Baltimore Urban Debate League
The Baltimore Urban Debate League (BUDL) has brought debate into Baltimore’s public school classrooms over the last two decades, improving academic skills, increasing student voice and engagement, and fostering social-emotional growth. This grant supports BUDL’s elementary and middle school program, with the aim of rebounding to its pre-COVID-19 reach in schools and students served.
Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership
Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership (BRHP) was created in 2012 as a result of the settlement of the landmark civil rights lawsuit, Thompson v. HUD, which sought to remedy decades of discriminatory public housing policies that left thousands of low-income African American families perpetually locked in high poverty neighborhoods in Baltimore City. BRHP administers the Baltimore Housing Mobility Program, which couples Housing Choice Vouchers (formerly known as “Section 8”) with pre- and post-move counseling to support families who want to move from areas of deeply concentrated poverty to areas of opportunity throughout the Baltimore region. To date, BRHP has assisted over 5,000 families to move to low poverty communities with high performing schools, low levels of crime, and healthy environments, among other benefits.
Despite the significant benefits for families who have made these moves, BRHP data shows that many of the families served have stagnant incomes. To address this concern, BRHP has designed a new program called Growing Assets and Income (GAIN). The GAIN program is modeled on the successful, federally funded Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) program administered by a number of public housing authorities, which provides financial incentives to participants who achieve employment, education and other goals. Evaluations of FSS programs have found that participants had significant increases in incomes, as well as improved credit scores and reduced debt. The GAIN program builds on lessons learned from housing authorities that have implemented FSS programs.
GAIN will provide participants with counseling, resource connections, and financial incentives tied to achievement of client-created goals, all designed to support clients in achieving financial stability and self-sufficiency. This grant supports a two-year pilot of the GAIN program that will serve 250 clients.
AZIZA PE&CE, Fiscally Sponsored by Elijah’s Blessing Community Service Center, Inc.
AZIZA PE&CE is a community-based, youth development program for students 15-24 years old. AZIZA PE&CE uses art, music, fashion, and fitness to guide students through a process of social-emotional growth. It serves female students who demonstrate behavioral issues at school, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning (LCBTQ) youth. This grant provides general operating support.
Baltimore Under Ground Science Space
Baltimore Under Ground Science Space (BUGSS) is a nonprofit, community laboratory that brings together people from diverse backgrounds and approaches with the goal of advancing novel scientific, artistic and technological developments. This grant supports BUGSS’ partnership with the Open Insulin Foundation (OIF) in support of OIF’s mission to produce safe, affordable, high quality insulin for people living with diabetes. Grant funds will be used to purchase equipment and to support the salary of an OIF researcher who is conducting research focused on the production and purification of biosimilar insulin. This research will provide essential data that OIF will need to pursue approval of its biosimilar insulin from the Food and Drug Administration. If OIF secures FDA approval of its insulin, it will partner with a Good Manufacturing Practice-compliant laboratory in Baltimore City to produce affordable insulin on a large scale for insulin-dependent people with diabetes.
TurnAround, Inc.
TurnAround provides comprehensive, trauma-informed services to survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual abuse and assault, harassment, and human trafficking in Baltimore City and County. This grant supports TurnAround’s legal services program, which partners with Maryland Legal Aid and other legal service providers to provide legal advice and representation to TurnAround clients. Survivors of sexual assualt and domestic violence often have complex legal needs, and timely access to legal services, coupled with TurnAround’s case management support, increases the likelihood that survivors will obtain needed legal relief.