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History - A Tradition of Making a Difference

Video History of CPHA! on YouTube.

Since 1941, CPHA has been the Baltimore region's premier citizen action organization. CPHA is the place where:

• citizens who see a problem and want to solve it come together;
• grassroots neighborhood leaders receive help and guidance to tackle issues that affect their communities every day;
• communities join together to address the larger systems that shape their quality of life;
• all voices are heard and complicated issues are explored; and
• new ideas are developed, refined, and presented to government and private organizations for implementation.

A Few Highlights through the Decades
The following are just a few highlights of this tradition of making a difference:

1940s
CPHA's first meeting was held on April 25, 1941 at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Always open to people of all genders, race, cultures. and religions, CPHA's Board of Governors reflects the diversity of its membership. Since 1941 over two thousand people have served on CPHA's Board.
1940s: CPHA Highlights, Images, and Board Members

1950s
CPHA helps form improvement associations in Homewood, Mt. Vernon, Harlem Park and Mt. Royal, all of which continue to exist today. CPHA also creates the Neighborborhood Improvement Institute to assist neighborhood associations. A community zoning alert communications system is launched, and CPHA is instrumental in helping develop a City Housing Code.
1950s: CPHA Highlights, Images, and Board Members

1960s
CPHA and Baltimore County residents join together to fight the planning and zoning battles to preserve Baltimore County parklands and open space. CPHA President, F. Frank T. Gray (1960-1961), stated, "Much of our region's parklands might well have been paved over if it had not been for the vigilance of CPHA." CPHA also forms Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc. and rallies support for Ordinance 103, which centralizes building inspection, zoning, and other housing matters.
1960s: CPHA Highlights, Images, and Board Members

1970s
CPHA plays a lead role in organizing the Baltimore City Fairs. CPHA writes and promotes the Comprehensive Zoning law for Baltimore City which is passed by City Council in 1971. CPHA also studies, tracks and maps every mortgage in Baltimore and reports publicly on  lending institutions and their practices to pressure a reduction in redlining. 
1970s: CPHA Highlights, Images, and Board Members

1980s
CPHA's Baltimore Neighborhood Self-Help Handbook is published, compiling useful information and citing successful examples for community leaders. In 1982, the Neighborhood Resource Bank is established, which in its first year delivers $40,000 in goods and services for neighborhood organizations. In 1989, CPHA organizes the Making Recycling Work conference.
1980s: CPHA Highlights, Images, and Board Members

1990s
CPHA organizes parents and community members to work together to pressure Baltimore City public schools to support and fund "New Schools" -- community-based schools run by diverse groups, such as parent associations, universities, and churches. 

CPHA also organizes the Baltimore City Wide Liquor Coalition, which advocated passage of laws that banned alcohol and tobacco billboard advertising in neighborhoods. The U.S. Supreme Court later upheld these laws, making Baltimore the first city in the nation to successfully ban these types of ads. 

In 1996, CPHA launches the Campaign for Regional Solutions to address the broad regional trends that affect communities throughout the Baltimore area. CPHA commissions studies by national experts and begins a dialogue with community leaders in the Baltimore region. 
1990s: CPHA Highlights, Images, and Board Members

2000s
In 2002, CPHA spins off the Live Baltimore campaign into an independent organization, the Live Baltimore Home Center.

CPHA convenes two Rally for the Region events, mobilizing thousands of citizens from all six regional jurisdictions around common agendas: transportation, housing and community conservation, drug treatment, and sprawl control.
2000s: CPHA Highlights, Images, and Board Members