Living Classrooms Foundation strengthens communities and inspires young people to achieve their potential through hands-on education and job training, using urban, natural, and maritime resources as "living classrooms."
Girls’ Empowerment Mission (GEM) serves disadvantaged Baltimore County, high school girls. It is an after-school and weekend program offering a full three-year curriculum centered on monthly themes, which include college preparation, effective habits for success, career exploration, money management, culture, leadership, and service to others, mental and physical wellness, and healthy relationships. The structure of the GEM program includes two evening programs and one weekend retreat each month. GEM girls also engage in over 30 hours of service to others per year during GEM activities.
The Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle grant enabled GEM to hire a new employee who would follow participants through a variety of experiences, consisting of 20 after-school programs, 17 retreat days, including three college campus visits and a two-week summer camp. The program was successful with girls having a 97% attendance and 100% graduation and college bound rate.