Baltimore Design School hosted our 2022/23 Back to School Nights on September 14 and 15 for our middle and high school families.  We look forward to this event each year, as we see so many new faces as families come out to support their youth in their academic year. 

Families had the opportunity to meet administrators and teachers as well as engage with our partners and learn about available resources.  The evening culminated with a family workshop led by Natural Born Champions on best practices for a healthy, successful year. Win-Win!

Baltimore Design School has partnered with Concentric, an organization that provides resources and supports for students and families to show up strong.  Learn more here https://concentriced.org/

Baltimore Design School students have been participating in the Digital Harbor Foundation’s after-school programming for almost 10 years!  They offer after-school, weekend programs for all ages.  Learn more here https://www.digitalharbor.org/

We are sooooo excited to bring an after-school ‘Wide Angle Youth Media Program’ to Baltimore Design School this year. for middle school students!  Details coming shortly.  They also have phenomenal  programming for graphic design, acting, film and so much more available to high school students.  https://www.wideanglemedia.org/

The Greenmount West Community Center (located right around the corner!) offers programming such as  Arts & Chill,
Intergenerational Quilt Making, Baltimore Media Girls, Musical Theatre, Bell House Community Build, printmaking & more!!
 Click here for more information.  They’ve also hosted BDS students as interns in a variety of positions!  https://greenmountwestcc.org/

U-Choose, a sexual health initiative implemented by Baltimore City’s Health Department and facilitated by Mr. Dante Reaves (Yo! Baltimore), under the aegis of Baltimore City’s Mayor’s Office of Employment Development was on hand to provide youth resources and prized swag. We’ll be working with Mr. Reaves in our BDS Health courses.

Unique Fabrics was on site to discuss their after-school sewing, making & mentoring programs as well as a neighborhood safety initiative that Founder, Mary Alexander put together along with the Greenmount West Community and the Baltimore Design School family.  Councilman Robert Stokes stopped by to talk with her about her progress and lend his support.

Partners such as Girls in the Game (a girls mentoring program that offers a Teen Squad & Teen Club for female-identifying students), JHU Whiting School of Engineering (who will bring their BOAST Engineering program to BDS in a couple of weeks!)  and the Sayra & Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children & the Courts who discussed the importance and impact of attendance.

Chef Shannon, Culinary manager at Forest Park H.S. worked with her team of Culinary students to help us out of a last-minute catering problem.  In just a few hours, they were able to shop and prepare rasta pasta and beans & rice that had families coming back for 2nds (& 3rds!).

The last portion of the evening was hosted by BDS partner – Natural Born Champions, who have proven a valuable resource for our school community.  We’ve kicked off a series called ‘Family Matters’, with a focus on Mental Health & Wellness, Financial Literacy and Presenting Your Best Self – developing professional etiquette.  We were so impressed with what they’ve done so far, that we asked them to host Back-to-School workshops, setting our families up for a successful year.

Great start to a new year!