LATEST PROJECTS
Project | 01
Baltimore Uprising Aftermath:
Healing Faith, Community & Police Relations Post-Freddie Gray
Baltimore Uprising Aftermath:
Healing Faith, Community & Police Relations Post-Freddie Gray
MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
WEST BALTIMORE
WEST BALTIMORE
Penn-North: Fostering Peace & Unity
Kim supports many peacewalks, unity marches and other organizing efforts that foster cooperative engagement of the faith, community and police sectors, most targeting the Penn-North community, where Freddie Gray was shot by police ad much of the Baltimore uprising took place.
Below, Kim links arms with fellow faith leaders, community members and officers of the Baltimore Police Department in the epic intersection of Penn-North reciting the Serenity prayer during the initial Freddie Gray court trials.
This peaceful demonstration was organized by
#OneCityOnePurpose, a community-clergy-police collaboration- one of many post-uprising initiatives Kim serves as a vision strategist.
Photo captured by photographer and activist Devin Allen, December 2015
Upton: Caring for A Community in Crisis
Kim played an integral leadership role in a community-led crisis response following the shooting death of Baltimore-based rapper, Lor Scoota. At the heart of the matter, was to ensure the safety of Baltimore's youth. A small core team of leaders from #StandUpBmore recognized the need for immediate intervention. In less than 48 hours, 3 days of block parties, free food and music were in motion to celebrate the rapper's life. Strategically, events were placed where areas of large crowds were expected to gather. An unconventional collective provided layered security and mediation including: crisis response mediators, Safe Streets, FOI and police Community Collaboration Division. With the support of the Baltimore City Police Department, Mayor's Office, local business owners, community leaders and volunteers, this model resulted in an astonishing 0 incidents all three days. Kim also helped to coordinate the Press Conference held to aid in supporting a positive narrative from the media.
Kim in the 1500 block of Pennsylvania Ave, July 2016.
More pics from the Community Collaboration Division can be seen HERE.
CNN Live Coverage: Kim Lagree speaks at City Hall during the Baltimore Uprising
In May 2015, Kim represented the Coalition for the Transformation & Betterment of Baltimore (CTBB), founded by Derrick Chase, organizing the rally just days after the police involved fatal shooting of Freddie Gray in West Baltimore as an effort to bring calm, peace and unity to the city.
Aljazeera America: Kim is recognized as one of ten young leaders fighting to heal Baltimore after the Uprising
Voices of Baltimore: Life After Freddie Gray
By Timothy Bella, September 2015
See Kim's snapshot in th full aritcle HERE.
Fox 45 LIVE Interview: Kim speaks on Unity & Faith during the 1st Anniversay of the Baltimore Uprising
April 2016, Kim represents CTBB again at City Hall in preparation for the group's #StandUpBmore Unity Rally.
Inspiring Faith Leadership Action
Kim recently began the groundwork to engage faith leaders, churches and organizations in East Baltimore's McElderry community. She is one of only two faith-based coordinators contracted by the Office of Youth Violence Prevention. She stands by her comprehensive approach, outlining a phased plan to truly empower churches and it leadership to be safe spaces, community center and resources of healing for Baltimore youth and families.
She hopes this new plan will be the catalyst for solutions-oriented dialogue with our city's civic leaders.
Project | 02
Baltimore Is the New Transformation:
Fostering Collaboration
EAST BALTIMORE
Youth Violence Prevention Taskforce, Kim Lagree far right, top row.
Strong City Baltimore: Youth Violence Prevention
In response to the April uprising, Strong City was asked to develop a new program reducing youth violence. November 2015, the VISTA Impact Task Force began and Kim serves as the East Baltimore Resource Coordinator with a focus on the neighborhoods of Oliver, Midway, Barclay, and Greenmount West. Kimberly's role on the taskforce focuses on improving strategies, services and best practices for preventing violence among our youth in Baltimore City. Her primary obejectives include identifying stakeholders across Baltimore, establishing relationship and fostering collaboration between neighborhood stakeholders and the communities they serve. This year, Kim partnered with Arts on the Block and Oliver Lanvale Towers community to create a community center mural as well as other community leaders to form a citywide committee to address the state of Baltimore City's youth afterschool programs, recreations centers and mental health services.
Additional Strong City Projects:
Piloting Participatory Budgeting for Youth Programs in Baltimore City. Kim serves on the core coordinting team that will organize citywide dialogue exploring what the pilot program will look like in Baltimore City. This pilot will be developed under the management and direction of Strong City and CEO, Karen Stokes.
For more info about Participatory Budgeting, click HERE.
Piloting Community Learning Partnership to create pathways into community change careers. Kim serves on a small core team led by Strong City that will explore ways to integrate community change career degree programs, including community development, community organizing and other social justice programs, for low-income students and students of color in Baltimore City. These degree programs will be planned in collaboration with area 2yr, 4yr and private colleges. For more info about Community Learning Parntership, click HERE.
KIM'S WORK WITH THE BALTIMORE CITY
OFFICE OF YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION
May 2016, Kim began working with Baltimore City's Office of Youth Violence Prevention as the Faith-Based Coordinator for East Baltimore.
Baltimore City has joined the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention and the Office of Youth Violence Prevention is leading the way. As a result, the B'more For Youth! Collaborative was born- a citywide plan preventing violence affecting our youth. Kim serves as part of the core team coordinating collaboration for planning development, strategy and implementation as well as a new internship program, Next Generation Leaders, for students 18-24.
Kim seeks to inspire the faith community to engage and become active in trauma-informed care practices, family and community-centered outreach.
GET CONNECTED!
Kimberly Lagree
Office of Youth Violence Prevention
1001 E. Fayette Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
PH 410.961.9486
kimberly.lagree@baltimorecity.gov
Project | 03
Growing Global Vision In Baltimore:
The Visonary Foundation
Kimberly Lagree is the Founding Visionary of The Visionary Foundation- a network of non-traditional faith leaders working in various civic and nonprofit sectors including community organization, community policing, youth education and local government agencies.
The Visionary Foundation is a Baltimore-based, faith-driven organization that provides training, preparation, and consultation services to help visionaries foster the health, growth, and sustainability of their vision. The citywide network encompasses a dynamic mix of dedicated individuals who bring important insights to Baltimore's complex challenges, including social, cultural, spiritual, and health-related needs. The Visionary Foundation provides vision development support, business expertise and technical guidance. Core values of love, cooperation, diversity and community guides the principle that ministry and business are one. We only take on projects that show great promise in restoring and uplifting communities in need- transcending religion, politics and cultural differences. We believe in Baltimore and we are committed to showing the world how to guide a broken city toward healing, renewal, and victory.