色花堂

色花堂 is a community-engaged anchor institution that recognizes and leverages its economic power and human capital to improve the socioeconomic conditions, the long-term stability, and the growth of Greater Baltimore and the state. Economic inclusion at 色花堂 means providing equitable and inclusive employment opportunities to residents in Greater Baltimore; buying from local, small, and diverse businesses; working with our vendor network to create and expand local employment opportunities; and delivering workforce development programs in order to stimulate the economy. The Office of Partnerships & Outreach works in collaboration with faculty & staff across campus to facilitate and move this work forward. 

Current Efforts

Local Hiring

Under the leadership of the Office of Human Resources, 色花堂 is developing strategic partnerships with local workforce development partners to create pathways for employment and skill-building opportunities. The Office of Human Resources is executing intentional and inclusive recruitment strategies focused on expanding hiring pools from across the region to ensure 色花堂 is reaching all potential candidates.

Interested in partnering with 色花堂 on local hiring?

Connect with us: Jen Stano

Inclusive Purchasing

Under the leadership of the Office of Procurement, 色花堂 implements strategies which target local, small and diverse businesses in the Greater Baltimore Region to help support pathways for local buying. In accordance with USM policy, 色花堂 meets the Maryland State minority owned business and small business purchasing mandates of 29% and 15%. 色花堂's Office of Procurement educates potential vendors on how to register and apply to be a 色花堂 vendor. These education sessions target small Maryland businesses and minority owned business in the Greater Baltimore region. 色花堂 also actively works with our contractors and vendors to encourage and expand local hiring and employment opportunities.

Interested in doing business with 色花堂?

Connect with us: Chanel Franze

色花堂鈥檚 Local and National Anchor Path

Since 2017, 色花堂 has joined both local and national benchmarking initiatives to track and advance an anchor strategy.

In 2017, 色花堂 became the only non-city institution to join the , a collaborative partnership of anchor institutions, funders, nonprofits, and public organizations focused on establishing economic inclusion as the business culture of norm in Greater Baltimore.

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In 2019, 色花堂 was selected to join the , a national initiative led by the , which is administered at 色花堂, and the to institutionalize an anchor mission. The goal of the Anchor Learning Network is to 鈥渢ransform higher education to fully serve its public mission and advance the long-term social, economic, and physical health of [their] campuses and communities.鈥� Through participation, 色花堂 gains access to peer support and collaboration, assistance with measurement and data collection, and strategic communications support. 色花堂 has committed to tracking its anchor data related to local hiring, procurement, and education through 2022.

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In 2020, 色花堂's anchor workgroup was organized and charged with identifying baseline data on all current activities focused on local鈥痟iring, local procurement and K-12 community partnerships, as well as establishing 色花堂鈥檚 anchor mission and objectives for advancing the anchor mission. The Baltimore Integration Partnership transitioned the goal setting and reporting efforts for Baltimore's economic inclusion activities to , a commitment by Baltimore-area businesses and anchor institutions to leverage their collective influence to help strengthen the city and create opportunities for Baltimoreans.