A year ago, following the unrest in Ferguson, OH, a group of youth from Brown Memorial began meeting with their counterparts from nearby Zion Baptist Church. In a local recreation center, they engaged in dialogue around race, class and young people in Baltimore City. Then in April, uprisings broke out in Baltimore following the arrest of Freddie Gray, further underscoring the importance of these conversations.
This year, dialogue is continuing and expanding among youth in Central Baltimore in the form of the Baltimore Youth Organizing Project (BYOP). Tim Hughes helped found the group in partnership with BUILD (Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development) and the No Boundaries Coalition.
BYOP is specifically a team of young people from Sandtown-Winchester and other neighborhoods who are convening meetings with youth not only from Brown Memorial, but from all over the city in anticipation of the upcoming mayoral election. Tim, Gwen Brown (BUILD) and Rebecca Nagle (No Boundaries) are facilitating the group.
Brown’s Tiffany Committee recently announced they will help fund BYOP’s social justice work in the coming year through proceeds from the annual Tiffany Series.
On Sunday, Jan. 10, 9: 45 a.m., youth from BYOP will attend Sunday School at Brown to share their work and hear from our youth about their passions and desire to see change in the city.
On Tuesday, Jan. 19, 5 – 7 p.m., at St. Peter Claver Church, there will be a Youth Delegates Assembly of teenagers from across the city to hear each other’s stories, learn about the BUILD youth agenda, and commit to turning out 200 young people for a meeting with all candidates for mayor in March.
Brown’s middle and high school youth are encouraged to attend and take part in uniting young people in Baltimore City. Contact Tim Hughes for information.