As a result of a generous contribution from the Lowe’s Foundation, the Southwest Partnership has been able to offer grants to workforce development programs working with area residents from 2020-present. These grants increased access to workforce development resources and programs for area residents--especially those programs which help residents stay employed once hired and grow in their careers and income.
As a result of the Lowe’s contribution we are able to provide funding over three years to Bon Secours Community Works to hire a full time case manager to focus on providing case management services to Southwest Partnership area residents looking for work and and participating in workforce development programming.
From 2020-present we were able to provide $450,000 worth of grants to three organizations doing good work in the area:
- The University of Maryland Medical Center to provide employment readiness training and occupational skills training to approximately 40 to 50 adults from the SWP Neighborhood. This project will expand UMMC’s current community recruitment goals for employment by developing a training program that prepares residents from Southwest Baltimore for careers in healthcare. UMMC will provide digital skills training (24-30 students), financial literacy counseling (24-30 students), free legal aid, and careers in healthcare pathways training for 16 students. The healthcare training includes Patient Care Technician training, Pharmacy Technician training, and other high demand healthcare fields.
- The Safe Alternative Foundation for Education (SAFE) an established out of school time provider in the area which owns and operates the SAFE Center for youth programming. SAFE is expanding into workforce development and the funding is for renovations, furnishings, and equipment for the SAFE Workforce Development Center at 12 S Payson St. The center will introduce construction skills and experiences to SWP area middle school students ages 12-14 in the form of woodshop classes as well as provide technical construction training to 18-24-year-old adults. There will also be soft skills training that includes interviewing, resume writing, and job search skills, and more job readiness skills.
- 10:12 Sports a grassroots sports mentoring program based in Southwest Baltimore. Using this funding 10:12 Sports will recruit, train, and mentor 20 young men (ages 18-24) in Southwest Baltimore to prepare them for successful employment and introduce them to local hiring companies. Using the platform of a sports mentoring program, participants will apply to assist in the day to day operations of 10:12 Sports. Participants will also receive interactive job workshops, monetary stipends, leadership development, one on one mentoring, high-quality training and professional development, access to local hiring companies, networking opportunities with workforce development organizations and employers.
- The B&O Railroad Museum - funds sponsored one participant in the Cohort 4 Session of B&O's Restore Baltimore workforce program which is an innovative program which marries excellent skilled trades instruction with critical wrap-around services while providing students an opportunity to apply their work on the Museum’s 40-acre campus. Students will be paid a living-wage of $15 an hour to work and learn full-time for six months and have the opportunity to gain experience in restoration/construction trades, facilities management, or rail operations. Employers have committed to interview the students upon completion of the program.
- Paul's Place Culinary Training Program at Groundwork Kitchen which prepares eligible Baltimore community members to be competitive, qualified employees in local food service operations. Staff utilize case management support to mitigate employee performance issues that stem from poverty and oppression. By targeting structural barriers to employment, we endeavor to reach into a previously untapped portion of the workforce: those who would otherwise have been excluded from careers in food service due to oppressive power systems. The actual training includes marketable front of house and back of house skills as well as job readiness and soft skills classes. Students earn stackable, portable industry-recognized credentials from Servsafe and American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute to validate their skills. The program prepares students for the ServSafe Manager certification exam, which opens job opportunities in growing industries in Baltimore that pay above minimum wage.
- (Continuing through 2026) NPower is a national nonprofit that leverages an evidence-based model to foster economic mobility through best-in-class skills training with industry-recognized credentials for military-connected individuals, young adults, and women from under-resourced communities. Our strength is seeing students of non-traditional backgrounds through pivotal life transitions. Our unique approach combines rigorous, free training and trauma-informed support services, career readiness skills, and job placement assistance.
For more information about the funded programs please visit their websites:
