By AFRO Staff
In a bold new effort to strengthen Baltimore’s communities, former state lawmaker and attorney Jill P. Carter has launched the Walter P. Carter Institute for Leadership and Service, honoring her father’s legacy while addressing the pressing needs of today’s Baltimore.
Named after Walter P. Carter, the civil rights giant who helped dismantle segregation in Baltimore’s schools, hospitals and neighborhoods, the Institute is being established to serve as a hub for community empowerment, education and cultural preservation.
For the younger Carter, this new initiative is a natural continuation of her career. Known across Maryland for her fierce advocacy in the General Assembly as a delegate and senator representing Baltimore, she has championed police accountability, civil rights protections, equitable development and education reform for more than two decades. As the daughter of one of Baltimore’s greatest civil rights icons, Carter’s public service has been deeply informed by a sense of responsibility to the community that raised her.
Now, through the Institute, she’s shifting her focus from legislation to building lasting civic empowerment.
“This work is in my blood,” Carter told the AFRO. “My father dedicated his life to fighting for the people of Baltimore. This Institute is my way of continuing that mission—to uplift our communities, to support them, and to create spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued.”
Working together for Baltimore’s future
For Carter, the goal isn’t to start something separate, but to build alongside the many individuals, organizations and neighbors who have long been doing the work in Baltimore.
“There are already so many folks in Baltimore doing incredible work every single day,” she said. “We don’t need to reinvent the wheel—Baltimore has everything we need if we organize, work together, and lift each other up.”
The Institute will focus on providing resources, platforms and connections to strengthen existing efforts in the community—centering Baltimore’s people, its culture and its future.
Meeting the moment
The launch of the Institute comes as Baltimore stands at a pivotal crossroads. Generations of disinvestment have taken a toll, but Carter believes the strength and brilliance of Baltimore’s people remain unmatched. She sees the Institute as a space for supporting that brilliance—not to take the spotlight, but to help amplify it.
“This is about standing with Baltimore’s communities—not just talking about change, but building it together, from the ground up,” she said.
Carrying Walter P. Carter’s legacy forward
Walter P. Carter remains one of Baltimore’s most significant figures in the fight for equality and dignity. His leadership in the 1960s helped break down segregation and forced the city to confront its injustices. His legacy is not just one of protest, but of building institutions and movements that served everyday people.
For Carter, the Institute continues that tradition, grounded in the belief that community comes first.
“We have the people, we have the talent, we have the heart,” Carter said. “What we need is more unity, more collaboration, and more spaces where we can build together.”
Details on programs, events and ways to connect will be announced in the coming weeks.
Sen. Emerita Jill Carter released a video on Instagram announcing the initiative.