Baltimore Coalition for Community Schools

The Baltimore Coalition for Community Schools was formed in November 2000 as a grassroots movement by 16 people - and grew to more than 500 members strong. The Coalition's goals were to introduce the concept of community schools to Baltimore, and to build grassroots demand for implementing the concept in every public school in the city. Over time, the Coalition has built support for community schools amongst parents, community residents, school system staff, non-profit organizations, policy-makers, and funders.

The Coalition embarked on a series of learning experiences, building both public will and concrete knowledge to promote the community school strategy. These were funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Baltimore Community Foundation, BCPSS, and numerous agencies, whose representatives attended the sessions.

2000 – 20 community activists from Baltimore attended the first conference of the national Coalition for Community Schools in Kansas City
2001 – a public forum on community schools for 150 people
2002 - a leadership breakfast in for 75 funders and policy-makers
2003 - a 2-day on-site seminar In New York City to study the Children's Aid Society and Beacons models
2003 - Regional meetings around the city and a day-long conference for 100
2003 – 15 community leaders attended a mini-conference of the national Coalition in Washington, D.C.
2004 – a leadership trip including the CEO and Deputy Mayor to study community schools in Portland, Oregon
2005 – a delegation of 40, led by the then-City Council President Sheila Dixon, to the Chicago conference of the national Coalition.

In the Summer of 2003, the Coalition created Baltimore Community School Connections, with a seed grant from the Isabel and Zanvyl Krieger Fund, to provide technical assistance to developing community school initiatives in Baltimore. The Coalition continues to grow, to advocate and to educate - relying on the enthusiasm of its members to spread the word. It holds quarterly workshops introducing community schools and a quarterly meeting to plan its advocacy effort.