO of his own non-profit PUSH for Dreams, he passionately encourages individuals to embrace a mindset of resilience and approach life’s obstacles with love, ultimately becoming the best versions of themselves.

Sheldon Spotted Elk: Sheldon is Senior Director of Judicial and National Engagement of Casey Family Programs. Sheldon is also a graduate of University of New Mexico School of Law. He and his two sons are Tsistsas (Northern Cheyenne). Sheldon Spotted Elk is an agent of change, improving legal outcomes for children and families involved in the child welfare system. He works regularly as a strategic partner with 20+ Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Courts developing an orientation of proximity to family, community, and culture into practice.

Tickets are available HERE for purchase. Continuing education credits are available for social workers. Group registration discounts available.

Funding and support for the annual community training is made possible by an ongoing partnership with multiple community stakeholders, and lead support from the Washington County Department of Human Services, Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Foundation and the Governor’s Office for Children under award number ENGH-2025-0020. For more information on this year’s event, please contact Brittany Hernandez at 240-513-6370; [email protected] or visit us at www.besterhope.org .

***All points of view in this document are those of Bester Community of Hope and do not necessarily represent the official position of any State or Federal agency.***

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