Chrissy Thornton, President and CEO of Associated Black Charities, recently spoke with Kathleen McNally Durkin of The Arc Baltimore about the nonprofit’s 75‑year legacy of empowering individuals with developmenta
The National Fund for Workforce Solutions knows the most effective solutions start with the people closest to the work. The Baltimore Workforce Funders Collaborative (BWFC) at Maryland Philanthropy Network is a powerful example of what’s possible when workforce solutions are rooted in community. During a recent visit, BWFC hosted the National Fund's Board of Directors and staff team for a day that showcased their deep relationships and bold worker-centered approach. From listening and learning to seeing workforce programs in action, it was clear how important deep community relationships are to the success of BWFC’s efforts to reshape the future of work in Baltimore.
Economic justice is often defined by policies, metrics, and outcomes—minimum wages, unemployment rates, wealth gaps. But what if true economic justice isn't just about better numbers?
Maryland Philanthropy Network's Baltimore Workforce Funders Collaborative is proud to announce new funding from JPMorganChase to support career pathways in Baltimore. The $2 million philanthropic capital aims to strengthen high-quality training programs and build effective public-private partnerships, helping Baltimoreans secure well-paid jobs in the growing energy and infrastructure sectors while leveraging JPMorganChase’s growing presence in the region to convene stakeholders and drive economic growth for all.
The path to a fulfilling and well-paying career in Baltimore may not run through a college.
The state of Maryland has recognized the potential for registered apprenticeships both to provide a path to better-paying careers that do not require college degrees and to help employers meet their needs for employees with specialized skills. In this latest Abell Foundation report, Linda Dworak of Maryland Philanthropy Network’s Baltimore Workforce Funders Collaborative offers an overview of apprenticeship and the current landscape in Maryland and Baltimore.
Maryland Philanthropy Network is pleased to welcome Elaine Carroll as Program Manager for the Baltimore Workforce Funders Collaborative! Working with the Director of the BWFC, Linda Dworak, Elaine will facilitate the formation and implementation of the new Baltimore Climate and Infrastructure Workforce Hub (The Hub).
The Abell Foundation has long focused its efforts on alleviating poverty and in recent years has more consciously framed its work in terms of addressing the effects of Baltimore’s historic segregation, disinvestment, and persistent racial discrimination. Like many, it has been prompted by the anniversary of Gray’s death to assess what has changed in the last 10 years.
We are proud to share our Baltimore Workforce Funder Collaborative, along with our local partners, was included among the awardees of The Families and Workers Fund Powering Climate & Infrastructure Careers Challenge! Totaling more than $12 million in grant funding and technical assistance, the Challenge awards will help community organizations and state and local governments tackle the serious workforce challenges facing the United States on its path toward a sustainable economy and 21st-century infrastructure.
Baltimore is brimming with potential, but because of historic segregation, disinvestment, and persistent racial discrimination, we have yet to fully realize all we can be. The Abell Foundation is committed to improving health, economic, and educational outcomes in Baltimore City so that all people can thrive.

