Baltimore Launches First Youth Master Plan at Community Gathering, Centering Youth Voice in City's Future

The Baltimore Children & Youth Fund (BCYF) hosted The Gathering 2025: Roots & Reach on November 17, bringing together over 350 community members, youth leaders, and grassroots organizers to celebrate Baltimore's community-led youth ecosystem and officially launch the Baltimore Youth Master Plan. This plan represents the city's first comprehensive, youth-driven roadmap designed to elevate youth voice, strengthen grassroots leadership, and align citywide resources around priorities defined by young people themselves.

The Youth Master Plan, developed through months of collaboration, listening sessions, and community engagement, reflects a shared commitment to building equitable systems of opportunity across Baltimore. The plan will guide investments and policy alignment over the coming years, centering youth as key decision-makers in shaping the city's future. "To see hundreds of young people, elders, organizers, and partners all in one room learning, celebrating, and building together was powerful," said Alysia Lee, President and CEO of BCYF. "The Youth Master Plan is our promise that young people's voices will guide Baltimore's future. The Gathering 2025 was just the beginning."

The event featured 27 interactive sessions led by youth, grassroots leaders, and practitioners across the city, covering themes such as health and wellness, storytelling, harm reduction, and youth rights. Nearly half of all sessions were led or co-led by young people under age 24, underscoring BCYF's mission to elevate youth leadership in every facet of community-building. Throughout the day, attendees participated in workshops on grant management, creative self-care, and youth-centered program design, alongside showcases from The Marching Elite, Coach G Academy, and the Baltimore American Indian Center.

The convening's theme—"Roots & Reach: Citywide Change From the Ground Up"—captured BCYF's philosophy that lasting transformation must begin with those closest to both the challenges and the solutions. Participants left with new connections, shared strategies, and collective commitments to carry the work forward. This approach represents a significant shift in how cities can engage their youngest residents, moving beyond token youth advisory roles to genuine decision-making power in resource allocation and policy development.

The implications of this announcement extend beyond Baltimore's city limits, serving as a potential model for other municipalities seeking to authentically engage youth in governance. By creating a formal mechanism for youth input to guide investments, Baltimore is addressing systemic inequities at their source and building infrastructure for intergenerational leadership. The Youth Master Plan's development process itself—rooted in extensive community engagement—ensures the resulting policies reflect the actual needs and aspirations of Baltimore's diverse youth population rather than top-down assumptions.

For additional highlights from the event and to learn more about BCYF's work, visit http://www.bcyfund.org. The Baltimore Children & Youth Fund employs a dual investment strategy—pairing direct funding for youth-serving organizations with training and learning supports that promote long-term sustainability and strengthen Baltimore's youth ecosystem. Through this approach, BCYF delivers vital financial and educational resources to community-based organizations in education, health, safety, and enrichment, ensuring every young person has access to the opportunities they need to thrive.