WYPR NewsRoom

Poverty, Unemployment Compel Local Youth To Join Drug Trade

Baltimore, MD (2009-11-11) They are usually forgotten, but they are not unseen. Groups of young, able-bodied African-American men mill on countless Baltimore street corners, forming part of a familiar, constantly moving tableau in many neighborhoods. In this segment of our series, "Growing Up Baltimore," WYPR's Sunni Khalid reports on the inability of many local teenagers to find jobs and the alternatives they face in trying to survive.

Economic Decline Leaves Fewer Opportunities For Baltimore Youths

Baltimore, MD (2009-11-10) A little more than a generation ago, heavy manufacturing dominated Baltimore's thriving economy. A growing middle class found jobs in steel mills and auto plants, and on the docks. That Baltimore is no more. In this installment of "Growing Up Baltimore," WYPR's Sunni Khalid reports on the economic outlook for Baltimore's children.

Growing Up Baltimore-Foster Care Survivor Works To Make Life Better For Those In System

Baltimore, MD (2009-11-06) Baltimore children who are rescued from abusive parents--or orphaned by murder, suicide or disease - often wind up in foster care. And that can be either a blessing or a further tragedy. In this installment of our series, "Growing Up Baltimore," WYPR's Karen Hosler has the story of a young woman who survived abuse, neglect and Maryland's foster care system. She's now determined to make life better for those who come behind her.

Growing Up Baltimore-Dangerous Neighborhoods

Baltimore, MD (2009-11-04) Many neighborhoods in Baltimore that were once stable places to grow up have been declining for years. Families struggling to keep their children safe, contend with rows of boarded up houses, trash, and street crime. As part of our series, "Growing Up Baltimore," WYPR's Mary Rose Madden reports that even a chance encounter with a neighborhood dog can be scary.

Growing Up Baltimore - Overview

Baltimore, MD (2009-11-02) For the past eight months, WYPR has been exploring the challenges facing young people in our city. "Growing Up Baltimore," is made possible, in part, Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center for the Prevention of Youth Violence. The findings and conclusions presented in our series do not necessarily reflect the opinions of these organizations. Fraser Smith, WYPR's Senior News Analyst begins with an overview of our findings.