Community Cookout to Support Steuart Hill Academic Academy on Thursday at Union Square Park

SAVESHAA Coalition press release: 

SAVESHAA Coalition Hosts Community Cookout To Promote Joy And Support.

The SAVESHAA Coalition announced that they will host a Community Cookout on Thursday, March 16th from 2:30-5:30pm to promote joy and celebrate Steuart Hill Academic Academy (slated to close June 2023) during a hard time for the school and its families and students. The cookout will be held in Union Square Park directly across from SHAA and will have cookout food and drink, activities for kids and a space to celebrate.

The SAVESHAA coalition has been challenging the Baltimore City School System since November 2021, as they attempt to shutter another community elementary school in our area, Steuart Hill Academic Academy(004) in the Union Square neighborhood. Steuart Hill (SHAA) was recommended for closure at the same time as Eutaw Marshburn (EMES) and two other neighborhood schools. The school board voted in January 2022 to keep the recommendation for closure, but extended the timeline by a year. The coalition believes these schools are worth fighting for, and many surrounding communities and neighborhood associations are united in that fight. Baltimore Student Union recently organized effectively to prevent the closure of The Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys Charter. For SHAA, the coalition has protested, organized events, sought legal counsel, appealed to Maryland State Board of Education, and organized parents and teachers since November 2021, all culminating in a scheduled ten minutes to speak directly before the State School board on March 28, at MD State Office of Education in Downtown Baltimore, during their monthly public board meeting. The coalition now has the support of a lawyer through the Community Law Center.

Union Square Park is located directly across from Steuart Hill Academic Academy at 30 S. Gilmor Street, Baltimore, MD 21223. The event will be held on Thursday, March 16th, from 2:30-5:30pm and will include food, games and celebration. Those interested can find out more information on the coalition’s Instagram page @SAVESHAA.