Advocates warn summer program cuts and Children & Youth Fund oversight gaps could leave thousands of young Baltimoreans without services

Community leaders, educators and youth testified that proposed budget changes risk shrinking summer programs and other out‑of‑school supports that young people rely on.

Kim Trueheart, a long‑time Baltimore resident, told the committee she is concerned the Baltimore City Children and Youth Fund “has gone astray” and said she has submitted a public records request after being unable to obtain a clear accounting of the fund balance; she cited community reports that the fund balance could be between $17 million and $40 million.

Nut graf: Witnesses said these uncertainties and reductions in philanthropic and federal pandemic funding risk a “wake‑up call” for youth services this summer. David Schmidt, a city public school teacher, warned of approximately 12,000 fewer YouthWorks positions this summer and called for a “clean pilot” to protect summer jobs and multilingual access. Ellie Mitchell of the Maryland Out‑of‑School Time Network (MOST) said the city should have a coordinated, long‑term plan for youth opportunity and sustain investments beyond short‑term grants.

Lawson’s budget overview noted targeted general fund investments including $504.3 million in support for city schools and smaller allocations for violence‑reduction strategies, vacant building remediation, solid waste staffing and permit modernization; speakers asked that youth programming not be further cut.

Ending: Advocates asked the council to use the hearings to restore or protect youth program funding, clarify the Children & Youth Fund balance and ensure summer programs are accessible to multilingual and immigrant youth.