By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO
Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott is centering the needs of Charm City youths ahead of sharing the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget next week. The mayor is set to announce several line items related to youth engagement and development initiatives on March 27. Scott says the budget will reflect a significant increase in funding for the best and brightest of Baltimore.
Later today, Scott will detail how the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund (BCYF) will provide funding that will allow the mayor to bolster youth summer jobs, enhance the summer youth engagement strategy and expand youth athletics in Baltimore City Public Schools.
Scott said he’s particularly pleased that the dedicated funds will support more summer jobs for young people under the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development and strengthen the summer youth engagement strategy, which has proven effective in reducing youth violence over the past two summers.
“I am grateful for BCYF’s commitment to Baltimore’s young people,” Scott said. “BCYF continues to show incredible leadership in ensuring that our children have access to the opportunities they deserve – whether through sports, job training, or safe and engaging activities during the summer months. With this investment, BCYF is coming to the table with a major commitment to building a safer and healthier Baltimore for our young people.”
BCYF will utilize the investment to do the following:
1) Establish a new youth athletics fund with an initial investment of $500,000, expanding access to high-quality vendor-provided athletic programming in Baltimore City Public Schools
2) Support YouthWorks, Baltimore’s nationally recognized summer employment program with a $6,000,000 investment, ensuring 8,500 young people gain meaningful employment this summer
3) Invest $1,500,000 in Mayor Scott’s summer youth engagement
Officials also believe that the investment will lead to the district establishing itself as a nationally recognized leader in youth athletics, building on the district’s successful launch of middle school sports programming that has enabled thousands of students access to high-quality athletics in schools. In addition, the investment should create a means for increased philanthropic initiatives committed to investing in middle school athletics.
“Through sports, young people develop leadership, teamwork, and resilience – qualities that are essential for success in life,” said BCYF president and CEO Alysia Lee. “We are proud to build on the work Baltimore City Public Schools has already begun and to ensure that even more students have access to transformative athletic experiences.”
Dr. Sonja Brookins Santelises, CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, emphasized when the community offers more learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom, “the lives of Baltimore City students are enriched.”
BCYF’s investment in YouthWorks, in addition to enhancing athletics opportunities, will provide approximately 8,500 young people with paid work experiences, professional development and career readiness training through the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development.
With the increased funding for Mayor Scott’s summer youth engagement strategy, the City will, for the third year, provide outreach workers, structured programming and safe spaces for youth throughout the summer months and assist in the Mayor’s goal to realize a significant reduction in youth violence.
“This is about investing in our young people holistically – in their futures, their well-being, and their safety,” Scott said. “Together, with BCYF, MOED and Baltimore City Public Schools, we are ensuring that Baltimore’s young people have every opportunity to thrive.”
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article misprinted the amount of money BCYF will utilize to support YouthWorks. There will be a $6,000,000 investment.
