The University of Maryland, Baltimore's 16th Annual Craft Fair is a well-loved event that featured nearly 50 vendors who sold their homemade or handmade goods to members of the UMB community.The craft fair attracted students, faculty, staff, and UMB leaders including President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, while the Staff and Faculty senates set up tables to provide employees with information about their governance roles at the University.Shoppers could choose from a wide range of homemade and handmade items, including the always-popular bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, baked goods, T-shirts, sweaters, jewelry, wax candles, dog treats, and greeting cards, not to mention tree skirts, key chains, tabletop Christmas trees, and much more.Read More: https://elm.umaryland.edu/elm-stories/2024/UMB-Holiday-Craft-Fair-December-2024.php

The Community Engagement Center (CEC) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) buzzed with holiday spirit as volunteers and families gathered for the annual Christmas Store. Held at the CEC on Dec. 13 and 14, 2024, it featured tables overflowing with brand-name toys, puzzles, and scooters, all neatly arranged for shoppers to purchase at deeply discounted prices.The Christmas Store is organized in partnership with UMB’s Office of Community and Civic Engagement (OCCE) and Foundry Church of Baltimore. This year, local CBS affiliate WJZ, UMB’s Staff Senate, and the University of Maryland Medical Center joined a Season of Giving campaign to help raise money for the store’s inventory.Read More: https://www.umaryland.edu/news/archived-news/december-2024/holiday-cheer-on-display-at-christmas-store.php

On Dec. 13, children and families from West Baltimore were given tickets to ride the Polar Express at the B&O Railroad Museum through an effort organized by the Office of Community and Civic Engagement (OCCE) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB).The event was funded through the University’s partnership with the University of Maryland BioPark during the Season of Giving Campaign, a joint effort supported by UMB’s Staff Senate, the University of Maryland Medical Center, and local CBS affiliate WJZ. The Season of Giving also allowed participants to enjoy s’mores and Santa Sleigh rides, while Libelle Photos provided complimentary Santa photos to the families.Read More: https://www.umaryland.edu/news/archived-news/december-2024/full-steam-ahead-on-the-polar-express.php

The University of Maryland, Baltimore conducted a town hall on Dec. 3, 2024 to provide an opportunity for UMB researchers to share ideas and concerns regarding research compliance issues. The presenters were Robert Rosenthal, MD, Asst. Provost, Research Compliance and Julie Doherty, DM, MSN, CIP, CCEP, Assistant Vice President, Research Compliance.

The University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing celebrated two years of achievements with announcements of new partnerships with government agencies and biotech businesses based nearby in Montgomery County, Md.Several of the current UM-IHC projects were on display, including a virtual reality-based training tool called Holocamera, a digitally-twinned heart which surgeons can use to plan more effective surgeries, and a data analytics system which allows assessment and prediction of opioid overdose trends.Present at the ribbon-cutting were University of Maryland, Baltimore President Bruce Jarrell, University of Maryland, College Park President Darryll Pines, and University of Maryland Medical Systems President and CEO Mohan Suntha.Read more about the UM-IHC: https://www.umaryland.edu/news/archived-news/december-2024/the-future-of-health-with-advanced-computing.php

Thanks to generation donations from our community, 1,600 West Baltimore families received turkeys during our eighth annual Thanksgiving Drive on Nov. 26, 2024, in partnership with the University of Maryland, Baltimore, UMB Staff Senate, University of Maryland Medical Center and WJZ-TV.