OSI Fellows, former staff nominated as Hometown Heroes

OSI Community Fellows Van Brooks, executive director of Safe Alternative Foundation for Education (SAFE) and Shantell Roberts, founder and executive director of Touching Young Lives, Inc., and former OSI-Baltimore staffer Blair Franklin, executive director of YES Youth Drop-In Center (founded by OSI Community Fellow Lara Law), are among the 10 semifinalists for Homecoming Hero Awards. The awards, sponsored by T. Rowe Price, “recognize five Baltimore heroes — community and non-profit leaders, activists, artists or other innovators — who have made a significant impact on our city over the past few years.”

Voting will be open through August 15. The five winners, announced October 14, will speak at the Homecoming event and receive a cash award of $3,000 each.