Dates and Events

SBLC Hours

Monday - 8:30am-8:30pm

Tuesday - 8:30am-8:30pm

Wednesday - 8:30am-8:30pm

Thursday - 8:30am-8:30pm

Friday - 8:30am-5pm

Saturday - 8:30am-3pm

Sunday - Closed

South Baltimore Learning Center

20 years of opening doors and changing lives!

Board of Directors Advisory Council

The challenge: In Baltimore City, 38% of adults are either unable to read or read below the fourth grade level (National Institute for Literacy, 2001) and over 142,000 adults do not have a high school diploma. According to a recent study funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Baltimore public schools are only graduating 38.5% of their students (USA Today).

The majority of the Center’s learners (70-80 percent) are recognized as the working poor, members of households living below 100 percent of poverty with at least one family member working. They are a part of an unskilled working class that can no longer survive economically without a high school diploma.

Our mission: The South Baltimore Learning Center is a community based nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the self-sufficiency of educationally disadvantaged adults in the Baltimore area.

Results: SBLC provides services to more than 1300 learners each year. In the past year, 73 SBLC learners earned their high school diplomas, our best year ever. Our success — the success of our learners — rate continues to increase!

The Programs :In addition to ABE (Adult Basic Education), pre-GED and GED classes, and a one-on-one tutoring program, SBLC provides life skills training, career preparation services and options for pursuing college programs. SBLC is the sole authorized provider of the External Diploma Program (EDP) for Baltimore City through which qualified adults can earn their high school diploma with independent assignments and a flexible schedule.

Neighbors helping neighbors. The South Baltimore Learning Center (SBLC) was started in 1988 as the literacy project for the Coalition of Peninsula Organizations (COPO). In 1990, it became a neighborhood-based initiative for tutoring adults in the community. It has grown to serve hundreds of adults each year offering a variety of educational services, many geared towards helping learners earn their high school diplomas.

Award-winning building: SBLC’s classrooms, computer lab and administrative offices are located in the imposing former Southern District Police Station at the corner of East Ostend and Patapsco streets, in a residential section of South Baltimore. Constructed in 1896, it functioned as a police station complete with holding cells and a courtroom. SBLC had been housed, along with several other non-profit organizations in the building until 1999 when it was able to acquire the facility. In January 2003, SBLC reopened its doors to an attractive, efficient space for SBLC learners, instructors, staff and volunteers. In recognition of the careful restoration of this historical building the Center was awarded the 2004 Historic Preservation Award from Baltimore Heritage, Inc. In addition, Sonia Socha was presented with the 2007 Stewardship Award by the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) for her role int he award-winning restoration and adaptation of the Southern Police Station building in fulfillment of SBLC's mission to serve disadvantaged residents of Baltimore and MHT's mission to preserve historic resources for future generations. The Southern Police Station is listed in the 2001 National Register of Historic Places, Division of Historical and Cultural Programs, Maryland Historical Trust.

Board of Directors

Officers

Anne Heesters Schroth, President
Barry Blumberg, Past President

Ian Neuman, Vice President

Wm. Streett Baldwin, Treasurer

Darlene Davis, Secretary

Vicki Pepper, Member At Large

Directors

Sharon Flagler

Robin Davidov

Derryck Holston

Ed Krikorian