This year at the Tall Ships America Annual Conference, Living Classrooms received two national awards. Lady Maryland’s Captain Laura "LP" Page was awarded Sail Trainer of the Year and Living Classrooms Foundation was awarded the National Maritime Excellence Sail Training Program of the Year award! Living Classrooms Foundation’s Maritime Education Programs, aboard the world‘s only pungy schooner Lady Maryland, skipjack Sigsbee, and Chesapeake Bay buyboat Mildred Belle, provide thousands of students annually with “learning by doing” programs that emphasize applied learning of math, science/STEM, history, language arts, and leadership skills. Our Maritime Education team works tirelessly to introduce students to hands-on STEM learning through environmental science and real-world exploration of our waterways.

Congratulations Captain LP and the whole Maritime STEM Education team on this wonderful and well-deserved recognition!

Where Participation Sparked Purpose: Written by Living Classrooms Alum Chelsey Gasque

When I think about the moments that shaped me, the ones that guided my values, strengthened my confidence, and planted the seeds for the work I do today, Living Classrooms Foundation will always be at the center of that story. What began as an after-school program I attended in elementary and middle school became one of the most meaningful communities of my childhood, and truly, one of the earliest foundations of my personal and professional legacy.

I was a young girl from Baltimore navigating a world that was not always easy to understand. But every afternoon, when I walked through the doors of Living Classrooms, I stepped into a space where I felt safe, supported, and believed in. Today, I am a graduate with a degree in Psychology from the number one HBCU in the country, Spelman College, and I am the founder of a nonprofit for young Black girls called Sister 2 Sister. When I reflect on how I arrived here, I can trace so much of my purpose back to Living Classrooms.

Living Classrooms is not just part of my past; it continues to influence my present and guide my future. It is a legacy I carry with pride and one I will always honor by paying forward what was once given to me.

Love Your Block Baltimore is a national community-based mini-grant initiative made possible through a partnership with Living Classrooms Foundation, the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs, and the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation. Our grants fund resident-led neighborhood projects in Belair Edison, C.A.R.E (Caring Active Restoring Efforts), and Broadway East communities focused on cleaning, greening, and community safety. Our most recent Love Your Block projects engaged youth in summer sports programs, community clean ups and plantings, and helping to maintain the business corridor in the Belair-Edison neighborhood. These successful projects bring the community together and create a healthier and safer environment!

Residents interested in learning more about participation in the program, application deadlines, and eligibility and selection criteria for the Love Your Block program should contact Tendai Murray at tmurray@livingclassrooms.org or visit our web site to apply!

Mark your calendars for October 2, 2026, and look forward to a wonderful evening of great music, delicious food, and fun cocktails at Living Classrooms 38th annual Maritime Magic, the best party in Baltimore! Maritime Magic is an event focused on bringing people together and raising funds for Living Classrooms life-altering programs. Want to help make this night a success? Living Classrooms offers a variety of sponsorship opportunities to accommodate anyone's desire to get involved.

For more information about Maritime Magic sponsorship options, please contact Thara Taylor.

NEW Patient Care Technician Training

Across Baltimore and Washington, DC, Living Classrooms customized job training programs are helping youth and adults gain valuable skills, secure employment, and build brighter futures. A new training we are offering is a Patient Care Technician Training!

This new program is designed to help individuals build on their healthcare experience and advance their careers in patient care. Patient Care Technicians provide daily care, assisting with vital signs, mobility, wound care, hygiene and more, and can work in a variety of healthcare facilities. Living Classrooms also provides after program support to ensure our participants secure and maintain employment.

To learn more about the trainings we offer and how to get involved, please call 410-591-6710.

On February 28th, the Hank Entwisle Band and Morgan State University Choir performed a concert at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall benefitting Living Classrooms Ascend through Music Program. Guests enjoyed an evening of great music blending multiple genres including rock, hip hop, gospel, and more. Thanks to Hank and all who contributed towards the event, the evening raised $100,000, ensuring that young people have free access to learn, grow, and express themselves through music. Ascend through Music provides free lessons, instruments, supplies, and dedicated mentors to help close gaps in access to music education for students and families in Baltimore and Washington, DC. Whether you attended, performed, sponsored, or supported the event in another way, your presence and generosity helped make the night truly meaningful.

Music has a powerful way of bringing people together, and the talent and energy in the concert hall reminded us why programs like Ascend Through Music matter so much. We are deeply grateful to Hank and his band, the extraordinary Morgan State University Choir, and all those who attended and contributed to making this evening a success. Your support and partnership make this work possible.

Play it Forward: DC United

Are you a soccer fan? Join Living Classrooms at Audi Field on Saturday, April 4th to cheer on DC United! A portion of the proceeds from tickets purchased using the link below will go to Living Classrooms and our impactful programs in Washington, DC. Come out to support your local team and your local nonprofit!

Our Crossroads Middle School Girls' Basketball team went 31-0 this season, winning the Title IX Classic at Archbishop Caroll in Washington, DC and the Baltimore Athletic League Championship! The team had a packed season playing and defeating teams across Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia, and New Jersey. Towards the end of the season, the team had the opportunity to play during halftime at the CAA Conference Tournament at CareFirst Arena. We couldn’t be prouder of our young scholar athletes for showing up every practice ready to work hard, uplift their teammates, and improve their skills. Special shoutout to Coach Maurice Sweat for guiding and encouraging our team to be the best they can be! Go Wolverines! 

Annual unrestricted and program-restricted gifts are needed to support the work of Living Classrooms. In addition, you can also help to ensure the future of Living Classrooms by considering including Living Classrooms into your estate planning. There are many ways to support Living Classrooms in your estate plans including bequests, beneficiary designations, trusts, memorials and tribute gifts, IRA charitable rollovers, and more. These avenues give us the ability to strategically expand on the work we have done and plan for a promising future, even in periods of uncertainty. There is also great benefit to you including tax deductions, reducing taxable income, and more. If you would like to learn more, please visit our web site.

Any action affecting your overall estate planning should be discussed with your financial advisor. We are happy to coordinate with your financial advisor to strategize a potential bequest.

Chrissy Thornton, President and CEO of Associated Black Charities (ABC) and successful author, made a special visit to the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park on February 4th. Ms. Thornton had a Black History Month discussion with our 162 Crossroads students focused on Black history heroes, Juneteenth, and the importance of giving back. Ms. Thornton read an original story called The Day the Sky Changed about a young, enslaved girl named Ruth learning about her emancipation on Juneteenth. She also led our students in a call and repeat hymn bringing the story to life.

Our Crossroads students were enthralled with Ms. Thornton's written story and her own personal story which informed and inspired her to lead a life of service. We are grateful for Ms. Thornton coming to speak to our students and inspiring them with her storytelling and important work!