We’re proud to recognize Thread The New Social Fabric as the Community Partner of the Month. Read on to learn more about Thread, and their experience as an MVLS Community Partner.

How long have you been in existence, and what is your organization’s mission?  
Founded in 2004, Thread is celebrating 20 years of weaving connections across Baltimore. Thread harnesses the power of relationships to create a new social fabric of diverse individuals deeply engaged with young people facing the most significant opportunity and achievement gaps. Our community is committed to ending social isolation and building a more equitable culture in which everyone thrives.

What/who/how do you serve your community?
Thread enrolls the lowest-performing ninth grade students at the lowest-performing Baltimore City Public Schools who face an abundance of challenges in and out of the classroom. Thread commits to our young people for ten years and matches them with a group of caring adult volunteers from diverse backgrounds and experiences who join one another on their personal journeys.

Volunteers build strong, supportive relationships with their young person and each other that benefit everyone involved. A powerful network of programs and partners enables them to grow and strengthen their bonds and overcome barriers. By fostering connection, appreciation, motivation, and trust, Thread is boosting educational and economic outcomes—building a more vibrant and equitable city for all.

Why do you think it’s important to work with a legal services program, like MVLS? 
Thread believes that with the right support, everyone can thrive. As a community impact organization, we leverage our powerful network of programs and partners, like MVLS, to help young people and volunteers from diverse backgrounds create strong relationships, overcome barriers, and achieve their goals. When young people require legal support or advocacy, legal services programs like MVLS help remove financial barriers to access.

MVLS staff and volunteers have made themselves available to Thread young people and staff at Thread events and shared information about recent changes to the expungement process, and services in family, consumer, housing, estate planning, and tax law.

Is there anything upcoming you would like to highlight or promote?
Thread welcomes new volunteers looking to make a lasting impact in Baltimore. If you like working with youth, become a volunteer. Together, you and other volunteers will provide a young person with a dedicated community and resources to achieve their goals. If you have a knack for organization and managing groups of people, consider becoming a volunteer leader. You’ll receive additional training and help coach other volunteers. Complete an easy online application then join us for a dinner and information session to learn more about Thread. Get started at
thread.org/volunteer.