Casey Foundation Civic Site: Baltimore
When Baltimore, Maryland became home to the Annie E. Casey Foundation headquarters in 1994, we began working to help the vulnerable families and children within blocks of our front door. While sections of the city have thrived, others are ridden with high crime and epidemic drug use. Nearly 40 percent of Baltimore's families live at or below the poverty line. We are working throughout the city, region, and state to change how organizations, government agencies, and other funders implement policies and practices on behalf of low-income kids and families in our hometown.
East Baltimore Revitalization Initiative
East Baltimore has suffered from years of disinvestment, blight, and crime and, as a result, community families and children have consistently experienced some of the worst outcomes in employment, health, education, housing, and public safety in Baltimore. The Casey Foundation is partnering with East Baltimore Development Inc., Johns Hopkins Institutions, the City of Baltimore, and the state of Maryland in this initiative. We're working to create new homes, new jobs, and a more supportive, nurturing, and successful environment for families and children.
Specifically, we have been working to ensure priority attention is given to the hundreds of families being relocated or otherwise affected as a result of this work. This includes providing traditional counseling both before and after the move, helping residents avoid predatory lending practices, and providing residents with a genuine choice of quality relocation options. We’re working with community leaders to create a human development agenda that will help resident families access a range of economic, social, educational, and family support services. Our efforts include providing job training and job placement, asset building strategies, and housing, financial, legal, and transportation services.
Our efforts and investments address Casey’s desire to see that the human, community, and economic development goals remain in balance. We believe this is essential, both as the project unfolds and for the long-term well-being of East Baltimore residents and the community. The East Baltimore Revitalization Initiative continues to be the most significant and public work that we are undertaking in Baltimore.
Baltimore Direct Services Grant Program
Our small grants program funds community-based or community-serving nonprofit organizations working directly with disadvantaged children, youth and families in Baltimore City. Since 1995, between 20 and 30 new awards have been made each year. Grantees are funded for one year, and then eligible for a second year of support equal to one-half the original award. Grants have been used to start or enhance programs in health care, education, job training, counseling, violence prevention, recreation, cultural arts, child care, etc. Associated Black Charities administers the program, from proposal solicitation and review to the final awarding of funding.
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Read about Casey's other Civic Sites: