For over 20 years Matt Stevens and Jeremy Del Rio have built foundations for service in both Baltimore and New York City, and expanded into cities all across the country. Jeremy’s Thrive Collective has been working to eradicate artless education and provide hope and opportunity through the arts and mentoring programs in and around public schools and community centers. Matt’s Somebody Cares Baltimore has consistently been on the ground to provide food, products and services to those in need, either donated or sold for extreme discounts at a retail outlet operated by the organization.
In 2025, Thrive Collective is launching a public art mission to transform approximately 5000 sq ft of exterior warehouse space in Baltimore that serves as the HOPE Outlet store. Located at 1723 Dundalk Avenue, the store is prime space along a local bus route for huge visibility. Thrive Collective will curate local artists to create a series of murals around the theme of providing Hope, Kindness, and Service to others.
Give Online Today
Or make checks payable to Thrive Collective, 8225 5th Ave #323, Brooklyn, NY 11209, and earmark “HOPE Outlet” in the memo. Email us for additional ways to give.
Phase 1
Timeline: Summer/Fall 2025
Planned Work: Produce 4 murals (approx 200 sq ft each) by local Baltimore artists in a framed gallery setting on the two main walls and also extend the painting around the doors and main entrance.
Estimated Budget: $30K (Artist Fees to four highly accomplished artists + supplies and equipment)
About Somebody Cares BALTIMORE
Somebody Cares Baltimore has worked for years to help weave the “net that works” in Baltimore by connecting the community to resources through events like Day of Hope and I Can Do It Music and Arts Camp . . . Then COVID Happened . . .
Quickly we shifted our focus to providing hundreds of heat-and-eat meals and fresh groceries, meeting the immediate needs of our community. Through this pandemic season, we’ve discovered a need to shift our services. We are now investing in equipping and mobilizing people to lead Healing Circles and Prayer Circles….but we have a BIG dream for the next season of SCB…
Thrive x Matt Stevens since 2000
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Jeremy and Matt became fast friends in 2000, when Jeremy brought teens from New York to spend a weekend serving with Matt in Baltimore. Matt joined Jeremy on the Pile at Ground Zero after 9/11. They built the 88 Step Theater in the East Village, then launched the Chain Reaction movement in cities along the East Coast. Artist volunteers with Chain Reaction helped paint our first Dream Walls murals in 2007. Matt mobilized the first humanitarian aid trucks for Jeremy to help distribute in the Lower East Side after Hurricane Sandy. They collaborated after COVID, and now Thrive proudly supports the launch of Hope Outlet.
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