Bright futures begin at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Baltimore. We will do whatever it takes to ensure every young person throughout the city has access to caring mentors, safe environments, high-quality programs and unique experiences. Let’s do whatever it takes together, Baltimore. Join us and support our efforts at BGCMetroBaltimore.org/Donate
Umar’s facility includes an athletic area as well as a classroom area (seven (7) station PC lab) providing at-risk children a safe environment to master athletic and educational skills. Umar’s staff includes certified Baltimore City educators and certified USA boxing trainers. While there are boxing gyms throughout inner city communities as well as youth centers, […]
Jasmine Pope is a musician, and HIV advocate with over 15 years of experience creating and implementing initiatives to address mental health and healthcare disparities within medical systems throughout Baltimore City. Jasmine is currently the Director of Programs for the STAR TRACK Adolescent Health Program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where she leads an […]
Iya Dammons is the Founder and Executive Director of Baltimore Safe Haven, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to empower TLGBQ Baltimoreans and their peers through direct services, advocacy, outreach, and education. Baltimore Safe Haven is the only trans-led human service nonprofit in Baltimore City. As a trans woman of color, Ms. Dammons suffered the […]
Zach Stafford is an award-winning journalist based in New York City. Most recently, he served as the co-host of the morning Twitter show AM to DM and editor-in-chief of The Advocate, the world’s longest-running LGBTQ magazine. Zach has also served as the chief content officer of Grindr where he created the LGBTQ platform INTO, the editor-at-large of Out magazine, and was a journalist at The Guardian where […]
Keith Boykin is a CNN political commentator, New York Times best-selling author, and a former White House aide to President Bill Clinton. He was once the highest ranking openly gay person in the Clinton White House and helped to set up the first ever meeting between a U.S. president and leaders of the LGBTQ community. […]
Ken Jiretsu is a community advocate and activist in Baltimore’s Transgender Community. He is the Executive Director of Hearts and Ears Inc. LGBTQIA+ Wellness and Recovery Center where he provides peer support, and handles social media, outreach and training in the center. Prior to his work in behavioral health peer support, Ken was one of […]
Jabari Lyles is an educator, community organizer and consultant with over 15 years of experience leading initiatives which emphasize his passions for people, education and justice. Currently, Jabari is the Director of LGBTQ Affairs at the Office of the Mayor in Baltimore City, where he supports and advises Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young and local […]
Franklin N. McNeil, Jr., a Community Consultant with PNC Bank’s Greater Maryland Community Development Banking Team, is a 1983 graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy. In his role as a community consultant, he partners with non-profit organizations to find creative financial solutions to community needs through services and resources in addition to identifying lending […]
Eric L. Anderson is the Assistant Pastor at Grace of God Ministries, under the leadership of Pastor Shelly M. Anderson. Eric is also President of The Coalition of Baltimore HIV Providers (CBHIVP). Eric has worked for The University of Maryland Center Department of Infectious Diseases for 20 years as a case manager and he believes […]
Bryanna A. Jenkins, Esq. is a civil rights attorney and a proud South Baltimore native, from the Curtis Bay-Brooklyn neighborhood. She is the current 2020-2021 George N. Lindsay legal fellow at the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law in Washington, DC. She earned a J.D. at DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, IL […]
Devon Vaow, aka Evon Michelle, is known for her work ethic, ability to captivate a crowd, and her drive to bring opportunity to queer performers in Baltimore are just a few things that earned her the title of Baltimore’s 2020 Drag Performer of the Year. Traveling up and down the East Coast, Evon has appeared […]