The program also featured an oral history by Christopher W. Wilson, Director of the Museum’s Program in African American Culture, excerpts from the Museum’s Historic Theatre programs, Sing for Freedom and the award winning Join the Student Sit Ins, and an opportunity for students to engage in conversation with the Greensboro activists. 

In addition the main portion of the program the boys also had the opportunity to partake in a mock sit-in and learn what it was like for the brave men and women who tolerated seemingly unbearable conditions to help grant all people of color their basic civil rights. 

Lastly, the museum staff gave the boys a special tour of the Star Spangled Banner exhibit, where they learned all about the significance of the American flag and all of its ties to Baltimore.  Like our boys, the flag was truly Baltimore born.

We owe a tremendous thank you to the staff at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, and all the school principals, teachers, and parents who understood the significance of this opportunity and allowed us to take the boys out of school on a Thursday.  Most of all we thank the boys of Baltimore BORN.  The boys, who are all 5^th graders, were the only students younger than high school invited to attend this program at the museum.  They were kind, thoughtful, considerate and brilliant and made the staff of Baltimore BORN very proud!

The mission of Baltimore BORN is to provide boys the support and services necessary to succeed, flourish and become the men they want and deserve to be. The founder of the program is Baltimore Raven Domonique Foxworth. Domonique knows that if not for the high expectations of him coupled with opportunities, resources and networks provided by those around him while he was growing up, he would not enjoy the success he does today. Through Baltimore BORN he will provide a strong, academically challenging, culturally enriching, and opportunity filled program to boys in their formative years so they too can achieve their dreams. It is our goal that the boys enrolled in BORN stay with us through graduation from high school. To achieve this mission, participants in Baltimore BORN will:

1.  Develop critical thinking, writing and speaking skills

2. Learn to successfully work independently and in groups

3. Thoughtfully evaluate ideas of manhood in our society

4. Encounter new experiences and see these experiences as opportunities for personal and community growth

5. Draw on a network of professional and personal support in a journey toward college graduation

6. Participate in public service projects that demonstrate an understanding of contemporary problems in Baltimore and beyond

All research shows that quality after-school programs for middle school aged boys is important for both academic and social success. One of the other success indicators for African American boys* is access to strong male role models. Baltimore BORN was designed to have a very small staff/volunteer to student ratio. The men running the program are all exemplary role models and will be interacting with the program participants on a regular basis.

Baltimore BORN is honored to be partnering with two Baltimore City Public Schools for the pilot program.  Both Baltimore School for the Arts and Dr. Bernard Harris Elementary have been very generous with their time, space and resources and we are thrilled to be working with students from TWIGs at Baltimore School for the Arts and fifth grade students from Dr. Bernard Harris.  In return, the schools are happy to be partnering with an outside program that can help supplement the hard work they do during the school day.

Throughout the past sixth months, the Executive Board of Baltimore BORN has done a great deal of research to create a program that was truly needed in Baltimore.  Prior to the launch we were able to reach out to all those that helped us in the planning stages and offer details of what BORN will provide to its participants.

David Miller, Co-Founder of the Urban Leadership Institute in Baltimore commented on the launch of BORN:

“This is much needed work in Baltimore. Often the academic and social issues that young Black males face in Baltimore have been topics of numerous discussion yet little action. Whether it’s the alarming graduation rates among young Black males, college matriculation rates and homicide/non-fatal injuries, Baltimore needs more non-traditional approaches to engage boys. I applaud your actions and steps!”

The links below highlight some of the research done in this area. We invite you to read the research and to contact Baltimore BORN directly with any questions about our specific program.

*Please note that while Baltimore BORN is a single sex program it does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation. There are many references to African American boys and that is because the large majority of the boys eligible for Baltimore BORN(based on geography, schools attended and income) identify themselves as African American.

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“Man Up: Recruiting & Retaining African American Male Mentors”

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National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center

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Evaluation of Afterschool Programs

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“Being a Black Man.” An interactive look from the Washington Post