BCYF exhibition showcases how community investment is shaping Baltimore’s youth

By Andrew Hall
AFRO Intern
ahall@afro.com

The Baltimore Children Youth Fund (BCYF) welcomed residents, families, city officials and community leaders from across Baltimore to view its 2026 Community Exhibition at the University of Maryland’s Biopark on June 11. The exhibition highlighted how public funding supports creativity and development for Baltimore’s youth.

Attendees explored featured projects and interactive exhibits, watched live performances and had moments to connect with local leaders. The exhibition offered a look at how funding is strengthening the youth sector in Charm City.

“Baltimore did something bold when it chose to fund its young people directly and back the community leaders who know them best. The organizations featured at our exhibition prove that choice was the right one, turning public dollars into mentorship, art and opportunity across the city,” said Alysia Lee, president and CEO of BCYF. “This is what becomes possible when a community is trusted to invest in its own future.” 

The showcase featured CHARM, Expanding Boundaries International (EBI), Nuestras Raices and The Equity Project Foundation, each illustrating how BCYF supports their organizations. 

Albert Phillips Jr., program director for CHARM, described his experience at the exhibition. 

“I think that the event and experience was great. I specifically did the storytelling, professional development series that was titled ‘Echoes of Change,’” said Phillips Jr. “So it really helped me with describing our organizational story from my lens and using that story to talk to different stakeholders in the community.”

CHARM’s Executive Director Whitney Birenbaum expanded on how BCYF funding has helped to provide a “third space” for local young people. 

“It’s been a huge support for us being here at Unity Hall. That’s really one of the primary uses we’ve made from the funding, being able to have this beautiful space where our students can collaborate, work together and see themselves in a third space outside home and school,” said Birenbaum. “It’s like another place where you belong. Our students really helped to conceptualize the space. It’s really designed with our programs and our young people in mind, so BCYF has supported that in a major way.”

Ryan Scott, a summer intern who works on CHARM’s student editorial board, described the skills he’s learned since joining the organization. 

“As an artist, and someone who likes art in general, I feel like my art and my writing has enhanced overall being at CHARM. My communication skills, my public speaking, and just being able to put my art out into the world ,” said Scott. “Being able to put my art throughout Baltimore through CHARM helps me to see what I can do to better myself.”

Leticia Nortey, founder and executive director of EBI, represented her organization at the BCYF exhibition. In an interview with the AFRO, she explained how her organization uses funding.

“We were lucky and privileged to get a BCYF grant, and it’s allowing us to take 10 Baltimore City youth to Ghana this summer,” said Nortey. 

Nortey said initiatives like this year’s Ghana trip are essential to help students look beyond the communities and neighborhoods they’ve grown up in. 

Nortey also detailed the importance of partnerships like the one her organization has with BCYF. 

“How can we go on without partnership? You can have the best idea … but if you don’t have anyone to go with you on that journey, you’re not going anywhere,” Nortey said. “They say it takes a village, and I believe that wholeheartedly. Having people who believe in the mission or the vision that you have goes a long way.”

She continued, “I think that BCYF allows our organization, and the many other organizations that they are supporting, to be able to propel forward, especially in this trying time.”

The post BCYF exhibition showcases how community investment is shaping Baltimore’s youth appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.