Martha’s Place is part of the larger community development work of 
(formerly Newborn Holistic Ministries), a community based nonprofit founded in 1996 to serve Baltimore’s Sandtown-Winchester and Upton communities. These and the surrounding communities have struggled for many years with major issues related to poverty and Intersection of Change has responded with a mission to provide programs that enrich the economic, social and spiritual lives of those dealing with poverty related issues in the Sandtown-Winchester and surrounding communities.
In 2000, Intersection of Change began to address the overwhelming epidemic of drug abuse in our communities and created Martha’s Place in direct response to the unmet need for long-term recovery services for women. The program currently offers long-term supportive recovery housing and previously also operated a transitional housing phase from 2000-2017.
In 2008, Intersection of Change created a second major community program called Jubilee Arts, a comprehensive art program that uses art as a catalyst for social change, as a tool for empowerment, and an alternative to the dangers of drugs and violence in the community. Jubilee Arts provides 23 art classes (in ceramics, visual arts, dance, and business) four days a week with four annual semester sessions as well as cultural activities to both children and adults and serves over 2,400 people annually.
In 2016, Intersection of Change added a third program called Strength to Love II which operates an urban farm and serves ex-offenders returning to the community from incarceration. The farm entails 16 greenhouses totaling 1.5 acres, addresses community food apartheid issues, and offers employment to ex-offenders. The program also supports ex-offenders with ID renewals and food gift certificates.
Work to date has resulted in significant neighborhood revitalization of the 1900 and 2000 blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue through the full renovation of six previously vacant and dilapidated buildings, transformation of 18 vacant lots into community green spaces and meditative gardens, creation of a three dozen neighborhood murals, and conversion of 1.5 acres of vacant lots into an urban farm.
For more information about our programs, please visit: intersectionofchange.org