Thanks to the many individuals and organizations that have supported us over the years, Living Classrooms continues to be a driving social and economic force in the Baltimore community and around the region. We have received wide recognition for our innovative approach to education, service, and community development, and we are proud to say we have grown from serving 100 students to over 40,000 youth and young adults per year.

One idea that continues to permeate all of the Foundation's efforts is "you can make a difference." This notion is at the core of our conviction, our mission, and our hope. This belief that one can make a difference, coupled with genuine concern for our youth and community, has driven and proven the mission of this Foundation for two decades. It is what brings our staff and volunteers to work each day. It is what inspires us to invest in our youth and the future, while highlighting our community and its history. Most importantly, it is the message we strive to teach and instill in our youth every day - that they too can make a difference.

Many of the individuals we serve come to us with odds riding against them: poverty, lack of family and social support, failure in school, not fitting in, or past criminal involvement. As a result of these negative experiences, it is often the lack of confidence alone that keeps one from moving forward. Living Classrooms Foundation operates over 30 programs, all of which are designed to provide students with the necessary skills, education, and resources to be successful, and to inspire them to make positive choices. The choice to stay off the streets and get a job, or to go to school and build a future, or simply the choice to believe in oneself, affects an individual's life and has a tremendous ripple effect that can be felt by peers, family members, and the larger community. Their positive example becomes an inspiration for others.

Living Classrooms' education programs set high academic standards and use hands-on learning to teach and show youth that they can learn and achieve. The Foundation's job skills training programs empower youth and young adults with the knowledge that they are in charge of their destiny, and the skills and opportunities to further their lives. Living Classrooms' community-based programs, in partnership with the National Historic Seaport of Baltimore, bring learning and history alive, while preserving and promoting our nation's rich history. The Foundation's community development programs are involving residents in stewardship and making environmental and safety improvements to the city's neighborhoods and waterfront areas.

Throughout this web site, you will read about the success of the Foundation's education and job-training programs, and learn about how you can get involved. Thanks to your support, Living Classrooms Foundation is able to have a powerful impact in the lives of our youth and be a positive force in the community.

James Piper Bond, President and CEO