Nia Redmond Wrote...

Namasate,

Moved to share how happy I am to see Edwin Avent working on behalf of Ertha Harris, our future 12th district Councilwoman. I have experienced both Mr. Avent and Ms. Harris aspeople of integrity who have the capacity to speak truth to power.

I will support Ertha Harris in her candidacy, and I hope that many will also leverage this worthwhile effort.

Aluta Continua,

Nia Redmond

East Baltimore Historical Library

Edwin Avent wrote...

Dear Friends,

My name is Edwin Avent. I'm the President and Publisher of Heart & Soul Magazine, a national health & wellness magazine based here in Baltimore, I am also a friend and supporter of Ertha Harris. I have known Ertha since 1996. I met her during the organizational stages of the Million Man March. Ertha stood out to me then because she, a woman, was one of the most active participants on the leadership team of an event that was geared towards Black men. What became evident to me right away about Ertha was that she was so committed to the success of this event because she had a passion for helping our community. She was hopeful that this event might inspire the African American men in her community to become more involved in the reduction of crime, the education and mentorship of our youth and the creation of more jobs and businesses. Her work ethic and tireless devotion to the success of the Baltimore Local Organizing Committee of the Million Man March told me that she was someone very special whom I would always keep my eye on from that point forward.

It is rare in this day and time that you meet people in the community willing to sacrifice their time, money, passion and energy to help others in need, but Ertha Harris is that rare person. She has lived in East Baltimore for over 15 years and even before the Million Man March and definitely since she has been a beacon of light to all in her community. Always willing to help a neighbor or be the voice for the voiceless, she has been an inspiration to hundreds maybe even thousands in Baltimore City.

As many of you may know our city government has gone through some significant change recently. One of those changes was the ascendance of City Councilman Bernard "Jack" Young to the City Council Presidency. That change has left a void on the Council from the district that Council President Young represented, District 12. As some of you may know Ertha has been a candidate for that seat on the council in the past. She still holds a burning desire to serve in that capacity and that is why I am writing you today.

Next Tuesday, February 23, 2010, there will be a hearing in the council to hear from constituents who have an interest in serving on the council to fulfill the remaining tenure of the seat vacated by President Young and Ertha has decided that she would like to serve her community in the capacity of their council person.

That is why I am writing you. I am asking you to join our campaign to help get Ertha elected to the seat. This campaign isn't directed to the thousands of constituents she seeks to represent, but the remaining 14 members of the City Council. Ertha needs us to call and email the City Council members to let them know that we support her. To that end I have attached the email addresses of the council members as well as Ertha's bio that includes her photo. We're calling this campaign the Ertha Harris Experience. We'd like you to email these members your most memorable Ertha Harris experience of how she impacted you and or our community in a positive way. We want them to get to know how she impacts the lives of people from all walks of life, from business owners to bus drivers, from teachers to college presidents.

We need to start sending these emails tonight all the way through the hearing next Tuesday. Our goal is at least 100 individuals reaching out to these council members. Then we need to show up at the hearing next week to publicly support her. We need to get 20 to 25 of us there to speak on her behalf. I think we can make a really significant impact if we all work in a coordinated effort to share our own Ertha Harris Experience.

The public hearing will be held on:
Date: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Time: 5:00 PM (Televised on Cable TV 25)
Place: City Hall, 4th Floor, Du Burns Council Chamber
100 N. Holiday Street, Baltimore, MD 21202

Baltimore City Council Members
Bernard "Jack" Young - President- CouncilPresident@baltimorecity.gov
James Kraft - district 01 James.Kraft@baltimorecity.gov
Nicholas D'Adamo - district 02 Nicholas.D'Adamo@baltimorecity.gov
Robert Curran - district 03 Robert.Curran@baltimorecity.gov
Bill Henry - district 04 Bill.Henry@baltimorecity.gov
Rochelle Spector - district 05 Rochelle.Spector@baltimorecity.gov
Sharon Middleton - district 06 Sharon.Middleton@baltimorecity.gov
Belinda Conaway - district 07 Belinda.Conaway@baltimorecity.gov
Helen Holton - district 08 Helen.Holton@baltimorecity.gov
Agnes Welch - district 09 Agnes.Welch@baltimorecity.gov
Edward Reisinger - district 10 Edward.Reisinger@baltimorecity.gov
William Cole - district 11 William.Cole@baltimorecity.gov
Warren Branch - district 13 Warren.Branch@baltimorecity.gov
Mary Pat Clarke - district 14 MaryPat.Clarke@baltimorecity.gov

Come on brothers and sisters let's make this happen. Share your Ertha Harris Experience today.

Thank you so much for your support!!

Edwin

Edwin V. Avent
President/Publisher
Heart & Soul Magazine
2514 Maryland Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21218
(800)834-8813 x104
fax (410)662-4596
www.heartandsoul.com

Patricia Johnson wrote...

February 21, 2010

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Patricia Johnson, founder of the Vendor’s Network based in Baltimore City.

While I’ve only known Ertha for a short while, she has provided my company with great business opportunities. She has helped many small business owners in this way and beyond. Ertha continues to better the community by organizing events where friends and families can fellowship together while having fun. The Security Square Mall free Jazz & Art Festival, Heart & Soul Wellness Expo, and the Anniversary of the Million Man March are just a few of events that Ertha supports and organizes for the community.

Ertha Harris will be a great and well respected council woman for the 12^th district. She brings with her experience, leadership, fairness and most importantly the desire to better her city. Her willingness to help and desire to do better for the city are just a few of the assets she posses.

I recommend Ertha Harris for City Council of the 12^th District

Sincerely,

Patricia Johnson

The Vendor’s Network