Baltimore BORN realized a number of great successes with the students enrolled throughout our operations.   BORN is confident that the students will continue to impress with their motivation and talents as they build their network and positive impact on the city of Baltimore.

As BORN transitions from its existing model, the goal is to establish a means by which BORN is able to have a continuous positive impact on a greater number of Baltimore young men.  Thank you for supporting the mission of the organization and the young men of Baltimore BORN.

The boys of Baltimore BORN continued their civic engagement and discovery of new opportunities, resources, and networks on Saturday, November 19 at Real Food Farm. Real Food Farm is Civic Works’ urban agriculture enterprise engaged in growing fresh produce on six acres of land in Clifton Park in northeast Baltimore. Real Food Farm works toward a just and sustainable food system by improving neighborhood access to healthy food, providing experience-based education, and developing an economically viable, environmentally responsible local agriculture sector.

The boys arrived on the brisk November morning, ready to help a variety of volunteers to prepare the land and plants for the winter months. The boys spent the early hours moving sod from one location to a plod of land that will be used for cultivation next growing season. Laying the worm-rich sod over the grass will help the soil develop over the dormant, cold months. The BORN students worked tirelessly, loading wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow and working as a team to transport and lay the sod.

The boys also worked in the hoophouses, preparing the leafy vegetables for winter survival. The staff toured the farm, relating information about the enterprise, the virtues of urban agriculture, and the history of Clifton Park. The students learned that the land being farmed was formerly Clifton Lake. Their helping to move the sod was an important effort to ensure that water does not pool in the field and kill future crops.

As a reward for the work and an opportunity to network and share stories, the boys joined a potluck lunch with staff and other volunteers. They feasted on two freshly-prepared soups, whole-grain bread, clementines, a sweet potato curry dish, and chips and salsa. A few boys got involved in a frisbee toss during lunch in the warming sunshine. BORN looks forward to many more visits and service learning hours earned at Real Food Farm.

Taharka Brothers is a unique company that hires urban young men, brings them together, and teaches them business strategy and entrepreneurship. These young men run and manage this company and all of the profits return to the foundation. Through the experience the boys of BORN were able to work closely with the Taharka Brothers young men to learn the process of ice cream making. The boys helped to make the new fall favorite ice cream, “Occupie Pumpkin”. They were able to get a first hand encounter of television production and the (sometimes tedious) process of production and being in front of a camera. During the taping, the boys were also able to learn Halloween specific fire safety tips from Mr. Cartwright and gain valuable mentorship from this Baltimore leader.

The day ended with an anxiously anticipated tasting of the pumpkin ice cream, along with a sampling of other flavors and the famous Taharka Bros sundae toppings. Baltimore residents, make sure to tune into TV25 at 8:30pm on Thursday October 27th to see the episode. All others can catch the episode on Youtube or watch for a link on the BORN website and social media sites.

Ravens defensive back and Baltimore native Domonique Foxworth is the founder of Boys Opportunity and Resource Network, or BORN, which helps lead young boys toward education and prosperity.

Read the entire article and view footage on wbaltv.com by clicking here.

The success of the day and the positive impact on the community led the 6th Branch and One Green Home at a Time to push for continued service to the Oliver Community. This led to the creation of “Operation Oliver”. Operation Oliver is a long-term project including major events and ongoing efforts in Baltimore City’s Oliver neighborhood, an area devastated by economic depression and crime, and made famous by television’s The Wire. The mission includes garbage removal, beautification, landscaping, safety patrols, and art. An overarching goal of Operation Oliver is to create a national model of a veterans’ sponsored community. This project will allow the boys of BORN to continue to make lasting impact on their community while gaining access to strong role models and mentors. The launch date is October 1st, with another cleanup effort, mural painting, and park restoration. Click here to volunteer and join us.

Eleven-year-old Tra’Shawn Brown was walking to a convenience store on his block in East Baltimore’s Oliver neighborhood when a man ran up to him, grabbed his money and ran off.

“I filed a police report,” Tra’Shawn said. “But seriously, who robs an 11-year-old?”

That was why Tra’Shawn didn’t get out of the house much until recently, except for school. Two miles north of Baltimore’s bustling Inner Harbor district, his almost all-black neighborhood was featured in HBO’s series “The Wire” as the city’s epicenter of chaos and violence. Continue reading the article here

Baltimore BORN is endlessly grateful to all of our donors, community partners, volunteers, and the families and students with whom we work. This year was full of enriching classroom and community learning, social growth, and emotional bonding. The opportunities, resources, and networks that are provided for the students are a direct result of our supporters and stakeholders. Everyone at BORN thanks you for your commitment to the students of Baltimore city and for being a friend of Baltimore BORN.

That Monday at two o’clock, as part of their annual Pat Tillman Legacy Summit, the Military Scholars flooded onto North Bond Street ready to make a positive impact. The BORN students split into two groups; one group worked on the final stages of the mural project while the second group paired with Military Scholars to work on the beautification efforts. The BORN boys demonstrated tremendous work ethic on a boiling summer day, taking frequent short breaks to grab a snack and some water (or pose for pictures with the Baltimore Raven cheerleaders). In four strenuous hours, the group of volunteers (over one hundred in all) spanned twelve square blocks, overloaded a roll-off dumpster with garbage and overgrowth , and showed how impactful a focused effort can be.

The BORN boys gained great access to Military mentors, earned service learning hours toward graduation, and deepened their emerging need to serve their community. Being the representatives from the neighborhood, the boys will work to sustain this work and reference the mural as a reminder of their involvement in this important day. Baltimore BORN is grateful to all the organizations and people involved in bringing this successful service effort to the Oliver Community.

More pictures
Read more about Domonique’s involvement