This document provides information about the Baltimore Urban Program (BUP), including its directors, history, goals, and activities. Some key details: - BUP began in 1988 and includes a 6-week summer internship program and shorter spring break programs. - Interns work at various sites, mostly with children, and participate in cultural experiences, simulations, and meetings with local faith leaders to learn about urban ministry. - The goals are to give students practical experience in urban ministry, provide service to the community, and help students see Baltimore in a new light by exposing them to the ways God is working there. - Past interns reported that BUP transformed their faith and call to social justice work.

1. Baltimore Urban Program Summer Directors: Galen and Ebony Zook Spring Break Director: Natalie Flora

2. Baltimore Urban Program Began: 1988 Spring Break Programs Led by students and staff at Johns Hopkins Summer Program: Restarted in 2008

3. Largest city in Maryland “ hyper-segregated” city (racially) As of 2009, the population of Baltimore was 637,418. The Baltimore Metropolitan Area has approximately 2.7 million residents Baltimore City lost more than 1/3 of it’s population between 1950 and 1990 Baltimore

4. Baltimore (continued) Baltimore is home to the Baltimore Basilica (1806–1821) which is the oldest Catholic Cathedral in the United States. 2009 saw 238 homicides in the city - the fourth-highest homicide rate per capita of all U.S. cities of 250,000 or more population. There are at least 13 four-year colleges and universities in Baltimore metropolitan area.

5. What makes Baltimore Unique Row Houses Neighborhoods change vastly from one block to another Vacant boarded up houses and extreme poverty on one street Pristine middle-class to upper-class homes on the next block.

6. Statistics on Southwest Baltimore (from 2000 Census) 64% of families with children under the ages of 18 have no husband present 58% of total housing units are renter occupied 51% of population over age of 25 have less than a high school degree 43% of this population are employed 53% of households made less than $25,000 35% of total persons in SW Baltimore are below the poverty line 25% of houses are vacant (does not include empty lots)

7. Spiritual Characteristics of the City Undertones of racism and segregation – still affected by days of “Blockbusting”/redlining Drugs have stronghold on many people African-American church has strong presence in the city Many Suburbanites know Baltimore for the Inner Harbor (nice touristy area) - but do not venture into the residential areas of Baltimore.

8. Types of Projects Baltimore Urban Program – 6 week internship 9 students 2-3 different internship sites, mostly working with kids 1-2 weeks of Spring break Urban Plunge Serves 4 colleges in area – 10-20 students each week 2-3 weekend “dips” per year, by campus

9. Give college students a glimpse into the ways that God is at work in the city of Baltimore, Give students practical experience and training in Urban ministry. Provide an opportunity for God to transform students Provide real service to the urban community Help students See Baltimore with new eyes Many students think that the city of Baltimore is a place that is spiritually dead. It's true that there are many needs here. But God is also working in some amazing ways to renew life here. Help students see the campus with new eyes BUP Goals

10. Key Influencers John Perkins (through readings) Local pastors: pastor Wanda Bynum Duckett (United Methodist Preacher and site we work with); Todd and Marita Scholtz (Galen and Eboni’s Pastors); Thurman Williams, Patty Prasado Rao, and Antoine Bennet (New Song Urban Minstries); Craig and Maria Garriott (Faith Christian Fellowship) Neighbors and people who have moved into the community

11. Values Taught 3 ‘R’s of Christian community Development: Relocation, Reconciliation, Redistribution “ Bonding” – relational incarnational ministry, entering into life with people, evangelism Community – sharing resources, being available to people Spiritual disciplines: prayer, Sabbath

12. Helpful Simulations Budget exercise – make a budget as a college student, and then as the “typical” family in Southwest Baltimore Making dinner on a budget exercise Chips and soda -- inner-city kids diet for a day “Community Surveys”/praying with people

13. Other unique features “Sitting on the stoop” --- time to be with people, available for people in the community Taking the bus or walking to internships “host families” – dinner once per week at host family house Weekends – experiencing cultural aspects and diversity of the city Museums, ethnic restaurants, festivals

14. Housing Past 3 summers housing has been with Galen and Eboni in their home may be changing it up next summer (perhaps renting different houses or apartments) Spring break sometimes Galen and Eboni’s home sometimes at churches or other homes

15. Two of our summer interns rededicated their lives to Christ Students had the chance to pray with and for countless people that they met in the community, People looking for jobs, A family mourning the loss of a child People struggling with addictions to alcohol or drugs. Nine of the children that attend the day camp where several of our students worked this summer prayed to receive Jesus as their Savior! BUP - Summer 2010

16. “ Because of BUP Christianity has changed from being a "religion" to being a relationship with Jesus!”

17. “ BUP has forever changed me I know that God put me here specifically for a reason, to see and learn - to become passionate about injustices. The world is full of brokenness and my heart has broken for many people here.”

18. BUP and the Campus Simpson and Andrew Over the summer they each had intense experiences Simpson while praying for a homeless man and the Holy Spirit came over him, Andrew gave his life to Christ! Each leading small groups this year. They applied principles of bonding and incarnational ministry in the dorms. They have been investing in freshmen and mobilizing their small groups to do outreach. They have been ministering cross-culturally within their small groups, and each have ethnically diverse small groups. They have also been thinking about how to use their resources as a group more collectively