Martin Potter: Career Re-Think Leads to Love Your Neighbor All-StarAward

For providing a decade-plus of exceptional service to those in need at two of Catholic Charities’ Baltimore City programs — My Sister’s Place and the Weinberg Housing and Resource Center — Martin Potter has been named a Love Your Neighbor All-Star.

As humble as he is dedicated to his work, Martin shared credit for his All-Star selection with colleagues and clients. Thanks to them, he said, he receives the best, most valuable education available each and every day.

“I’m always learning here,” Martin said. “This is toughest and most rewarding job I’ve ever done.”

Martin journeyed a long way to earn his education and this All-Star designation. Born and educated in London, he originally planned on a career in British politics. But after a few unsatisfying years working for one of the two major political parties in England, he decided it was time for a career re-think.

“What I liked most about politics was being on the street talking to people,” he said. The realization and the desire for more meaningful work led him to focus on delivering services to those experiencing homelessness. It also contributed to his decision to relocate to the United States.

In 2013, he emigrated and began work at the Weinberg Housing and Resource Center, our low-barrier emergency shelter and provider of homeless services to adult men and women. In 2017, he transferred to My Sister’s Place, a day resource center for women and children experiencing homelessness in Baltimore City, where he continues to work today as operations manager.

Martin finds great meaning and joy in helping clients make progress in their lives – even if that progress is as relatively small as taking a shower after going weeks without. “A shower is a victory for some,” he said. No matter how big or small the achievements of those in his care, Martin said the satisfaction he experiences is enormous.

Karen Eaddy, the program director of My Sister’s Place, said Martin’s impact on clients and colleagues is every bit as enormous as the gratification he derives from service.

“This is a place where women are supposed to feel special. Martin takes this to the 10^th power,” Karen said. “He takes pride in providing efficient, clean services for our ladies, and he’s a stickler for great service.”

Martin is looking forward taking in the Baltimore Ravens’ game from the skybox seats he won as part of the Love Your Neighbor All-Star award. He’s taking his uncle, a rabid Ravens fan who will be celebrating a birthday.

Martin lives with his wife and two children in the Waverly neighborhood of Baltimore City. In addition to his position as operations manager at My Sister’s Place, he is coach of the soccer team at the Cristo Rey Jesuit High School and a board director at Baltimore Station, a therapeutic residential treatment program supporting veterans. Martin himself is a veteran of the Maryland National Guard.

Who is a Love Your Neighbor All-Star, exactly? It’s a colleague who goes the extra mile for the people we serve. It’s a colleague who works to be a great teammate to co-workers every day. It’s a colleague who lives our mission every day, cherishing the divine within all. All-Stars are chosen from nominations from colleagues. Catholic Charities’ values are to love, serve, teach and work for justice, and our colleagues seek to live those values every day. Learn more about our mission, vision, values and commitments by clicking here.