UBalt Celebrates Decade-Long Partnership with Urban Alliance to Mentor High School Students
February 3, 2025
Contact: Office of Advancement and External Relations
Phone: 410.837.5739

On Jan. 16, The University of Baltimore hosted an event to celebrate its 10-year partnership with Urban Alliance Baltimore, a local non-profit organization that encourages young people in underserved communities to develop skills, experience paid internships, establish mentorships and more. The event, which took place in UBalt's Thumel Business Center and featured Maryland Sen. Cory McCray (pictured, right) as its guest speaker, gave dozens of high schoolers in the program an opportunity to discuss its impact on their lives.
Sen. McCray, a Baltimore native who now represents District 45 in the city, said he has much more appreciation for the role that adults play in the lives of young people than he did when he was young.
"I need to make sure I stay around our young scholars," he told the high schoolers. "How many people here can I get across the finish line with me?"
John Brenner, who directs the University's Early College Initiatives program—a long-term effort to ensure that local high school students get a head start on higher education through its college-credit bearing College Readiness and Dual Enrollment programs—said the University's partnership with Urban Alliance Baltimore has benefited hundreds of students from schools across the city.
"These students benefit from exposure to careers and college through internships and college readiness preparation," Dr. Brenner said. "They learn how to dress and communicate professionally, discover their college and career interests and goals, and get real-life experience thought internships with local businesses."
Chas Ackley, executive director of the local non-profit, praised its partnership with UBalt.
"For more than seven years, The University of Baltimore has generously provided in-kind space for Urban Alliance's High School Internship Programs," Ackley said. "This invaluable support has allowed us to serve students from across Baltimore City, creating pathways to career exploration and economic mobility. We are deeply grateful for UBalt's partnership and commitment to investing in Baltimore's young people."