In December, MVLS was able to partner with Gillis Memorial Christian Community Church and Wells Fargo to offer a Legacy Wealth Building  Awareness Day, because legacy wealth building is a crucial component in breaking generational cycles and creating financial stability for future generations and peace of mind.

We’re proud to recognize Gillis Memorial Christian Community Church as the Community Partner of the Month. Read on to learn more about Gillis Memorial, and their experience as an MVLS Community Partner.

How long have you been in existence, and what is your organization’s mission?  
The Gillis Memorial Methodist Church was established in 1860, although the actual written records began in 1933 when my grandfather, Rev. Theodore C. Jackson, Sr. became the pastor. In 1951, the name was changed to Gillis Memorial Christian Community Church.

Mission Statement: Gillis is committed to being a Bible-based community that seeks to impact our world for Jesus Christ through engaging in: Evangelism, Worship, Fellowship, Discipleship & Service.

What/who/how do you serve your community?
Over the past eight 8 years, the Gillis Memorial Christian Community Church family has provided a
variety of services to the community through our Church and Community Engagement Team. Each year,
we sponsor the following:

August
Annual Welcome Back to School event where members of our congregation gather at Creative City
Public Charter School (CCPCS), our adopted school, to welcome back students and parents on the
first day of school. Annual School Supplies Distribution for the students of CCPCS.

September
Annual Community Entrepreneur Day for aspiring, new and experienced entrepreneurs of all ages
where experienced business owners in the community and beyond share their expertise on a variety of
topics with attendees. It’s our opportunity to encourage economic development within the Park
Heights Community.

October
Annual Trunk & Treat event for the Creative City Family and the Park Heights Community-at-large.
This event provides a safe space to meet neighbors and enjoy food, music and fun-filled activities
with one another. Annual Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway for members of the community, to include the CCPCS families. Each year, we give between 50 to 100 baskets each containing a turkey and fixings.

January
Annual School Supplies Wish List Distribution to CCPCS teachers. Gillis helps replenish supplies
to, hopefully, reduce some of the burden on teachers.

February
Annual Heritage Day at Gillis where the Creative City Drum Ensemble performs on the 4th Sunday.
It’s a great opportunity for the students to share their talent outside of school building.

April
Annual salute to CCPCS custodians and secretary.

May
Annual salute to teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week.

June
Annual Game Day is an event for the Creative City Family and the Park Heights Community-at-large
that, again, provides a safe space to meet neighbors and enjoy food, music and fun-filled
activities with one another.

Events such as Trunk and Treat serve as great opportunities for the Creative City staff to
highlight to the Park Heights Community the wonderful experiences provided to students throughout
the school year.

*During COVID, Gillis assisted Park Heights Renaissance and Creative City Public Charter School
with distributing food to the community on our church parking lot using a Drive-Thru Method.
Recipients would drive onto the parking lot and volunteers would place the items in the trunk of
the car or in the
back seat.

Why do you think it’s important to work with a legal services program, like MVLS? 
On Saturday, December 14, 2024, Gillis Memorial had the opportunity to host MVLS at the church.
Members of the staff presented Legacy Wealth Building Awareness Day and it was well received! This
was a wonderful event that provided attendees with information on estate planning and tangled titles,
just to name a few. The audience not only heard the information about the various topics, but they were
able to get their questions answered in real-time! MVLS received raved reviews. The icing on the cake
were the abundance of fact sheets provided on an array of topics and for those of a specific income
bracket, MVLS services are provided free of charge.

Is there anything upcoming you would like to highlight or promote?
The Gillis Memorial Community Development Corporation, established in 2018, is a 501(c)3 not-forprofits
organization committed to creating a positive change in the Park Heights Community by
eliminating blight, creating economic opportunities, supplying affordable housing, and promoting
homeownership for low- and moderate-income families. Our current development in the works is the
50-unit Gillis Memorial GrandFamily Apartments w/Wellness Center and a Healthy Food Retail in the
Park Heights Community. It will be the first of its type in the City of Baltimore!