Baltimore Residents Graduate from Race Relations Community Engagement Project

Darlene Nowlin

December 5, 2024

A group of Baltimore residents stands together, with one woman in a blue sweater warmly hugging another in a floral jacket. The scene reflects a moment of community engagement, as others nearby watch with the shared understanding and unity that strengthen race relations.

Graduates receiving their certificates from GPF and CCR representatives.

A tried and tested method of confronting and addressing contentious issues like racism, hatred, and racial discrimination is to lean in on grassroots advocacy and engage people where they are.

This has been the linchpin of the Global Peace Foundation’s (GPF) Baltimore Cross Community Reconciliation Project (BCCR). This undertaking, conducted in partnership with United Way, concentrates on shrinking racial discrimination.

The project trains those in the program to become community peacebuilders with an emphasis on shared humanity and values.

“It gave me a different perspective on how I analyze cultural issues that we experience within the media. I appreciate everything we all brought to the table,” participant Naya Ellis said.

As the project’s mission statement explains, “In an effort to reduce racial discrimination and increase empathy and understanding, it is our responsibility to work together to build bridges, strengthen relationships, enhance mutual respect, and build confidence in our diverse communities.”

A group of Baltimore residents seated at tables covered with yellow tablecloths gathers in a room, attending a community engagement project focused on fostering positive race relations.

Participants graduate from the most recent Baltimore Cross-Community Reconciliation project.

The expectation is that the long-term friendships cultivated during the course of this project will be the building blocks of a new coalition, the Community Peacebuilding Committee. It is anticipated that members who live in Baltimore will be able to step in and cooperatively work with law enforcement, residents and other stakeholders and handle a range of issues and concerns as they arise.

“This was such a great session. The conversations you had and your contributions will help you as you interact with your neighbors and other members of the community in the future,” Gail Hambleton, Senior Program Specialist, Values-based Peacebuilding International, GPF said during the graduation ceremony.

In its second year, the program consisted of 10 sessions over a 6-month period that actively encouraged constructive dialogue where the group examined and analyzed stereotypes, premises and prevailing assumptions about race relations in Charm City.

A man in a suit speaks at a podium with a microphone, addressing Baltimore residents about race relations, as a woman stands in the background in front of a projected screen.

Alan Inman, Senior Advisor for Global Peace Foundation, speaks to graduates of the Baltimore CCR project.

Faith-based leaders, public officials, and other members of the community led discussions before attendees broke into groups with facilitators. The facilitators were equipped with experience in conflict resolution and counseling.

At the completion of the sessions, the participants worked together to host a Multicultural Information Fair as a service project. The event included resources and cultural demonstrations, giveaways, and free food.

Poulheria “Paula” Frankos added, “It was nice that we worked so well together. We did have differences, but we respected each other. Volunteerism is very important, and what we did as a group for our community was needed.

The Global Peace Foundation works with community and faith-based leaders and local governments in areas of conflict to establish dialogue, build trust, and forge lasting relationships. Since 2016, GPF has organized successful community peacebuilding projects in the communities of Billings, MT and Jersey City, NJ.

For more information on community peacebuilding projects and the work of the Global Peace Foundation, visit https://globalpeace.org/cross-community-reconciliation/.