Towson University awarded three programs BTU Partnership Awards on Wed., Nov. 13, during a celebration recognizing the collaborative work being done by faculty, staff, students and community partners to address community needs. The awardees— Baltimore Immigration Summit, BLinG-Health and Impact TU— provide opportunities for people in the Baltimore region to learn, grow and engage together.

"Our work to meet the needs of our community and to be community engaged is woven in our strategic plan,” said TU President Mark Ginsberg in his opening remarks. “The work that we will be celebrating tonight are examples of what can happen when we connect our students, faculty and staff with fellow leaders throughout greater Baltimore.”

BTU (Baltimore – Towson University) elevates the work the TU community is already doing with partners in the region. Joined by faculty, staff and students from around the university and members of the community, the three award recipients were recognized for their impactful work.

Baltimore Immigration Summit

Led by Elizabeth Clifford, professor of anthropology and criminal justice, and in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Immigration Affairs and Baltimore County Immigrant Affairs, this summit brought together academics, policymakers, service providers, activists, community leaders and others working with and for new Americans (immigrants and refugees) to learn about and celebrate these communities.

“I realized that there were a number of other immigration organizations in the city. We didn’t all know what we were all doing, and we realized there was really a need for this,” says Clifford. “We’re focusing on Baltimore—Baltimore City and Baltimore County—making it local where we can really have an impact.”

BLinG-Health (Black Leadership in Girls Health)

BlinG-Health is a peer-led, culturally relevant, school-based physical intervention program, held in partnership with Reginald F. Lewis High School and led by Tara Blackshear, a professor of kinesiology. The program fosters inclusivity and diversity while providing Black adolescent girls with regular physical activity opportunities and empowering them to make decisions to maintain a healthy lifestyle and prevent chronic diseases.

“Black women are grossly underrepresented in the health and physical activity field, so if they can have representation, we can increase physical activity knowledge to have some sense of enjoyment,” says Blackshear.

High school students participating in the program are being trained as fitness coaches, where they learn about presence and leadership. “In addition to learning exercise practices, they’re learning how to advocate for themselves, to speak up, to command a room, to give clear instructions,” says Bianca Newton, the community school director and partner in the program.

Impact TU

The Towson Chamber of Commerce and the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility (CESR) partner each year to provide an opportunity for 500+ TU students to engage with community partners to foster social change. Through Impact TU, students learn about local efforts on developing sustainable communities and engage in hands-on projects (on campus and in the Towson–Baltimore area) focused on environmental sustainability, economic security, social well-being and civic engagement.

“Impact TU is designed to connect our students to our local community,” says Heather Polonsky ‘16, assistant director for civic engagement in CESR. “It’s a day for local community organizations and neighborhood associations to see some of the students who are living in those spaces all year and for our students to see that there’s a whole community that our campus is part of.”

For more information about these programs and for video testimonials from TU and community partners, click here.

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About Towson University

Towson University is Maryland’s university of opportunities. With more than 150 years of experience pushing possibilities, TU is a nationally recognized leader in inclusive excellence, social mobility, research and discovery. As the largest university in greater Baltimore, TU’s momentum is always accelerating, with more than 20,000 students and 100 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences and applied professional fields. Located amid one of the East Coast’s cultural and economic epicenters, TU is a beacon and powerful catalyst in the Mid-Atlantic, partnering with hundreds of businesses and organizations, impacting communities and fueling change. TU meets the holistic needs of each student to achieve success, a result of a deeply inclusive culture with a focus on equity among all students, faculty and staff.