Assignment 2: The Baltimore Area Project
Due: Sunday October 11th

Formatting
Block formatting
Suggested Length: ~ 4 double-spaced pages.
o Outline format (i.e., similar to how these instructions are set up) is encouraged.
Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt.
Margins: 1 inch on all sides of page.
Subheadings: Please use subheadings.
References: Use APA citation structure as appropriate. Cite all sources, including links
See rubric on Sakai for detailed information on grading.
For this assignment, you will create a version of the Chicago Area Project for present day
Baltimore. The Chicago Area Project is ground in the belief that neighborhood residents can take
a lead role in the prevention of crime and delinquency through community building and
providing resources. The website for the Chicago Area Project is here:
http://www.chicagoareaproject.org/
The Chicago Area Project (CAP) was started in 1934 by Clifford Shaw and Henry McKay to
address issues of juvenile delinquency and youth gangs in the city. The focus on this project is on
the local community as a place for action which was in line with the Chicago Schools
thoughts on using the city as a laboratory. In order to prevent crime from occurring, the CAP
worked with residents and local institutions/organizations to support their reinforcement of
societys conventional values or norms. They viewed juvenile delinquency as an effect of social
disorganization in the community. Thus, the goal was to support the community in developing
social organization by changing the attitudes, sentiments, code, and moral standards of the
neighborhood as a whole (Burgess et al., 1937).
You are tasked with creating a project outline for implementing a Baltimore Area Project
inspired by the Chicago Area Project. I intend for you to approach this assignment with an open
mind of establishing this Baltimore Area Project in the way you would if you had access to
unlimited resources and partnerships. Try to create an ideal version of what you would see the
Baltimore Area Project as including. You can do this city wide *or* select one specific
neighborhood to focus on. Make sure you clearly state your selection at the start of your
outline.
You should include the following section in your Baltimore Area Project assignment:
1. A brief description of the Chicago Area Project and their approach to crime
reduction/prevention.
o How was this intended to be effective in Chicago? Review their historical look at
the project here: http://www.chicagoareaproject.org/historical-look-chicago-areaproject
o Consider do you think this model would be effective in Baltimore? Why or Why
not?
o What modifications would be needed overall to the approach to effectively
implement this in Baltimore.
2. The mission, philosophy, goal, and objectives for the Chicago Area Project are located
here: http://www.chicagoareaproject.org/about-us
o Modify these for your Baltimore Area Project.
3. The Chicago Area Project includes Community Organizing
o They describe it as: Community Organizing involves identifying local leaders
and supporting their efforts in mobilizing residents to take responsibility for
guiding young people. Working together, community leaders, residents, and youth
prioritize neighborhood-specific issues, seek effective solutions, and identify
available resources to address them.
o Explain how community organizing would fit into your Baltimore Area Project.
o Specifically list who local leaders could be that could mobilize residents to take
responsibility
4. The Chicago Area Project offers Direct Services
o They describe it as: Direct Services occur through CAP’s network of more than
40 affiliates offering educational, cultural, and recreational programs.
o Here is a list of the affiliates of the Chicago Area Project:
http://www.chicagoareaproject.org/affiliates-list
o Explain what Direct Services you would offer under your Baltimore Area Project.
o Specifically list what affiliates in the community you would like to enlist in order
to offer these direct services.
5. The Chicago Area Project engages in Advocacy
o They advocate with neighborhood groups on behalf of their youth for
improvements in schools, juvenile court systems, and employment opportunities.
o Identify specific projects that your Baltimore Area Project could advocate for
around the city
o Identify any neighborhood groups that you think could be beneficial partners to
advocate with
Please note: I do expect there to be some differences in how students approach this project, and
which parts of the Chicago Area Project they think would be applicable to a Baltimore version,
which parts they dont see as relevant, and what new additions they could make. As you contrast
your version, provide justifications for *why* you are either keeping the structure the same or
making modifications.
Your assignment should include many different sources and contents. Please include links and/or
citations to anything you are referring to in the outline (e.g., links to websites or news articles for
affiliates or projects to advocate for). Feel free to include pictures, maps, or other multimedia as
they are relevant as well.
This assignment will require you to some research on the city, neighborhoods in the city, and
community-based organizations that exist and offer local services. The Baltimore Neighborhood
Indicators Alliance here at UB (https://bniajfi.org/) collects information on key indicators,
including crime, across the regions of the city if you think these may be helpful. Remember that
as this assignment is focused on the Chicago School Perspective, the approach to crime includes
the ecological perspective, social disorganization, symbolic interaction, and culture conflict.
Your assignment should include justifications that link back to these theoretical perspectives.