Hope Doesn't Wait
Why This May Is More Than a Milestone: It's a Movement!

As we celebrate National Mental Health Awareness Month this May, we highlight this year’s theme: “More Good Days, Together.” This message resonates deeply with the mission of Springboard Community Services (SCS) as we strive to help individuals and families create stability, safety, and hope in their lives.

At Springboard, we know that mental health is about more than just treatment; it’s about fostering an environment where people can achieve their personal goals and find well-being. For many, a “good day” may mean having access to safe housing, nutritious food, reliable transportation, or simply the ability to show up for therapy.

This theme reflects our belief that wellness is built through strong community ties and support systems. We are dedicated to addressing the interconnected challenges our clients face, ensuring that mental health services are integrated into broader efforts that include housing, financial security, and personal safety.

There are moments in the life of an organization when everything you have been building quietly begins to speak loudly. For Springboard Community Services, May is one of those moments.

This month, in partnership with Change the Conversation, SCS will host our first multidisciplinary two- day conference entitled Collective Conversations: Setting Hope in Motion on May 11-12, 2026. This conference is not just an event on a calendar. It is a declaration. A declaration that the work of preventing harm, healing trauma, and building resilient communities deserves a room full of the boldest and most committed people we can gather. Moreover, this year, we have done exactly that.

When I look at program the team has built; the speakers we are bringing to Baltimore; the conversations we are creating space for; and the practitioners and advocates who will walk through those doors, I am reminded of why this work has always been worth it. Even when it is hard. Especially when it is hard.

In this current moment we are operating in, the need for what we do has never been greater. Families are navigating pressures that are real and heavy. Children need safe spaces and trusted adults more than ever. Communities are asking for exactly what SCS was built to provide. That reality does not discourage me. It focuses me. It reminds me that our mission is not aspirational. It is urgent!

So as we head into this month, I want to invite you, whether you are a colleague, a partner, a donor, or someone who has simply been watching what we do, to lean in. Come to the conference. Consider becoming a donor. Share our work with someone who needs to hear it. Be part of setting hope in motion.

That is not just our tagline. It is our promise.

With gratitude and purpose,

F.T. Burden

CEO, Springboard Community Services

This Is Not Your Typical Conference
Collective Conversations: Setting Hope in Motion

Some conferences fill your notebook. This one will fill your purpose.


On May 11 and 12, 2026, Springboard Community Services invites you to Collective Conversations: Setting Hope in Motion at The Center Club in Baltimore — two days built to be honest, bold, and genuinely useful.


People from across fields and backgrounds will come together to share what is working, what is hard, and what comes next in preventing harm and promoting healing from child abuse. Every session is designed to spark real reflection and send you home with tools you can use. Not someday. Right away.


This year's keynote speakers bring two of the most powerful forces in this work:


Erin Merryn opens Day 1 — author, speaker, and child abuse advocate who transformed her own story into a national movement as the architect of Erin's Law, now enacted in 38 states and Ontario, Canada.


Dr. Wendy Ellis joins us for Day 2 — Director of the Center for Community Resilience at George Washington University, known for her groundbreaking Pair of ACEs framework connecting research, policy, and practice toward lasting community resilience.


Together, these two women bring a fullness to this conversation that is rare. We are honored to have them anchor our time together.

Inked with Hope Is Returning

Inked with Hope is Back 2nd Annual | Saturday, June 13th | 5pm | Westminster, MD

Last year we showed up. This year we show out.

Motorcycles. Art. Flash Tattoos. Silent Auction. DJ Rob Johnson. And a cause worth every moment of it. Join us June 13th at VFW Post #467 in Westminster as we raise support for domestic violence and intimate partner violence survivors across Central Maryland.

Come for the energy. Stay for the cause. Leave knowing you made a difference. Behind every ticket is a family like the ones we serve every day at SCS. Survivors who needed a safe place to land, a voice in their corner, and a path forward. Your presence at Inked with Hope helps us keep that door open. It tells survivors across Central Maryland that this community sees them, stands with them, and will not look away.


Last year's inaugural event brought our community together in a way that reminded us all what is possible when people show up for one another. Year two is going to be even more powerful, and we want you there to be part of it. Get Your Tickets Today 

From Our Community: A Story of Hope Breaking the Cycle, Building the Future

She had been here before. Not as herself, but as a child watching her mother navigate the unimaginable. Nearly two decades ago, a little girl sat in the care of Springboard Community Services while her mother found her footing in the aftermath of an abusive relationship. That little girl grew up. And when life brought her to her own moment of crisis, she knew where to turn.

At 32, a mother of two was forced to flee her home after her ex-partner began stalking and threatening her, sending others to her workplace and leaving her with no job, no safe place, and two children to protect.

When she reached out to SCS, something important happened. She was believed. She was not alone.

Her case manager connected her to counseling and referred her to Maryland DHCD's New Futures Subsidy Program. Today, she and her children have a stable home and a fresh start.

What makes her story remarkable is what her trust represents. She came back to the same organization that cared for her as a child and found the same compassion waiting. The cycle that once threatened to define her is being rewritten.

Stories like hers are made possible by you. If this moved you, please click the button below and consider making a gift today.

The Gold Standard: Celebrating Dian Bosley

We’re excited to recognize Dian Bosley for her outstanding contributions and unwavering dedication to Springboard.

Amid an already demanding workload, Dian stepped up in a big way following Bryan Smith’s departure. She seamlessly took on additional responsibilities, including payroll processing and other detail-intensive tasks, all while continuing to excel in her own role, without a single error.

When Kay Turner joined as our new Senior Payroll and Accounting Specialist, Dian once again went above and beyond, spending hours assisting with training, and ensuring a smooth transition.

On top of that, Dian stayed on top of her bookkeeping responsibilities, successfully managed five grant renewals, maintained supervision and oversight of all grants, and oversaw our largest $1.9 million VOCA grant. Each submission was completed on time, reflecting her exceptional organization and commitment to excellence.

Dian’s reliability, initiative, and team-first mindset make a lasting impact. We’re truly grateful for everything she does and the gold standard she sets for us all.

Thank you, Dian!

New Hires Spotlight: Growing Our Circle of Care

Every new face at SCS represents a new point of hope for the families and communities we serve. We are grateful they are here, and we are just getting started.

Mark Your Calendars

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up at Springboard Community Services. We hope you’ll join us and stay connected to the work we’re doing in the community.


• Collective Conversations - Setting Hope in Motion: May 11-12th 2026
  
• Inked with Hope: June 13th 2026
  

Keep an eye out for more information, and don’t forget to save the dates.