By
Michele Wolff
Baltimore
For 25 years, The Shriver Center has strived to lead meaningful social change through transformational higher education and community partnerships. We are raising funds to continue offering programs and initiatives in pursuit of this vision. The Shriver Center addresses critical social challenges by bridging campus and community through engaged scholarship and applied learning. Through the work of The Shriver Center, UMBC has become a national leader in applied learning, community engagement, and community-based service delivery.
Governor's Summer Internship Program • Sondheim Nonprofit Leadership Program • MDOT Fellows Program • Sondheim Public Service Law Fellowship
This initiative partners UMBC students with community-based, nonprofit organizations and PreK-12 schools to meet community identified needs in various issue areas that serve diverse populations. These areas include, but are not limited to, animal welfare, education, the environment, food and housing access, healthcare and mental health.
This program brings together Returned Peace Corps Volunteers who build upon their intercultural experiences and commitment to the ideals of Peace Corps service to promote sustainable development in the urban communities of the Baltimore-Washington area. Program participants join and help maintain a network of leaders who work toward social improvement and equity through the integration of academic study, community service, and ethical reflection.
For 30 years, Choice has engaged, mentored, trained, and advocated for disconnected youth. The overarching program goals are to: reduce recidivism of young people involved in the justice system; reduce placement in foster care for youth in the social services system; and strengthen youth and family ties to the community through increased educational and vocational opportunities. The Choice Program interventions provide services in the Baltimore and Washington DC metro areas. The program has strong partnerships with the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, the Maryland Department of Social Services, Baltimore City Public Schools, and AmeriCorps.
The four Public Service Scholars initiatives, coordinated on behalf of the state of Maryland, introduce undergraduate and graduate students to the rewards and challenges of careers in the public and nonprofit sectors. Through these summer experiences, students from a variety of higher education institutions engage in substantive internships; work in groups to develop policy papers, projects and models; and, gain in-depth learning through a seminar series about many aspects of state government and nonprofit organizations.
Students United for Campus-Community Engagement for Post-Secondary Success (SUCCESS) is Maryland’s first four year, university-based program for young adults with intellectual disabilities. As a four-year pilot, SUCCESS enabled students with intellectual disabilities to develop their independence, critical thinking, problem solving skills, and employment skills. By providing the students with a four-year college experience, they are given the opportunity to interact with their peers through a wide array of inclusive educational, social and recreational campus based activities.
All funds raised are administered by the UMBC Foundation for the benefit of UMBC.