Baltimore Children & Youth Fund (BCYF) to Host The Gathering 2026: Imagine Baltimore, Inviting Community to Help Shape the City's First Youth Master Plan

Free, full-day convening on November 12 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront will bring together 400+ youth, community leaders, funders, and practitioners for learning sessions, youth performances, and conversations that will inform the Baltimore Youth Master Plan

BALTIMORE, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Baltimore Children & Youth Fund (BCYF) will host The Gathering 2026: Imagine Baltimore, its flagship annual convening, on Thursday, November 12, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, bringing together youth leaders, nonprofit staff, board members, funders, educators, grassroots organizers, practitioners, policymakers, and community allies from across the city.

Now in its third year, The Gathering is expected to bring more than 400 members of Baltimore's youth development ecosystem together for a full day of learning, connection, and collective action. Hosted by BCYF in partnership with its Grantee Planning Committee, this year's convening builds on the initiative to create Baltimore's first-ever Youth Master Plan, the city's youth-driven roadmap. Attendees will take part in one of the first Youth Master Plan Solution Sessions, a citywide conversation that aims to engage 10,000 community voices in shaping the city's future for young people.

"Baltimore is home to extraordinary young people and to the leaders, families, and organizations who invest in them every day," said Alysia Lee, President and CEO of Baltimore Children & Youth Fund. "The Youth Master Plan is our chance to bring that work together into one shared vision for the city, with young people helping to set its direction. Imagine Baltimore invites all of us to dream boldly before we write that plan, and to hold ourselves accountable to what our community tells us."

The day opens with an Opening Plenary featuring youth performances and remarks. Attendees will then choose from 20 breakout sessions across two rounds, led by BCYF and community experts. Throughout the day, interactive experiences will give attendees more ways to connect and contribute, followed by Expert Office Hours from 2:15 to 3:30 p.m. where attendees can book one-on-one consultations with practitioners and funders.

"For a small organization, sending staff or young people to a full-day convening means stepping away from programming, and we take that seriously," said Brandon Hansen, Vice President of External Affairs at Baltimore Children & Youth Fund. "We want everyone to leave with something they can use the next week, whether that's a new partner, a practice they can try with their young people, or a clearer sense of where their work fits in the Youth Master Plan."

Registration for The Gathering 2026 is free, and stipends are available for youth participants and BCYF grantee partners. To register, visit https://forms.bcyfund.org/262377961961874. For more information, visit https://bcyfund.org/learn/the-gathering/.

About the Baltimore Children & Youth Fund
The Baltimore Children & Youth Fund (BCYF) is a nonprofit, city-funded initiative dedicated to improving the lives of young people across Baltimore. BCYF employs a dual investment strategy—pairing direct funding for youth-serving organizations with training and learning supports that promote long-term sustainability and strengthen Baltimore's youth ecosystem. Through this approach, BCYF delivers vital financial and educational resources to community-based organizations in education, health, safety, and enrichment, ensuring every young person has access to the opportunities they need to thrive. To learn more, visit http://www.bcyfund.org.

Media Contact:
Brandon Hansen
Baltimore Children & Youth Fund
410-505-8459
[email protected]
https://bcyfund.org/ 

SOURCE Baltimore Children & Youth Fund (BCYF)