Baltimore Corps, a social justice and innovation hub co-founded in 2013 by now-Gov. Wes Moore and Fagan Harris, announced that Caryn York will be the organization’s next President and CEO.
A Baltimore native, York will return from New York City, where she currently serves as the first Black woman President and CEO of the Women’s Prison Association, an organization that advances housing, education, employment and family unification solutions for women and mothers impacted by the criminal justice system. Previously, York was the CEO of Baltimore’s Job Opportunities Task Force, where she drove the organization’s efforts to pass more than 15 pieces of statewide legislation eliminating barriers to employment and higher education for low-income workers and job seekers.
“Bringing skilled leaders like Caryn back home to Baltimore is a testament to the organization’s success in growing and attracting talent where the city needs it most,” said Matthew D. Gallagher, Baltimore Corps’ Board Chair and President and CEO of the Goldseker Foundation. “We’re all very excited to double down with Caryn on the model we’ve grown at Baltimore Corps and to share it with communities across the country.”
With a reputation as a dynamic force at the intersection of workforce, justice reform and policy, York is a mission-driven leader who has devoted her career to advancing equity for working- class communities of color.
“Caryn is a warrior for justice who wakes up every day with purpose,” said Gov. Moore. “She is ideally positioned to provide the next generation of social entrepreneurs with the tools to improve our communities.”
“I am proud of our track record at Baltimore Corps and the accomplishments we have achieved since our earliest days,” added Harris. “I have no doubt that Caryn is the right person to continue this critical work and ensure the sustainability of what is becoming a national success story.”
York’s appointment comes as Baltimore Corps prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Since its founding, the organization has placed more than 1,000 adults and youth in full-time service, social entrepreneurship and other positions. It also distributes more than $600,000 annually in grants and loans to organizations with predominately Black and brown leaders.
Baltimore Corps announced plans to share its service model with cities nationwide last year. Birmingham, Alabama became the first ‘expansion city’ in what is now known as City Corps. This new national platform is tapping Baltimore-forged experiences to build new talent hubs in social impact sectors and high-mobility career pathways for underestimated talent in targeted areas of urgent need. Partner cities will draw on technical assistance, resources and support provided by City Corps to build and champion this work.
“Baltimore is primed to be a national case study for attracting talent and big ideas,” said York. “I couldn’t resist the opportunity to be back here working with the people who have created a model for building, expanding and amplifying the impact of talent pipelines. Baltimore Corps is helping to write the next chapter for our city, and I couldn’t be more excited or proud to be a part of this work.”
Interim President and CEO, Sarah Flammang, assumed the position after Fagan Harris stepped away to serve as the Governor’s Chief of Staff. Flammang, considered a catalyst for the organization’s national expansion, will depart Baltimore Corps this week to become Deputy Secretary at the new Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation. A top Moore priority, the Department’s mission of building leadership through service closely aligns with the work of Baltimore Corps and City Corps.
With over a decade of leadership and experience working with state and local governments and community-based organizations across Maryland, York has spent her career at the forefront of some of our most pressing social issues. A Baltimore City College High School graduate, she took a junior-level policy position with the Job Opportunities Task Force in 2011 after working as a paralegal, motivated by the group’s mission of breaking down workforce barriers. She rose to become the youngest and first Black female CEO at JOTF.
York also led the Coalition for a Safe and Just Maryland, a statewide group that successfully advocated for diminishing the role of cash bail in determining who goes free before standing trial. She holds a BA in International Studies from Washington College.
“Caryn is the right person at the right time to take this organization to the next level and help drive our work beyond Maryland,” said Charlene Moore Hayes, Baltimore Corps Vice Chair and retired Senior Executive for Human Capital Strategy at Johns Hopkins University. “Her passion and life experiences exemplify the story we want to share and promote in Baltimore and beyond.”
About Baltimore Corps and City Corps
Founded in 2013, Baltimore Corps’ mission is to advance social innovation and a citywide agenda for equity and racial justice in Baltimore City. Each year, the nonprofit’s recruiters and placement specialists qualify and prepare over 2,500 adults and youth for full-time (entry-level to executive) opportunities in service, social entrepreneurship, and the broader labor market. Last year, the nonprofit launched City Corps as a national platform for sharing its model for equitable service with other cities across the nation and established Birmingham Corps in Birmingham, Alabama, as the first City Corps location. www.baltimorecorps.org | @BaltimoreCorps on social www.city-corps.org
