gbla end of year report 2014 – 2015

2014 – 2015 Annual Report
Executive Summary |
Eric T. White,
GBLA President (2013 – 2015)
Dear Partners in the Movement,
I would like to thank our members, supporters, leaders and partners; who have been
an integral part of the work to make a positive impact in the Greater Baltimore Area.
The Greater Baltimore Leadership Association (GBLA) supports the Urban League
Movement through an array of volunteering, fundraising, networking, partnerships,
and membership development activities. As a pipeline for success and model for
personal social responsibility, our members use their individual strengths and
cultivate new ones for the betterment of our community and each other. This is
excellence in action!
Our board set high goals this year, with ambitions of continuing the annualized
programs previously established, growing our membership, cultivating partnerships
and increased fundraising. I am proud to report that this team has accomplished all
and in many cases surpassed our goals. Through strategic planning, executing, and
measuring, we have worked to affect a successful and informed Baltimore
community through a positive cycle of climbing, lifting and giving back.
Some of our key accomplishments:
● Supported our Affiliate with a gift of over $14,000
● Significantly increased Affiliate volunteer support through collaborative
programming and augmenting the Affiliate staff
● Collaborated closely with our Affiliate to implement strategic
communications and programs in the Baltimore Uprising: Response to Murder of
Freddie Gray
● Chapter Volunteer Hours Increased dramatically through GBLA committee
collaboration creating more layers of impact with programs
● Executed a successful annual fundraiser, the Monte Carlo Nights
Masquerade Ball
2014 – 2015 Executive Council
Officers
President,
Eric T. White
Executive Vice President,
Charles Jackson
Vice President of
Communications,
Unity Watts
Vice President of Finance,
Brian Sims
Vice President of Policy and
Procedures,
Nicolette A. Louissaint, Ph.D.
Directors
Community Outreach
Vernon Carter
Financial Empowerment
Shariff J. Small
Marketing and Public Relations
Laydia S. Olusa
Membership
Nikki Winn
Public Health
Stacey Dennis, MPH
Stacey Dyce, MHS (Assistant)
Yours in the Movement,
Political Empowerment
Stephanie Maddin Smith, Esq.
Eric White | President
Greater Baltimore Leadership Association (GBLA)
Young Professionals Network of the Greater Baltimore Urban League
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Special Events
Sherria Lovelace
Youth Development
Jerome Alexander
Professional Development
Ernest Davis
The
name,
the
Greater Baltimore Leadership Association (GBLA), was
selected intentionally. We are a mainstay for many
young leaders throughout the greater Baltimore region.
Our membership is not only active in GBLA, but also
hold leadership positions in other local and national
organizations. We pride ourselves on the continuous
support of our members and the development of their
leadership abilities. They are truly pillars in the
community. We strive to make programming that is
inclusive and beneficial to all our members.
Leadership Development |
“We Develop Me”
GBLA serves as a hub
for leaders and
provides them with a
starting point for their
impact. It is within our
mission to develop
leaders through their
experiences in GBLA
and to springboard
them into prominent
leadership
positions in other organizations. Therefore, we have
dedicated volunteer time towards programs focused
on honing our leaders. Organizational collaborations
were another area for leadership growth.
We also encouraged members to seek leadership
opportunities in other organizations, external entities,
including boards/
organizations/
committees such as:
NULYP Awards
Selection Committee;
NULYP Treasurers
Round Table; NULYP
Advocacy Committee;
Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority; Inman Page
Black Alumni Council of
Brown University;
Maryland State
Radiation Control
Advisory Board; National Youth Cheer and Football
League; Society of Human Resource Management;
Baltimore Mayor's Youth Public Safety Forum’
Toastmasters International; National Association of
Black Accountants; Western High School Alumnae
Association; and Urban Alliance.
Executive Council Planning Retreat
August 20 and September 14, 2014
• Orientation of the newly elected GBLA officers and
appointed committee directors
• Identification of personal leadership styles
• Revision of strategic operating procedures an
• Development and adoption of GBLA’s strategic plan
GBLA General Body Meeting Speakers
February 2014
• Torin Ellis – Diversity Recruitment Consultant
March 2014 – “Feminism vs. Womanism”
• Cassandra Vincent – Creator, The Cassie Brown
Project
• Adrienne Starks – Chief Operating Officer, Equity
Matters
May 2014 – “The Gentrification Effect in Baltimore”
• A. Adar Ayira – Project Manager, Associated Black
Charities
• Lawrence Brown, PhD – Assistant Professor,
Morgan State University School of Public Health
• John Morris, JD – Dean of the School of Urban
Planning and Community Economic Development,
Sojourner Douglass College
October 2014 – “Do You Know the Law? What’s in store for
Baltimorethis Elecction”
• Brandon Scott – Baltimore City Councilman, District 2
December 2014 – “We Marched, Now What?”
• Dayvon Love- Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle
January 2015 – “We Got Next-New Young Professional Policy
Makers”
• Delegate Antonio Hayes- District 40, Baltimore City
April 2015 – “Black Eco-Proneurs”
• Walker Marsh – Tha Flower Factory
• Greg Brown– The Land of Kush
• Michelle Johnson & Tehma Smith – Earth
Enrichment
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Community Impact |
Bridging the Gap
2014
1,054 Chapter
Volunteer Hours
Service to the region is based on a five-pronged
approach comprised of: youth development, financial
empowerment, political empowerment, public health,
and professional development to fulfill its mission.
During the past year, GBLA altered its organizational
structure by establishing a standing Community
Outreach committee. As a result, we have added new
and exciting partnerships. Community outreach
continued to find and foster partnerships by attending
panel discussions to better understand topics affecting
the community and to learn best practices. Partnerships
included, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, The Baltimore
Racial Justice Action Group and BMoreUnited.
In total, GBLA provided community service impacting
the Greater Baltimore region, including annualized
programs and National Initiatives. Below highlights
work the areas of: Arts & Culture, Education & Youth,
Public Health, Community Engagement, Citizen Uplift,
and National Urban League Young Professionals
Outreach Programs.
2015
12,050 Chapter
Volunteer Hours
+1043%
This event was a public viewing of a documentary
about the power of community organization through
partnerships and real estate in Boston’s Dudley Street
Corridor.
Impacted audience: 100 Attendees
Community partners: Wake Up Baltimore, Morgan State
University, ReWired for Change, Reginald F. Lewis
African American History Museum
Impacting
Public Health
War On Women’s Health
Thursday, September 18, 2014
The public health committee met with health leaders
to review proposed changes surrounding Women’s
Healthcare and rights. Panel Discussions included
concerns about the politicizing of Women’s bodies, the
right to reproductive health and more.
Impacted audience: 5
Community Partners: Public Health
Community Healing & Transformation Session
Thursday, April, 30, 2015
Impacting
EDUCATION & YOUTH
Boy’s Hope, Girls Hope Community Dinner
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
GBLA members dined with youth in Harford County,
MD, to expose them to successful young professionals
and to motivate them to pursue a variety of career
options.
Impacted audience: 125 Children
Community partners: Black Professional Men, Boys
Hope Girls Hope
Impacting
Arts & Culture
Gaining Ground Documentary
Thursday, January 22, 2015
The Public Health Committee organized this first
series of sessions. The GBLA provided the
community space to access social workers, mental
health specialists, youth enrichment program
information, prayer, and an opportunity to make
specific requests of stakeholders (local government,
nonprofit community, etc.) on how to help our
communities heal to transform.
Impacted audience: 115
Community Partners: Legal Aid of Baltimore,
Centerstage, Equity Matters, Independent massage
therapists, Mental Health Professionals and Social
Workers of multiple affiliations.
Community Healing & Transformation Session
Thursday, May, 9, 2015
Heal A Sista Project Mother’s Day is hosted with
partner Shawna Murray-Browne. BUL headquarters
is opened for women to assist other women in the
healing process through holistic reflection, dance
and meditation.
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Impacting
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
New Year Skate Date
Saturday, January 3, 2015
GBLA’s Youth Development committee hosted an
afternoon of winter fun for students of BUL’s Saturday
Leadership Program and community supporters. This
activity served as a means of encouraging recreational
fitness and exposure to a new activity for most of the
attendees.
Impacted audience: 60 adults and children
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade
Monday, January 19, 2015
Comcast Cares Day 2015
Friday, April 25, 2015
Comcast partnered with The Living Classroom Foundation
and many civic and fraternal organizations to clean and
beautify Middle Branch Park and the shoreline of the
Patapsco river that terminates at the park. This middle
branch feeds the harbor of Baltimore and is a source of
recreation and relaxation for the surrounding community
and the larger city. It is also the home of The Baltimore
Rowing Club.
Impacted audience: 26
Community Partners: Comcast, The Living Classroom
Foundation
GBLA/GBUL members and supporters showed their
support of Dr. King's vision by marching in Baltimore
City’s annual commemorative parade. Participants
rallied the crowd with its signature chant “we are
empowered!”
Impacted audience: 1000+ citizens
Committees involved: Youth Development
Freddie Gray Response
April 2015 – Ongoing
GBLA collaborated closely with our Affiliate to develop
strategy and implement programs in response to the
death of Freddie Gray.
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Community Associations Meetings
Ongoing
Wealth Diversity Summit
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Members of the Community Outreach Committee
attended multiple community association meetings
throughout the city to receive firsthand knowledge
about potential resources.
Malcolm X Talks: Feminism and Intersectionality
Friday, March 20, 2015
Malcolm X Talks is a monthly series of seminars and
workshops hosted by the Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle.
The workshops are centered on teaching the Baltimore
community about the Black experience and using it as a
resource for nation building in the 21st Century.
Through this discussion, we hope to educate the
community and empathize importance of how gender,
race, class, sexual orientation, religion and other axes of
identity cannot be examined separately from one
another.
Black Legislative Agenda Day
December 2014
Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle convened the Black
Legislative Agenda Day to unite local organizations from
around Baltimore to discuss this year legislative
priorities.
Impacting
FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
Right Steps to Home Ownership Workshop
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Participants learned about beginning the process of
buying a home. The also learned about preapproval &
underwriting requirements; home ownership incentive
programs; finding and maintaining the dream home.
The event was free and food was provided.
Impacted audience: 73 Future Home Owners
Community Partners: Wells Fargo Home Mortgage,
Neighborhood Housing Services, Maryland Department
of Housing and Community Development, Baltimore
Housing-Homeownership Division, National Association
of Real Estate Brokers, Financial Empowerment
Movement, Inc.
The Wealth Diversity Summit (WDS) consisted of
powerful panel discussions throughout the day to
provide impactful solutions to economic, social and
political issues that have widen the wealth diversity gap
among minorities and non-minorities within the last 50
years.
Impacted audience: 75
Community Partners: The Baltimore Association of Black
Journalist, Deborah Owens (Owens Media Group, LLC),
Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby,
Associated Black Charities, City of Baltimore, Financial
Empowerment Movement, Inc., Will Holmes Consulting,
City Councilman Nick Mosby, The Entrepreneurial
Development and Assistance Center Morgan State
University, New Beginnings Youth Development
Coaching Program, Black Professional Men Inc.,
Operation Hope, Small Business Administration, National
Association of African Americans in Human Resources
(NAAAHR), Betty Hines Business Builder (BH), Urban
Financial Services Coalition, The Cassie Brown Project,
Male Enterprise Network (MEN), Maryland Department
of Housing and Community Development, National
Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), Baltimore
Housing, Rob West Design
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Real Estate Investor Workshop
Saturday, January 21, 2015
Participants gathered at the Center for Urban Families
where they gained knowledge about wealth building,
investing in properties and real estate resource
opportunities.
Impacted Audience: 144
Community Partners: Baltimore City Councilman Nick
Mosby, Wells Fargo Bank, Baltimore Housing, Financial
Empowerment Movement Inc.
Veterans Benefits Informational Workshop
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Veterans, Spouses and Dependents of Veterans were
invited to this special workshop. Topics discussed
included: housing, healthcare options, education
benefits, small business resources, and career
opportunities.
Impacted Audience: 30
Community Partners: Wells Fargo Home Mortgage,
Maryland Department of Housing and Community
Development, U.S. Small Business Association, Dr. Jay
Jalisi, Financial Empowerment Movement, Inc.
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Impacting
NUL/NULYP PROGRAMS
Attendance at the I Am A Man: Town Hall Discussion
with Men of the Movement
Wednesday August 27, 2014
GBLA members attended the NULYP hosted first online
I AM A MAN: Town hall discussion with
#MENOFTHEMOVEMENT. The Town Hall featured the
male members of they NULYP board, where they
answered questions about the community, professional
advancement, race and police misconduct.
National Day of Service- The Big Dig 6
Friday, April 24, 2015
This annual program aims to bring awareness to the
necessity of urban-environmental conservation and
specifically focuses on increasing Baltimore’s tree
canopy. This year's focus was to emphasize the value of
self-reliance via maintenance of community gardens in
addition to continuing tree planting efforts.
Over 80 trees were planted in Baltimore city’s Forest
Park golf course while another team prepared one of
Baltimore’s longest thriving community gardens, the
Duncan Street Miracle Garden.
Impacted audience: 75 total students from two
Baltimore grade schools.
Community partners: BioEYES, Blue Water Baltimore,
Tree Baltimore, Booker T. Washington Middle School,
Gilmore Elementary School.
Join Week 2015
January 19-23 2015
National Day of Empowerment 2015
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
GBLA held a “Tackling Student Loans and Education
Costs” discussion during our November General Body
Meeting. Guest speakers shared Financial Aid tips,
FAQs and common pitfalls when it comes to managing
Student Loan debt.
Impacted audience: 40 Young Professional meeting
attendees
Topic Speakers: Danielle Foreman, former University of
Maryland College Park Counselor/Advisor for the
Academic Achievement Program and Sharif Smalls,
GBLA Director of Financial Empowerment
In honor of National Join Week, GBLA invited past,
current and interested members to come celebrate
with us. We had various events to participate in. There
were laughs, volunteering, debate, good food, good
vibes, good music and good times enjoyed by all.
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Membership Development |
Bringing them to the Movement!
2014
113 Members
2015
132 Members
+13%
GBLA attracts a talented and diverse membership in the Baltimore area. Many of our collaborations and initiatives are spurred
because our membership spans beyond that of GBLA’s community, with many members active in other organizations
and sitting on various Board of Directors throughout the country; these include but are not limited to the organizations
below.
General Body Meetings – Our general body meetings provide professional development, networking and volunteer
opportunities in the community. They are open to members and those interested. Past attendees include:
Torin Ellis – Diversity Recruitment Consultant
Cassandra Vincent – Creator, The Cassie Brown Project
Adrienne Starks – Chief Operating Officer, Equity Matters
A. Adar Ayira – Project Manager, Associated Black Charities
Lawrence Brown, PhD – Assistant Professor, Morgan State University School of Public Health
John Morris, JD – Dean, School of Urban Planning & Community Economic Development, Sojourner Douglass College
Baltimore City Councilman Brandon Scott, District 2
Delegate Antonio Hays, District 40, Baltimore City
Walker Marsh-Owner, Tha Flower Company
Greg Brown-Owner, The Land of Kush
Michelle Johnson & Tehma Smith-Creators, Earth Enrichmen
New Member Orientation (NMO) – NMO attracts new members by energizing and educating attendees on NUL, NULYP,
GBUL, GBLA and community engagement.
Member Benefits We began “members only” emails with a first-hand look at upcoming events & special offers.
Monday, January 19, 2015 – 15th Annual Martin Luther
King, Jr Day Parade
Members, volunteers and SYL fellows volunteered
marched along Martin Luther King Boulevard rallying while
chanting the signature phrase “We are empowered!”.
Join Week 2015
In honor of National Join Week,
GBLA invited past, current and
interested members to come
celebrate with us. We had
various events to participate
in. There were laughs,
volunteering, debate, good food,
good vibes, good music and good
times had by all. 16 new
members joined GBLA.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015 - Real Estate Investor
Workshop
The Financial Empowerment committee hosted this
workshop that drew a large number of participants
interested in real estate investing.
Thursday, January 22, 2015 - “Taking Care of
Others Thursday”
Members and volunteers signed to help serve and/or
prepare meals at a local shelter.
Sunday, January 18, 2015 – Sunday Service and Brunch
Participants worshiped and had a bite to eat afterwards.
Sunday services were held at Pleasant Hope Baptist
Church located at 430 E. Belvedere Avenue Baltimore,
MD 21212 at 10am. Following service, members and
potential members enjoyed brunch at Flight American
Fusain Restaurant located at 5723 York Rd, Baltimore,
MD 21212.
Friday, January 23, 2015- TGIF- Happy Hour at Phaze 10
Participants enjoyed a great opportunity to mix and
mingle with current and potential members in a more
relaxed atmosphere over a few cocktails and food.
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Month” and “Do Black Women’s Lives Matter?”
2015 Masquerade Ball – GBLA offered new and renewing
members a special discounted membership rate with
ticket purchases. Also, members that referred 10 ticket
purchasers received a free ticket to the Masquerade Ball.
NULYP/NUL Participation
GBLA has supported NUL and NULYP initiatives.
Employment Opportunities –We shared incredible
Administration, Management, and Senior Level
leadership positions in and around Baltimore with our
members.
TN General Body Meeting- 1 GBLA member attended
Northern Virginia YP Black Opal Awards Gala &
Reception: GBLA supported with the purchase of a
ticket
Legislative Policy Conference 2015 - 6 GBLA
members attended.
Whitney M. Young Leadership Jr. Gala - 11 GBLA
Members attended
Greater Baltimore Urban League Gala – Our Affiliate’s
annual gala, members received discounted tickets to
connect with 600 individuals, corporations, community
partners, elected officials, corporate leaders. That
included keynote speaker Van Jones, and entertainment
by Kissi B. Our very own GBLA President, Eric White was
the recipient of the Rising Star Award.
Networking Opportunities This year, we looked to
complement the multitude of impactful programs and
services with social networking opportunities for
members building on our Conversations program.
Conversations - After each General Body Meeting,
“Conversations” is designed to urge our members to
hone their networking, conversational and critical
thinking skills on using current and emerging topics.
Recent topics included: “Mental Health…is it a
Stigma?”, “State of the Union Watch Party”, “Is
Marijuana the New Beer?”, “Women’s History
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www.gblaimpact.org
www.facebook.com/gblaimpact
Twitter, Instagram: @GBLAImpact
YouTube Channel: GBLAImpact
Communications |
GBLAImpact
Over the past year, branding and demographic identification strategies have broadened GBLA’s presence in the
community. Keeping with the momentum of last year’s communications overhaul (rebranding & demographic
identification), GBLA has focused on two primary objectives: (1) Promotion and (2) Recruitment.
Facebook - The compiling
functionality that Facebook
LinkedIn - Financial members
offers has enabled photo and
and non-members alike are
video album viewership, Twitter
encouraged to actively
548
689
feed follow-up and real-time
participate, suggest and share
Followers
Followers
event correspondence. Through
discussions via LinkedIn,
GBLAImpact
(+25%)
Facebook all of GBLA’s
providing a voice for those who
coordinated events, general
are curious about joining or
828
Likes
1069
Likes
body and committee meeting
contemplating partnerships.
(+29%)
GBLAImpact
information are made
These online discussion topics
accessible. To further push for
sometimes cross-over to
1,464
1,889
ubiquity, each Facebook event is
Conversations, a laissez-faire
Likes
Likes
punctuated with GBLA’s
discussion and fellowship
Masquerade Ball
(+29%)
corresponding social media
initiative that takes place
platforms, i.e. the “GBLAImpact
directly after each monthly
83
154
signature”.
general body meeting.
Followers
Followers
Instagram - Joining this social
program has allowed interested
but perhaps physically
unavailable followers to
immerse themselves in the point
of view of members/volunteers
during various social and
charitable events that GBLA has
been involved in. Instagram was
used to compliment the
Instagram was used to
compliment the NULYP’s “IServe” initiative as well as our
annual programs The Big Dig and
Purses for a Purpose.
GBLAImpact
GBLAImpact
GBLAImpact
GBLAImpact
GBLAImpact
GBLA Reach
(+85%)
148
Members
163
Members
(+10%)
32
Followers
38
Followers
(+18)
241
Views
403
Views
(+67%)
1,938
Subscribers
1,930
Subscribers
(-0.4%)
5,318
6,335
(+19%)
Email - Our fundamental means
of communication is our E- blast.
Monthly, we are able to share
information regarding upcoming
events, networking/ job
opportunities and even sales for
our branded
merchandise. Now in its new
newsletter format, the E-blast
offers easy and quick navigation
to prime details. With at least
two new potential members
attending every General Body
meeting since December 2012,
our recruitment numbers have
been on a steady incline with
most affirming initial awareness
via Facebook and our E-blasts.
We are proud of the progress
that we’ve made thus far and
will continue to push for a major
IMPACT.
RADIO: MAGIC 95.9 FM, WEAA 88.9 FM The Mark Steinter Show
TRENDING WEBSITE: TheFabEmpire.com, UrbanExperienceDMV.com
PRESS: WJZ13, WBAL-TV, AFRO, MSNBC, CCTV, The Baltimore Sun, The Baltimore Time
Fund Development
GBLA has a diversified fund development strategy with revenue
streams from membership dues, donations, grants, and fundraisers
to support the programs and initiatives.
Membership Dues Membership remains the key foundation of
GBLA’s fund development. A concerted effort was made to
broaden our membership base with two support models. Our
Strategies resulted in a 13% increase in membership.
Corporate Membership allows businesses to sponsor their staff’s
GBLA membership to support their leadership and professional
development, as well as social responsibility. We have ongoing
discussions with Wal-Mart and Enterprise Rental Car.
Legacy Membership is a fundraising tool to encourage former
GBLA members age 40+ with donations. We continue to explore opportunities to build membership.
Fundraisers Our The T- Spring T-Shirt campaign promoted GBLA merchandise. People
customized their purchases tailoring products to their creativity. The membership
committee organized GBLA comedy night at the Baltimore Comedy Factory, featuring
comedian Faizon Love. GBLA members volunteered to assist in the activities at the
annual running of the Preakness. And our Masquerade Ball ticket sales raised funds for
our community programs.
Masquerade Ball The night was filled with feathers, beads and masks; Great music,
delicious food and wine; And dancing the night away and power networking with the
who’s who of the professional community. It is also a
Tremendous networking opportunity
with emerging and seasoned leaders,
local celebrities, and politicians. Past
attendees include Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Former
Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele, Ravens Terrell Suggs, and
other Baltimore City Delegates and Representatives. This year, the
event was held at the Horseshoe Casino on February 7th at 8pm.
Approximately 375 attendees joined the celebration including: NULYP
National Treasurer Elijah Williams, NULYP Policy and Procedures Chair
Carlos Clanton, NOVA YP President Traci Deshazor as well as YP
presidents and members from Thursday Network New York and Long
Island chapters.
GBLA Sponsors & hosts include: Coors Light, Grey Goose, Black Professional Men, D’usse`, Events 4 Good People, Will
Holmes Consulting, Sonje` Productions, National Society of Black Engineers, Echelonlife, D.J. Tanz, Thursday Network-GWUL
Young Professionals, Laura L. Green, Lookahere Countdowngreenwade, Teddy Coates, The Fab Empire.
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National Day of Service (NDoS) |
Energy and the Environment
In alignment with the directives from NULYP, our NDoS program
focused on educating students on the importance of STEM and
the environment. We focused our programs on elementary and
middle school students, completing our Sixth Annual “Big Dig”–
a tree planting and environmental awareness program in the
Baltimore City parks.
The overall goal is to expose and educate
students on the benefits of preserving nature
and to encourage them to develop ownership
and respect for their own communities.
We hosted “The Big Dig” on Earth Day, Monday,
April 25nd at Carroll Park. This year’s event
coincided with Baltimore Green Week. Over 75
Baltimore youth from 2 Baltimore City
middle schools learned about the importance
and impact of the environment while planting
and maintaining trees to increase the Baltimore
tree canopy and creating a biosphere to observe
the effects of acid rain. Our partners were: Tree
Baltimore, Blue Water Baltimore, BioEYES,
Maryland Environmental Trust, The Department
of Natural Resources and Maryland State Highway Administration. This year marked the 6th Big Dig event. The overall
goal is to expose and educate students on the benefits of preserving nature and to encourage them to develop
ownership and respect for their own communities. We believe that is it vital to educate our youth on the
importance of maintaining the environment. We have observed that the students become excited and aware at the
opportunities to gain ownership in the Greater Baltimore community. This is done through environmental education
lessons and environmentally friendly arts and crafts activities.
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Affiliate Service |
Supporting the work of the Greater
Baltimore Urban League
This year, GBLA significantly increased Affiliate by 684%
support through collaborative programming and
augmenting of the Affiliate staff. We collaborated deeply
with our Affiliate to implement strategy and programs for
the Baltimore Uprising. The Greater Baltimore Urban
League’s Response to the Murder of Freddie Gray.
2014
670 Affiliate hours
GoFundMe - GBLA is currently supporting the GBUL
online campaign to rebuild Baltimore and Save Our
Children utilizing www.gofundme.com/gbulorg.
Community and Political Initiatives
Baltimore Uprising: The Greater Baltimore Urban
League’s Response to the Murder of Freddie Gray
GBLA collaborated
closely with our
Affiliate to develop
strategy and
implement programs
in response to the
death of Freddie Gray.
Research and Writing Support
State of Black Baltimore - GBLA contributed to the
Greater Baltimore Urban League’s Annual State of Black
Baltimore Book by publishing articles, editing papers,
performing reference checks and assisted with the
brainstorming for themes and authors..
Technical Support
Web Services - GBLA contributes to the affiliate by
volunteering their technical expertise to provide quality
Web and Internet services for www.gbul.org.
Web Content Management Training - After revamping
the website presence, GBLA identified and taught GBUL
staff to add content to the website. We held training
sessions with to equip staff with technical ability. Skills
Taught: Wordpress, PHP, HTML
Fundraising and Promotional Support
Social Media Management - GBLA has supported our
affiliate with social media marketing providing
promotional pushes for its key fundraising activities and
partnerships.
Email Distribution - GBLA has cultivated a custom eblast solution for our affiliate that integrates with their
website. Our YPs regularly support the affiliate’s
initiatives with a wrap-around promotional campaign
that includes developing and sending e-blast content to
GBUL’s distribution.
GBUL Gala - GBLA supported the 2015 Whitney M.
Young Gala through promotion, ticket sales and
attendance.
2015
5,250 Affiliate hours
+683%
April 12, 2015 –
Freddie Gray caught
and arrested in the
Sandtown-Winchester
area of Baltimore. He
was placed in the
prone position (hog-tied) and placed unrestrained in the
police van. When the van reaches the police station he is
found unresponsive.
April 18, 2015 – Freddie Gray dies after receiving a double
surgery and going into a coma.
April 23, 2015 – GBLA executive council members work with
the affiliate to convene a group of concerned Baltimore
organizations and leaders to discuss the Freddie Gray
death and to develop talking points and to speak in one
voice. It was agreed that the strategy to be pursued
would be one of peace and justice for the Gray family.
Presented the Ten Point Urban League's Police Reform
and Accountability
Attending: State Senator Catherine Pugh, State Del. Cory
McCray, Diane Bell McCoy (CEO Associated Black
Charities), Councilman Brandon Scott, Re. Jamal Bryant,
Rev. Todd Yeary, Tessa Hill (NAACP president), Glenn
Middleton, AFSCME, State Del. Barbara Robinson,
Building Fund - GBLA is currently supporting the GBUL
online rehab campaign utilizing video message from CEO
and picture slideshow of GBUL program.
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Councilwomen Helen Holton, State Del. Antoine Hayes and
Adrian Harpool (local businessman) and Executive Vice
President Charles Jackson (GBUL Young Professional).
April 26, 2015 - GBLA representatives attended Justice
Sunday meeting. It was a gathering of #BmoreUnited
Coalition members to galvanize partners for the work that
needed to convert the protest to policy.
May 9, 2015 - Heal A Sista Project Mother’s Day is hosted
with partner Shawna Murray-Browne. BUL headquarters
is opened for women to assist other women in the
healing process through holistic reflection, dance and
meditation.
May 10, 2015 - Op-ed co-written by YPs for BUL appears
in the Baltimore Sun
(http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bs-edfreddie-gray-transformation-20150510-story.html).
May 11, 2015 – GBLA Special Session organizing meeting
for members.
May 16, 2015 - GBLA members participated as volunteer
commissioners for the West Baltimore Commission on
Police Misconduct in coordination with No Boundaries
community organizers. Listened and logged community
members’ reports of physical misconduct or observations
of police corruption.
April 28 2015 – GBLA representatives attend Civil
Disobedience Training and Town Hall sponsored by the
National NAACP and hosted by Empowerment Temple
AME Church.
April 28, 2015 – GBLA representatives attend The Justice
for Freddie Gray Community & Strategy Meeting.
April 30 2015 – GBLA organized an event, Hearing and
Healing Our Youth, at GBUL. Attendees met with social
workers and other mental health specialists to provide art
activities to express their feelings, massages and other
healing activities due to the Baltimore uprising in the wake
of Freddie Gray being murdered. Impacted audience: 200
Representatives from GBLA attended a meeting hosted by
NUL partner Rev. Lennox Yearwood at Baltimore City Hall.
The event was attended by the Mayor’s youth liaisons,
local business owners, activists and youth.
May 5, 2015 – GBLA President presented at the Design
Conversation 70: Outliers, Organizations scaling change in
Baltimore. The presentation highlighted GBUL's efforts for
long term policy change and questioned the availability of
space for all people in Baltimore for recreation centers and
youth. It would position GBUL’s building as a usable space
for the community and be better equipped to offer youth a
safe place to heal and learn.
May 20, 2015- GBLA members were trained to begin
conducting interviews with citizens alleging police
misconduct and corruption. Interviews will be compiled
over the summer and result in a report slated for release
this fall.
Ongoing – Organizing meetings at BUL, phone calls,
strategy sessions with partners (April 21 – 28, ongoing
effort).
Ongoing – GBLA is creating a social media campaign
highlighting the work of grassroots organizations and
churches in the community. It is designed to counter the
negative narratives by the promoting positive images of
the Baltimore protests, the good work being done by
grassroots organizations and their calls for volunteers.
Ongoing – GBLA is connecting U.S. Department of Justice
staff with community leaders, civic leaders and
community organizers so they can more adequately
understand how to address community concerns.
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Programs and Initiatives
Saturday Leadership Program
University takes participants on a campus tour. The day
ends with reflection activities. SLP is underwritten by
generous support from: Corporation for National and
Community Service, SouthWest, State Farm, & Verizon
Foundation
WHO: Citywide reach with 102 fellows from 44 schools and
57 neighborhoods.
HOST COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES 2014-1015
VISION - A Baltimore free of educational achievement gaps
and socio-economic disparities with a civically engaged and
college educated population.
MISSION - To foster college and career readiness, positive
cultural-identity, and community leadership through holistic
programming, mobilizing partners and volunteers, and a
sustainable, evidence-based, data-driver and replicable
program model.
Coppin State University
Goucher College
Johns Hopkins University
Loyola University Maryland
Morgan State University
Notre Dame of MD University
Stevenson University
University of Baltimore
UMBC
WHY SATURDAY LEADERSHIP? - We know that our youth
have unlimited potential. They can become leaders in their
fields and their communities. So why wait to unleash that
potential?
ABOUT SATURDAY LEADERSHIP - Launched in 2013, the
Saturday Leadership Program (SLP) convenes monthly at
Baltimore Colleges and Universities. Enrolling 100 fellows
grades 8-12, SLP brings youth from across the city to
network with their peers, interact closely with black role
models from the Urban League’s Young Professionals
Auxiliary, learn about notable black Baltimoreans, build skills
with demonstrated impact on college and career readiness,
and become familiar with college the college campus.
Both GBUL VISTA members represent GBUL on the
Mayor’s Prevent and Deter working group (part of a wider
At the beginning of a Saturday Leadership day, students
mayoral initiative called the Violent Crime Reduction
meet at the host University at 8:00am for breakfast and are
Enhancement Initiative (VCREI). The members of Prevent
welcomed by fellow student serving as the morning MC. The
and Deter included multiple city agencies and non-profit
students are divided into groups for the day’s activities,
leadership. VISTA member Jackie Cast served on the
each session they will be in a different group. The Greater
Community Healing committee the purpose of which is to
Baltimore Urban League Young Professionals conduct two
leadership development sessions. The workshop themes
develop a trauma response intervention immediately
include college and career readiness activities and
after a homicide to prevent retaliation killings. VISTA
leadership development with themes reflecting the social
Sharnice Burnett served on the Employment committee
mission of the Urban League as well as learning about
which focused on employment upon re-entry and more
Notable African Americans. Following lunch, the host
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broadly difficult to hire adults. Both committees prepare
list of recommendations for the mayor.
The Greater Baltimore Urban League’s Saturday Leadership
Program is a citywide leadership development program
hosted by local colleges and universities. The leadership
workshops are facilitated by volunteers from the Greater
Baltimore Urban League Young Professionals.
The workshop themes include standard leadership
development exercises such as teambuilding as well as
themes reflecting the social mission of the Urban League.
The dual foci, of personal development and communityfocused leadership, are integrated into each session’s
activities. Students also participate in grade-specific
college readiness activities. Each session was held at a
different Baltimore college or university. In addition to the
universities and their food service providers, current
partners or sponsors include seven college access
organizations, Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools),
Maryland Transit Authority, PNC Bank, Verizon
Foundation, and State Farm. The college access
organizations sponsor their participants to join Saturday
Leadership, adding structure and support to promote
consistent attendance. Developed throughout the summer
of 2013, the pilot began in September of the same year.
the morning MC. The students are divided into four
groups for the day’s activities, each group named after a
notable African American who reflects the day’s theme.
The GBUL Young Professionals conduct two leadership
development sessions. Following lunch, the host
university takes participants on a campus tour. On the
weekends between sessions, GBUL organizes field trips
and public service activities. Students range from grade 8
to grade 12.
(See the Saturday Leadership Infographic Data on Next
Page)
At the beginning of an SLP day, students from Baltimore
City Public Schools meet at a host university at 8:00am for
breakfast and are welcomed by a fellow student serving as
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Greater Baltimore Urban League Saturday Leadership Metrics
Source: http://moveed.org/assets/files/file_widget/2014/08/10/7002_InfoGraphic.pdf
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Outstanding Member of the Year |
Jerome Alexander
GBLA Youth Development Director, Jerome
Alexander, has been a lifelong resident of
Baltimore City, MD and is currently working as
a technician within the Social Security
Administration. In 2007, he earned his Bachelor
of Science degree in Marketing from the Earl G.
Graves School of Business at Morgan State
University but it wouldn’t be until two years
later that he would find the medium for his
passion for helping others.
In the summer of 2009 after attending his first
GBLA general body meeting, he was so impressed with the inviting and engaging atmosphere he immediately joined the
Public Health Committee and the planning committee for the 2009 Masquerade Ball Fundraiser. In December of
the same year, Jerome submitted ideas for
2010’s Earth Day Initiatives and Women’s
History month.
By the numbers…
Total Hours of Service:
350 hours
Affiliate Service:
146
hours
Chapter Service:
204 hours
Chapter
and Board
meeting
attendance
over 80%
These two ideas later became known as The
Big Dig, a program designed to encourage
green-behavior amongst inner city students &
Purses for a Purpose, a program that changes
gently-used purses into new beginnings for
women escaping domestic violence and
rejoining the workforce. Both programs have
since evolved into annual events and The Big
Dig went on to win over $6,000 in grant
funding during the Anheuser-Busch Be a Better Bud community program competition and other local Maryland
environmental grants. Jerome has assisted with video production, and social media and other marketing components
for GBLA. He has organized quarterly dinners with the young scholars of Baltimore’s Boy’s Hope Girl’s Hope group home
program and has also served as the coordinator for GBUL/GBLA’s participation in Baltimore’s annual Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. commemoration Parade, promoted and participated in The 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington,
served as the primary volunteer recruiter for GBLA’s participation with Comcast Cares Day, maintained his status as the
unofficial “GBLA Paparazzo” and, what he credits as his proudest decision regarding GBLA, he took
on the role of becoming the Youth Development director.
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With only two months into his new directorship he
became the On-site Director for GBUL’s Saturday
Leadership Program during its inaugural year. His
duties included planning conference calls, coldcalling students and parents, lesson plan
development and execution, facilitator recruitment,
staff support and right down to morale captain.
During this past April’s GBUL 90th Anniversary Gala,
he extended this role and acted as the official
chaperone for a small group of Saturday Leadership
Program student participants.
“Saturday Leadership Program… a citywide initiative to help
students from underrepresented groups in Baltimore learn
essential skills necessary to thrive in higher education – literacy
training, academic support, and self-esteem cultivation”.
“High-achieving, low-income students will have
78 percent of their need met through this program, and lowincome students with more modest credentials will have 60
percent of their need met.” ~ Commitments to Action on
College Opportunity Report, The Executive Office of the
President, The White house
Jerome credits his happy child-hood, his mother’s resourcefulness, his family’s overwhelming encouragement and his
GBLA family’s constant and nearly tangible support for his drive to continue to improve the lives of others.
“I can decide what I give but it’s not up to me what I get given “
~Bjork~
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Chapter
Performance…
Membership #
132
Affiliate Volunteer Hours
5,250
Chapter Volunteer Hours
12,050
Social Media Presence
Facebook Reach
1,743
Twitter Reach
689
LinkedIn
148
Instagram
154
Foursquare
38
Email List size
1,930
Affiliate Volunteer Hours
Increased by 683%
Chapter Volunteer Hours
Increased by 1043%
Total Reach Increased by 19%
Membership Increased by 13%
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