Organizing for a Better Baltimore Since 1977
We make change with people not for people.
Our Mission & Movement
Our History
Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development (BUILD) is a broad-based, non-partisan, multifaith, and multiracial community power organization rooted in the belief that lasting change begins at the ground level—through relationships, leadership development, and organized action. We organize people to create opportunity, justice, and equity across Baltimore and beyond.
Founded in 1977, BUILD stood on the shoulders of key leaders from Baltimore’s civil rights movement and faith communities. Rev. Vernon Dobson of Union Baptist Church, Rev. Wendell Phillips of Heritage United Church of Christ, and Msgr. Clare O’Dwyer of St. Matthew’s Catholic Church brought together ten congregations and seed funding to form a Sponsoring Committee, partnering with the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF)—the nation’s oldest and largest network of community organizations.
For nearly five decades, BUILD has been a driving force for democracy in action, uniting Baltimoreans across race, class, and faith to act on the issues that matter most—housing, education, jobs, safety, and opportunity. Through citywide Get Out the Vote (GOTV) efforts, listening campaigns, and public accountability actions, BUILD ensures that residents’ voices shape the policies and investments that define Baltimore’s future.
Grounded in the power of organized people and organized money, BUILD turns frustration into hope and hope into tangible results. From winning billions in school funding and revitalizing neighborhoods to creating living-wage jobs and advancing criminal justice reform, BUILD continues to prove that real democracy begins in our neighborhoods—when ordinary people organize to make extraordinary change.
While our victories are too numerous to list in their entirety, here are some of our major wins.
Children & Education
BUILD co-founded and led the push to create the CollegeBound Foundation, helping Baltimore City students access and complete college through advising, scholarships, and gap funding.
Child First Authority was launched to expand after-school learning, youth development, and family support across city neighborhoods, after listening to parents and youth across the city.
In partnership with Child First, the ACLU, and the Baltimore Education Coalition, BUILD helped win $977 million in state funding to build 26 new schools through the 21st Century Schools initiative.
To fund the city’s share of this school construction work, BUILD led the push to pass a municipal bottle tax generating about $10 million annually for school construction.
BUILD co-led the push for community schools in Baltimore with Child First and others, embedding social and health supports in schools.
Through the Baltimore Education Coalition, BUILD organized to stop state education cuts, restoring $18 million in state funding for Baltimore schools and $94 million state-wide.
BUILD also established a $10 million Parks & Playgrounds Fund, leading to new, state-of-the-art playgrounds at Dr. Bernard Harris Sr. Elementary, Calvin Rodwell Elementary, Greenspring Middle, Govans Elementary, Yorkwood Elementary, and Preston Place (with KABOOM!).
BUILD has a long record of fighting for housing that strengthens families and communities.
Housing
Through the Nehemiah Homes initiative, BUILD turned vacant lots into 1,200 affordable, owner-occupied homes — stabilizing communities and building intergenerational wealth.
In partnership with ReBUILD Metro, BUILD transformed areas in the Johnston Square, Oliver, and Greenmount West neighborhoods, redeveloping hundreds of vacant properties, dramatically reducing vacancy rates, and creating over $50 million in homeowner wealth — all without displacement.
Through years of neighborhood organizing and advocacy, BUILD secured hundreds of millions of dollars in city and state commitments to eradicate Baltimore’s vacant and abandoned housing. In BUILD’s current, citywide campaign, the City and State have committed $1.2 billion in public funding over 15 years.
Both the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland have now formally committed to BUILD’s values — prioritizing local ownership, affordability, community control, and permanent neighborhood stabilization — as guiding principles for how those funds are invested.
BUILD organizes for good jobs, fair wages, and shared prosperity.
Jobs and Economic Development
BUILD passed Baltimore’s first Living Wage Ordinance, setting a model for cities across the country.
BUILD founded Turnaround Tuesday, a jobs and leadership movement that has already connected more than 2,300 returning citizens and unemployed residents to living wage jobs.
In South Baltimore, BUILD co-developed the Cherry Hill Shopping Center with Catholic Charities and Enterprise Community Partners, bringing new retail and local jobs.
After a decade-long campaign, BUILD opened a ShopRite supermarket in Howard Park—the first full-service grocery store in the neighborhood in decades.
BUILD helped close two liquor stores in the Oliver community, replacing harmful businesses with healthier, community-driven development.
During periods of economic hardship, BUILD co-founded the Joseph Fund with Governor Glendening to provide emergency support to families and local jurisdictions.
BUILD negotiated the $134 million Port Covington / Baltimore Peninsula Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) — the largest in the country — ensuring that major private development delivers real, lasting community investment.
BUILD has always fought for fairness, safety, and second chances rooted in community power and care.
Criminal Justice Reform /Community Safety
BUILD upheld Maryland’s ban on “Saturday Night Special” handguns, reducing the circulation of cheap, easily concealed firearms.
BUILD champions community policing partnerships that build accountability and trust between residents and officers.
BUILD has organized to close dozens of open-air drug markets and expand drug treatment on demand, including founding the BUILD Fellowship Houses for recovery and reentry support.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, BUILD’s safety work expanded to community care—organizing food deliveries, wellness checks, and resource connections for thousands of Baltimore families hit hardest by the crisis.
In 2024, BUILD and Turnaround Tuesday led the campaign to pass House Bill 531, ending parole supervision and drug testing fees—eliminating over $13 million in debt for Marylanders on parole and advancing justice reform statewide.
BUILD works to ensure Baltimore remains a city of welcome and opportunity for all.
Immigrants
BUILD co-founded the Immigration Outreach Service Center (IOSC) with St. Matthew’s Catholic Church to provide legal aid, workforce assistance, and community support for immigrant families.
BUILD helped lead the campaign for the Maryland DREAM Act, securing in-state tuition for eligible undocumented students who graduate from Maryland high schools.
BUILD launched the Parish ID Program, providing local identification cards through churches in partnership with the Archdiocese, recognized by city agencies and police — helping immigrant residents access services and build trust.
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Fuel the organizing that turns community voices into lasting wins.