By Andrea Stevens
AFRO Staff Writer
astevens@afro.com
In a city where opportunity isn’t always evenly distributed, the Greater Baltimore Urban League (GBUL) is changing lives one young leader and one small business at a time. Through mentorship, education and empowerment, GBUL is helping Baltimore’s youth imagine bigger futures and giving local entrepreneurs the tools to turn their ideas into thriving businesses.
Whether it’s a student stepping onto a college campus for the first time or a teen turning a side hustle into a startup, GBUL is there building bridges, opening doors and planting seeds of generational change.
At the core of the youth development work is the Saturday Leadership Program, led by Tershea Rice, vice president of operations at GBUL. The program serves students in grades 8 through 12, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, and focuses on life skills, leadership and exposure to higher education.
“We try to build a well-rounded leader,” Rice explains. “We start with life skills, financial responsibility, communication, adaptability, teamwork, critical thinking, problem solving. We touch it all.”
The students participate in college tours across Maryland and neighboring states, often visiting campuses they wouldn’t otherwise be able to access.
“We provide the essentials, materials, mentors and a supportive environment so no student feels left out,” she says. “More importantly, we teach resourcefulness and how to do more with less.”
One of Rice’s favorite success stories is of a student who completed the full four-year program, graduated college and returned to speak at a new class’s graduation after publishing her own book.
“The feedback we got from the students—that her story and her book resonated with them—was just amazing,” Rice recalls.
The program’s impact extends beyond the students to include their families and schools.
“We bring the school, the parents and the community together because life skills are reinforced at home and in the classroom,” Rice says.
GBUL intentionally involves parents in parallel workshops where they learn about college applications, financial aid and budgeting. Students, meanwhile, engage in leadership discussions in a safe space designed to encourage honest conversation.
“We teach them that your network is your net worth and we teach them that young,” Rice adds. “So they know how to appropriately surround themselves with the right people.”
While Rice nurtures leadership from the ground up, Sharif Smalls, business consultant at GBUL, equips youth and adults with the business tools to thrive.
“We help with access to capital, marketing, taxes, government contracts—everything from forming an LLC to building your brand,” says Smalls.
His programs reach both aspiring business owners and students, delivering practical financial education in schools and community organizations.
“We give real-life examples, like buying a car, starting a lemonade stand or building a clothing brand, to help students connect the dots between learning and doing,” said Smalls.
Smalls emphasizes that entrepreneurship isn’t just about ideas, it’s about execution.
“It’s a mindset shift. You have to be accountable, responsible, have discipline, structure and know your ‘why,’” he says.
Beyond individual success, Smalls encourages family business models as a strategy for building generational wealth.
“If the parent starts a business, the child can work toward taking it over. That’s generational wealth,” said Smalls.
The Greater Baltimore Urban League continues to lead by example, empowering students, families and entrepreneurs across the city to build brighter, bolder futures.
“We are all about economic empowerment,” said Rice. “We are always open to donations to help programs like this thrive.”