Our vision: West Baltimore neighborhoods are safe, vibrant, and inclusive communities that promote the happiness, health, and wealth of all. As a public university in Maryland, UMB is committed to directly improving quality of life in its surrounding communities. One way UMB honors this commitment is by providing community outreach programs that benefit from its teaching, research, and clinical care. Community engagement works to leverage UMB’s economic resources and human capital to engage with the community through direct service and systemic change to improve quality of life in West Baltimore and beyond.

Engagement in Baltimore The UMB Community Engagement Center, located in the Poppleton neighborhood, adjacent to campus, provides direct health, employment, legal, and social services to West Baltimore residents, and works with them on neighborhood-strengthening advocacy projects. UMB CURE Scholars is a long-term mentoring program designed to excite West Baltimore middle and high school students about science and begin preparing them for rewarding careers in research and health care. The UM School of Social Work operates Promise Heights, a network of partnerships and services intended to stabilize and strengthen families in a high-poverty West Baltimore neighborhood and help children achieve academic success. The Partnership with West Baltimore is a collaboration between UMB and the University of Maryland Medical Center designed to improve population health, stimulate economic and community development, boost academic achievement, and nurture community connections.

The Office of Community Engagement (OCE) serves as UMB's liaison to communities across the state of Maryland on behalf of the Office of the President. Focusing on communities in West Baltimore that border the UMB campus, OCE develops and nurtures University wide partnerships with external stakeholders, including K-12 public schools, community organizations, non-profits, and local businesses. We assist UMB's professional schools with the coordination of community engagement initiatives. Additionally, OCE coordinates faculty, staff, and student volunteer and service-learning initiatives to respond to needs identified by community partners

COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT

1. % reduction in suspensions related to violence
2. % of children immunized
3. % reduction in the number of school days missed due to illness

ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

1. % increase in targeted positions of new employees from West Baltimore
2. $$in local catering spend
3. $$ increase in local business revenue through Merchant Access Program
4. % of neighborhood business retention

EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

1. # of staff members recruited to mentor students
2. $$ raised to support field trip educational experiences
3. % increase in 3rd-grade reading competency

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
1. % awareness of community engagement activities among Poppleton residents
2. Plan developed to ensure community input/ consultation regarding programs and services
3. % increase in number of employees who volunteer in West Baltimore

COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT

1. 100% of children immunized by September 15, 2017

ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

1. 10% increase in targeted position of new employees from West Baltimore
2. $125,000 spent in in first year on local catering
3. $140,000 increase in first year in local business revenue through Merchant Access Program

EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

1. 50 new staff members recruited to mentor students
2. $5,000 raised to support field trip educational experiences
3. 20% increase in 3rd-grade reading competency

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
1. 45% awareness of community engagement activities among Poppleton residents
2. Progress on plan developed to ensure community input/ consultation regarding programs and services
3. 25% increase in number of employees who volunteer in West Baltimore