Scott Unveils Paid Program for Community-Led Change | The Locally Times
The 12-week initiative offers residents, small business owners, and community partners a direct path to design and implement grant-funded projects, building on the city's public safety gains.
Yesterday, Mayor Brandon M. Scott unveiled the Community Action Lab, a new paid, 12-week leadership program designed to empower Baltimore City residents, small business owners, and community partners. This initiative, which begins in the city's Northern District, will equip participants with practical skills to drive neighborhood revitalization and advance public safety. Crucially, the program offers a direct path for locals to design and implement grant-funded projects, fostering tangible change in their communities. ## Building Local Power for Lasting Change Described as a hands-on leadership and community development initiative in the City of Baltimore's April 1 press release, the Community Action Lab is a collaborative effort. It brings together the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE), the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore City Innovation Team (i-Team) as a key component of the City's broader Neighborhood Public Safety Plan. The program's robust design draws insights from experts at the University of Baltimore, the Newark Public Safety Collaborative (NPSC), and SafeGrowth®, all aimed at building capacity and residents to transform their own neighborhoods. Participants will hone practical skills across key areas: community development, violence prevention, environmental design, and neighborhood improvement. ## A Hands-On Path to Community Solutions This paid, in-person leadership course is set to run from May 18, 2026, through August 7, 2026, offering participants intensive training to lead sustainable, community-driven solutions. The program's initial phase will concentrate on Baltimore's Northern District. This initiative builds directly on significant public safety gains, as the Mayor's office highlighted a nearly 60% reduction in homicides and nonfatal shootings across the city over the past five years. By directly involving residents in neighborhood improvements, the Lab aims to deepen this progress. A core component allows participants to translate their learned skills into direct action by designing and implementing grant-funded neighborhood improvement projects within their own communities. ## Key Details Remain Unanswered While the City of Baltimore's announcement clearly outlines the program's scope and goals, several key financial and logistical details remain unspecified. The press release did not provide the total budget allocated for the Community Action Lab. Similarly, the number of residents or small business owners expected to participate, or the overall target enrollment, was not detailed. The specific amount of grant funding available for the neighborhood improvement projects participants will undertake also remains unoutlined. Furthermore, the announcement did not include any future expansion plans for the program beyond its initial focus on the Northern District. ## At a Glance: What You Need to Know **What is it?** A 12-week, paid, in-person leadership program for Baltimore residents, small business owners, and community partners. It focuses on community development, violence prevention, environmental design, and neighborhood improvement. **When does it run?** Sessions are scheduled from May 18, 2026, through August 7, 2026. **How can residents participate?** Participants will design and implement grant-funded neighborhood improvement projects in their communities. The program's initial phase targets Baltimore's Northern District.