The Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore is gearing up for its annual Community Block Party on May 31 in Owings Mills to celebrate the greater Baltimore community.
This year’s theme is “It’s Classic,” featuring retro cars, a roller rink and more. Families can expect inflatables, face painting, bubble artists and more family-friendly entertainment, including performances by groups such as Alex and the Kaleidoscope and LevSoul, a local band that promises a mix of folk, rock, and salsa flavored Jewish melodies.
“The JCC is all about unique fun experiences for families,” said Melissa Seltzer, the JCC’s senior director of arts and culture and co-chair of the Community Block Party.
Seltzer said they are expecting around 3,000 attendees this year and are featuring 90 organizations, including food, vendors and local partners.
“We’ll have pony rides … as well as things like glitter hair and some other things you [can] pay for if you want to purchase them,” she explained. “Other than that, it’s a free, family fun day [with] lots of things you can do at no cost.”
One of the JCC’s partners, LifeBridge Health, will have a large section at the Community Block Party it is calling the “Boardwalk to Better Health,” with 30 different tables offering free health screenings, health experts, carnival games, an Instagram wall, giveaways and more.
“We will actually have doctors that will be able to engage and answer questions with community members,” said Robyn Talesnik, senior manager of marketing events and outreach for LifeBridge Health.
Additionally, LifeBridge Health will host a Teddy Bear Clinic as part of The Herman & Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital at Sinai. During the Community Block Party, children will be able to build their own teddy bears to take with them to help them feel less intimidated or frightened when in a clinical setting.
“Hospitals and clinical settings are very scary, even to adults, so when our youngest community friends come into the hospital, we want to make it a friendly and welcoming environment, and we want to take that scare piece out of it for the children,” Talesnik explained. “The whole goal is to reduce stress and anxiety if you had to be in a hospital setting.”
Talesnik added that whether you have a question about a cardiovascular need or orthopedic need, high blood pressure, or anything else, she encourages everyone to stop by and ask about it. “If they can walk away with a resource and with an understanding of what their next steps or initial steps should be, then I think we’ve done our job well for the day.”
“I think that the JCC and LifeBridge Health have a lot of things in common, but something that really runs through the main artery of both of our organizations is our commitment to the community,” said Talesnik.
Another community partner participating in the Community Block Party will be the Maryland Department of Transportation, which will be setting up what it calls a “safety town,” through which children can ride bikes and learn about stop signs, yielding and traffic safety.
“I think, for me, the best part of that day is really seeing the diversity of the community that come out and the organizations that come out as well,” Seltzer said. “As always, and especially that day, you can see that network of what makes up a community from all different angles. There’s no competitors. When one rises, we all rise. And to be able to see all there is in Baltimore County is incredible.”
mresnicow@midatlanticmedia.com
