Cory V. McCray represents Maryland’s 45th Legislative District in the State Senate and is the author of The Apprenticeship That Saved My Life. He focuses on equitable policymaking, public safety and expanding economic opportunity.
Author Archives: Cory McCray
Posted inOpinion
Opening doors through exposure
Cory V. McCray represents Maryland’s 45th Legislative District in the State Senate. This week he examines how a transformative dance partnership at Gardenville Elementary in Baltimore highlights how exposure, mentorship, and creative opportunity can reshape futures for students in underserved communities—just as an apprenticeship once did for the author.
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Baltimore heroes of Belair-Edison and Johnston Square
By Cory V. McCray What began as a modest project to celebrate Baltimore and uplift our young scholars blossomed into something far more powerful earlier this month. Who would have imagined portraits of Regina Hammond and her husband, Keith hanging just steps away from internationally acclaimed artwork in the Baltimore Museum of Art? Mrs. Hammond […]
Posted inOpinion
The business of literacy — breaking barriers, building futures
By Sen. Cory V. McCray Thriving communities aren’t built by chance—they are the product of vision, investment and a deep commitment to the people who call them home. One of the greatest influences in my life, the late Congressman Elijah Cummings, often reminded us that “our children are the living messages we send to a […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Maryland’s investment in career coaching shapes our future
Senator Cory V. McCray is fighting to preserve the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, which aims to improve education and career readiness for Maryland’s youth, amidst proposed budget cuts that threaten to undo the progress made.
Posted inOPINION
Commentary: Mack Lewis Gym inspiring a community through grit and transformation
The Mack Lewis Gym in East Baltimore, founded in 1951, continues to serve as a safe haven for young people, providing discipline, purpose and a path forward through the sport of boxing, and has recently received a $200,000 capital bond initiative to upgrade the facility and prioritize academics over athletics.
Posted inOPINION
Investing in education to break generational poverty in Maryland
Senator Cory McCray discusses the importance of investing in local classrooms to address generational poverty and highlights the success of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, which has provided increased funding for schools in Baltimore and has led to improved test scores and literacy.
Posted inBaltimore News
A name that tells the whole story
Senator Cory V. McCray has introduced legislation to rename the Banneker-Douglass Museum in Maryland to the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum, in order to honor the legacy of Harriet Tubman and recognize her contributions to the fight for freedom, equality and justice.
Posted inBaltimore News
Transforming Baltimore: How smart legislation is making our streets safer
A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that reducing the hours of alcohol sales in East Baltimore resulted in a 23% annual decrease in all violent crime, and a 51% drop in homicides, leading to the passage of similar legislation in Maryland’s 45th Legislative District.
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: The urgent need for driver’s education in public schools
Sen. Cory McCray has sponsored Senate Bill 1081 to establish a Driver Education in Public Schools Grant Program, which will provide $2 million in perpetual grants to assist public schools in offering driver education courses, with the goal of equipping students with the skills they need to succeed in the workforce.
Posted inOPINION
Honoring Sen. Robert L. Dalton, the man who laid the foundation in East Baltimore
By Sen. Cory McCray (D-Md.-45) Earlier this year, I was watching the game between the LA Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder when Lebron James, a.k.a. “King James,” a.k.a. the “Kid from Akron,” became the NBA’s all-time top scorer. Minutes later, King James took to the microphone and spoke on the career-defining moment. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar […]
Posted inOPINION
Op-ed: The business of bringing fresh food to East Baltimore
By Senator Cory V. McCray (D-Md.- 45) Partnerships can conquer tough challenges. Part of my job as a public servant is to find solutions to these challenges, especially when they negatively impact the communities I represent. Since taking office, bringing a grocery store to the heart of East Baltimore has been a challenge. A few […]