2017 ANNUAL REPORT LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR As I look over the stories of this past year, only a Between them is a visionary donor as the few of which we have room to recount here, I am lynchpin. By supporting Middle Grades reminded of what it is that makes Middle Grades Partnership, Dr. Carlessia Hussein realizes her Partnership so important and also of what makes goal of breaking down barriers and leveling it truly different. One difference: rather than opportunity for young African American and dictate a set curriculum for all of our partnerships, Latino men. Because of her generosity, boys we set ambitious goals for our students and from City Springs Elementary Middle and Boys’ empower our teachers to devise innovative ways Latin learn side by side, growing academically to help our students reach those goals. In this while forming deep friendships that cross lines report, we have two very different examples. In of race and class. the first, a team of teachers designs curricula to Middle Grades Partnership empowers students, address specific identified needs with astounding teachers and donors to change our city for the results, documenting summer learning gains better, maximizing what every member of the over past summer losses. In the other, instructors family brings to the organization. surprise their students with an elaborate ‘real-life’ mystery scenario that intrigues and challenges Thank you for supporting Middle Grades them to use what they know, learn what they must Partnership. and to collaborate with one another to solve the ‘crime’. Wendy Samet Executive Director 2017-2018 SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS Middle Grades Partnership serves nine public and private school partnerships. We provide year-round academic programming for over 450 middle school students each year.

Afya & Park City Springs (boys) & Boys’ Latin City Springs (girls) & Garrison Forest Cross Country & Bryn Mawr Hamilton & Calvert Hampstead Hill & Friends Lillie May Carroll Jackson & Roland Park Country Mount Royal & McDonogh Southwest Charter & Gilman FACTS AND FIGURES Since 2005, Middle Grades Partnership has served more than 3,400 Baltimore City middle school students. Our attendance rate is 85% — which is remarkable for a voluntary summer program. Even more impressive, most of our students get up very early to catch a public bus to their home school in time to board another bus to the partnership site. Experience in Middle Grades Partnership makes our students four times more likely to attend competitive, academically rigorous public high schools than their non-Middle Grades Partnership peers. Last year, 86% of our rising ninth graders were accepted into the top competitive public high schools. Note that the citywide average for student acceptance into these same high schools last year was 19%. Our three-year student retention rate is 78%. Of all Middle Grades Partnership students, 78% identify as Black, 13% White, 8% Hispanic, 1% Asian or other. 2017 FINANCIAL SUMMARY WHAT IT TAKES... January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2017 90 TEACHERS REVENUE AND STAFF $513,863 Contributions from public $157,000 and private schools DAILY Contributions from individuals, $860,439 TRANSPORTATION $64,281 corporations and foundations TOTAL REVENUE $1,017,439 COLLEGE VISITS/ FIELD TRIPS $10,216 EXPENSES

Programs $661,157 MATERIALS/ Operations $355,575 SUPPLIES/FOOD $72,797 TOTAL EXPENSES $1,016,732 TOTAL $661,157 Math students in Ms. Blymiller’s class PROOF IS IN THE NUMBERS This fall was a milestone for lower because they didn’t do anything Armed with this data, Blymiller and Southwest Baltimore Charter School academic in the summer,” she said. Director Donell math teacher Eve Blymiller. After “This is the first year we didn’t have Thompson developed a math and years of MAP (Measure of Academic regression and I can say that’s because grammar curriculum for summer Progress) test scores documenting of Middle Grades Partnership.” that targeted students’ academic summer learning regression As fifth graders, Blymiller recruited weaknesses. In addition to drilling she watched her Middle Grades students for the summer program down on math concepts (which is Partnership students’ test scores rise. because she wanted to track their their background) the directors Blown away by the data, Blymiller progress over Middle Grades recruited a Gilman grammar (or Mrs. B. as her students call her) Partnership’s three years. MAPs specialist to work with students. This contacted all the student’s families testing at the end of the school year was the first time those students ever and found none of the children had determined where her students’ had five weeks of straight grammar ever attended any sort of organized academic gaps were – algebra, instruction. “They aren’t getting it academic programing over the geometry and grammar. “I wanted in elementary school. They aren’t summer. Of the eleven students she to have the kids I was already getting it during the school year. had this summer all showed academic teaching to see the different ways They are getting it over the summer growth. “Every year prior that we have I could connect with them over the from Middle Grades Partnership and data shows these kids leave us in the summer. Normally, I wouldn’t have the test score improvements speak spring and their scores in the fall are the ability to do that,” said Blymiller. for themselves,” said Blymiller.

DONOR HIGHLIGHT DR. CARLESSIA HUSSEIN Battling generational poverty one boy at a time.

With more than 50 years under her belt helping patients When Dr. Hussein learned about Middle Grades navigate the health-care system for better health Partnership through the Baltimore Community outcomes, Dr. Carlessia Hussein wanted to apply those Foundation she knew she’d found a match. She was able same skills to help young boys in Baltimore City navigate to meet with the City Springs Director Kenji Jackson, visit the education system. “As a public health professional, the school and see students in the classroom. Having I saw jurisdictional disparities in health and race across that connection to the students and personally seeing the state. Those same disparities between wealthy and her investment in their future was what she was seeking. poor are easily visible in education,” she said. “With Middle Grades Partnership they have access to diverse communities outside of their normal network,” Most of Dr. Hussein’s career as a health equity expert she said. “At the time we are reaching them, they are focused on solving problems from the top down. In her still formulating who they are and how they think about retirement, she wanted to try a new approach to improve themselves. It can make all the difference.” individual lives by reaching people from the bottom up. She decided to financially support a program that would By sponsoring four students in the City Springs / Boys’ reach academically struggling black and Latino boys Latin partnership at the middle school level, Dr. Hussein who can be overlooked by society. “Often times those hopes to change their trajectory. With increased at the lower end are given up on,” she reflected. “People opportunities she wants to see the cycle of generational outside of their communities tend to look at them with poverty broken. “We are all in this together,” she noted. authority instead of compassion and understanding. “This program gives them a step stool to look over the That can set them on the wrong path.” barriers and correct inequality.” In a science class on forensics, a Baltimore County police officer provided real-life tips on what to look for and how to avoid contaminating a scene, conduct an interview and collect fingerprints. CASE CLOSED! When McDonogh alum Rachel It helped the problem feel more piping up with theories. We gave Cooper returned for her sixth year as personal and gave them clues about clues that allowed other kids to get an Middle Grades Partnership intern, who they should talk to and question involved,” said Cooper. “It really built she brought a forensics mystery about her disappearance.” cooperation because you have to do for students to solve: the fictional your job so that everyone can thrive. disappearance of her fellow intern Students were provided with a It’s as real world as we can make a (and younger sister) Julia. short bio of Julia, a list of possible classroom environment.” interview subjects, and were able Mount Royal science instructor to see her staged “office” to get So, what happened to Julia? Middle Jade Hughes and Cooper created started. Each student chose a role Grades Partnership students solved a forensics puzzle to challenge to play: evidence collection and the crime in the three days allotted students’ problem-solving skills. With crime scene analysis, fingerprinting, by identifying where she’d been the rise in popularity of forensics- or interviewing. Suspects and held in a closet by a cheating based TV shows, students had a witnesses were placed around student after she confronted him general idea of what was involved campus and were available for about his plagiarism. in crime scene investigation. But this student investigators to question. project let students become part of Students were able to focus on what Cooper was thrilled with the the story. interested them in the investigative outcome. “This was one of those process, but all had to work together projects that everyone just gets Cooper picked Julia as the victim to solve the crime. really excited about. They were because, she explained, “We wanted high-fiving and cheering when they someone that the students knew. “You have quiet kids who were solved the crime.” THANK YOU On behalf of our students, teachers, and board, we thank all those who contributed in 2017 for making a difference in the lives of Baltimore City middle school youth.

Anonymous (6) Ms. Julie Bierman Cross Country Elementary/Middle School The Abell Foundation, Inc. Ms. Sandra Boyd Mr. and Mrs. James Cusack AFYA Public Charter School Boys’ Latin School of , Inc. Ms. Ann O. Daniels and Mr. Eric Kalbfleisch Dr. James Albrecht Stanley & Dorah Brager Family Fund at BCF Jane and Worth B. Daniels Jr. Fund at BCF Ms. Melinda Allen Eddie C. and C. Sylvia Brown Family Mr. and Mrs. H. Chace Davis Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Al E. Angarita Jr. Foundation, Inc. at BCF Mr. and Mrs. Jason DeLancey Appleby-Vanko Fund at BCF Ms. Jean Brune Derby-Masson Family Fund at BCF Arbor Dog Fund for Girls of Baltimore City Ms. Maya Doeh The Associated: Jewish Community Anne and George Bunting Ms. Nancy L. Dorman and Mr. Stan Mazaroff Federation of Baltimore Calvert Family Trust Egenton Foundation Mr. Lahsen Assoufid Campbell Foundation Emess Philanthropic Fund Ms. Bonnie Aubuchon Caplan Family Fund at BCF Employee Matching Program at BCF Clayton Baker Trust Cheryl A. Casciani Fund at BCF Ms. Melissa Faulisi Mr. and Mrs. William Balfour Beth Drummond Casey and Thomas Casey Mr. and Mrs. Johnny L. Felton, Jr. Baltimore City Public School System Mr. and Mrs. John F. Cavanaugh Mr. and Mrs. Howard Fineman Baltimore Community Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Tion Chinn Mr. and Mrs. Ronald L. Fishbein Baltimore Curriculum Project, Inc. City Springs Elementary/Middle School Mr. Haswell M. Franklin Sr. Ms. Kelly Barnes Mr. David Clapp Mr. William D. Franklin Ms. Stephanie Baron Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Clapp Friends School of Baltimore, Inc. Mr. Buzz Beler Ms. Jennifer Clark Fund for Populations at Risk at BCF Mr. and Mrs. Larry Bell Jr. Suzanne F. Cohen , Inc. Ms. Kay Berney Mr. Mark Colvin and Ms. Nancy B. Shuger Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey H. Genth Ms. Edith ‘Bunny’ Bernstein Margaret O. Cromwell Family Fund at BCF Gilman School, Inc.

The Goldsmith Family Foundation, Inc. Ms. Alison Krysiak Mr. Jeffrey K. Gonya Mr. Ken O. Kupfer and Mrs. Leslie D. Harris-Kupfer Ms. Nancy Haas and Mr. Jim Wyda The John J. Leidy Foundation, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. W. Haines Lillie May Carroll Jackson Charter School Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hall Ms. Hsiao-Hui Lin-Leonard Hamilton Elementary/Middle School Lockhart Vaughan Foundation, Inc. The Hardiman Family Foundation, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. John P. Machen Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Hardiman Macht Philanthropic Fund Ms. Rhonda Harris Ms. Amy Macht and Mr. George R. Grose Mr. F. Barton Harvey III and Ms. Janet Marie Smith Doris K. Marlow Memorial Fund at BCF Mr. Roland Harvey Ms. Genevieve H. Martin Ms. Nicole Henderson Dr. and Mrs. Andrew D. Martire Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey K. Hettleman Ms. Matilde Mata Gina B. and Daniel B. Hirschhorn Fund at BCF McDonogh School, Inc. The Hopkinson Family Fund at BCF Ms. Andrea McKinney Timothy and Sharon Howell Ms. Mary Page Michel and Mr. Michael N. Morrill Ms. Michelle Hughes Elizabeth R. and William G. Minkin Carlessia Hussein Minority Opportunity Fund at BCF Philanthropic Fund Ms. Wendy Myerberg Jachman Morgan Stanley C/O Cybergrants, Inc. Ms. Paulette Jackson Moser Family Foundation The Jaguar Fund at BCF Mount Royal Elementary/Middle School Ms. Sara Johnson and Mr. Carey Zumpano Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Muller Mr. and Mrs. William Kalbfleisch Ms. Linda Murray and Mr. Clifton Bowens Ms. Nickia Kelly and Mr. Rahiem Ray Ms. Cathy Neuman Townsend and Bob Kent Ms. Kena Norris Mr. and Mrs. E. Christian Kiehne Mr. and Mrs. Wells Obrecht Knollwood Investment Advisory, LLC The Charles F. and Margaret M. H. Obrecht Mr. Matthew Kohel Family Foundation, Inc. Mr. Richard Kozak Mrs. Linda Hambleton Panitz Kramon & Graham, P.A. Mr. Daniel Paradis , Inc. T. Rowe Price Foundation, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Parker III The T. Rowe Price Program for Charitable Giving 2018 BOARD MEMBERS Ms. Marsha Y. Reeves Mr. and Mrs. David Troy David S. Clapp Ms. Rhonda Richetta Mr. and Mrs. Harry B. Turner Arnold & Alison Richman The United Way of Central Maryland, Inc. CHAIR Leslie and Thomas Ries Mr. and Mrs. Peter C. Van Buren Charles G. Tildon III Roland Park Country School, Inc. Mr. David A. Vanko and Ms. Carol Appleby-Vanko IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Mr. Michael J. Ross Venable Foundation Baltimore Rotary Foundation, Inc. Visa Matching Gifts Program Suzanne F. Cohen Rudy and Dagmar Ruiz Ms. Anita Walia and Mr. Bradley M. Firlie VICE CHAIR The Philip and Beryl Sachs Family Foundation The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc. Ann O. Daniels Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Samet Wells Fargo Foundation Ms. Wendy H. Samet and Mr. Andy Hartman Ms. Phyllis Whims-Jones SECRETARY Ms. Renee Samuels and Mr. Jordan Rosenfeld Mr. and Mrs. William E. White Reco Collins Ms. Lynn B. Sassin and Judge Nathan Braverman Mr. Thomas E. Wilcox and Ms. E. Whitney Ransome Schwab Charitable Fund Mr. and Mrs. Stephen L. Wilcoxson Erika Seth Davies Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Schwartz Ms. Jennifer Wilson Malika DeLancey Seawall Development Company The Thomas Wilson Sanitarium for Children Geoffrey H. Genth Amy and Justin Seto of Baltimore City Jeffrey K. Gonya M. Sigmund and Barbara K. Shapiro Mr. and Mrs. Bradford Woloson George R. Grose Philanthropic Fund Ms. Mee Wong Job Grotsky Mr. and Mrs. Davis Sherman Ms. Marianne Wood E. Christian Kiehne Ms. Angela Showell Mr. and Mrs. Brian Woods Matthew D. Kohel Ms. Jenny Sorel Kalinda and Kevin Woods Dan Paradis Southwest Baltimore Charter School, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Wyskiel Ms. Janine Stewart Ms. Barbara Zentz Rhonda Richetta Ms. Jennifer Strasbaugh Zerhouni Family Charitable Foundation Rudy Ruiz Ms. Diana Sugg Mr. William D. Zerhouni and Ms. Uriyaon David A. Vanko Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Tildon lll Colon-Ramos Olive C. Waxter Ms. Stacie Tobin and Mr. Mike Murphy Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey S. Zerhusen Will Zerhouni 2018 BOARD MEMBERS Find out more about all of the Middle Grades Partnerships on our website David S. Clapp at www.middlegradespartnership.org CHAIR Charles G. Tildon III Middle Grades Partnership is an initiative IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR of the Baltimore Community Foundation. Suzanne F. Cohen VICE CHAIR MIDDLE GRADES PARTNERSHIP Ann O. Daniels 1500 Union Avenue, Suite 1320 SECRETARY Baltimore, Maryland 21211 Reco Collins Erika Seth Davies PHONE: 410-878-0827 Malika DeLancey www.middlegradespartnership.org Geoffrey H. Genth Jeffrey K. Gonya George R. Grose Job Grotsky E. Christian Kiehne Matthew D. Kohel Dan Paradis Rhonda Richetta Rudy Ruiz David A. Vanko Olive C. Waxter Will Zerhouni WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH— SEE IT FOR YOURSELF! To arrange a site visit to see Middle Grades Partnership in action please contact:

Stephanie Felton Director of Development [email protected] 410-878-0827 facebook.com/MGPartnership .com/MGPartnership instagram.com/MGPartnership bit.ly/MGPartnership

1500 Union Avenue, Suite 1320 Baltimore, Maryland 21211 | PHONE: 410-878-0827 | WEB: www.middlegradespartnership.org