Meet the Proud Residents of the Mondawmin Community

On the last Friday of each month, the Live Baltimore team likes to take the opportunity to explore different neighborhoods in our city and meet the neighbors who call them home.

Our latest adventure took us to the Sculpture Garden on the 3200 block of Tioga Parkway, where we met up with residents of the Mondawmin Community, which includes the Parkway, Panway/Braddish Avenue, Mondawmin, Liberty Square, and Parkview/Woodbrook neighborhoods in West Baltimore. These close-knit neighborhoods are near beautiful greenspaces like Druid Hill Park and Ashburton Lake. Still, residents say it’s more than just the scenery that keeps them around. Continue reading to meet some of these residents and learn why they choose to stay.

Supportive Neighbors

Many residents of the Mondawmin community have lived in the area for decades, but they will always welcome new neighbors. When resident Nabeehah Azeez set out to purchase her first home in early 2020, she never intended to move to Parkway. However, after meeting her real estate agent at Trolley Tour, who convinced her to tour the area, she met a few friendly neighbors who spoke highly of their community.

“It was really nice that there were friendly neighbors sitting out on the porch who I could talk to.”

– Nabeehah Azeez

Family and Kid-Friendly

Another Parkway resident, George Wilkerson, discussed how the neighborhood allowed him and his wife the opportunity to settle down and start their family, thanks to the neighborhood’s proximity to great schools, like Gwynns Falls Elementary School, and extracurricular activities like the Roland Park Baseball League.

Quality Education

Did we mention the excellent schools in the area? Karen Stevenson, treasurer for the Parkway Community Association, expressed her appreciation for the local schools, having lived in the neighborhood since childhood. When asked why she would choose to stay so long, this was her response:

“Why not? You can educate your child from birth to college here. There’s daycare, elementary, middle, high school, and college. You have the subway. You can go from Owings Mills to Downtown. You can get to the airport. I mean, so why not?… It’s a very friendly place to live, and we look out for each other.”

– Karen Stevenson

Home to Baltimore City Celebrities

The location of our meeting, the Sculpture Garden, features two glass sculptures completed by local artist and resident Loring Cornish. In addition to this exhibit, which has been on display for over a decade, Loring has countless other sculptures featured in the American Visionary Art Museum, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and more.

Yet another local celebrity to call the area home is Travis Winkey, Baltimore’s Black Prince of Fashion, a name bestowed on him by none other than Muhammed Ali. Travis Winkey is a fashion show producer and modeling coach known worldwide in fashion since the 1970s. He has worked with well-known names in the industry, including designer Patrick Kelly, former Essence Magazine editor-in-chief Susan L. Taylor, Vogue’s first Black cover model Beverly Ann Johnson, and more. But no matter where his work takes him, Mondawmin will always be home.

“I’m a Mondawmin Boy. I live here, and I intend to stay here. I’ve been around the world, but I love where I live.”

– Travis Winkey

Community Development

The Mondawmin Community is currently undergoing significant developments thanks to partners such as the Greater Mondawmin Coordinating Council. These developments include The Village at Mondawmin, a community hub under construction at the old Target at Mondawmin Mall. This new space is projected to be completed in early 2024 and will feature retail space, community services, dining options, and more. Additionally, Frederick Douglass High School will undergo renovations under the Baltimore 21st Century Schools program, further improving the quality of education options in the area.

After meeting with the passionate and welcoming neighbors of the Mondawmin Community, many of the Live Baltimore staff began planning our move! It was clear why so many residents had decided to stay in the area for so long. If you are a current renter in the Mondawmin community, you may be eligible for a grant of up to $20,000 to purchase a home in the neighborhood you love through our Buy Back the Block Program. Want to learn more? Take our eligibility quiz to find out if you should apply!