The Baltimore Entrepreneurship & Leadership Network (BELN) is a group of leaders of social entrepreneurship and leadership programs serving Baltimore.
Our Story
BELN began with a conversation in the fall of 2020 between Pamela King (Open Society Institute-Baltimore) and Sally Scott (UMBC Community Leadership Programs) about bringing together the directors of leadership and entrepreneurship programs focused on Baltimore City. Pamela and Sally reached out to both academic and nonprofit programs, and invited them to have a set of informal conversations, to learn about each other’s work, and to identify shared challenges and opportunities. About a dozen directors responded and connected (during the COVID pandemic) through online meetings to define BELN’s values and activities.
BELN’s first joint project, launched in late 2021, was to interview people who had completed several different BELN member programs. Network members were interested in assessing distinctions as well as similarities for each of their initiatives. Understanding the distinctions contributes to the organizations ability to be more effective as well as engage investors in the work.
In early 2022, support from Open Society Institute-Baltimore allowed UMBC to hire a BELN Special Project Assistant, who completed the multi-program participant interviews, and helped BELN organize two public events, a Spring 2022 Open House and a Fall 2022 Networking Event. In 2023, BELN focused on becoming a Community of Practice, through which members shared their knowledge and experiences, with the goal of learning from each other, and benefiting their students, fellows and founders as well as the Baltimore communities they serve.
Our Mission
BELN’s mission is to support organizations that help aspiring and existing entrepreneurs and leaders develop their knowledge, skills, connections and access to resources, with the overarching goal of building on the assets of, and responding to the challenges facing, underserved Baltimore residents and communities.
Our Values
Each of our programs has a different structure and offers different content. Yet there are values that we share, and which serve to distinguish our work from that of other organizations.
Supporting Participants’ Growth as Leaders and Social Entrepreneurs
We support participants’ growth as individuals, leaders and social entrepreneurs through diverse means including: academic study, reflective learning, skills-building, peer exchanges, community partnerships, mentorship, and networking
Strengthening Non-profit Organizations, Mission-Driven Enterprises, and Public Agencies
Our participants are current or aspiring leaders in the non-profit, private and public sectors. We help participants strengthen the entities where they work or with whom they have internships or partnerships.
Improving Outcomes for Baltimore Residents and Communities
We view entrepreneurship and leadership as vehicles for listening to, learning from, and working with Baltimore residents, to benefit individuals, families, and their communities. In partnership with residents, our programs seek to address Baltimore City’s racial and wealth inequities.