WHAT: The University of Maryland, Baltimore invites friends and neighbors to celebrate the grand opening of its new Community Engagement Center at an outdoor celebration. State, city, and University leadership will attend and participate in festivities which include themed snacks, exclusive giveaways, music, dancing, and t-shirt making. All of this is followed by an exclusive tour of the new facility to experience “A Day in the Life” of a West Baltimore resident who uses the center.
Members of the media are invited to attend a VIP tour of the new Community Engagement Center with state and city leaders after the opening ceremony.
WHEN: Thursday, October 28, 2021, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
WHERE: The University of Maryland, Baltimore Community Engagement Center: 16 S. Poppleton St. Baltimore, MD 21201
INFO: The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is excited to announce the grand opening of its new Community Engagement Center. This major milestone will be commemorated on Thurs. October 28 with an outdoor celebration across the street from the brand-new building. Neighbors of all ages are invited to gather for a special ceremony followed by a celebration complete with themed snacks, giveaways, activities, music, and dancing.
Mayor Brandon Scott and University Systems of Maryland Chancellor Jay Perman, MD are expected to make remarks at the ceremony, then attend a private tour of the engagement center to experience “A Day in the Life” of a West Baltimore community member at the center. The tour will highlight the Community Engagement Center’s afterschool programming including the Police Athletics/Activities League (PAL) Program and the Maker’s Studio Space which teaches children and adults how to master computer coding, 3D printing, and textile design to make their own working creations.
About the Community Engagement Center:
The University of Maryland Baltimore’s (UMB’s) new Community Engagement Center (CEC) is the cornerstone of UMB’s Community Campus, a location and concept that demonstrate a deep commitment to strengthening West Baltimore in collaboration with the neighbors who live there. The CEC is where UMB works hand-in-hand with neighbors to support them in achieving their career goals and giving children a safe place to learn and play. And it is now even better equipped to partner with our community to reach our common goals of health, security, and well-being.
The new CEC is architecturally stunning, employing some of the original architectural elements of the historic 20,000-square-foot building at 16 S. Poppleton Street. It is bright, open, airy, welcoming, and close to seven times larger than the original center that opened in 2015.
Growing in response to the recorded 40,000-plus visits from men, women, teens, and children who have engaged with its services and programming since 2015, UMB looks forward to welcoming neighbors in the new space which will provide partnerships for job development, offer children safe spaces, host health and fitness programs, and connect neighbors with resources.
List of Speakers at the Grand Opening Ceremony:
UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS
USM Chancellor Jay Perman, MD
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott
Bishop Carl A. Pierce, Sr. of Carter Memorial Church Baltimore
Department of Housing & Community Development Secretary Kenneth C. Holt
Baltimore City Councilman John T. Bullock
Director of the UMB Community Engagement Center Tyrone Roper
Community members Ms. Dotie and Ms. Charlotte
About the University of Maryland, Baltimore
Founded in 1807, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is Maryland’s only public health, law, and human services university, dedicated to excellence in education, research, clinical care, and public service. UMB enrolls nearly 6,800 students in six nationally ranked professional schools — medicine, law, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, and social work — and an interdisciplinary Graduate School. The university provides more than $40 million each year in uncompensated care to Maryland citizens, and received more than $677 million in grants and contracts in Fiscal Year 2018. For more information about UMB, visit www.umaryland.edu.
