CareFirst and SAFE Invest in the Futures of Baltimore Youth

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) recently announced a grant investment of up to $2.2 million to 16 diverse small businesses and nonprofits in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia. This investment was CareFirst’s first round of grants addressing economic inclusion that go towards small business creation and workforce training to impact the economic health of our region. CareFirst Difference Makers spent the day with Van Brooks at the Safe Alternative Foundation for Education, Inc. (SAFE), one of the organizations that received funds during this round.

SAFE is a local nonprofit in West Baltimore City, Maryland. Founder Van Brooks and his team work to provide after-school, weekend and summer education opportunities and certificate programs for kids and young adults in the community. Through the grant from CareFirst, SAFE will provide critical education programs for middle school students and construction skills training and certification for 18–24-year-olds in West Baltimore. This program operates year-round at the SAFE Center and SAFE Workforce Development Center and teaches life skills and intensive mentoring that will provide a pipeline between the community and employers. From the program, 100 kids will participate, 75% of trainees will secure at least one job interview after program completion and 50% will be offered full-time employment by the end of one year.

During the day, Difference Makers learned about the different programs at SAFE and worked with the kids attending SAFE on woodworking projects, building toolboxes, chests and birdhouses. While working, the team spoke with SAFE students, learning about their passions and what they wanted to do in the future.

Read more about the day here!