Like the phoenix of Greek legend, the Village Learning Place of Charles Village rose from its own virtual ashes in 1997 and has since helped more than 15,000 low-income residents soar above their circumstances.

“The neighborhood … had a unique take on losing their community library,” Liesje Gantert, executive director of Village Learning Place, recalled of the contested closing of the local branch library. “So we protested: We had [mock] funeral marches, and we sued the city.

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