Partners

The Walters Art Museum and Baltimore City Community College’s Refugee Youth Project (RYP) have formed a unique partnership in an effort to innovatively serve Baltimore’s young refugees. RYP after-school sites have monthly trips to the Walters. The collaboration gives the youth multidimensional practice in academic and social skills through exposure to 55 centuries of art. The students learn art technique and create their own pieces expressing their own unique perspective.

In 2008 the RYP and the Walters began to host a Community Art Corps Member from the Maryland Institute College of Art. This member leads art integration lessons at the after-school programs and coordinates field trips to the museum. He or she also plays a large role in developing and implementing the International Family Festival which takes place at the museum every June.

RYP’s staff works very closely with the International Rescue Committee and Lutheran Social Services, the main resettlement agencies in the Baltimore area. Case managers make referrals to the RYP and the RYP coordinator, in turn, often makes referrals to the case managers for extended services for the refugee youth.

Loyola University Maryland supplies the RYP with more than 60% of its volunteer base. Some students are enrolled in service learning courses through the Center for Community and Social Justice. In addition, the Center provides a service coordinator who works as a liaison between the RYP and Loyola volunteers.

The JHU Refugee Action Project recruits tutors among Johns Hopkins University students and provides them with transportation to the Milbrook Elementary site. The organization meets monthly on the Homewood Campus to coordinate on-campus fundraising and refugee awareness initiatives. In addition, they organize an annual RYP field trip to the Hopkins Spring Fair. If you attend JHU and would like more information about joining this JHU Student Activities group, please contact: rypjhu@gmail.com

• Funders
• Partners