Event brought together youth, grassroots leaders, and partners from across the city to launch a historic, community-built roadmap for Baltimore's young people.
BALTIMORE, MD, December 01, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Baltimore Children & Youth Fund (BCYF) and the Grantee Planning Committee successfully hosted The Gathering 2025: Roots & Reach on Monday, November 17, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, bringing together more than 350 community members, youth leaders, and grassroots organizers.
The annual flagship convening served as a celebration of Baltimore's community-led youth ecosystem and marked the official launch of the Baltimore Youth Master Plan—the city's first comprehensive, youth-driven roadmap designed to elevate youth voice, strengthen grassroots leadership, and align citywide resources around priorities defined by young people.
To be developed through months of collaboration, listening sessions, and community engagement, the Youth Master Plan will reflect a shared commitment to building equitable systems of opportunity across Baltimore. The plan will guide investments and policy alignment over the coming years, centering youth as key decision-makers in shaping the city's future.
"To see hundreds of young people, elders, organizers, and partners all in one room learning, celebrating, and building together was powerful," said Alysia Lee, President and CEO of BCYF. "The Youth Master Plan is our promise that young people's voices will guide Baltimore's future. The Gathering 2025 was just the beginning."
The event featured 27 interactive sessions led by youth, grassroots leaders, and practitioners across the city, covering themes such as health and wellness, storytelling, harm reduction, and youth rights. Nearly half of all sessions were led or co-led by young people under age 24, underscoring BCYF's mission to elevate youth leadership in every facet of community-building.
Throughout the day, attendees participated in workshops on grant management, creative self-care, and youth-centered program design, alongside showcases from The Marching Elite, Coach G Academy, and the Baltimore American Indian Center.
The convening's theme—"Roots & Reach: Citywide Change From the Ground Up"—captured BCYF's philosophy that lasting transformation must begin with those closest to both the challenges and the solutions. Participants left with new connections, shared strategies, and collective commitments to carry the work forward.
For additional highlights from the event and to learn more about BCYF, visit bcyfund.org.
About the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund
The Baltimore Children & Youth Fund (BCYF) is a nonprofit, city-funded initiative dedicated to improving the lives of young people across Baltimore. BCYF employs a dual investment strategy—pairing direct funding for youth-serving organizations with training and learning supports that promote long-term sustainability and strengthen Baltimore's youth ecosystem. Through this approach, BCYF delivers vital financial and educational resources to community-based organizations in education, health, safety, and enrichment, ensuring every young person has access to the opportunities they need to thrive. To learn more, visit http://www.bcyfund.org.
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