University of Maryland, Baltimore

CHANGING THE FUTURE TODAY
As an anchor institution in West Baltimore, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is committed to directly improving the quality of life in its surrounding communities. UMB honors this commitment by providing community outreach programs that benefit from its teaching, research, and clinical care and service missions.

PROMISE HEIGHTS
The School of Social Work’s Promise Heights initiative works to improve educational outcomes for youth and ensure families are healthy and successful in the West Baltimore communities of Upton/Druid Heights. In 2021, after more than a decade of sustained investment in Upton/Druid Heights, the Promise Heights’ B’more for Healthy Babies program saw significant achievement: The infant mortality rate dropped by 75 percent.

UMB COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CENTER
The UMB Community Engagement Center (CEC) is where UMB staff, students, and faculty can leverage the university’s economic resources and human capital to help our neighbors and strengthen West Baltimore. Since opening in 2005, the CEC has served 73,400 individuals and 6,500 households in West and Southwest Baltimore. The 20,000 square-foot CEC offers a rich portfolio of community-driven programming that children, families, and neighbors asked for: an exercise/dance studio, a large multipurpose room for community meals and events, a safe play area for children, a wellness suite, a robust computer lab, a maker-space, and more.

UMB CURE SCHOLARS PROGRAM
The nationally recognized UMB CURE Scholars Program is a comprehensive science pipeline initiative that excites middle and high school students about science and exposes them to careers in health care, cancer research, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

In partnership with three West Baltimore public middle schools, the program offers year-round mentorship, STEM programming, tutoring, and hands-on learning opportunities. In 2023, the second cohort of student scholars graduated from high school, collectively earning over 58 college acceptances.