Invest in Baltimore

Advocacy

City School students in a classroom

BCF exercises civic leadership not only with strategic grantmaking and targeted initiatives, but also with advocacy on issues of importance to the vitality of the region.

Though BCF’s interests are broad, we are focusing advocacy efforts on three areas: education, transportation, and the environment.

BCF continues its strong, long-term commitment to public education, using all the tools in its arsenal: grantmaking, initiatives and advocacy. The focus of our education advocacy is education funding and reform, recognizing the economic realities of our time but insisting that education is one investment we cannot afford to cut back.

In 2009 BCF focused advocacy efforts on maintaining fair state funding for Baltimore City Schools, and in 2010 championed education reforms that would strengthen charter schools and position our state for a successful bid for federal Race to the Top education funds.

During the 2010 session, BCF expressed its position on the following legislation:

  • SB899 / HB1263 Education Reform Act – SUPPORT with amendments to strengthen charter schools. The bill PASSED.
  • HB374 a proposal to impose an elected school board - OPPOSE.  The bill was DEFEATED.

Read more: Op-ed on Maryland’s application for federal Race to the Top education funding, by Tom Wilcox, Diane Bell-McKoy and Mark Fetting.

A healthy regional environment means healthier residents, higher property values, and improved quality of life.  BCF supports a cleaner, greener Baltimore through policies that preserve and protect open spaces in urban areas, involve people from all sectors of the community to ensure that our region’s parks and waterways are clean and healthy, and strengthen local environmental organizations. 

We accomplish this by partnering with Baltimore City and other public agencies on environmental sustainability, reaching out to neighborhoods and nonprofit organizations, and promoting recycling and energy conservation.

During the 2010 session, BCF expressed its support for HB999, the Watershed Restoration and Protection Act. Read BCF’s testimony on this bill. While we are disappointed that the bill did not pass, BCF remains committed to working for cleaner water in the Baltimore region. 

 

BCF supports effective and equitable regional transportation policies primarily through the work of the Central Maryland Transportation Alliance (CMTA), created by BCF to bring together diverse interests and coordinate advocacy efforts toward transformational transportation improvements.  BCF and CMTA advocacy efforts focus on increasing investment for public transit options and bringing greater clarity to transportation planning processes.

During the 2010 session, BCF expressed its position on the following legislation: 

  •  HB1155 / SB760  A bill requiring state-funded transportation projects to be evaluated against state goals already on the books – SUPPORT – Read BCF’s testimony on this bill. The bill PASSED.
  • HB1161 Adding state hospital redevelopment to the types of projects eligible for tax increment financing and special taxing districts - OPPOSE - Read BCF's testimony on this bill. The bill PASSED.
Youngsters in Patterson Park get a workout in the neighborhood’s youth soccer league.
One Step Up scholars Sherrone Ricks and Jeane’ Baker celebrate with donors Jonnie-Kay McLean and Norman Morrison.
A Baltimore City student soaks up the sun at North Bay Adventure Camp.
Enjoying the lake at Druid Hill Park. Photo by Middleton Evans.
Dreams do come true: Our Playground at Stadium Place, rebuilt by determined volunteers and generous donors after the original was destroyed by arson. The work was supported by a fund at BCF. 

BCF’s efforts through the Diversity Path will work to rebuild Baltimore’s black middle class.

Baltimore’s vibrant arts and cultural scene boasts innovative projects like the Contemporary Museum’s Mobtown Modern Music Series, which combines classical instruments, jarring visual components and DJ-style electronics into informal performances of works by modern composers. Photo by Robert McIver Photography.
Cyclists atop Federal Hill take in views of the city skyline and bustling Inner Harbor. Photo by Middleton Evans.
Collecting butterflies in the field for a nature study.
In the spring of 2009, an army of dedicated volunteers worked to rebuild Our Playground at Stadium Place, which had been destroyed by arson in September 2008. Photo by Kristine Buls.
Enjoying one of the simple pleasures of summer at a neighborhood camp.
BCF’s Human Services Path emphasizes health, aging, and family economic security.
Neighbors team up to beautify and reclaim a vacant lot.
Most Middle Grades Partnership scholars qualify for the city’s competitive high schools.
Rapid and reliable public transportation for our region is a central goal of the Central Maryland Transportation Alliance, a fund of BCF. Photo by P.A. Greene.
Children beat the heat in the waters of the Walter Sondheim Fountain at the Inner Harbor. Contributions to construct the memorial were collected through a special project fund at BCF. Photo by Will Kirk, courtesy of Homewood Photography.
Students at Great Kids Farm learn about local food production, from “seed to fork.”
Baltimore’s successful One Plus One recycling program has engaged residents in making the city cleaner and greener.
Baltimore City students and farm manager Greg Strella (far right) with the summer harvest at Great Kids Farm.
Students at Baltimore’s Friendship Academy of Engineering and Technology, one of many public charter schools helping to transform public education in our city. Photo by Stephen Jones, courtesy of Baltimore City Public Schools.
BCF’s Promoting Baltimore Path works to ensure that Baltimore continues to retain and attract citizens and businesses.
Experience-Corps Baltimore places older adult volunteers in struggling city elementary schools to serve as classroom aides, mentors, and tutors. Photograph by Michael Ciesielski, courtesy of Greater Homewood Community Corporation, Inc.

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