CUMU Conference 2017

Baltimore educational and medical institutions are building on their missions and taking on new roles to address the city’s deep socio-economic needs. The Baltimore Integration Partnership, a collective impact initiative of anchors institutions, funders, nonprofits, and public organizations, is supporting the development of new anchor strategies, policies, and practices that are connecting low-income Baltimore City residents, who are predominately African-American, to economic opportunity. Fourteen educational and medical institutions are participating in the BIP and are collectively and individually implementing local hiring approaches, local and minority purchasing strategies, and using capital and real estate to foster broader community benefit. This best practices presentation will highlight some of the key anchor projects and activities unfolding in Baltimore including new workforce training programs, a real estate development fund, small business development strategies, and other economic inclusion approaches driven by anchor partners. The presentation will be led by the BIP Director and the lead representative from Towson University who will not just highlight work underway but recognize some of the challenges and the work still ahead.