Rebekah Opher, a University of Baltimore Interdisciplinary Studies major with concentrations in criminal justice, psychology, and business administration, and a Helen P. Denit Honors scholar at the University, has received a 2024 Baltimore Weaver Award for her work in addressing food insecurity for unhoused people in the city. The award, which includes $5,000 in grant funds along with inclusion with others who are pursuing similar projects across Baltimore, was given by Weave: the Social Fabric Project, an offshoot of the Aspen Institute. Opher will join her fellow recipients at an awards ceremony on Nov. 23 at the Ravens Club at M&T Bank Stadium.
While at UBalt, Opher has been working on food insecurity issues for the past four years. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, she recently received a Bee Engaged Enhancement Grant of $1,500 to support her plan to serve Sunday Thanksgiving-themed dinners to unhoused citizens in downtown Baltimore near Shot Tower. Opher was also selected by the University System of Maryland as a 2024-25 Langenberg Legacy Fellow, a competitive fellowship program that promotes civic engagement by supporting student-led, campus initiatives that address challenges in the community.
"It has been an absolute pleasure working with Rebekah and seeing her passion come to fruition," says Sally Farley, professor of psychology, director of the Denit Honors Program and Opher's mentor. "Her tireless dedication to the unhoused and underserved communities is inspiring, and a true testament to UBalt's mission to be a university for Baltimore. She is a bright shining light in our city."
Opher's recognition by the Weaver organization will enable her to increase her capacity to support those who are lacking in the basics, especially nutrition. She'll be part of the Weave Community, an online home for peer support, learning, and collaboration. The group shares resources, discusses challenges, providing mentoring opportunities, and more.
"I was concerned about securing sustainable financing to continue my efforts in Baltimore City," Opher says. "When I came across the Weaver Awards, I knew this would be the solution I needed to continue to build community with those often invisible to the general public. The Weaver Award champions my commitment to Baltimore, and I am forever grateful."
In a letter to Opher, the organization says, "As a Weaver Award recipient, you were selected by a group of Baltimore community advocates as representing the spirit of weaving, community leadership and trust building. We are truly inspired by your efforts and are excited to support your work."
According to its website, Weave: The Social Fabric Project "tackles the problem of broken social trust that has left Americans divided, lonely, and in social gridlock. Weave connects, supports, and invests in local leaders stepping up to weave a new, inclusive social fabric where they live. The project was founded by New York Times columnist and author David Brooks at the Aspen Institute.
"In communities throughout the country, in ways big and small, people are showing up for each other and building connection and trust.... Weave connects and invests in the people weaving our communities together. We work to inspire all Americans to weave. And we make it easy to take the first steps into weaving."