Baltimore Urban Leadership Foundation (The Door)

We exist exclusively for social, economic, educational, physical, spiritual and charitable purposes by providing consulting services and fund-raising support to urban and multi-cultural community-based organizations and ministries for the purpose of promoting urban leadership development, racial reconciliation, and community renewal in neighborhoods with significant minority populations.

Description:
The Door operates seven unique programs that improve the quality of life for community residents. The Science Enrichment After School Program and the Science Enrichment Summer Camp provide students with academic enrichment, spiritual training, and physical development. These programs, targeting children in grades 1-5 from low-income families, encourage measurable academic improvements in reading and math in a fun interactive learning environment. Many of the children attend the primary designated partner Title I school (Commodore John Rodgers Elementary School), or live in the targeted communities in East Baltimore.

For middle school boys and girls, respectively, LOT (Leaders Of Tomorrow) and SISTAS (Seeking Individual Self Expression Through Academics and Spirituality) encourage positive youth development, leadership and academic excellence through enrichment activities, cultural field trips, role playing to reduce risky behaviors, career readiness, and health and nutrition awareness.

Four football teams comprise, Sports Matters, a Pop Warner League program that builds character and academic enrichment through tutoring, mentoring, counseling, and physical training. Project Lazarus provides hands-on construction skills training to ex-offenders and recovering individuals while revitalizing the community by turning vacant buildings into quality affordable housing for low- income families. Four men graduated from the program last year, upon renovation of three houses.

The Door’s successes are the result of collaborations with families, schools, churches, and other community groups to reduce the impact of socio-economic challenges for East Baltimore’s neediest children and families. As a result, The Door serves 1395 individuals and families annually.

The community recognizes The Door as a leading human service hub for after school programs, youth development, and other social services. The year round food pantry serves 500 families annually. The facility housing our programs is also a meeting place for the C.A.R.E. Community Neighborhood Association, Solid Rock Ministries, The Divine Cathedral Church, and Urban Environmental Health.
Executive Director at the Door, Ms. Mary McClinton said, “While all of our programs serve a purpose, I would like to see more community investments go toward programs for youth and teens. The defining feature of our programs is teaching children that education presents the optimal opportunity for improving the quality of life in our community. Joyce Banks of the Peoria, IL Leadership Foundation said that she wanted to see a “capital campaign” for children instead of buildings.” When we ask the community to invest in The Door, we are asking their participation in long-term investments that are realized in transformed lives, sustainable communities and empowered families. We develop viable communities through our most valuable assets, children and families.

History:
The Door was founded in 1984 by Joe Ehrmann, a former NFL lineman for the Baltimore Colts, to improve the well being of children affected by socio-economic challenges such as blighted neighborhoods with high unemployment rates, a disproportionate number of families living below poverty level, high teen birth rates, poor school performance and high crime rates. The Door still adheres to its founder’s approach of placing a strong emphasis on the development of at-risk children and enhancing the lives of their families through long-term developmental programs and character enrichment activities.

The organization is an accredited member of the Leadership Foundations of America (LFA), a national network of local faith based organizations that mobilizes leaders of faith and community- based organizations, businesses, and other resources to serve the poor and disadvantaged. The network provides essential technical assistance through organizational and leadership training. The LFA, through 30 local offices, 2,500 partners, and 10,000 volunteers, works directly to improve the lives of 200,000 people each year.

Contact person: Mary McClinton, Executive Director, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (410) 563-4255

Address:

219 North Chester St. Baltimore, MD 21231 (See a map)

Miscellaneous Information

Governmental Agency?
	No