Meet Me Halfway Village (MMH)
3910 Barrington Road
Baltimore, Maryland 21207
Office:  410-466-6338                       Fax:  410-466-6340

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Program Overview

MMH is a community/faith-based school mentoring program established in 2004 by Bernard Fayall to provide holistic mentoring, training and resources to students , training and supportive services to teachers and advocacy for parents and caregivers.  MMH employs a small cadre of professional staff and solicits the support of dedicated and caring volunteers in order to enhance their mission of providing mentoring and supportive services to improve the quality of life of its student members and their families. 

The vision of MMH embraces core values that support the use of a family-centered, strengths-based approach in order to enhance the lives of the students who participate in the program.  This approach acknowledges that families are the primary decision makers regarding their children’s learning experiences and development.

Through this approach the following tools are utilized:

• Advocacy:  Advocacy is powerful.  It can cause positive changes in the lives of the children whose families practice it, as well as within larger circles of children and families in the community.

• Collaboration:  All members of a team - those persons designated by the family to provide support - are valuable when working together in the best interest of the child and family.  A combination of unique strengths and roles forms the foundation.

• Self Reliance:   Each family has a right and responsibility to maintain their own families. 

• Natural Environments:  Families and children get support within, and relevant to, the places and activities that make up their lives.

This strengths-based approach is integrated throughout the different programs offered at MMH.  Children enrolled in the mentoring program are given opportunities to be creative and express their individual talents and gifts.  In their role as educational liaisons, MMH has developed innovative strategies that acknowledge and support the collective strengths of the families, communities and schools.  More importantly, MMH consistently maintains a posture of advocacy and works to remove both minor and significant barriers in the home, at the school and in the community that may negatively impact the academic, psychological, social and physical development of the children in the community.

Meet Me Halfway Village Programmatic Milestones

School Year 1:  Observation – March 2004  

• Bernard Fayall came to the school in March 2004 to help with hall monitoring.  He   watched and listened to the students and staff to learn ways he could help children succeed.

• MMH was created in May 2004 in space donated by Principal Hemphill.

• By the June school closing 25 student members joined the program.

• Over the summer, Fayall organized over 50 parents, school staff and community volunteers who participated in Mayor O’Malley’s “BELIEVE in Our Schools” days, cleaning and painting the school and building relationships.

Year 2:  Organization – 2004-05

• In September 2004, the program was organized and the center opened with two full-time volunteer staff members and a goal to recruit 75 student members and one-to-one mentors.

• Services were provided:  mentoring, conflict resolution, behavior intervention; extra-curricular activities and summer jobs for 12 youth; the center had become a safe haven for kids.

• Membership grew to over 450 students that year; 20-40 students per day visited the center.

• More than 20 volunteers staffed the mentoring Center, including two college interns.

• The partnership with the school was strengthened; MMH co-hosted the first annual community festival and had over 600 attendees.

• In February 2005 the Center received its first funding.

Year 3:  Implementation – 2005-06  OSI Community Fellowship began October 2005.

• Membership increased to over 550 students; another 300 have gone on to high school.  Each year, graduating 8^th-graders are replaced with as many incoming 6^th-graders, and graduates return to receive services. 

• Center services were expanded to include family support through partnerships with community groups providing services such as housing repair grants for senior citizens.

• Grant funds provided for purchase and installation of hair salon and welding equipment.

• Community volunteers staffed the salon and after-school character development classes.

• MMH partnered with the school to co-sponsor the Rising Scholars Academy, an alternative class for 28 failing students most challenged in the traditional school setting; after 5 months in the program 82% passed.

• MMH staff and community volunteers conducted over 250 individual interviews and learning styles assessments with students and their parents to improve communication by proactively establishing goals and expectations.

• MMH provided employment for seven retired seniors.

• Hosted PTA meeting to select interim officers after President’s resignation.

• MMH organized a meeting with BCPSS CEO and community stakeholders to enforce Principal Hemphill’s repeated appeals to repair doors and hire contractors to clean the school.

Year 4:  Stabilization –2006-07

• Sought full funding for the mentoring center.

• Continued to provide mentoring and support services for students; 60-80 per day.

• Shared parent interview and learning style results with staff and partners to improve student support.

• Increased services to families, including support groups for special populations:  grandparents raising children, children in foster/group homes, and children whose parents have died.

• Funded the teacher’s salary for a second alternative class

• Provided systematic follow-up for members who have moved on to Forest Park High School

• Organized PTA; hosted 2 meetings; facilitated election of officers.

Year 5:  Replication – 2007-08

• Maintained and improved services at Garrison.

• Collaborated with Forest Park staff to expand services provided there.

• Held G.E.D. classes at Garrison MS.

• Developed new partnerships to increase services at both schools.

• Implemented sustainability plan. .  

• Built a strong, parent-led PTSA (Parent-Teacher-Student-Association).

Year 6:  Infiltration -- 2008-2009

• Adjusted Garrison services according to need.

• Increased Forest Park services to include family support and community outreach to develop into a community school.

• Began planning with both principals to implement vertical teaming with Garrison MS and Forest Park HS faculties.

• Extend services to 2 additional schools outside NW boundaries with substantial financial support from each school.

• Procure required funding not provided by schools to support projects and activities.

• Expanded network of partnerships.

• Assisted families to build a network of support using shared resources throughout the “village” at schools where MMH provides services.

• Provided extensive professional development to maintain excellent service delivery.

• Facilitated training and assistance to non-MMH staff (community associates, school counselors)

• Awarded first contract with Baltimore City Public Schools Board of School Commissioners and first grant with Family League of Baltimore City, Inc.

Year 7:  Forecast:  Globalization – 2009-2010