Goals:

• Ensure the strategic planning and execution of Baltimore CONNECT.

• Lead Baltimore CONNECT in setting the annual budget and securing funding to meet its objectives.

• Confirm budget and resource allocation with internal and external stakeholders, including Johns Hopkins, Morgan State University, the University of Maryland School Alliance, and community service providers.

• Outreach to financial, legal, and community resource levels.

Goals:

• Responsible for identifying potential members and maintaining membership for collaboration.

• Identify service gaps and create outreach strategies to engage potential members.

• Organize speaker presentations and resources to be presented during the weekly collaborative meetings.

Goals:

• Enhance health awareness by providing health screenings, activities, educational materials, demonstrations, and information.

• Identify topics and participants for future educational health programs.

• Supply essential school materials to the youth in Baltimore City.

• Raise awareness of local, state, and national health and safety services and resources.

• Encourage participants to adopt positive health behavior changes.

Projects:

• Back-to-School Resource Fair: Supporting school-aged children (6–12) in Baltimore City, this annual event ensures students have the supplies they need for a successful school year. Volunteers assist with collecting, organizing, and distributing school supplies to families.

• Spring Resource Fair
  Open to Baltimore City residents of all ages, this event connects the community with essential resources. Volunteer opportunities include event setup, vendor coordination, health screenings, and distributing materials.

• Annual Unsung Heroes Celebration
  Honoring individuals recognized by community partners for their selfless contributions, this celebration highlights the impact of dedicated community members.

  • In 2024, 38 individuals were honored for their outstanding service, with 80 attendees joining to celebrate their achievement.

The Baltimore CONNECT Youth Committee is dedicated to empowering youth across the Baltimore area by fostering collaboration among organizations, sharing valuable resources, and ensuring that young voices shape the initiatives that impact them.

We believe that every young person deserves access to opportunities that support their growth, whether through volunteer service, education resources, parenting support, or career development.

What We Do:

• Foster Collaboration – Strengthening connections between organizations serving youth.

• Share Resources – Providing essential tools, from education to wellness support.

• Empower Youth – Ensuring young people have a voice in shaping their future.

Reach the co-chair Audrey Carter at thepeoplesassociation@yahoo.com.

The Mental Health Committee is dedicated to supporting the well-being of the Baltimore community by providing critical mental health resources and training for individuals of all ages. Led by Co-chair Lee Bone, the committee focuses on equipping community members with the knowledge and skills needed to respond to mental health crises with compassion and care.

Our Key Offerings:

• Adult & Youth First Aid Training – We offer training sessions for community members to learn how to assist individuals experiencing mental health challenges, helping create a more supportive environment for all.

• Heart Stories – Facilitating personal storytelling sessions that allow individuals to share their experiences and build empathy within the community.

Through these initiatives, the Mental Health Committee aims to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote mental health literacy across the Baltimore area.

Goals:

• Streamline access to health and social services for underserved populations.

• Promote partnerships among community organizations, healthcare providers, and social-service agencies.

• Enhance care coordination to improve service delivery and client satisfaction.

• Educate the community on available services and resources.

Ongoing Projects:

1.Community Resource Navigation Program

• Target Audience: Low-income families and individuals in Baltimore City.

• Volunteer Opportunities: Assist with resource mapping, connecting residents to services, and follow-up support.

2.Health Equity Initiative Plans

• Target Audience: Marginalized populations facing health disparities.

• Volunteer Opportunities: Members outreach, event organization, and health education support.

3.Case Management Training Workshops

• Target Audience: Community Health Workers (CHWs) and volunteers.

• Volunteer Opportunities: Organizing training sessions and coordinating materials.

Our Vision

We aim to produce high-quality publications and presentations that reflect the equal contributions of community members, researchers, and practitioners. Our goal is to translate complex research into actionable insights that inform community development, healthcare innovation, and public policy.

Our Goals

• Document & Showcase Impact: Publish case studies, research articles, testimonials, and visual stories highlighting Baltimore CONNECT’s work in healthcare access, housing equity, youth programs, and social services.

• Share Best Practices: Distribute insights to influence policy changes, improve public health strategies, and strengthen community engagement efforts.

Our Strategies

• Identify Key Research Topics related to health equity, housing, social determinants of health, and community well-being.

• Engage Stakeholders (community leaders, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and researchers) to ensure diverse perspectives.

• Streamline the writing process and assign responsibilities efficiently.

• Manage Publishing & Editorial Communications to ensure smooth publication in academic journals, digital media, and community platforms.

• Make Findings Accessible by using plain language summaries, data visualizations, and community-friendly reports to maximize engagement.

Our Guiding Principles

• Ethical & Equitable Research: We recognize the history of inequitable research practices and prioritize ethical, community-led collaborations.

• Community-Driven Authorship: Baltimore residents and stakeholders are co-authors and co-creators, ensuring their voices are heard in publications and presentations.

• Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR): We involve the community from project conception to publication to create meaningful, lasting impact.

• Future-Focused Knowledge Sharing: Every idea is valuable—topics not used immediately are saved for future research and publication opportunities.

Why Our Work Matters

Through our research and media initiatives, we help bridge the gap between academic institutions, public policy leaders, healthcare providers, and Baltimore’s communities. Our work fosters collaboration, innovation, and sustainable change—ensuring that the voices and experiences of Baltimore residents shape policies and programs that affect their lives.

Publications

1. Dadwal, V., Basu, L., Weston, C. M., Hwang, S., Ibe, C., Bone, L., Boonyasai, R. T., Gentry, J., Purnell, L., & Wu, A. W. (2017). How Co-Developed Are Community and Academic Partnerships? Progress in Community Health Partnerships, 11(4), 387–395. https://doi.org/10.1353/cpr.2017.0046

2. Ibe, C. A., Basu, L., Gooden, R., Syed, S. B., Dadwal, V., Bone, L. R., Ephraim, P. L., Weston, C. M., Wu, A. W., & Baltimore CONNECT Project Team (2018). From Kisiizi to Baltimore: Cultivating Knowledge Brokers to Support Global Innovation for Community Engagement in Healthcare. Globalization and Health, 14(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-018-0339-8

3. Wu, A. W., Hwang, S., Weston, C. M., Ibe, C., Boonyasai, R. T., Bone, L., Basu, L., Lief, I., Gentry, J., Purnell, L., Rosenblum, M., & Baltimore CONNECT Study Team (2018). Baltimore CONNECT: A Randomized Trial to Build Partnership Between Community Organizations and a Local Health System. Progress in Community Health Partnerships, 12(3), 297–306. https://doi.org/10.1353/cpr.2018.0054

4. Wu, A. W., Weston, C. M., Ibe, C. A., Ruberman, C. F., Bone, L., Boonyasai, R. T., Hwang, S., Gentry, J., Purnell, L., Lu, Y., Liang, S., & Rosenblum, M. (2019). The Baltimore Community-Based Organizations Neighborhood Network: Enhancing Capacity Together (CONNECT) Cluster RCT. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 57(2), e31–e41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2019.03.013

5. Kumpf, E., Thamilselvan, V., Wang, E., Barger, P., Gentry, J., Bash, C., Young, D., Buiringiro, S., Bodurtha, J., Brown, A., Guo, M., Carter, A., Price, L., Smith, P., Lacanienta, C., Himmelfarb, C., & Wu, A. (2024). Community-Driven Partnerships with CEnR Teams Bring Resources and Reliable Information to Baltimore Residents. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2024.606

The Foundations and Grants Committee is crucial to ensuring the sustainability and growth of Baltimore CONNECT by identifying and securing funding streams. This committee plays an essential role in awarding grants, scholarships, and programs to support our mission and the organizations we serve.

Our Key Responsibilities:

• Awarding Grants & Scholarships – Reviewing and approving funding for impactful programs and initiatives.

• Monitoring Fund Usage – Ensuring funds are used in alignment with the intended purpose.

• Reporting on Grant Use – Providing transparency and accountability regarding the use of awarded funds.

• Evaluating Grant Impact – Assessing the outcomes of funded projects to ensure they benefit Baltimore CONNECT members.

Purpose:

Our primary goal is to identify sustainable funding opportunities that will allow Baltimore CONNECT to continue its vital work and amplify the impact of its members.

Committee Leadership:

• Co-chairs: Lee Bone & Patricia Barger

• Grant Writer Consultant: Lois Mitchell

Goals:

• Build partnerships among organizations and stakeholders to strengthen community engagement.

• Ensure underserved populations receive information about available resources and services.

• Foster communication between organizations to create cohesive community responses.

• Offer training and resources to empower community organizations in meeting local needs.

• Ensure diverse community representation and participation in the conference.

• Set metrics to assess the effectiveness of initiatives and partnerships developed during the conference.