Governor Wes Moore and Arnold Ventures Announce $20 Million in Grants to Boost Youth Programs Across Maryland

Annapolis, MD – Governor Wes Moore, in collaboration with Arnold Ventures, has announced the allocation of $20 million in grant funding designed to support and expand programs aimed at enhancing the well-being and educational outcomes for thousands of young Marylanders. This latest round of funding, part of the Maryland Partnership for Proven Programs, will bolster initiatives focused on young men and boys, expand Big Brothers Big Sisters’ reach, and facilitate the implementation of the Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) model at four community colleges. These combined efforts are projected to benefit over 3,000 Maryland youth and students, providing them with crucial resources to succeed in their academic and community pursuits.

The Maryland Partnership for Proven Programs represents a significant collaboration between the State of Maryland and Arnold Ventures, focused on scaling evidence-based initiatives. This partnership, initially announced in February 2024, seeks to increase economic mobility and improve cradle-to-career outcomes for residents statewide. Arnold Ventures has committed $20 million in matching funds to support meticulously chosen programs that have demonstrated success in workforce training, education, and crime prevention. The current $20 million in awards is a continuation of this commitment, building upon previous investments.

A substantial portion of the new funding, totaling $14.4 million, has been awarded to Harford Community College, Prince George’s Community College, Wor-Wic Community College, and the Community College of Baltimore County. These institutions, in partnership with the Maryland Higher Education Commission, will implement the ASAP model. This comprehensive program offers academic, personal, and financial support to students from low-income backgrounds who may require remedial education, with the proven ability to significantly increase graduation rates. The expansion of the ASAP model is expected to directly impact students at these community colleges, providing them with a more robust pathway to associate degrees and beyond.

Additionally, $5.6 million has been designated for Big Brothers Big Sisters, in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services and the Governor’s Office for Children. This funding aims to address the current backlog of hundreds of youth, predominantly boys, awaiting mentorship. The investment will enable Big Brothers Big Sisters to connect an additional 1,000 young people with community-based mentors across nine counties: Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, Cecil, Frederick, Kent, Prince George’s, Somerset, Washington, and Wicomico. Mentoring programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters are recognized for their effectiveness in supporting young men and boys by addressing mental health and substance use challenges, enhancing safety from violence, and strengthening pathways to career and postsecondary education.

The programs supported by these grants are slated to begin implementation and expansion this year, with anticipated continuation over the next four years. These initiatives build on prior successes of the Maryland Partnership for Proven Programs, which has previously supported organizations like ASSISTments for online math learning and Saga Education for high-dosage tutoring to improve educational achievement. The Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy is providing ongoing support to Maryland and Arnold Ventures in identifying, implementing, and sustaining effective programmatic opportunities.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Office of Governor Wes Moore

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