About
Mission, Vision, & Values
Baltimore Children & Youth Fund (BCYF) builds partnerships that support the ecosystem focused on opportunities for Baltimore youth by providing support to leaders and organizations.
What is the Ecosystem?
Using the term ecosystem reminds us that we find truth and knowledge in the patterns in the natural world that we can apply in social justice movements and liberatory practices. The ecosystem we envision is an extraordinary interconnected web of physical, psychological, and energetic networks that envelop the vibrant lives of Baltimore’s youth, positively shaping their very existence — producing compassionate, resourceful, innovative, and productive humans.Who is the Ecosystem?
We envision a more just, creative, and abundant Baltimore where all of our young people live, thrive, and lead.
We envision an ecosystem of sustainable youth programs with full agency, liberated from the harm of structural racism and inequity and able to thrive in abundance.
Ubuntu: (n.) I am what I am because of who we all are.
Ubuntu is the southern African philosophy that describes the interconnectedness of all people. It emphasizes that an individual’s well-being is intricately tied to the community’s well-being. The philosophy promotes humanity, service, sharing, healing, and reconciliation.
In the West, we often greet each other by saying, “How are you doing?” The Maasai people of East Africa greet each other by asking, “How are the children?” This greeting represents the idea that the children’s well-being defines the community’s well-being. The purpose of the Baltimore Children & Youth Fund is to help the whole city of Baltimore to embrace and live out the worldview embodied in this Maasai greeting. Specifically, the well-being of our children is everyone’s responsibility.
Community Ownership
The community has equal, authentic decision-making power in distributing BCYF’s resources. Embracing collective decision-making ensures that all voices are heard, promoting community accountability and equitable access to resources and opportunities. Additionally, the organization must include a variety of people who are highly committed and accountable to the communities they serve.
Intergenerational Leadership
We include youth along with adults in all aspects of our work. Having different generations work together reflects how our entire community must work together to improve the quality of life in our city.
Racial Justice
We honor and celebrate the cultural resources and assets within the Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities in Baltimore City. We acknowledge their history and power. We work to address the role of philanthropy in dismantling structural racism by engaging in internal and external work to center Black and Brown wisdom in our approach.
