Before you read this page about how the Baltimore Wisdom Project was founded, be sure to read the about page that gives a general overview of our mission, methods, practices, and goals.
The mission of the Baltimore Wisdom Project is to reimagine education and reimagine the world by improving the lives of under-resourced children and the adults who care for them with restorative justice, mindfulness, healing practice, arts education, and intercultural understanding.
In 2016, Gabriel Pickus, the founder, executive director, and lead teaching artist of the BWP published an report entitled, "Towards a Wiser Baltimore" in the Summer 2016 issue of Re-Imagining Magazine. This report tells the story of how the BWP began its restorative mindfulness justice work in 2013 and how it continues to uplift Baltimore's youth and adults at a critical time within the city.
According to the last United States Census, of the approximately 621,000 residents of Baltimore city, an estimated 21 percent are under the age of 18; 63 percent are African American; 24 percent live below the poverty level; 26 percent hold a Bachelor’s degree; 24 percent of youth 16-19 drop out of school; 45 percent graduate from high school; and 28 percent of the population, or approximately 43,000 residents live in poverty.
The mission of the Baltimore Wisdom Project is to reimagine education and reimagine the world by improving the lives of under-resourced children and the adults who care for them with restorative justice, mindfulness, healing practice, arts education, and intercultural understanding.
In 2016, Gabriel Pickus, the founder, executive director, and lead teaching artist of the BWP published an report entitled, "Towards a Wiser Baltimore" in the Summer 2016 issue of Re-Imagining Magazine. This report tells the story of how the BWP began its restorative mindfulness justice work in 2013 and how it continues to uplift Baltimore's youth and adults at a critical time within the city.
According to the last United States Census, of the approximately 621,000 residents of Baltimore city, an estimated 21 percent are under the age of 18; 63 percent are African American; 24 percent live below the poverty level; 26 percent hold a Bachelor’s degree; 24 percent of youth 16-19 drop out of school; 45 percent graduate from high school; and 28 percent of the population, or approximately 43,000 residents live in poverty.
The “Cities in Crisis” report from America’s Promise’s found that, “Students in the suburban areas of the nation’s 50 largest cities were considerably more likely to graduate (77 percent) than students in the country’s urban schools (59 percent).”
The BWP seeks to address these disparities by working with youth and adults in a variety of contexts so that they may realize their best selves. We want youth and adults to learn how to negotiate conflicts, to enhance their problem-solving skills, to build self-esteem, to collaborate better in teams, to be more mindful and contemplative, and to become leaders within their communities.
We bring an array of practices and methods to this work, including integrative arts education, martial arts and physical education, mindful and contemplative practice, and discussion based processes for restorative justice and conflict transformation.
The BWP seeks to address these disparities by working with youth and adults in a variety of contexts so that they may realize their best selves. We want youth and adults to learn how to negotiate conflicts, to enhance their problem-solving skills, to build self-esteem, to collaborate better in teams, to be more mindful and contemplative, and to become leaders within their communities.
We bring an array of practices and methods to this work, including integrative arts education, martial arts and physical education, mindful and contemplative practice, and discussion based processes for restorative justice and conflict transformation.