Inside BCF: A Podcast from the Baltimore Community Foundation

Over the course of the last three years, BCF has been listening and developing a way to fund organizations that address issues affecting young Baltimoreans who identify as LGBTQ. The result is the LGBTQ Fund at BCF. Join LGBTQ Fund advisory committee co-chair Frank McNeil and member Alice Young as they give us an overview of goals of the fund and its recent grant recipients.

After months of work, the Kirwan Commission has released its cost estimates and a draft funding formula that would allow the state of Maryland and its local school districts to pay for the improvements needed to provide a world-class education to all students. On Oct. 30, Strong Schools Maryland's Joe Francaviglia will join us to break down the funding formula and the path towards implementing Kirwan.    

Trauma has reached buzzword status in the media. But what is trauma, and how do schools help children deal with the trauma they have experienced? On Sept. 24, we'll sit down with Tiffany July-Lindo and Audry Motlagh-Harvey to talk about trauma, how it's defined, and what Judy Centers are doing to help children experiencing trauma.   

In a Baltimore Sun op-ed published July 29, BCF’s Patti Chandler and RBC Global Asset Management’s Catherine Banat advocated for a regional economic development plan that aligns with the unique needs of the Baltimore community. The writers join us August 16 to discuss how such a plan might provide a road map to economic success.

We're sitting down with Cheryl Casciani, the outgoing president of the board of commissioners of the Baltimore City Public Schools (she's also BCF director of special projects). She'll reflect on the challenges and successes during her tenure, and look to the future.

The Baltimore Women's Giving Circle is a major grantmaking force in Baltimore. With over 450 members, the Circle has made $5.3 million in grants to organizations that focus on promoting self-sufficiency for women and their families in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.

Judy Centers bring together community resources to help families get their children ready for kindergarten, and Baltimore's Judy Centers have been showing success in improving school readiness. Researchers from the Baltimore Education Research Consortium are beginning to release their results from a recent study of Judy Centers. What have they found?  We talk about the study with Dr. Jeffrey Grigg of BERC and Crystal Francis of Baltimore City Schools.  

Maryland's lawmakers approved legislation last year that requires the Maryland Transit Administration to lay out a long-term plan for the region. What does that mean? On January 29, we'll sit down with the Central Maryland Transportation to find out how this plan is progressing.

BCF recently commissioned a report on equity and school funding in Maryland from The Education Trust which shows deep gaps in funding across Maryland, particularly in districts that serve students of color. We’re sitting down with Robert Ruffins of The Education Trust on December 20 to discuss the report and how equity can be included in the effort to reform education in Maryland.   View the report here.  

A donor-advised fund is a convenient and powerful used by many BCF donors carrying out their charitable giving plans. But how do they work? We'll sit down with Robert Waldman, co-managing partner at Venable LLP, and Jenn Farrell, BCF donor services officer, to talk  in detail about donor-advised funds.  

How do strong school leaders affect academic achievement? We discuss that with Roxanne Forr, Baltimore City Schools Director of Principal Leadership Development and Marc Martin, principal of the Commodore John Rodgers School.

Margaret Williams, executive director of the Maryland Family Network, is an expert on early childhood education and development. She also is a member of the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education, Maryland's panel working on new policies and funding structures aimed at improving Maryland's public education system. We'll sit down to talk about why investing in early childhood education programs is essential to ensuring Maryland's students will be successful in life.

Shanaysha Sauls, BCF's President & CEO, will tell us about BCF's strategic plan. We'll dive into how BCF will be approaching engagement, fundraising and grantmaking three and a half years. 

Middle Grades Partnership (a BCF initiative) and its nine public and independent school partnerships provide exceptional programming balancing enrichment with skill development while bringing students together to address issues of race, class, and opportunity. But how does a partnership actually work? We'll sit down with a partnership director to learn more.  

A review of BCF’s investment objectives and strategies including a new strategy: investing for impact, plus induction of new members to the Professional Advisor Recognition Society

It may not feel like it, but summer will soon be here. And that means it's time for summer camp. On April 20, we're sitting down to talk summer camp and the Children's Fresh Air Society Fund at BCF. We'll explain why and how the fund helps Baltimore kids go to camp, and we'll talk to one camp director about what's on the schedule this summer.

The Maryland General Assembly's session is in full swing and BCF is advocating on a number of public policy issues, including education, transportation and philanthropy. We join BCF's Keisha Leverette and Kevin Griffin Moreno as they discuss our advocacy priorities.

Baltimore Beyond Plastic is a youth-led effort to reduce solid waste pollution in our city. The youth who lead the effort are supported in part by BCF. Why empower youth to lead sustainability initiatives? Join us live on Facebook on February 20 as we examine the answer to that question and more.

Many residents in some of Baltimore's most centrally-located neighborhoods suffer from the longest commute times to jobs in the state. Why is this? For our monthly 20-Minute Update on January 18, we sit down with The Transportation Alliance's Brian O'Malley to talk about why some communities are disconnected from economic opportunity.

For two decades, BCF's Neighborhoods Grants Program has been providing residents with financial support to complete projects in their neighborhood that develop leaders, mobilize neighbors, and beautify blocks. Maya Smith and Kevin Griffin Moreno sit down and discuss this successful program.    

BCF's Civic Leadership Fund supports our work as an advocate, fosters new ideas through program initiatives, and allows us to strategically invest in education and neighborhoods in Baltimore. This month, our monthly conversation will focus on our work on civic leadership, and highlight some recent successes.    

BCF is supporting advocacy around the Kirwan Commission. Want to know more about the details of Kirwan and ask questions about it? We invite you to join us Oct. 20 when we sit down with Bebe Verdery of the ACLU of Maryland to discuss Kirwan and what's at stake for Maryland's students. Click here to download slides from the update.

For the last 10 years, the Baker Artist Awards have been an integral part of Baltimore's arts community, providing monetary support for regional artists working in both studio and performing arts. We're sitting down with Melissa McC. Warlow to talk about the awards and the arts in Baltimore.

What makes a school effective? BCF has supported Baltimore Education Research Consortium's work defining five key factors to measure how a school is facilitating learning among students. We’re sitting down with Tami Smith, a Goucher College education professor and BERC researcher, to discuss those key factors, and how BERC is working to determine if Baltimore’s schools are effective.

Community gardens. Street beautification. Work that brings young and old residents together. These are examples of projects funded by the Neighborhood Grants Program at BCF over the last 25 years. On June 20, we'll discuss this successful grant program during our monthly 20-Minute Update conversation, including information on the current open application period.  

This month, we take a deeper dive into how the state funds schools - and what is on the horizon for a statewide commission examining how to update the school funding formula. BCF's Erika Seth Davies and Kevin Griffin Moreno will start their live Facebook stream at 9 a.m.

A charitable legacy can support the causes people care about for generations to come. Take Oscar Murray, a former B&O Railroad president, as a prime example: his charitable bequest to help the widows of railroad workers still helps the Baltimore community - one hundred years after he died. What does it take to create a charitable legacy? Join BCF's Rosemary Calderalo and Gigi Wirtz to find out.

Join us for a conversation on how BCF has been involved in education advocacy during a very busy session of the Maryland General Assembly.

Ashlee Johnson of The Transportation Alliance discusses transportation issues including Baltimore’s new bus plan, smart transit funding and road project accountability.

In 2001, 52 women came together to form the Baltimore Women's Giving Circle at BCF. In the 16 years since, the Circle has grown to over 400 women and has invested nearly $4.5 million in organizations that focus on promoting self-sufficiency for women and their families in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. Giving Circle Co-chairs Vivian Manekin and Jodi Dunn will join BCF's Ralph Serpe for this live conversation.

Kevin Griffin Moreno, Interim Director of Community Investment at BCF, will review BCF's public policy priorities for 2017. Ralph Serpe, BCF VP Philanthropy and Chief Development Officer, will moderate. 

BCF is focused on increasing the number of children ready for school in Baltimore, setting a goal to have 90 percent ready for school by 2017. Join Billie Malcolm as she discusses gains made in school readiness at Judy Centers, and how the national conversation about early childhood education makes BCF's work even more relevant today.

Kevin Griffin Moreno discusses BCF approaches arts funding in light of its goals in education and neighborhoods. 

BCF's Neighborhood Grants Program aims to help neighborhoods become and remain safe, vibrant, clean and green. Recently, BCF worked with the Annie E. Casey Foundation to add a new grant program to NGP: Youth Leadership for Change grants. These grants support projects targeted at addressing issues in the community that impact Baltimore youth. Join Dion Cartwright, program officer, as she discusses how this program is engaging youth to make neighborhoods stronger. 

By being intentional and strategic about diversity, equity, and inclusion, BCF is working to become a more effective community investor capable of achieving our vision of a Baltimore with a growing economy, where all have the opportunity to thrive. On the call, BCF’s Keisha Leverette and Kevin Griffin Moreno provide an overview of BCF's race, equity and inclusion work. Link: Rodney Foxworth Jr. in Medium 

Completing your charitable giving plan is a complex task. What are the common issues that arise during the process? Ralph Serpe, VP of Devleopment, will sit down with two of BCF's charitable giving experts - Rosemary Calderalo and Keisha Leverette - to discuss some of the common mistakes they see in giving plans and how you can avoid them in your own plan.  

Middle Grades Partnership works with public and private schools to provide exceptional summer programming that halts summer learning loss and addresses issues of race, class and opportunity. Join Wendy Samet, MGP executive director, to hear about MGP's work to bring students together across Baltimore.      

The dust has settled in the Maryland legislature. The bills have been signed (or vetoed). So, what will change in education, neighborhoods, sustainability and transportation as a result? Senior Program Officer Kevin Griffin Moreno looks back on the 2016 legislative session, and explains how BCF’s advocacy work influenced legislation.      

Baltimore’s Sustainability Plan is getting an update. Join Cheryl Casciani, BCF’s director of sustainability and chair of the City’s Commission on Sustainability as she reviews eight years of work on sustainability projects like reducing trash in neighborhoods and educating young people about the environment. Casciani will also discuss how a revised plan will address challenges facing Baltimore today.

Why does it take so long to drive to work? When is that next bus coming? These are the questions Baltimoreans ask themselves daily as they deal with one of the most snarled transportation situations in the nation. Join us on March 21, when we’ll sit down with Central Maryland Transportation Alliance’s Brian O’Malley to discuss why CMTA graded Baltimore and Central Maryland’s transportation a “D”, and what key issues in the state legislature could change your commute next year. After 10 minutes of overview, we’ll take your questions.

Strong, capable leadership is an essential ingredient in building great schools. Through its education investments, BCF' is focusing on five strategies to help improve school leadership and increase school effectiveness. In this 20 Minute Update, Ralph Serpe, vice president for development, discusses how BCF invests to build school leadership and effectiveness with Danista Hunte, vice president for community investment, and Jonalyn Denlinger, BCF consultant.

The BCF Board of Trustees’ Investment Committee is responsible for providing oversight and management of the assets within the BCF investment portfolio. The committee is currently examining the long term investment pool with an eye toward seeking better results and moderating volatility. Join Patti Baum, investment committee chair, and Chip Morris, investment committee member, as they discuss the long term investment pool and why BCF is looking at it now. Ralph Serpe, VP, Development, will moderate.

Kevin Griffin Moreno, senior program officer at BCF, will give an update on BCF’s legislative priorities for 2016. Ralph Serpe, BCF VP of Development, will moderate. After a 10 minute overview, the call is open to ques

The end of the year is a time when many people review their charitable giving plans. Join BCF's Ralph Serpe and Keisha Leverette as they share 10 tips that could help you maximize your giving while reducing potential taxes. Download our Charitable Checklist here.

Baltimore's 21st Century School Buildings Plan is a building and renovation initiative that will create improved educational environments for Baltimore City and its public school students. On Oct. 20, join BCF's Cheryl Casciani, Kevin Griffin Moreno and Ralph Serpe as they discuss 21st Century Schools, and how BCF has supported the plan.

Judy Centers are neighborhood hubs which connect children and families to services so that children are ready for school. These centers have shown significant positive results in improving school readiness in low-income children, and since 2013, BCF has invested in Judy Centers to meet its goal of helping to increase school readiness in Baltimore City to 90%. Join Cristina Lopez, who directs the Judy Center strategy at BCF, and Niki Venuti, Judy Center Coordinator at Commodore John Rodgers Elementary Middle School, as they discuss how Judy Centers are improving school readiness for thousands of children in Baltimore.

Social capital "trust among residents, strong neighborhood leaders and trusting relationships with nonprofits, schools and city agencies" is extremely important to a thriving neighborhood. Almost as tangible as housing stock or tree cover, social capital is measurable and can make the difference between a healthy neighborhood and one that struggles with crime, poverty and long-term vacancy. Jonalyn Denlinger and Dion Cartwright, who coordinate BCF's neighborhood investment programs, discuss the importance of social capital and how BCF invests in ways to build it in its two target neighborhoods: Greater Highlandtown and Reservoir Hill.  

For 15 years, Healthy Neighborhoods has helped Baltimoreans increase home values, market their communities, create high standards for property improvements, and forge strong connections among neighbors. Mark Sissman, President of Healthy Neighborhoods, joins Ralph Serpe, BCF Vice President of Development, to talk about various Healthy Neighborhoods’ accomplishments and how they continue to help Baltimore neighborhoods grow.

There are hundreds of philanthropic funds at the Baltimore Community Foundation. They make grants to organizations with diverse missions, ranging from education to neighborhood organizing. With so many options, how does a non-profit interested in accessing resources at BCF navigate the myriad donors who are making grants each year? Knowing who to contact is the first step. Join Ralph Serpe, Vice President of Development, Keisha Leverette, Campaign Director, and Jesse Cowling, Donor Services Officer, as they discuss the best way for organizations to successfully navigate BCF’s donor network.

Senior Program Officer Kevin Griffin Moreno will provide an update on The Fund for Rebuilding Baltimore, created by BCF in the wake of the recent unrest to repair the physical and emotional damage that has been done and strengthen our community for the future.   

This month's call focuses on how BCF's work in neighborhoods and education overlaps with Baltimore City's Sustainability Plan, particularly efforts toward green schools. On the call: BCF Director of Neighborhood Sustainability Cheryl Casciani, who also serves as chair of the Baltimore City Commission on Sustainability and on the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners.