CEO Community Conversations Recap: Strengthening Partnerships and Collaborating with Baltimore City Public Schools

BALTIMORE, Feb. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, January 22, 2025, the Baltimore Children & Youth Fund (BCYF) co-hosted an impactful CEO Community Conversation with Dr. Sonja Santelises, CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS), at Baltimore Unity Hall. The event brought together community members, BCYF grantees, youth, and local leaders for a vital discussion on strengthening partnerships and collaborations to improve the education and well-being of Baltimore's youth, with 75% of participants stating that they left feeling energized with new connections and ideas for improving outcomes for students and families.

During the event, Dr. Santelises outlined critical initiatives Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS) is undertaking to create more equitable opportunities and foster collaboration with community organizations. She emphasized the importance of addressing inequities in access to culturally relevant curricula, increasing representation among staff and leadership, and expanding behavioral and mental health resources for underserved students, including Black, Latino, and LGBTQ+ youth.

"One of the things that I believe in passionately is young people. All students deserve for schools to be more than just, 'I went to my math class today.'" Dr. Sonja Santelises explained. "I believe in developing and growing whole young people. When you are whole, it means you have opportunities to discover your own talents—yes, in the classroom, but outside of the classrooms as well."

Dr. Santelises and Alysia Lee, President & CEO of BCYF, engaged in a dynamic Q&A session, where Alysia posed questions compiled from registered guests to Dr. Santelises about the key challenges and opportunities facing BCPS. Topics of discussion included:

• Culturally Relevant Curriculum: Dr. Santelises shared strategies for ensuring all students, particularly Latino and Black youth, have access to an inclusive curriculum that reflects their diverse backgrounds.
• Mental Health and Behavioral Support: Attendees explored how BCPS is expanding mental health services and funding initiatives to support underserved youth.
• Community Partnerships: Discussions focused on how BCPS is simplifying procurement and payment systems to encourage collaboration with smaller nonprofits and vendors.
• Teacher Retention and Development: Dr. Santelises highlighted new pathways for teacher career advancement and strategies to address burnout.
• Representation in Staff and Leadership: The conversation included plans to increase diversity among teachers and leadership to better reflect the growing Latino student population and other underserved demographics.

Dr. Santelises also emphasized the importance of Out-of-School-Time (OST) programs and partnerships with arts and vocational training organizations to enhance career readiness and student engagement.

"When it comes to investing in our youth, it's about more than just placing dollars into the community—while financial support is important, we also need to invest in relationships, collaboration, and actionable strategies that create lasting change," said Lee. "We must ensure that young people have access to mentorship, community-driven support, and the resources necessary to thrive both academically and personally. This event highlighted the power of partnership in fostering that kind of sustainable impact."

One participant emphasized, "I truly believe the solutions we need are in this room, and it's conversations like these that lead to meaningful action. Everyone has a role to play, from educators to local organizations, in creating a space where our children feel supported, seen, and empowered to succeed."

The event concluded with a complimentary dinner, providing an opportunity for participants to continue networking and exploring avenues for collaboration.

For more information on BCYF and upcoming community events, visit bcyfund.org. 

About the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund:
The effort to create a dedicated fund to support programs for Baltimore's young people was launched in 2015 by then-City Council President Bernard "Jack" C. Young — a response to the unrest in Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody, an event that sharply illuminated longstanding inequities in public funding in Black communities. Supported by Baltimore City residents' tax dollars, since 2020 BCYF has awarded over $31M to Baltimore programs serving children and youth.

SOURCE Baltimore Children & Youth Fund