2019 CIIP Program Book CIIP Booklet 2019 | Page 15

Community Partner: Central Baltimore Partnership
Intern: Sofia Cuenca Aguirre
Site Supervisors: Ashley Wallace and Aaron Kaufman
What is Central Baltimore Partnership?
Central Baltimore Partnership (CBP) is a ten-year-old nonprofit with over 100 partners
who together achieve a comprehensive strategy for community revival in eleven Central
Baltimore neighborhoods. CBP is a lattice of neighborhood associations, communi-
ty-based nonprofits, businesses, public agencies, and institutions including Johns Hop-
kins University, the Maryland Institute College of Art, and the University of Baltimore.
• Created a resource document
for social workers/case manag-
ers to use when making home
visits for the Housing Upgrades
to Benefit Seniors (HUBS) pro-
gram
• Reengaged and developed new
rapport with community health
partners and stakeholders.
• Researched evidence-based
practices to measure health
outcomes in community devel-
opment
• Assisted with grant writing and
reporting
When I walked into the Central Baltimore Partnership (CBP), I had no idea what community
development entailed. Throughout this summer I had the opportunity to learn all about Central
Baltimore, the organizations, initiatives, and people located in the area. CBP is a place-based
organization whose single goal is to improve the quality of life of all individuals in the 11 neigh-
borhoods Central Baltimore covers. Whether it is through running a grant program for commu-
nity projects, leveraging funding opportunities, supporting the work of its partners, or provid-
ing technical assistance, CBP is diligently working to mobilize stakeholders for the benefit of
Central Baltimore.
Community development is defined by the United Nations as “a process where community
members come together to take collective action and generate solutions to common prob-
lems.” Community development is a field of collaboration, and Central Baltimore Partnership
has taught me the importance and shown me the strengths found in convening stakeholders
from all levels of power in a conversation. I have had the opportunity to meet with everyday
residents, community leaders, entrepreneurs, and representatives from anchor institutions. The
breadth of community voice and community involvement that passes through Central Baltimore
Partnership has been truly inspiring, and this level of collaboration and community engagement
is definitely something I want to take with me as I pursue a career in public health.
The focus of my role at CBP was to advance their community health initiatives. At first, this task
seemed a little daunting, but I have gained so many valuable skills and produced tangible work
in the process. My duties helped me realize just how great the overlap between community de-
velopment and public health truly is, and they have broadened my perspective of what a public
health perspective can look like outside of a classroom. Since orientation, the question “who is
not at the table?” has stuck with me, and I am so glad that in this internship I got to experience
an organization that actively asks itself this question and pursues community input.
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