Elijah Cummings Youth Program

For the past nine years, Kathleen has been a driving force at ECYP, serving as Executive Director and inspiring countless young people to embark on being leaders of tomorrow. Her unwavering commitment to youth empowerment, education, and diversity has profoundly shaped ECYP’s mission and created a lasting impact on the community. With a Bachelor’s degree in Women and Gender Studies and History from the University of Maryland and a Master’s in Community Education and Leadership from Stevenson University, Kathleen’s dedication to driving change through education shines in every initiative she undertakes. As ECYP embarks on an exciting phase of growth with staffing expansion, the future promises to be even brighter under her visionary leadership!

Next up in our ECYP Spotlight Series: meet our outstanding Program Director. We’re thrilled to welcome Liza Koh to the team! Prior to joining ECYP, Liza worked as a school counselor at Jemicy Upper School in Owings Mills, Maryland. Jemicy is a school that educates students with dyslexia and related language-based learning differences. While at Jemicy, Liza oversaw the Senior Internship Program, organized the annual Career Day, and coordinated the community service program for 200+ students. Liza holds a Bachelor of Art in Psychology with a minor in Business from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania and a Master of Art and Certificate of Advanced Study in School Psychology from Towson University. Stay tuned as we continue to introduce the amazing team behind ECYP!

This month, we’re excited to kick off our ECYP Spotlight Series! First up, we’re highlighting our incredible team, starting with our fantastic Program Coordinator Karla Press-Porter. Karla is responsible for supporting the planning, coordinating and implementation of ECYP’s youth fellowship. Prior to joining as Program Coordinator, Karla was ECYP’s program intern for two years. Karla graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and holds a B.S. in Biology and a minor in American Studies and Public Humanities. Karla is excited about continuing her work with ECYP and shares that she “loves coming in to work with the students, it is so fulfilling, and it inspires me to continue to be an advocate for myself and the communities we come from”.

Join us as we celebrate the legacy and life of the remarkable Congressman Elijah Cummings, whose dedication to justice and service continues to inspire us all. Let’s honor his memory and keep his spirit alive with a special birthday celebration filled with love, unity, and community. More details on time and place of the event coming soon so please be on the lookout. We hope to see you there!

On Friday, ECYP fellows attended the 53rd annual Congressional Black Caucus. Before exploring all that the caucus has to offer including workshops focused on policy issues affecting the Black community and forums about Black health in their communities, they had a moment to meet and greet with ECYP’s honorary board chairman, Congressman Mfume. Following, the fellows enjoyed a great day of meeting leaders and learning more about the Black diaspora while having a chance to sit down with the legendary member of Public Enemy, Chuck D. #cbc2024

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On Sunday, June 23rd, ECYP hosted its annual Graduation and Induction Ceremony to celebrate the Class of 2024 and welcome the incoming Class of 2026. ECYP fellows, families, friends, and board members gathered in person to commemorate this significant occasion. Congressmen Mfume delivered an inspiring speech, sharing personal anecdotes and memories of Congressman Elijah Cummings. Kare, one of our graduating fellows, gave an uplifting senior address and alumni Brooke (’20), welcomed our inductees. We take immense pride in the achievements of our graduating Class of 2024 and eagerly anticipate the contributions of our new Class of 2026.

Thank you to those who attended Monday evening's ECYP Leaders and Living Messengers event honoring ECYP alums Sam, Brooke and Autumn. We were able to celebrate the impact that our alumni are having not only in Baltimore, but across Maryland and our nation. Thank you to all of our generous sponsors and supporters.

On May 30, our ECYP fellows had an opportunity to sit down with Congressman Kweisi Mfume and have a candid conversation about his personal, educational and professional journey. He shared how important it was to have an understanding of one's beliefs, leadership and how he persevered in the face of adversity. It was an engaging and important conversation and we thank Congressman Mfume for his wisdom and time.

On May 30, our ECYP fellows had an opportunity to sit down with Congressman Kweisi Mfume and have a candid conversation about his personal, educational and professional journey. He shared how important it was to have an understanding of one's beliefs, leadership and how he persevered in the face of adversity. It was an engaging and important conversation and we thank Congressman Mfume for his wisdom and time.