About OSI-Baltimore
OSI-Baltimore focuses on three intertwined problems: untreated drug addiction, overreliance on incarceration, and obstacles that impede youth from succeeding inside and outside the classroom. OSI-Baltimore also supports the Community Fellows, a corps of social innovators who work to revitalize underserved communities.

How Does White America Talk About Race?
Baltimore, MD
December 1, 2009
Rich Benjamin, author of Searching for Whitopia: An Improbable Journey to the Heart of White America, and Tim Wise, author of Between Barack & A Hard Place: Racism & White Denial in the Age of Obama, will discuss white America's struggle to talk about race.

Stoop Stories
Baltimore, MD
February 22, 2010
In partnership with OSI-Baltimore, this performance series will present “Across the Divide: Stories About Race in Baltimore,” a show about being black and white in Baltimore.

Philanthropist George Soros Gives $5 Million to OSI–Baltimore to Provide Relief from Recession for Baltimore’s Most Vulnerable
October 19, 2009
Philanthropist George Soros is giving $5 million to the Open Society Institute-Baltimore to provide services for thousands of the city’s most vulnerable residents who have been particularly hurt by the recession.

Share Your Story About Race
September 1, 2009
OSI-Baltimore is collecting personal stories about race for an upcoming radio series on WYPR's Maryland Morning and a live evening of storytelling produced by The Stoop Storytelling Series.

Poll Finds Marylanders Willing to Pay More in Health Care Premiums to Increase Access, Affordability to Addiction Treatment
Press Release
September 23, 2009
The Open Society Institute-Baltimore released the results of a local poll that shows broad support for increasing access to alcohol and drug addiction treatment.

OSI-Baltimore Launches "Talking About Race" Series
August 13, 2009
OSI-Baltimore's yearlong speaker series probes how Americans talk (or do not talk) about race.

Efa Ahmed-Williams
Through her organization Destiny Despite Sickle Cell Disease, Ahmed-Williams will raise awareness about sickle cell disease while encouraging and empowering adolescents and young adults to manage their chronic illness by using coping strategies and life skills.

Rhonda Elsey-Jones
Elsey-Jones will establish the Women Healing Our Lives Entirely Intervention Project to break the cycles of abuse, trauma, addiction and incarceration for women of promise.

Sarah Hemminger
Through the Incentive Mentoring Program, Hemminger will empower struggling high school students by surrounding them with a family of mentors to form a comprehensive and dependable social network. Students will become self-motivated, resourceful, socially aware leaders who are committed to service.

Dwayne Hess
Hess will establish the Neighborhood Spiritual Center to promote personal growth and healing for west Baltimore residents.

Herbert Johnson
Johnson will launch the No Easy Ridin’ Here: Stories and Recipes of Survival project with senior citizens who reside at the Basilica Apartments.

Melissa Ruof
Ruof will establish Jubilee Arts, a community arts program serving the west Baltimore communities of Sandtown-Winchester and Upton.

Tresubira Whitlow
Whitlow will establish The Griot's Eye, a unique youth leadership and community development program that fuses media technology with cultural awareness.

Jill Wrigley
Wrigley will create a toolkit and resource guide that will help Baltimore City Schools bring healthy and sustainable food and garden initiatives into their school communities.

Ear to the Ground
 AUDIO
This yearlong radio series, supported by the Open Society Institute, features conversations with six individuals navigating Baltimore's schools, addiction treatment centers, social services, and criminal justice system.