Many Open Doors: Reaching young people where they are works. Having a variety of "no wrong doors" and building an integrated outreach and referral system will enable all young people across the Empowerment Zone (EZ) to easily link to available services and support. By capitalizing on the vast network of Baltimore’s many community groups and strong neighborhood associations, human service agencies and youth providing organizations, secondary and post secondary institutions, and broad employment and training community, all EZ young people will have a chance to get connected.

A Network of Ports: Building on the effectiveness of the "one stop" concept, two full scale Youth Opportunity Community Centers will be established- one each on the east and west sides of the Empowerment Zone. Staffed with trained and credentialed youth development specialists, (Employment Advocates) the Centers will provide young people with a comprehensive range of on site academic, career planning and personal support services. Additionally, two Satellite Centers will be linked to each Youth Opportunity Community Center, providing convenient locations for all EZ youth to participate in career development and employment readiness activities. To strengthen the role of the community in its system, the Centers and Satellites will be operated by strong community and/or non-profit organizations. Formal connections will also be made with the Office of Employment Development’s and Empowerment Zone’s One Stop Career Centers to take advantage of these existing employment resources.

Youth Centered Model: Baltimore’s Youth Opportunity system is predicated on a youth development concept that recognizes the strengths and talents of each youth and builds upon them. A comprehensive career plan reflecting each young person’s unique interests, abilities and aptitudes will be used to chart a path to success. Employment Advocates will be matched to each youth and work with them to select the most appropriate educational, vocational and personal support services from a broad menu of choices. In addition to the variety of academic courses and career training opportunities available, youth will have access to computer literacy training, job preparation seminars, individual and group counseling, mental/physical health support , life skills, parenting classes, tutoring, conflict resolution, peer mediation and a host of recreational, cultural enrichment and leadership development activities. Working with the City school system a greatly expanded alternative learning system will be implemented to stem the drop out tide and re-connect at risk and out of school youth to academics. Job placement and or post secondary transition will be the goal for each youth with a commitment to long term follow up.

Corporate Commitment/Economic Development: Business and industry will play a vital role in creating authentic work based learning experiences for Baltimore youth and helping them acquire the skills necessary to meet the current and future labor market needs of our metropolitan area. The Baltimore Development Corporation and the Baltimore Workforce Investment Board have committed their support to providing opportunities and guidance for our youth system. Many employers including Johns Hopkins Hospital, Bell Atlantic and UPS have also indicate their willingness to partner. Strong ties to economic development will ensure the occupational training offered to the youth mirrors existing employment prospects and recognizes

the workforce development resources Baltimore’s young people present.

Community Engagement and Youth Involvement: In every way possible, the entire community -- parents, faith based institutions, local schools, neighborhood associations and youth themselves -- will participate in building, guiding and maintaining this system. Community Advisory Boards will be created to provide input and recommendations to the Centers and Satellites, reviewing outcomes and promoting accountability.

Quality Management: Key to the success of the system is a strong management plan which incorporates the principles of total quality and promotes performance accountability and consistency in standards, operations and services . This system will provide intense capacity building and continuous technical assistance to all participating service providers, focusing on management techniques, effective service delivery, maintenance of internal and collective fiscal and information systems. A Youth Practioners Institute will be created to provide all youth development specialists who will work in this system with a comprehensive training curricula. Upon completion of the training staff will be certified as effective youth workers and provided consistent and ongoing professional development. The Institute will also provide young people the opportunity to explore the profession of youth work as a potential career and build a pipeline for them to acquire required credentials and skills leading to jobs in the system.

The goal of Baltimore’s Youth Opportunity System is to increase the long term employability of our young people by creating a systemic approach to youth services, offering a broad array of coordinated resources and activities, and helping each young person design and negotiate a career pathway to success.

West Empowerment Zone:
Youth Opportunity Community Center (Westside - Lafayette/Harlem Park Community)
1510 W. Lafayette St. (Gilmor Street entrance)
Baltimore, MD 21217
410-545-6950

YO! Studio 760 (Washington Village/Pigtown)
788 Washington Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21231
410-385-0909

High Schools: Douglass H.S., Southwestern H.S. and Southern H.S.

East Empowerment Zone:
Youth Opportunity Center/HEBCAC (Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coalition)
1212 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21213
410-732-2661

The Chance/EBCC (Eastside)
301 N. Front St., Baltimore, MD 21202
410-752-0153

McKim Center (Southeast)
1200 E. Fayette St., Baltimore, MD 21202
410-276-4818

High Schools: Patterson H.S. and Dunbar H.S.

Please visit www.yobaltimore.org for more information.