About Us
Strong City Baltimore takes a holistic approach to building and strengthening neighborhoods and people. We do not believe in quick fixes to complex problems.
50 years of building
stronger communities
50 years of experience has shown us that lasting change is achieved by supporting neighborhood leaders, fostering civic engagement, and building community. Strong City’s programs and partnerships increase individuals’ capacity to succeed.
Watch our 50th Anniversary video to learn more about our work!
Read Our 2020 Impact Report
We are excited to share our 2020 Impact Report with you. Inside you will find a comprehensive review of Strong City’s efforts and a preview of what’s to come!
We make people stronger
Our Adult Learning Center is one of only two community-based providers of adult basic education and ESOL classes citywide.
The 29th Street Community Center, which had been closed by the city in 2011, was reopened by Strong City in 2013 and is thriving, with 450 adults and children enrolled weekly in its programs – 70 percent of which are led by community residents.
We make neighborhoods stronger
The Club at Collington Square is an after school and summer program currently serving 130 children in the Collington Square neighborhood of East Baltimore. The program emphasizes student voice and leadership and provides a highly structured program of academics, enrichment, play and homework help.
One of our priorities is housing revitalization, with an emphasis on reducing vacancies. When Strong City began its targeted code enforcement in 2008, there were more than 800 vacant buildings in our focus area; by the end of 2014, there were fewer than 400. Since 2007, this work has generated more than $20 million in private investment.
Strong City’s partnership with the Healthy Neighborhoods program helps increase homeownership with access to low-interest loans and incentives.
We make schools stronger
Strong City’s site-based community school coordinators support students, teachers, administrators and parents to augment services, identify resources, and help schools become neighborhood hubs.
Our advocacy work resulted in a brand-new Waverly Elementary/Middle School building, and as a founding member and fiscal sponsor of the Baltimore Education Coalition, we helped to reverse millions of dollars in cuts to education and turn the dream of a $1 billion state investment in city public schools into a reality.
We make Baltimore stronger
Although our work is diversified, it is unified: all of Strong City Baltimore’s activities have the common purpose of making our city’s people and neighborhoods stronger – all over the city.