Catalyst Magazine

UMB’s Commitment to Community

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Community Campus is the centerpiece of UMB’s deep commitment to West Baltimore and to the collaboration — undertaken with its neighbors — that will strengthen it.

Located immediately west of UMB’s academic campus, the Community Campus allows UMB to meet and serve residents where they are. 

In fall 2015, under the leadership of UMB President Jay A. Perman, MD, the University opened its Community Engagement Center (CEC) in West Baltimore’s Poppleton neighborhood. The temporary facility has enlivened UMB’s community engagement mission and deepened its relationship with its closest neighbors. 

The center engages hundreds of students, faculty, and staff from all seven UMB schools to provide vital health, wellness, employment, education, and social services to nearby residents of all ages, and effectively partners with neighbors to create and sustain projects that strengthen community development and invite external investment.

Illustration by Lisa HaneyThat will only grow with the cornerstone of UMB’s Community Campus — the opening of a vibrant, new permanent home of the CEC at 16 S. Poppleton St. Seven times the CEC’s current size, the 20,000-square-foot historic building is in need of complete renovation. Bringing this beautiful, distinctive property back to a useful life will significantly expand the CEC’s capacity, making possible additional youth programming, workforce development support, health education, and social work assistance services that neighbors have requested — transforming the lives of children and families in one of Baltimore’s most vulnerable neighborhoods.

With access to each other’s expertise and resources, the University and its neighbors can marshal these attributes to address complex challenges, improve the community, and attract external support. C

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Jena Frick

Jena Frick is a senior media relations specialist in the Office of Communications and Public Affairs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

CATALYST magazine


Executive Board

Jennifer B. Litchman, MA
Senior Vice President for External Relations

Laura Kozak, MA
Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Associate Vice President
Communications and Public Affairs

Joanne Morrison
Senior Director of Marketing and Public Relations

Managing Editor

Jen Badie
Assistant Director of Editorial Services

Editor

Lou Cortina
Director, Editorial Services

Photographer

Matthew D’Agostino
Lead Photographer

Videographer

Erik Neilsen
Assistant Director, Video Production

Web Director

Amir Chamsaz
Managing Director, Web Development and Interactive Media 

Web Designer

Dan Walker
Web Content Strategist

Marketing Manager

Kristi McGuire
Director of Marketing and Communications

Social Media Specialist

Charles Schelle
Lead Social Media Specialist

CATALYST magazine


Executive Board

Lynne Henry, Laura Kozak, Larry Kushner, Jennifer Litchman, Thomas Sullivan, Kate Ostrowski

Editor

Lynne Henry

Managing Editor

Chris Zang

Assistant Editor

Kate Ostrowski

Photography Director

Matthew D’Agostino

Designer

Michelle Baffuto

Web Director

Amir Chamsaz

Marketing Manager

Kristi McGuire