The Baltimore Ravens have entered a five-year (2024-28) partnership, which includes a $300,000 investment, with Roca to support the organization's Baltimore City location in its ongoing efforts to address trauma, find hope and drive change. Established in 2018, Roca Baltimore's mission is to be a relentless force in disrupting incarceration, poverty and racism by engaging young adults, police and systems at the center of urban violence.
"Community partners like the Baltimore Ravens – partners who truly believe in helping Baltimore's high-risk young men overcome the trauma and violence that has filled their lives – make Roca's work possible," executive vice president of Roca Maryland Kurtis Palermo stated. "Thanks to the incredible support of the Ravens, Roca is able to reach out to young people and use our non-clinical Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help them improve emotional regulation, learn new behaviors to keep them out of harm's way and offer them educational and employment opportunities."
In 2024 alone, Roca Baltimore has served more than 450 young men. Of those enrolled in the program 24 months or longer, 80 percent of participants had no new arrests, while 92 percent had no new incarcerations.
"The root causes of violence across our country are complex and require collaboration from everyone to enact change," Ravens president Sashi Brown added. "The Ravens care deeply about this incredible community and support impactful changemakers who work tirelessly to make a difference. Through the relentless approach of engaging young adults in a comprehensive program, Roca is doing exactly that in Baltimore. We are proud to support their ongoing efforts to save lives, drive change and bring hope."
On Monday, Brown, S Kyle Hamilton, LB Josh Ross, LB Roquan Smith and S Marcus Williams joined Ravens Legends Torrey Smith and Jameel McClain to meet with Roca program members and address the challenges young men face while growing up in Baltimore. The group also discussed the substantial resources Roca provides in combatting urban violence and providing young adults opportunities for success.
Since 2016, the Ravens have donated over $16 million to local organizations promoting social justice reform, while encouraging their players to be at the forefront of change. In addition to this new collaboration with Roca, in 2024, the Ravens also partnered with the Baltimore City Police Department to incorporate Lights On! – a community-driven program with the mission to strengthen police/community relationships in Baltimore.
Further social justice commitments by the Ravens include support of Living Classrooms with the Ravens Field at the UA House (2016), a renovation of Renaissance Academy High School (2017), upgrades to the Western District Police Station (2017), a five-year partnership with Up2Us sports (2018), multiple HVAC installations in Baltimore City Public Schools, funding of the Baltimore Ravens Boys & Girls Club at Hilton Recreation Center (2024 groundbreaking) and ongoing college scholarships/preparation grants through the Ozzie Newsome Scholars program, College Track, College Bound and Baltimore Bridges.
For more information about Roca Baltimore, please visit: https://rocainc.org/who-we-work-with/locations/roca-baltimore-location/
