Mayor Scott Unveils Community Action Lab to Foster Neighborhood Revitalization and Safety in Baltimore

City of Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott has announced the launch of the Community Action Lab, a new initiative aimed at empowering residents and community partners with the skills and resources needed to drive neighborhood revitalization and enhance public safety across the city. This hands-on leadership and community development program is a collaborative effort involving the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE), the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore City Innovation Team (i-Team). The initiative is a component of the city’s broader Neighborhood Public Safety Plan and draws insights from organizations such as the University of Baltimore, the Newark Public Safety Collaborative, and SafeGrowth®. The program’s next phase emphasizes building capacity and equipping residents to spearhead transformations within their own communities.

The Community Action Lab will offer a paid, twelve-week leadership opportunity for engaged residents, aspiring community leaders, small business owners, and community partners, initially focusing on Baltimore’s Northern District. Participants will receive practical training in crucial areas such as community development, violence prevention, environmental design, and neighborhood improvement. The curriculum is designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and tools to lead sustainable, community-driven solutions. This initiative directly impacts residents by providing them with avenues to actively contribute to and improve their local environments and safety. The program is scheduled to run from May 18, 2026, to August 7, 2026.

The program is open to individuals residing within the Baltimore Police Department’s Northern District. Residents can verify their district by visiting the Baltimore Police Department website. Participants will engage in hands-on learning experiences designed to foster practical skills. These include community leadership and organizing, environmental design and neighborhood improvement strategies, public safety tactics and violence prevention methods, effective storytelling, grant writing, project planning, and data-informed problem-solving. A key component of the lab involves participants designing and implementing neighborhood improvement projects within their communities, which will be supported by grant funding.

The City of Baltimore is allocating $81,000 in funding to support the Community Action Lab. This financial investment will cover stipends for participants, provide technical assistance, and fund the neighborhood improvement projects. A significant portion, 80%, of these funds will be directed toward community-led efforts, ensuring that the resources directly benefit neighborhood initiatives. The program is built upon five core principles: sustainability, aiming for lasting impact; leadership, empowering residents to take initiative; collaboration, fostering collective progress; equity, increasing access to leadership opportunities; and public safety, strengthening secure and thriving communities.

Applications for the Community Action Lab are currently open and will close on May 3, 2026, at 11:59 PM. Interested individuals in the Northern District are encouraged to apply online. To provide further information and answer questions, the City will host a series of virtual information sessions. These sessions are scheduled for April 7th and April 29th, both beginning at 5:30 PM, and will cover the program’s structure, eligibility criteria, participant benefits, and details about funded project opportunities. Following this initial twelve-week period, the city aims to expand the Community Action Lab to additional police districts, extending this opportunity to more Baltimore residents.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the City of Baltimore

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