Per Scholas
Founded in South Bronx, NY in 1994, Per Scholas has trained more than 9,000 individuals in Information Technology, producing impressive outcomes: 85 percent graduation, 80 percent certification, and 80 percent job-placement rates. Funding from the Abell Foundation will support Per Scholas’ expansion to Baltimore City, where Per Scholas plans to train 60 Baltimore City residents. Per Scholas expects that 85 percent will graduate, 80 percent will earn at least one industry-recognized credential, and 80 percent will secure employment within six months of training. TEKsystems, with its headquarters in Hanover, MD, has pledged to hire 40 program graduates.
Next One Up Foundation
Next One Up provides long-term mentoring relationships and coaching, on the field and in the classroom, to meet the needs of over 115 high-risk young men in Baltimore from age 13 to 24. These students receive 300 hours of out of school programming on Sundays, school visits during the week, and a summer program providing academic support, study skills, community service, college advising, athletic training, and community service. The Abell Foundation will support the third, and final, phase of a new digital infrastructure for tracking student progress from jiiWA, a technology firm with a successful track record working with youth sports development programs.
Maryland Department of Transportation Port Administration
The Maryland Port Administration of the Maryland Department of Transportation will install an innovative Algal Flow-way Technology (AFT) system to improve water quality in the Harbor. Sediment-laden Harbor water will be pumped across an inclined screen raceway to colonize algae and capture the nutrients, removing pollution and discharging cleaner water. The best management practice technology will be used to meet Port water quality requirements.
Legal Aid Bureau, Inc.
In 2015, Maryland Legal Aid launched the Lawyer in the Library program to provide legal services clinics in Baltimore City libraries, in an effort to make legal services more accessible to people in the community. Part of Legal Aid’s “community lawyering” initiative, the Lawyer in the Library program operates clinics on a regular basis in eight Baltimore City library branches, offering legal advice and representation on a range of civil legal matters. This grant provides operating support for the Lawyer in the Library program.
Latino Economic Development Center
Latino Economic Development Center offers access to business resources and capital to meet the needs of underserved communities and communities of color in Baltimore. Their small business coaches provide one-on-one technical assistance and workshops/courses related to business planning, financial management, incorporation, licensing and permitting, accounting, marketing, and technology integration. Lending staff are trained to provide micro-loans ranging from $500 to $50,000 and larger loans up to $250,000.