What if a stage could change the way a young person sees themselves?
On April 5, the Baltimore Children & Youth Fund (BCYF) turned that very question into a powerful reality by welcoming nearly 450 youth and families to Baltimore Center Stage for its latest Learn & Build (L.A.B.) experience—a part of BCYF’s 6-month citywide learning series, the learning lab. At the center of it all was Akeelah and the Bee—a story about a young Black girl from Chicago who dares to believe she belongs in spaces that weren’t built for her. But for Baltimore’s youth in the audience, this was a moment of recognition. A mirror. A spark.
Akeelah’s journey—marked by grief, self-doubt, and quiet determination—deeply resonated with the young people in the room. As Akeelah made her way to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, the audience traveled with her, word by word. Akeelah’s story is all about possibility, and in that moment, kids from across Baltimore saw that brilliance could sound like them, look like them, and live inside them, too.
After the performance, BCYF invited attendees to stay for an intimate talkback session with the cast. Young people asked big questions about the creative process, representation, and resilience, and the actors answered with vulnerability and truth.
This L.A.B. experience is just one way BCYF is reimagining what community-rooted learning can look like. By collaborating with institutions like Baltimore Center Stage, BCYF is proving that education doesn’t need desks and whiteboards—it needs access, belonging, and bold imagination. From the stage to the streets, BCYF is investing in learning that feels relevant, joyful, and rooted in culture.
On May 31, BCYF will host its next L.A.B. experience at the Sankofa Children’s Museum of African Cultures, where youth and families will embark on a hands-on exploration of African heritage and creativity. It’s another opportunity to remind young people that who they are and where they come from is a source of power, not limitation.
With BCYF leading the way, Baltimore’s youth aren’t just being supported. They’re being seen, challenged, and most of all, believed in.
Learn more about how we engage young people and leaders through our annual citywide learning series, the learning lab.
