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 future we will never see.” That belief is etched in my soul. It’s why I believe we must armor our young scholars with the skills and confidence to shape the world they will one day inherit.
J4P Associates, led by Pat and Peter Handal, share this philosophy. They have consistently demonstrated that business isn’t just about the bottom line– it’s about building up the people and places that raised us. Their revitalization work along the North Avenue corridor, home to landmarks like the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum, shows how business leaders can be a force for transformation. Their message is clear: when we invest in our neighborhoods, we create vibrant, safer communities that honor our past and empower our future.
So, when the Handals asked me how I’d pour back into the community, I didn’t hesitate. I thought about our youth—the heartbeat of the 45th District—who deserve every opportunity to dream, write and define their own futures. With their support, we launched a writing initiative in August 2024 that did more than just teach literacy. It gave our young scholars a voice.
This effort brought together educators, school leaders, and community advocates to amplify student expression and nurture their growth through writing. Under the visionary leadership of Principal Tiffany Williams, Collington Square Elementary-Middle School embraced the program with open arms. Literacy Coach Erica Foote played an instrumental role, guiding students through prompts like “Baltimore Heroes,” “Black History,” and “My Future Aspirations.” Gardenville Elementary soon joined, led by the dynamic Principal Noraida Ankobia, adapting the initiative to reach even younger scholars.
The culmination of this effort took place in a powerful Black History Month awards ceremony held around noon, where students presented original pieces under the theme “My Future is Inspired by.” The pride on their faces was unforgettable. Thanks to the generosity of J4P Associates, winners received cash prizes. But more than that, they received validation—the knowledge that their voices matter. That morning, Joseph Haskins, Jr., founder and chairman of The Harbor Bank of Maryland and one of the few Black-owned financial institutions in our state, delivered a keynote that left the room inspired. Mr. Haskins, a financial pioneer and a personal mentor, spoke not just of wealth—but of the wealth of knowledge, confidence and purpose that literacy brings.
Literacy is not a luxury. It is a necessity. It opens the doors that others tried to shut. It fuels imagination, drives innovation and gives every child—regardless of zip code—the power to shape their destiny.
James Baldwin once wrote, “The limits to your ambition were thus expected to be settled.” But we reject those limits. Through literacy, we are tearing down the boundaries that once constrained our dreams. We are equipping our youth not just to read and write—but to lead.
This work matters. It’s why I will never stop fighting for equity in education. It’s why I stand with business leaders like the Handals who see literacy not just as an educational issue, but as an economic one. A community that reads is a community that rises. And the futures we help build today will define the Baltimore we dream of tomorrow.
The power of literacy is the power to build futures. Let’s ensure that power reaches every young scholar in our city.
About the Author
Senator Cory V. McCray represents the 45th Legislative District in the Maryland State Senate, where he champions issues of equity, education, and economic opportunity. A proud graduate of Baltimore City Public Schools and an electrician by trade, Senator McCray brings a working-class voice to Annapolis and remains deeply committed to uplifting the neighborhoods he calls home.
