Youth Empowered Society, Fiscally Sponsored by Maryland Philanthropy Network
Opened in 2012, the YES Drop-In Center serves unaccompanied homeless youth ages 14 to 25, offering counseling, peer support, connections to resources and a safe place for the youth to meet their basic needs. YES staff and partner agencies provide employment counseling and job placement support; assistance accessing housing and public benefits; case management; tutoring; health care; pro bono legal services; and parenting support. In FY 2020, the YES Center served 201 youth. This grant supports the centers operations.
Youth Baltimore Uprise, Fiscally Sponsored by Bmore Empowered Inc.
Youth Baltimore Uprise (YBU) is a nonprofit, mentoring organization operating in West Baltimore. The program is targeted at building leadership, social awareness, and social emotional skills for thirty middle school aged youth who live in the Sandtown/Winchester neighborhood. The mentorship component of Youth Baltimore Uprise entails regular connections between the six founding members and the thirty students they support. Student participants will regularly have guest speakers addressing a range of topics. Each month, students participate in a field trip, providing an opportunity for hands on learning outside of the community.
Women’s Housing Coalition
Founded in 1979, the Women’s Housing Coalition (WHC) has been at the forefront in the development of housing options and services to low-income and homeless women. Support from the Abell Foundation will bring high speed internet access to its Single Room Occupancy (SRO) units. The majority of the funding will support the physical wiring of the buildings, and courses to help residents with finding employment and educational offerings such as GED courses.
Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, Inc.
Locally, outfitters, kayak clubs, and the Baltimore Department of Recreation & Parks have seen an increased demand for paddle sports. There are currently no clear instructions and limited guidance for safe paddling in the Baltimore Harbor. With infrastructure, information, and programming the Baltimore Harbor can become an accessible destination for paddlers. This grant provided support for costs associated with the creation of a Master Plan for water trails and paddle craft access points in the Baltimore Harbor.
The Urban Alliance Foundation, Inc.
The Urban Alliance Foundation (UA) was founded in 1996 in Washington, D.C. with the goal of providing young people with meaningful work experiences and access to better jobs. The overarching goal of the Urban Alliance is to equip youth to successfully transition to the working world by providing paid internships, mentoring from an adult professional, case management, trainings focused on college and career skills, and post internship wrap around support. This current Abell Foundation grant will support their CTE program focused on providing internship placements in the area of construction. In partnership with employers, the Urban Alliance CTE program prepares high school seniors for careers in construction and related industries through sector-based internships, industry training, professional mentoring, and case management.