• Some schools saw an increase in violent incidents this year, but not always in the predictable places

    -This piece discusses how OSI’s partnership with Baltimore City Schools to integrate restorative practices has resulted in fewer suspensions and arrests and contains a quote from OSI’s Karren Webber- By Liz Bowie Art class had just started when the seventh grader girl began to worry. As she saw a group of eighth- graders filing in [...]
  • Pro lacrosse all-star to expand his North Baltimore youth nonprofit

    -Matt Hanna is a 2013 OSI Community Fellow- By Melody Simmons A growing Baltimore nonprofit founded by former pro-lacrosse player Matt Hanna has leased a high-profile space at Belvedere Square to grow its program to help city youth strengthen their academics. Next One Up signed a lease to take over the former Brick Bodies gym at Belvedere [...]
  • Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts taught me photography and created lifelong bonds

    By Vincent Purcell -Vincent Purcell is a 2014 OSI Community Fellow- My grandfather (Opa) and his family were painters and photographers for generations, and so I grew up with an appreciation for visual arts from a young age. My Opa photographed everything and kept thousands of meticulously cataloged slides. Around middle school, he gave me an [...]
  • ‘Yes On My Block’: Advocates, city officials urge support for overdose prevention sites

    -OSI-Baltimore is a longtime member and supporter of the BRIDGES Coalition- By Marcus Dieterle William Miller II shares how his father, who was “at the top of his life,” died from an overdose on Oct. 7, 2020. The next day, the younger Miller says he was given a blessing: the birth of his own son, [...]
  • Mock overdose prevention site opened today at the Nomu Nomu Art Center

    -OSI-Baltimore is a longtime member and supporter of the BRIDGES Coalition- By WMAR Staff BALTIMORE  — Just a few weeks ago, it was revealed the recent death of Ravens' Linebacker Jaylon Ferguson was caused by an accidental drug overdose. Now lawmakers are being encouraged to take action to prevent overdoses city wide. Mayor Brandon Scott and [...]
  • Preventing overdose, saving lives

    -Open Society Institute- Baltimore is a longtime member and supporter of the BRIDGES Coalition- Opioid overdoses take thousands of lives. And now Xylazine, a tranquilizer meant for large animals, has been discovered as a cutting agent, through a rapid analysis program led by Maryland’s Opioid Operational Command Center. A whopping 80 percent of drugs tested [...]
  • Advocates show Baltimore what a drug ‘overdose prevention site’ looks like

    -OSI-Baltimore is a longtime member and supporter of the BRIDGES Coalition- By Meredith Cohn With drug overdose deaths continuing to rise, a league of advocates and providers have been pushing for safe, supervised places for people to use the drugs out of the public’s way. The places, called overdose prevention sites, provide clean needles and [...]
  • Baltimore social justice organization commits $250,000 towards abortion access

    -Open Society Institute- Baltimore is working diligently to make sure that families have safe abortion access.- By Tinashe Chingarande, Special to the AFRO A Baltimore social justice organization has committed $250,000 to protect access to abortion and ensure bodily autonomy in Maryland. This was followed by a Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, [...]
  • City, organizations fund effort to make Baltimore safe place for abortions, family planning services

    By Lisa Robinson — Baltimore City officials, joined by various community organizations and service providers, announced funding opportunities for abortion and family planning service providers... In addition to money from the city, Open Society Institute-Baltimore is allocating $250,000. "I'm also using this opportunity to invite my colleagues from other foundations to add funding to this [...]
  • Baltimore City to contribute $300K to abortion providers as state prepares for influx of patients

    -Open Society Institute- Baltimore is working diligently to make sure that families have safe abortion access.- By Matt Hooke In the wake of the ruling, local groups like Baltimore Abortion Fund and Planned Parenthood have received an influx of support, while several health care providers that operate in Maryland have affirmed their commitment to providing [...]