What are your three favorite Audacious Ideas for Baltimore? Audaciousideas.org is meant to be a forum for debate about critical ideas and solutions to our city’s most challenging problems. Please let us know which three ideas you think have the most potential for making Baltimore a city where opportunity thrives for all its residents. Just […]
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More splendid ideas for Baltimore
Monday, December 15, 2008As we mentioned last week, because there have been so many great ideas generated on the blog, it was pretty much impossible for our staff to agree on just one—or two, or three. But we are “re-posting” several more this week that we felt deserved a second read. Please take the time, as the year […]
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Best audacious blog posts: part 1
Monday, December 08, 2008As the year comes to a close, the Open Society Institute-Baltimore staff took a moment to reflect upon and review the more than 50 audacious ideas that have been posted here on audaciousideas.org. In true Open Society fashion, everyone in the office had a different idea about their favorites, so we did not choose just […]
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Rebuild schools, create (green) jobs for local communities
Monday, December 01, 2008Imagine walking into a Baltimore City public school, noticing immediately the light streaming in through the windows, the attractive rooms where children are excitedly discussing their latest project, the sound of a flute coming from the music room. Could this be a Baltimore City school? YES, IT COULD be, if Baltimore citizens and leaders team […]
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History is in our hands
Monday, November 24, 2008We are living in an extraordinary time. The country has elected its first ever African-American President who is also our first community-organizer-in-chief. The country is experiencing an economic meltdown as serious as any since the Great Depression. States and cities are experiencing budget shortfalls, while families, workers and communities are hurting. We know that the […]
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Baltimore Green Map
Monday, November 17, 2008I believe that the self-image of our city would be infinitely improved if we could hold in our mind’s eye not just the scenic characteristics that define it – waterfront, stream valleys, parks, monuments, architectural landmarks, major thoroughfares – but also the many elements that show a cleaner, greener, safer, healthier Baltimore to be a […]
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Charles North Vision Plan
Monday, November 10, 2008at the center. in the mix. Can Baltimore create a regional destination that is not on the waterside? In the last 10 days, there has been widespread media coverage of the release of the Charles North Vision Plan by Mayor Dixon, the Central Baltimore Partnership and the Baltimore Development Corporation. Surely a country that can […]
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Seizing the momentum
Monday, November 03, 2008As a reporter in Baltimore for nearly three decades, I know this city is rich in stories. This fall, thanks to a public radio reporting grant from OSI, I have been working on a documentary on an urgent local topic– the scourge of truancy. For generations, the city’s truancy and dropout rate has led the […]
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Encouraging STEM education
Monday, October 27, 2008My audacious idea is that we want to produce students who will help our country to be as competitive globally as possible. The 21st Century Economy is going to require more emphasis on STEM fields – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics — and we need in Baltimore to think about being competitive within the 50 […]
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Positive youth development
Monday, October 20, 2008Baltimore’s dropout rates and youth violence get their fair share of publicity. Blame has been placed everywhere – school structure, gangs, drug culture, family situations. What’s been lost in these conversations is a strong conviction of youth as individuals who need caring relationships with adults, nurturing environments, and stimulating activities in order to develop into […]
