A new learning center aimed at helping first-generation students graduate from college officially opened in West Baltimore on March 11, marking a major investment in long-term educational support for local youth.
The Baltimore Ravens College Track Center, located at 2401 Liberty Heights Ave., was unveiled during a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by College Track in partnership with the Baltimore Ravens, M&T Bank, and Baltimore City Public Schools. The facility intends to serve high school scholars from historically underserved communities participating in College Track’s 10-year college completion program.
The center is the first College Track location in Baltimore City and expands the organization’s presence on the East Coast, which already includes sites in Washington, D.C., and Prince George’s County, Maryland.
The facility represents a partnership between the Ravens and College Track aimed at expanding access to higher education support for Baltimore students. The goal is to provide students with a dedicated space for academic advising, tutoring, and college preparation as they move through high school and into college, resources that can often cost families thousands.
“College Track’s mission is to equip first-generation scholars to earn a bachelor’s degree and build lives filled with opportunity,” said Dr. Shirley Collado, president and CEO of College Track, during remarks at the opening ceremony.
According to the organization, about 90 percent of students in their programs are first-generation college students, and 84 percent come from under-resourced communities. College Track scholars are more than two and a half times likely to graduate from college, compared to the national rate for first-generation students.
The event brought together city leaders, educators, nonprofit leaders, and students to celebrate the new center’s launch. There was a wide array of speakers, from Baltimore Ravens President Sashi Brown, M&T Bank Senior Executive Vice President Augie Chiasera, and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, as well as representatives from Baltimore City Public Schools.
Brown said the initiative reflects the organization’s belief in education as a pathway to opportunity for the city’s youth.
“This Ravens College Access Initiative puts our belief into action in a deeply impactful way that will reach thousands of talented and promising youths across greater Baltimore.” Said Sashi Brown, President of the Baltimore Ravens.
The new Baltimore Ravens College Track Center will serve as a hub for academic programming, mentorship, and college preparation for Baltimore City Public Schools students participating in the program.
Following the ceremony, guests toured the new facility and met with students, educators, and program alumni who will help bring the center’s programming to life.
