Baltimore Launches First Youth Master Plan at Community Gathering

The Baltimore Children & Youth Fund celebrated the official launch of Baltimore's first Youth Master Plan during The Gathering 2025: Roots & Reach event on November 17. More than 350 community members, youth leaders, and grassroots organizers gathered at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront for this flagship convening, which marked a significant milestone in the city's approach to youth development. The Youth Master Plan represents Baltimore's first comprehensive, youth-driven roadmap designed to elevate youth voice, strengthen grassroots leadership, and align citywide resources around priorities defined by young people.

Developed through months of collaboration, listening sessions, and community engagement, the plan reflects a shared commitment to building equitable systems of opportunity across Baltimore and will guide investments and policy alignment over the coming years. "To see hundreds of young people, elders, organizers, and partners all in one room learning, celebrating, and building together was powerful," said Alysia Lee, President and CEO of BCYF. "The Youth Master Plan is our promise that young people's voices will guide Baltimore's future. The Gathering 2025 was just the beginning."

The event featured 27 interactive sessions led by youth, grassroots leaders, and practitioners across the city, covering themes such as health and wellness, storytelling, harm reduction, and youth rights. Nearly half of all sessions were led or co-led by young people under age 24, underscoring BCYF's mission to elevate youth leadership in every facet of community-building. Throughout the day, attendees participated in workshops on grant management, creative self-care, and youth-centered program design, alongside showcases from The Marching Elite, Coach G Academy, and the Baltimore American Indian Center.

The convening's theme—"Roots & Reach: Citywide Change From the Ground Up"—captured BCYF's philosophy that lasting transformation must begin with those closest to both the challenges and the solutions. Participants left with new connections, shared strategies, and collective commitments to carry the work forward. For additional highlights from the event and to learn more about BCYF's work, visit http://www.bcyfund.org.

This initiative represents a fundamental shift in how Baltimore approaches youth development, moving from traditional top-down models to community-led approaches that center young people as key decision-makers. By creating systems where youth voices directly influence policy and resource allocation, Baltimore aims to build more responsive and effective support structures that address the actual needs and aspirations of its young residents. The Youth Master Plan's implementation will be closely watched as a potential model for other cities seeking to authentically engage youth in shaping their communities' futures.