The Arts & Education:

Agents of Change in Baltimore City
Community Arts Partnerships / Maryland Institute College of Art

The Office of Community Arts Partnerships (CAP) at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) is charged with providing local Baltimore children with enriching art-based, out-of-school, educational experiences by utilizing the talents and energies of MICA art students. CAP programs are designed to deliver arts-based, after-school educational experiences and first-rate instruction to Baltimore City children.

A primary goal of the program is to foster healthy, long-term relationships between participating children and MICA students. This program seeks to provide comprehensive, community-based educational opportunities for MICA students and finally, to develop and nurture quality partnerships between the local Baltimore community, service providers, and MICA. One of CAPS first and most unique collaborators is The Child First Authority of Baltimore City.

The Child First Authority of Baltimore City

Child First is a Strategy
Created as a partnership, the Baltimore Child First Authority currently funds nine after school programs in one middle school and eight elementary schools throughout the city. The goal of the program is to create and provide high quality academic, cultural, and recreational activities for students in participating public schools by organizing parents, teachers, principals and staff, and church and community members to collaborate for the students’ and school’s success.

Every site has a team of at least 20 members of those constituencies who plan and implement its program and participate in the organizing. Each site receives a grant of up to $80,000 from Child First, and the Authority organizes partnerships with other institutions such as the Maryland Institute College of Art, who add expertise and resources to the program as well.

Child First is an Authority
The Child First Authority is the only authority in the country created to meet the needs of children, with bonding authority and the ability to receive a stream of "dedicated funds" for its on-going operation. The Authority was established in 1996 by state and city legislation, as a result of two-year organizing efforts of its partner Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development (BUILD), a broad-based community organization affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation.

Child First is Funded
Since its creation, the Authority has sought and gained funding commitments from key partners in the corporate sector, the mayor and city council of Baltimore, the governor of Maryland, and key members of the state legislature. In fact, the Maryland legislature also approved a $400,000 capital bond bill in 1996 and nearly $900,000 for playground reconstruction this year for Child First sites.

Child First is Organizing
Organizing relationships for collaboration and success is the distinguishing feature of a Child First site. Partners are trained to build relationships using the organizing methods taught by BUILD organizers.

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