The journey toward a more just, creative, and abundant Baltimore took an exciting leap forward with the Kickoff Webinar for the 2025 learning lab. Designed as a six-month capacity-building initiative, the learning lab is an ambitious effort by the Baltimore Children & Youth Fund (BCYF) to strengthen the city’s youth development ecosystem.
This year’s theme, “In Sync,” underscores the importance of collaboration, alignment, and transformative impact—all of which are critical as Baltimore gears up to launch its first-ever Youth Master Plan (YMP), convened by the BCYF team. The webinar set the stage for what promises to be an impactful season of learning, engagement, and action. Here’s a look at the highlights and what lies ahead.
Welcoming a Community of Change Agents
The webinar opened with a warm welcome from President & CEO Alysia Lee, who emphasized the transformative nature of the learning lab and its role in equipping youth-serving organizations with the tools they need to create lasting change. With a focus on peer-to-peer learning, community building, and systemic change, the learning lab provides over 60 hours of programming, 500 youth seats, and 300 youth leader seats, fostering an intergenerational approach to leadership.
A critical part of the discussion revolved around community agreements and tech etiquette, ensuring that every participant—whether a long-time youth advocate or a first-time attendee—felt empowered to engage, ask questions, and share their experiences.
A Proven Model for Success
A key highlight of the webinar was the University of Maryland’s evaluation of past learning lab cohorts. The data speaks volumes:
✅ 91% of participants expressed extreme satisfaction with the program
✅ 95% reported significant gains in knowledge and skills
✅ BCYF Grant Compliance rates among organizations increased from 32% to 90%
These results underscore the learning lab’s effectiveness in fostering accountability, knowledge-sharing, and tangible outcomes for Baltimore’s youth organizations.
Lessons from New Orleans: A Citywide Approach to Youth Development
A major focus of the webinar was the upcoming Opening Plenary in New Orleans, a conference that promises to be a deep dive into strategic youth development efforts. Participants will study the New Orleans Youth Master Plan, a 10-year strategic framework aimed at uplifting young people through citywide collaboration.
Participants will hear from from the architects of the New Orleans Youth Master Plan–representatives Mayor’s Office of Youth and Families, the New Orleans Youth Alliance, and the New Orleans Children and Youth Planning Board will be attendance for a panel presentation and small group guided discussions.
This immersive experience will include visits to historic and cultural landmarks, such as:
🎭 Ashé Cultural Arts Center – A hub for youth engagement through the arts
📖 Community Book Center – A cornerstone for Black history and storytelling
🎶 Studio Be – A lesson in intergenerational collaboration through youth leadership and visual art.
Through these experiences, participants will explore the connections between Baltimore and New Orleans, drawing inspiration from their successes and challenges.
Upcoming Learning Circles and Gatherings
Beyond the plenary, the learning lab will feature eight in-person Learning Circles at Baltimore Unity Hall, designed to spark deeper conversations and collaboration. These gatherings will bring together grantees and non-grantees, ensuring a broad and diverse coalition of leaders working toward youth-centered systemic change.
Additionally, gather! events will offer intimate settings for dialogue and reflection, while field experiences like the LAB events will immerse young people in themes of collaboration and community building.
The program will culminate in the Closing Community Exhibition on June 3rd, a celebration of the work, growth, and connections fostered throughout the learning lab.
Looking Ahead: A Call to Action
As BCYF and Baltimore prepares to launch its first Youth Master Plan, the learning lab will play a crucial role in shaping the policies, strategies, and collective vision that will guide this initiative. By fostering cross-sector dialogue, leveraging community assets, and elevating youth voices, the learning lab aims to ensure that Baltimore’s next generation has the support, opportunities, and infrastructure needed to thrive.
To all learning lab participants: Your voice, ideas, and leadership matter. Whether through the Learning Circles, the Plenary, or the Closing Exhibition, your contributions will help shape the future of Baltimore’s youth development ecosystem.
Let’s move in sync—toward equity, impact, and a brighter future for Baltimore’s young people.
For updates and engagement opportunities, visit bcyfund.org.
