This fall, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore (BGCMB) will provide after-school programming five days a week, Monday through Friday, to the East Baltimore community out of the Baltimore Urban Leadership Foundation (The Door) at 219 N. Chester Street.
BGCMB laid the foundation for the partnership in summer 2021 by providing pop up programming in the neighborhood through Club on the Go.
“We’re thrilled to be expanding our working partnership with The Door in East Baltimore. Collaborations between nonprofit organizations such as ours are vital as we put the interest of young people first,”
said Jeffrey Breslin, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore. “Through this effort, we are serving kids and families that asked for an enriching after-school experience and bringing our belief that every young person deserves to be safe, happy, and hopeful to life.”
Each day after school, approximately 50 kids ages 6-12, come from nearby schools, including Commodore John Rogers, Tench Tillman, William Paca and Patterson Park Charter School, to The Door to participate in programming around three focus areas: academics, character & leadership, and healthy lifestyles. Programming is delivered by trained, paid, youth-development professionals and draws from Boys & Girls Club programs like PowerHour, Triple Play, S.T.E.M., and Healthy Habits.
For decades, The Door has been an “umbrella of hope” for its community through direct service, capacity-building and resource development. Surrounding neighborhoods include Oldtown/Middle East, Madison/East End, and Patterson Park North & East where approximately 94% of children are from single-parent households and the rates of children living below the poverty line are 55%, 56% and 40%, respectively. The area around The Door is also a food desert where residents have limited access to affordable and nutritious foods.
“The Door has been serving the East Baltimore community for over 35 years. As times have changed over the years, more and more social, health, life, character, and learning skills are needed by our youth. Partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore allows us to bring their proven, evidence-based developmental programming to our youth. Which in turn will help our kids to excel academically, socially, emotionally, and physically,” said Tehma Smith Wilson, chief operating officer at The Door.