Family League of Baltimore

New Funding Opportunity: FY25 Out-of-School Time Programming in Community Schools Family League of Baltimore is excited to announce a new Request for Applications (RFA) to partner with community-based organizations committed to advancing racial equity and delivering high-quality Out-of-School Time (OST) programming. This opportunity focuses on supporting youth in two of Baltimore’s community schools: -Booker T. Washington Middle School -Windsor Hills Elementary/Middle School At the heart of this initiative is a shared mission to ensure that Baltimore’s children and youth are healthy, ready to learn, and able to thrive in safe and supportive environments. Partners will design programs that: -Prevent negative outcomes while fostering youth and family strengths -Expand access to recreation and after-school services -Target the highest-need populations for maximum impact Application Deadline: December 17, 2024, by 4:00 PM EST Contribute to building stronger communities and creating a brighter future for Baltimore’s youth. For full details and to submit your application, click https://bit.ly/3OjIPIu MAKING CONNECTIONS.?IMPROVING LIVES.

Doing What Matters: Honoring the Work Transforming Baltimore Last Thursday, Family League of Baltimore’s 33rd Annual Meeting brought together partners, supporters, and changemakers to celebrate progress and renew our collective commitment to the city we call home. With poignant remarks from Maryland Department of Human Services Secretary Rafael López (he/him/él), we reflected on the power of collaboration to address Baltimore’s most urgent challenges and chart a path toward equity and opportunity for all. At the heart of the evening were the seven honorees whose work exemplifies Family League’s core values: President’s Award: Dr. Yvonne Bronner, School of Community Health and Policy, Morgan State University, Stewardship Award: Learning How! Child Development Center, Performance Award: HealthCare Access Maryland, Respect Award: Arts for Learning Maryland, Innovation Award: The Family Recovery Program, Trust Award: Civic Works, Inc., Equity Award: Soccer Without Borders Maryland. Reflecting on the evening, Family League President and CEO Demaune Millard remarked, “Each honoree, each partner, and each supporter represents a thread in the fabric of Baltimore’s resilience. Together, we are weaving a brighter future—one where every child, every family, and every neighborhood has the opportunity to thrive. The work isn’t easy, but it’s necessary, and it’s possible when we come together with purpose and resolve.” This incredible evening would not have been possible without the support of sponsors— CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Enterprise Mobility Foundation, PNC Bank, Enterprise Community Partners, and Computer Services Unlimited (CSU)— whose commitment fuels Baltimore’s transformation. As we turn our eyes to 2025, we carry forward the momentum of this gathering, inspired by the voices, stories, and shared vision that define our work. MAKING CONNECTIONS. IMPROVING LIVES.

We are excited and honored to share that SWB Maryland received an award at the Family League of Baltimore’s 33rd Annual Meeting! This recognition celebrates SWB's invaluable contributions to Baltimore’s communities, reflecting our collective commitment to strengthening the lives of children and families across the city. The honor recognizes our efforts in exemplifying the Family League core value of Equity, for "applying a Racial Equity Lens to our policies, practices, and organizational culture; developing new practices; and rebuilding relationships that are based on a commitment to Justice and the Dismantling of Institutional Racism." Join us in extending a HUGE shout-out and congratulations to the staff, coach-mentors, participants, volunteers, donors, parents, and partners whose dedication and hard work make SWB Maryland an inspiration to all!

Doing What Matters! Lifting up the Work that is leading Baltimore’s Transformation, One Community at a Time! In the tapestry of Baltimore’s social landscape, there are moments when the threads of our collective efforts converge, creating a vibrant picture of progress and possibility. Family League of Baltimore’s 33rd Annual Meeting is one such moment—a beacon of hope on our ongoing journey to uplift our city’s most vulnerable. Every day, in classrooms, community centers, and homes across Baltimore, our grantees and funded partners engage in the hard-won battles of social change and community impact. These are our front-line heroes—social workers, educators, and community leaders—and on Thursday, November 14th we honor them.? Counting down the days. Congrats to this year's awardees-Yvonne Bronner, Learning How! Childcare Development Center, HealthCare Access Maryland, Arts for Learning Maryland, Civic Works, Inc., Soccer Without Borders Maryland! Read more about them here ->https://bit.ly/3YY8fBr

Doing What Matters! Lifting up the Work that is leading Baltimore’s Transformation, One Community at a Time! In the tapestry of Baltimore’s social landscape, there are moments when the threads of our collective efforts converge, creating a vibrant picture of progress and possibility. Family League of Baltimore’s 33rd Annual Meeting is one such moment—a beacon of hope on our ongoing journey to uplift our city’s most vulnerable. Every day, in classrooms, community centers, and homes across Baltimore, our grantees and funded partners engage in the hard-won battles of social change and community impact. These are our front-line heroes—social workers, educators, and community leaders—and on Thursday, November 14th we honor them.? Counting down the days. Congrats to this year's awardees-Yvonne Bronner, Learning How! Childcare Development Center, HealthCare Access Maryland, Arts for Learning Maryland, Civic Works, Inc., Soccer Without Borders Maryland! Read more about them here ->https://bit.ly/3YY8fBr

Back-to-school efforts in the Northeast have wrapped up and WOW, what an exciting ride it’s been. Access to high-quality professional learning is key for transformative change, and the efforts of local leaders to prepare/support their colleagues, partners, and communities to make schools as centers for creating communities where everyone belongs, works together, and thrives are worth celebrating. CT: Althea Brooks & Akia S. Callum, M.Ed organized an incredible FSCS Principal Retreat. As a team, the assistant superintendent, CS principals, CS Coord., & partners aligned goals, resources, & data to ensure impact.? MA: Congratulations to MA for launching its statewide Community Schools Coalition! They are officially “on the map” and are working hard to co-create and solidify its vision and values to guide future work. I expect great things from them. No pressure. ?? MD: Special shout out to Paige Coressel and Howard County Public Schools on their CS 101 pd. Through intentional planning they covered national-state-and local landscapes and resources to support high quality implementation. Congrats to Jenee Tucker, PMP & Sheila Camm Drummond from City Schools on supporting Baltimore CS Coordinators. With over 150 Community Schools in Baltimore City, your ability to organize high-quality PD at scale and consistently is impressive. Lastly, thanks to Sue Fothergill from Attendance Works for inviting me to co-present at the MD Association Boards of Education Annual Conference. I look forward to Moving the Mark on Attendance via Community Schools! ME: In honor of #CoordinatorsRock, Maine organized a Hall of Flags event showcasing their local Community Schools. Dr. Helen Janc Malone & I co-facilitated a Think Tank meeting to explore “How might we design a state-wide collaborative leadership structure to advance and strengthen Community Schools?” NH: I presented at the Northern New England Rural Summit on Cultivating Authentic #FamilyEngagement in Community Schools; moving family engagement from transactional to transformational via #CommunitySchools. NY: CONGRATULATIONS to the Community School Coalition of Monroe County! ?Joe and Kelly Sperduto are incredible leaders & an example of what it means to build local capacity. In addition to organizing their county, they help neighboring communities do the same. For those wondering what it would look like to build a collaborative system where Community Schools connect to a CS district-CS county-CS Region-CS State Coalition; look in NY!! PA is on the move! Pittsburgh Area Community Schools (PACS) encouraged friendly competition amongst its CS to utilize site-based leadership teams to address attendance issues. Pittsburgh Public School hosted its first district-wide CS Summit to reinforce what CS are & to improve alignment. Lastly, United Way of Erie County hosted an assembly celebrating Erie High as a Community School and thus having a full k-12 continuum of Community Schools in the city of Erie. ?

Family League of Baltimore proudly joined the nationwide Lights on Afterschool initiative by the Afterschool Alliance to highlight the vital role Out-of-School Time (OST) programs play in empowering Baltimore’s youth! In our recent bi-monthly meeting, Family League's Community Impact team and OST Site Managers gathered to celebrate afterschool programs that ignite curiosity, build essential skills, and provide safe spaces for students across Baltimore. To honor the event, our staff and partners posed with arms raised in the shape of a light bulb ??—a powerful symbol of the positive "light" afterschool programs bring to young lives. For over more than two decades, the Afterschool Alliance’s Lights on Afterschool has celebrated afterschool programs across the U.S. that support nearly 1 million students annually. These programs offer more than a safe space; they provide access to hands-on learning in STEM, arts, sports, career exploration, and much more, all contributing to a brighter future. Family League is committed to investing in quality OST programs across the City of Baltimore, partnering with Baltimore City Public Schools and local organizations. These OST initiatives address the unique needs of youth, from college readiness to social-emotional growth, serving diverse groups, including neurodivergent, LGBTQIA+, and Opportunity Youth. Thank you to the Afterschool Alliance for 25 years of uplifting afterschool programs and to all our partners for championing this critical work. Together, we’re turning the lights on for a brighter tomorrow in Baltimore and beyond.?#LightsOnAfterschool MAKING CONNECTIONS.?IMPROVING LIVES.

Adaptive Village Small Grants Program Update! Family League of Baltimore, in partnership with Morgan Center for Urban Health Equity, is thrilled to share that the submission window for the Adaptive Village Small Grants Program has officially closed. We received an incredible 24 applications, totaling $238k in requested funding! We’re inspired by the diverse range of projects proposed, which represent various communities across Baltimore City. From Park Heights to Greater Govans, local residents have embraced the opportunity to address critical health disparities through innovative, community-driven solutions. Thank you to everyone who submitted, and stay tuned for award announcements in November. Together, we’re empowering neighborhoods and improving lives. Lastly, thank you to Morgan State University Foundation for their continued support with Adaptive Village! MAKING CONNECTIONS.?IMPROVING LIVES.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month—a time to honor our survivors, remember those we’ve lost, and stand together in the fight for early detection and equitable care. In Baltimore, hundreds of women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, highlighting the continued need for local education, support, and accessible healthcare. Family League of Baltimore is proud to join Gov. Wes Moore, the Maryland Department of Health, Mayor Brandon M. Scott, and the Baltimore City Health Department in these vital efforts. "As we raise awareness this month, Family League continues to stand alongside our partners and the families of Baltimore," says Demaune Millard, CEO of Family League of Baltimore. "It is crucial that we create spaces where all individuals can access the care and resources they deserve." We invite you to join us in spreading awareness and encouraging early detection. Baltimore residents who are uninsured or under-insured can access free mammography screenings through the Baltimore City Cancer Program. https://bit.ly/4gVIIja For more information, please call 410-328-HOPE (4673). #BmoreGoesPink #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth

We’re Growing! Family League of Baltimore is expanding, and we’re seeking a dynamic Director of Professional Development to join our Programs Community Impact team. As we continue to scale our impact, this role will be essential in advancing the design and execution of our professional learning initiatives and working closely with funded partners to deliver capacity-building initiatives. Together, let’s continue to empower children, families, and communities across Baltimore City. Apply now: https://bit.ly/3Y3hpMz