BCYF Inc. has launched a new pilot program for youth leadership development in Baltimore City. The program, The Avis Ransom Institute (ARI), will train young people to be effective leaders and representatives in their community in Baltimore civic life. The program will launch in October 2021 as a pilot program for youth and young adults in Baltimore.
Who is Avis Ransom?
BCYF’s Leadership Institute is named after a Baltimore Legend; that legend is Avis Ransom.
Avis Spent her life working to create a better Baltimore. Her body of work ranges from working cooperatives to investing in the lives of Baltimore’s youth. Avis was a member of BUILD in its beginnings. She was most proud of its ability to amass grassroots power to eventually have an impact on the state budget.
She keenly understood the importance of Black people being able to exercise power over the distribution of resources. Avis was one of the lead trainers of BRJA. She has trained many of the most respected minds on racial justice in Baltimore. She had a unique ability to connect anti-racist theory with practical steps toward movement building. She played a central role in the Baltimore Black Workers’ Center and the Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition(BTEC).
Her work at the Black Workers’ Center focused heavily on equipping Black workers with knowledge about rights and resources to effect change around the conditions they faced on the job. At BTEC, Avis worked tirelessly on the Red Line Transit system that was slated to come to Baltimore. She worked to have the routes be accessible to working class Black people.
Avis was also the Board President at The Baltimore Algebra Project. At the Algebra Project, Avis spent her time supporting youth taking control of their education and growing into exceptional leaders. Through all of her work there have been two undeniable threads: organizing for Black institutional power in Black communities and intentionally grounding that work in a character of integrity.
This is why our mission at the Avis Ransom Institute, in addition to building leadership skills, is to prioritize cultivating integrity in the hearts and minds of those who enter into the institute.
The Program
BCYF Inc. wants to empower young people to be responsible stewards of power and resources. To achieve that goal, The Avis Ransom Institute has three objectives for youth and young adults:
- Introduce youth to a framework for advocacy and leadership that will equip them with the tools to develop an advocacy campaign that is community based.
- Learn and be able to apply techniques of self actualization in order to strengthen their ability to advocate for themselves and their community.
- Gain knowledge of the social and civic landscape in order to effectively navigate those environments in ways that are empowering for themselves and their community.
There are three components of the program:
- Instructional: This will be comprised of classroom instruction. The primary method of conveying the content will be class room construction. The instructors will curate reading materials, videos and other media that will be the basis for group discussions. Participants will be encouraged to take notes and will periodically be asked to complete an activity or project that may include doing research, writing, and/or doing a presentation that relates to the subject of the group discussions.
- Community immersion: Youth will be connected to people and institutions in the community that will provide social and historical context on advocacy efforts in Baltimore.
- Pipeline connection: Based on the interest of the youth in the program, they will be connected with opportunities to serve in leadership capacities and be provided with the support needed to be effective in their desired opportunities.
We project that there will be 20 youth in the program for academic year 2021-2022. Youth will meet once a week on Thursday afternoons for 2 hours of instruction for the duration of the school year.
There will be selected Thursdays where young people will either meet at a location or the group would be transported together to a location for community immersion in place of classroom instruction.
Requirements
- Must be current residents of Baltimore.
- Must be between the ages of 15 and 24
How to Apply
In order to be apart of the program – you must attend ONE interest meeting on the following dates:
There is a short application for all interested applicants. The application closes October 1st.
