Johns Hopkins University’s commitment to Baltimore is based on a simple idea: The health and well-being of the university are inextricably tied to the physical, social, and economic well-being of the city. JHU is not just in Baltimore, but truly and proudly of Baltimore.
JHU’s commitment to its hometown began with founder and namesake, Johns Hopkins, whose bequest established a hospital and a university in Baltimore. Today, President Ronald J. Daniels has made strengthening ties to the community one of his top priorities through meaningful, deliberate, and strategic actions in collaboration with other local stakeholders.
“We are excited to join CUMU! In our strategic framework, called Ten by Twenty, we made a commitment to enrich our ties to the nation and world. Through CUMU we see an opportunity to learn from and with other institutions to continue to better Baltimore and affect urban communities around the world.” —Kylie Patterson, Sr. Advisor for Local Economic Inclusion, Johns Hopkins University
As the city’s largest private anchor institution, Johns Hopkins feels the pull of the issues facing Baltimore, as well as the wealth of opportunities offered for collaborations with our neighbors. JHU likes to say that they’re not just in Baltimore, but are truly and proudly of Baltimore.
Johns Hopkins is one of 33 CUMU members participating in the Higher Education Anchor Mission Initiative.
Here are just a few examples of how Johns Hopkins is making a difference in the communities they serve.
- HopkinsLocal: leverages our role as the largest private anchor institution in Baltimore to create lasting economic opportunities in the city. Johns Hopkins effort to promote economic growth in Baltimore exceeds expectations.
- BLocal: a commitment by Baltimore-area businesses to leverage their collective influence to help strengthen the city and create opportunities for Baltimoreans. Baltimore BLocal partner businesses invest millions in city during program’s first year
- Homewood Community Partners Initiative: a strategy to attract 3,000 new households to the vibrant urban area over the course of 10 years by creating retail shops, arts, entertainment, cultural institutions, high-caliber amenities, and quality public schools.
- East Baltimore Development Initiative: A mixed-use revitalization project supported by city, state, and federal agencies, and other philanthropies and private business owners.
- Baltimore Scholars: assists high-achieving Baltimore City Public School graduates with significant financial need.
- President’s Day of Service: an annual event when more than 1,000 Hopkins people participate in projects throughout the city.
- Johns Hopkins Neighborhood Fund: supports nonprofit organizations that serve the communities close to Johns Hopkins campuses
- Live Near Your Work: offers grants assisting employees with down payment and/or closing costs on homes in target neighborhoods near our campuses
- Community Impact Internships: pairs Johns Hopkins undergraduate students with nonprofit organizations to work on community-identified projects
- Partnering with local schools:
- In 2015, Johns Hopkins and Baltimore City Public Schools announced they were teaming upto transform Barclay Elementary/Middle School into the city’s first pre-K through eighth grade school dedicated to giving students a foundation in engineering and computer skills. See also: City students get a leg up in STEM fields and Homewood field trip
- Through the P-TECH program, Baltimore City students at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School get a free associate’s degree and entry-level professional experience