2017 CIIP Program Book 2017 CIIP Program Book | Page 34

Community Partner: Made In Baltimore Program – Baltimore Office of Sustainability
Intern: Clarissa Chen
Site Supervisor: Andy Cook
What is the Made In Baltimore Program?
Made in Baltimore aims to spur re-investment in Baltimore City by growing the 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.
"I’ve always known Baltimore to be unique in the immense love and pride that people have for
the city, and this summer I was able to experience that in a seemingly materialistic but truly
beautiful way. Made in Baltimore, in a certain sense, is all about celebrating the successes of
people around the city: the creatives that make functional art in their home studios, the workers
that spend hours in a day putting on bottle caps, and the business owners that take pride in
manufacturing within the city. Of course, these people are not all inclusive of all community
members doing uplifting, inspiring work in the city, but these were the people I had perhaps
paid the least amount of attention to prior to this internship.
During my first meeting with Andy, the program manager for Made in Baltimore, he talked
about the variety of projects that were going on -- a neighborhood with potential industrial
redevelopment that planners were trying to save from gentrification, a nationwide urban
manufacturing survey, a workforce development program based in sewing, a local branding
initiative, pop-up shops and events -- essentially, a long list of things I couldn’t imagine juggling
on my own. As a result, this summer I ended up helping out with a variety of different things and
met dozens of people, all of whom resonated with a feeling of pride in Baltimore. This is perhaps
the most valuable experience I’ve gained this summer: hearing the voices of people who are
excited about what the future of Baltimore looks like and knowing that I can support them in
some ways.
Made in Baltimore is working in a variety of different ways to support the makers and light
manufacturers in the city, whether that be with something as simple as putting a collective logo
on local made products, creating partnerships, or working on policy to ensure the economic
sustainability of the sector in the city. As my internship comes to a close, I will continue to think
about something I heard from a man who runs his business as a workforce development
program for youth (and serves some killer sorbet): “Manufacturing is what makes this city
great.” -Clarissa
• Conducted survey of sewing workforce
training programs for research
informing development of a
collaborative industrial sewing training
program between Made in Baltimore,
SewLab USA and Open Works
• Assisted with planning of launch event
with 300+ attendees by working with
caterers, community resources, and 30
makers to create shared display of
Baltimore City made and manufactured
goods as a centerpiece
• Aided with certification of 20 makers
and manufacturers in Baltimore City to
become member businesses of a local
branding initiative
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