May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a reminder that mental wellness is foundational to strong families, successful schools, and thriving communities. When young people have the support they need to manage stress, process trauma, and build confidence, they are better positioned to learn, lead, and reach their full potential.
At the Baltimore Community Foundation, we believe lasting change begins by investing in people and the neighborhoods they call home. That is why, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, BCF prioritized support for student and educator mental health across Baltimore. Through grants given to trusted local nonprofits, we are helping expand access to counseling, mentorship, mindfulness, and healing-centered programs that meet young people where they are.
Across Baltimore, our nonprofit partners are showing what is possible when communities lead the way.
The Agoge Project
One example is The Agoge Project, founded by Baltimore City Public Schools special educator Michael John, a 2023 BCF Neighborhood Spotlight Awardee. Based in Belair-Edison, the organization offers free after-school programming that blends boxing, martial arts, tutoring, mentorship, and mental health support for youth ages 10 to 14.
The program is designed to build resilience, discipline, and belonging—and the results are clear: Students participating in The Agoge Project improved school attendance, strengthened academic confidence, and 100% of youth participants reported feeling more hopeful about their futures compared to the beginning of the year. Every participant surveyed said they felt safe, cared for, and part of a supportive community.
That sense of connection is central to mental wellbeing and to community strength.
Endside Out
BCF grantee EndsideOut approaches youth wellness through prevention and education. Since 2013, the organization has worked to close health gaps in underserved communities by helping young people understand the connections among nutrition, fitness, and mental wellbeing.
Their school-based 3D Wellness program serves middle school students in Baltimore City schools where many families face significant economic challenges. Through interactive learning and peer leadership opportunities, students explore eight dimensions of wellness, including emotional, social, financial, and physical health.
By equipping students with practical tools and leadership skills, EndsideOut is helping young people care for themselves and support one another, creating healthier school communities in the process.
AZIZA PE&CE
BCF has supported program expansion for AZIZA PE&CE whose after-school therapeutic programming uses arts and culture as pathways to healing for Black and Hispanic youth, with special programming for LGBTQ+ kids. We first wrote about their impact in January 2025.
Recently, the organization partnered with licensed social workers to provide regular therapy sessions for more than 30 young people in a culturally affirming environment. Participants reported stronger emotional regulation, reduced stress, and deeper feelings of safety and support. Nearly all remained engaged throughout the school year.
For many youth, this was their first experience with consistent mental health care—an important step toward long-term healing and stability.
Holistic Life Foundation
For more than two decades, the Holistic Life Foundation (HLF) has helped redefine what youth mental health support can look like. Founded in Baltimore, the organization uses yoga, mindfulness, trauma-informed care, and youth development to help children reduce stress, improve focus, and strengthen self-esteem.
Their impact has reached more than 100 Baltimore City schools and youth-serving organizations, demonstrating how simple, consistent wellness practices can transform school culture and student outcomes.
To learn more about HLF’s recent impact, check out this article we published in December: Calm Amidst the Storm: How the Holistic Life Foundation Trains Students to Be Peer Mindful Ambassadors – Baltimore Community Foundation.
These organizations reflect a truth we see every day: stronger minds create stronger communities. Mental health support may look different for every young person. It can be a mentor who listens, a breathing exercise before class, a counselor who understands, or a safe place to go after school. When those supports are accessible, children and teens are better able to succeed in school, build healthy relationships, and imagine brighter futures.
At BCF, we are proud to partner with nonprofits that are advancing youth mental health across Baltimore. Their work is creating ripple effects that extend far beyond individual participants—to families, classrooms, and entire neighborhoods.
During Mental Health Awareness Month, we celebrate their leadership and the donors who make this work possible. Together, we are helping build a Baltimore where every young person has the opportunity to heal, grow, and thrive.
