Maryland Communities United
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Founded in 2010, the mission of Communities United (CU) is to organize and empower low income Maryland residents to achieve transformative change. We cultivate relationships with and between people, organizations and other groups to promote grassroots power and cohesion in Baltimore, Maryland and the nation.
By providing opportunities for policy education, discourse and action we build resilient grassroots power among those historically shut out of economic and political life. Our work is centering the leadership of those most directly impacted by injustice – racism, poverty, trauma, addiction, criminalization. |
CU Organizational Principles
Every individual has power, and we have more power together.
Organizing is the heart of all we do.
Membership is ownership of our collective work.
Weactivate communities to take action.
Our members are experts in their lives.
Organizing is the heart of all we do.
Membership is ownership of our collective work.
Weactivate communities to take action.
Our members are experts in their lives.
Issues we work on include...
Incarceration & AddictionAs people targeted by the War on Drugs, our communities have been routinely over-policed, under-protected and short of the kinds of investments that reduce crime. Our struggles have always included consideration for those who use or have used drugs and who have been criminalized and marginalized
Education & Parent EngagementIt takes a village to raise a child. Our parents, community members, and students in our community schools work together to advocate for long-term, equitable investment in the proven community school model. Our organizing in schools builds parent power by through relationships that are the bedrock of transparency between parents, teachers and school administrations.
COVID Response and Medicare4AllAs COVID-19 ran through our communities, Communities United responded with mutual aid and connecting community members to the resources they needed: food, vaccination appointments, tools and skills to help them and their families bridge the Digital Divide.
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Trauma & ResilencyOur communities grapple with loss everyday. In our member led support group, neighbors come together to support each other, share resources, and face trauma head first to build resilient neighborhoods and schools.
HousingInadequate and unsafe housing conditions negatively affect everyone. We organize residents in public housing and rental housing to demand safe, affordable, healthy homes. We also organize all residents who are face forced relocation and gentrification-based displacement.
YouthFor three years we worked with youth both during the summer and after-school during the school year. In the summer of 2019 our Youth Organizing Leadership Academy (YOLA) provided education to Youthworks students and other city youth to get a real taste of organizing. After 5 weeks of paid training, several youth were promoted into our organizing practicum to hit the streets with our organizing team. These young leaders continue to raise their voices to demand what is right in Baltimore City, the state of Maryland, and the entire country.
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My experiences with Communities United helped me so much. Now I know what is possible when people come together." - Janette Wheeler
When we fight, we WIN!
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2013 Won same day registration on early voting days.
2015 Restored the vote for citizens with felony convictions upon release from prison. 2015 Increased funding (67% increase – $4 million for a total of just over $10 million) for community schools in Baltimore. 2016 Registered over 1,000 released prisoners to vote. Reinstated of funding for Baltimore community schools (won in 2015 then cut by mayor in 2016) 2017 Reinstated of funding for community schools, initially cut in the mayor's FY 2018 Budget. 2016-20 Organized monthly trauma support groups in Perkins, Gilmor and McCulloh Homes, as well as emergency meetings as requested by individuals in need. 2018 Established a new support group in Cherry Hill, at the request of staff & parents at Cherry Hill Elementary-Middle. 2018 Won landmark rental licensing regulation for 1-2 unit dwellings in Baltimore City homes. 2019 Won statewide minimum wage for nearly 600,000 workers who will see steady increases from $10.10 today to $15 by 2025. |
2019 We successfully re-framed the conversation about the Baltimore Budget process. While our voter initiative did not get on the ballot, city council members are looking into putting a charter amendment on the ballot modeled after our legislation. The new charter amendment giving the council power to direct spending goes into effect in 2022 (re Budget for FY23).
2020 COVID-19 revised our plans in the MD General Assembly. We shifted to mutual support in our communities, distributing food & having coffee in McCulloh & Gilmor Homes, holding a Holiday Free Market in Penn-North, and moving our organizing into virtual space. Participated with 1000s of other Baltimoreans in one of the largest, most peaceful rallies following youth leaders. Introduced #Defund2Refund to describe our fight to right-size the Baltimore Police budget. 2021 With other Baltimore organizations, relaunched Baltimore Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools (AROS) table to fight for the schools our children deserve. 2021 COVID vaccine outreach resulted in vaccinations in Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood. 2022 Continued to influence the discourse on police funding using #Defund2Refund. 2022 Introduced a bill into the Maryland State Legislature to decriminalize small quantities of drugs as our continued fight to end the War on Drugs |
