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Youth Violence Prevention
This month, the City of Baltimore declared April 25th to April 29th Youth Violence Prevention Week. Nationally, this is a time for youth to lead communities on effective strategies to prevent youth violence—locally, this has been a time for us to amplify the work we are doing to reduce youth violence in Baltimore City.
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Baltimore Young Families Success Fund
The Baltimore Young Families Success Fund (BYFSF) is a guaranteed income pilot project that will provide 200 young parents, between 18-24 years old, with an unconditional cash payment of $1,000 per month over the course of 24 months. Guaranteed income is an unconditional monthly cash payment given directly to selected individuals and is meant to supplement, rather than replace, the existing social safety net. Guaranteed income provides a steady, predictable income to recipients to decide how to spend direct payments based on their personal needs.
Research shows that Guaranteed Income projects result in lower poverty and debt; higher earnings and savings; a stronger local economy; and improved mental health. Baltimore Young Families Success Fund will address income inequality and will combat the economic fallout from COVID-19 by providing payments to parents who have been hit hardest by the crisis with schools and daycare closing, experiences of unemployment, and housing or food insecurity. Furthermore, Baltimore Young Families Success Fund will increase economic mobility, improve access to resources for children and families and provide financial and emotional stability necessary for pursuing opportunities and planning for the future. With a guaranteed income, families can stabilize their households and gain the personal power needed to benefit their families and our communities.
Applications for the Baltimore Young Families Success Fund will open at 6:00 a.m. on May 2 and close on May 9, 2022 at 11:59 p.m.
Did you know: Research from the Manitoba Basic Annual Income Experiment found a significant negative relationship between income and both violent crime and total crime. Read Full Report
Did you know: An unconditional cash transfer program in Kenya found that when people in a relationship–especially women–received extra money, rates of physical and sexual violence declined. Read Full Report
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Mayor Scott’s Youth Shadow Program
Mayor Scott charged the Mayor’s Office of Children & Family Success (MOCFS) with increasing engagement among Baltimore’s youth to make local government more accessible to and reflective of them. As a result, MOCFS organizes cabinet member youth shadow experiences for our young people to observe elected and appointed officials performing their daily work routine in their work environment. Through the shadow experience, Baltimore’s youth will explore government careers to get a realistic picture of the task performed to keep our city running and safe.
On April 26, 2022, students Keon and Marco from Bluford Drew Jemison shadowed Shantay Jackson, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. During this day-long experience, Keon and Marco witnessed how MONSE is working with the public, city council, and city leaders to co-produce public safety in Baltimore.
MOCFS will continue this effort in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Employee Development (MOED) by hosting five youth shadows through the summer YouthWorks programs. Youth Shadows will receive a chrome book, be assigned to a Mayoral Office, work on a project to support the office they are assigned to with better serving youth, present their project to the Mayor’s staff, and spend a day with Mayor Scott. Students interested in this program can express interest here.
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Youth Summer Series Coming Soon
MOCFS is proud to launch ‘BMore Lit’ – a summer event series in partnership with DTLR, geared towards engaging older youth in positive activities throughout the summer months. Events will include free food, haircuts, makeup and nail artists, live music and more! The first installation of BMore Lit will take place at Rash Field on Saturday May 7th from 6pm-10pm.
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