Founded in 1988 as the literacy project for the Coalition of Peninsula Organizations (COPO), SBLC became an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization in 1990. What began as a neighborhood-based initiative to provide tutoring to adults seeking to improve their reading skills, has grown and expanded to serve thousands of adults each year with a variety of adult education and related life-skills trainings
SBLC moved to temporary quarters during the historical renovation process and established a Community Technology Center (CTC) offering basic computer classes and open computer lab hours. In January 2003, we returned to our new state-of-the-art learning center.
South Baltimore Learning Center Day was officially proclaimed on May 16, 2016 as we celebrated 25 years supporting adult learners in Baltimore.
South Baltimore Learning Center changes its name to SBLC and adopts the tagline: “Learning Works” as a way to highlight our learners’ accomplishments and celebrate how SBLC functions not only to educate adult learners, but to empower them to succeed: by securing better jobs, enhancing their life skills and personal lives, and contributing to their community.
SBLC|LearningWorks hosted our second annual fundraising GALA in 2019, effectively transitioned to virtual learning during Covid 19 and graduated over 20 learners in 2021.
Mayor Brandon Scott attended our 2022 graduation to support SBLC learners. SBLC partners with MOED, PNC & many other organizations to enhance our workforce development and support services. SBLC Begins the Career Skills Academy, designed for adult learners ages 18-and-up who are entering the workforce or looking to start a new career path and Financial Literacy Workshops, to help learners build financial knowledge.
SBLC|LearningWorks teams up with the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development to offer our learners free job training and essential skills through the TrainUp program. Initiated the TAMAR (Trauma, addiction, mental health & recovery) workshops to help learners help you identify and practice self-regulation strategies, alleviate the signs and symptoms of experienced trauma, and develop vital skills that promote understanding and healing. We also celebrated our annual Booklovers cookout to celebrate the joy of learning, reading and the curiosity that books create in the minds of people.
SBLC|LearningWorks’s Executive director initiates three -year strategic plan as we continue to sow, plant, and thrive into the future of SBLC!
Our Building’s History
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 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. The Southern Police Station is listed in the 2001 National Register of Historic Places, Division of Historical and Cultural Programs, Maryland Historical Trust.