The Choice Program at UMBC is a mentoring, diversion, and workforce development program serving young people across Maryland. For nearly 40 years, Choice has partnered with youth and families to strengthen communities through innovative, family-focused strategies that connect young people to opportunities for positive choices. Generations of UMBC students have engaged with Choice youth—most often through College Nights, a longstanding and meaningful tradition for CEL students. 

Choice's work extends beyond direct services. We also advocate for policy and legislative change during the Maryland General Assembly, which begins today Wednesday, January 14. Our policy agenda is grounded in our core values and guided by an explicit commitment to anti-racism.

We acknowledge that the legacy of white supremacy culture continues to disadvantage Black and Latine youth. Choice works to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities (RED) in Maryland’s youth-serving systems. While Black and Latine youth make up 47.2 % of Maryland’s overall youth population, they account for 90.6 % of youth in detention—a figure that represents an 11 % increase in the past decade.*

In 2021, Choice ratified the following issues as our advocacy and policy priorities:

Embrace Positive Youth Development 

We will continue to work for systems changes in Annapolis during the next 90 days. If you are curious about how you may engage with youth legal system reforms–from writing your legislator to attending a rally–please contact me: kquinn@umbc.edu 

In solidarity, --Kelly Quinn, Ph.D. Managing Director 

*Source: Annie E. Casey Foundation, KIDS COUNT Data Center and Department of Juvenile Services, Department of Juvenile Services Data Dashboard