Mid-Year Impact Report
Baltimore Urban Baseball Association (BUBA)
Reporting Period: January 1 – June 30, 2025
Recalibrating Our Mission:
A New Era of Accountability and Engagement
Effective January 1, 2025, BUBA redefined how we measure and track program outcomes. Recognizing the limitations of our previous model—focused primarily on open-access memberships—we transitioned to a more intentional, impact-driven framework centered on our new Scholar-Athlete Model.
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Previously, we prioritized breadth over depth, offering free access with minimal requirements. While this allowed us to serve large numbers, it did not provide a structure for long-term mentorship or personal growth.
New Scholar-Athlete Model (Launched 2025)
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To access our training facility and programs, BUBA Scholar-Athletes must now:
Attend athletic training sessions
Complete Life After Ball (LAB) Sessions focused on life skills and career readiness
Participate in community volunteer work
We also upgraded from Virtuagym to Podio, a new data system that enables us to track attendance, credits, and engagement more effectively. This shift allows us to support the holistic development of underserved youth with greater accountability and depth.
Impact (1/1/25 – 6/30/25)
Milestones & Institutional Growth
Milestone #1:
Facility Expansion and Beautification
In early 2025, BUBA doubled the size of its facility, growing from 10,000 to 20,000 sq. ft., and added critical upgrades to support holistic development. New additions include:
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3 additional batting cages
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Full weight room and training space
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A tech-enabled classroom with a SmartBoard and 50+ laptops
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Inspirational murals and beautification projects by local artists
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This expansion, just minutes from Camden Yards, reinforces our commitment to developing leaders on and off the field in a vibrant, functional, and inspiring space.
Milestone #3:
After-School Program Beginning Growth
After launching our after-school program in response to the tragedy at Dunbar High School, BUBA partnered with four schools during the 2024–25 school year. The program combines:
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Athletic training
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Academic enrichment
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Life skills development
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Safe space for healing and mentorship
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We are on track to double participation in the upcoming school year, with new partnerships currently being formalized to expand our reach.
Milestone #2:
Partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools
BUBA partnered with Baltimore City Public Schools to host 15 field trips for middle school students—many of whom had never played baseball or softball before.
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College student-athletes from our university partners served as facilitators, leading engaging activities in both offense and defense fundamentals.
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Students also participated in Life After Ball (LAB) classroom sessions, where they discussed college majors, ambitions, and the college experience.
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We ended each field trip with a baseball trivia game and distributed fun prizes, creating an interactive, educational, and memorable experience.
Milestone #2:
Advancing Girls' Participation and Softball Programming
This year, BUBA made a strategic effort to increase female participation across all programming. We are proud to report that the percentage of girls enrolled in BUBA programs has grown from 12% to over 30%.
This significant increase is the result of:
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Softball programming embedded in our after-school partnerships
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Friday Softball Nights, featuring mentoring sessions led by college softball players, supporting girls both on and off the field
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These efforts have not only created safe, empowering spaces for young women but also established new pipelines for leadership, college preparation, and athletic development. We’re excited to continue expanding these initiatives in the months ahead.
Leadership Series: MLK Day Invitational
On MLK Day, BUBA hosted a powerful Leadership Series that brought together three predominantly Black Christian schools from a predominantly white athletic league.
Event Highlights:
Guest speakers included:
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Tyrone Brooks, Senior Director, Diversity & Inclusion, Major League Baseball
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Adam Jones, Former All-Star, Baltimore Orioles
Panel discussion featuring the three school coaches, hosted by partners from Under Armour and Baltimore City Parks and Recreation
Art Project: Youth repurposed old baseballs and softballs into unique artwork led by a nonprofit responsible for our facility murals
Round-robin tournament that emphasized sportsmanship, camaraderie, and unity
Special thanks to Lincoln University Baseball, which sent 15 players and coaches to help facilitate the event. This series will continue as an annual tradition.
Ball-to-Business Career Series
BUBA hosted two major career-focused events at Under Armour HQ:
Session One: Career Exploration & Networking
Organized and hosted by the Black Employees Achieve Team (BEAT) in partnership with BUBA
Participants: 50+ high school and college athletes
Tours of Under Armour’s innovation and production spaces
Speakers included Black professionals in MLB-affiliated roles
Icebreakers and panel discussions on career readiness, branding, and networking
Session Two: Women’s Leadership Edition
Organized by WILL (Women Inspiring, Living, Leading) at Under Armour
Participants: 60+ female student-athletes
Hands-on learning, behind-the-scenes access, and career panels for young women interested in sports and business
These events gave students front-row access to diverse, real-world career pathways beyond the playing field.
LAB Sessions & Smart Classroom Impact
Our Life After Ball (LAB) initiative remains a cornerstone of BUBA programming. Conducted in our SmartBoard-equipped classroom, these sessions focus on:
Leadership development
Financial literacy
Entrepreneurship
Mental health
College and career preparation
LAB sessions are now fully integrated into all after-school programs and continue to be offered as stand-alone workshops for both BUBA youth and community families.
Special Visit: Justyn-Henry Malloy
MLB Player Justyn-Henry Malloy visited BUBA as part of a special partnership with Under Armour and The Players Alliance. He shared his journey through college and professional baseball, emphasizing grit, perseverance, and life after sport.
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Highlights:
Interactive classroom talk on personal growth and goal-setting
Live batting practice for students from Dunbar High School and Digital Harbor
Students received personalized coaching, encouragement, and inspiration
This event embodied BUBA’s mission: empowering youth through sports, education, and mentorship.
Community Event:
Minority Baseball Speaker Panel
Over 200 people attended our event held on December 28, 2024, and attended by Mayor Brandon Scott, this event brought together successful minority baseball professionals to share stories of resilience and achievement. Community partners provided resource tables for youth and families to explore academic, mentorship, and workforce opportunities.