Sustainability is a concept that has been gaining traction in recent years, with many communities striving to meet the current environmental, social, and economic needs of their citizens without compromising the future. In Baltimore, Maryland, the Environmental Health and Engineering (EHE) Center has been at the forefront of this effort, collaborating with local and state government agencies and community organizations to improve the environment and health of its residents. The Asthma for Mobility Project is one such initiative, run by the Institute for Health and Social Policy in partnership with the Baltimore Regional Housing Alliance. This project is exploring how housing mobility programs – which help families move to less segregated areas – can address the root causes of asthma disparities.
The Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology also participates in the Diversity Summer Internship Program, an eight-week summer program that provides college students from diverse backgrounds with the opportunity to conduct independent research in the biomedical sciences. The Center for Environmental Quality (CEQ) has also been working on projects that align with many current county initiatives and recognitions. These include the County Executive's Green Renaissance, the Builders for the Bay Roundtable Process, and the Baltimore County Montreal Process agreement with the U. S.
The CEQ projects are focused on understanding the long-term health effects of living in poor quality housing in high-poverty neighborhoods and informing policy-oriented interventions to reduce asthma-related issues. SOURCE has more than 100 local partner community organizations that engage thousands of students, staff, and teachers each year in a wide range of mutually beneficial community engagement projects. In addition, experts are investigating youth-police interactions in Baltimore and identifying barriers to effectively policing adolescents, as well as gaps in police training. Finally, faculty and staff at the Center for Gun Violence Solutions have designed a project in partnership with the Baltimore community to collect and interpret data to inform efforts to prevent unconstitutional practices, strengthen investigations into gun law violations, and improve understanding of the perspectives and wishes of those most affected by gun violence and police stop and record practices.
