Term 2: BMORE COOP
In Term 2 of CityLab, I worked with a group partnering with BMore CoOp. Our group focused on researching markets, finances, and policy for them. Here is our project report.
In CityLab, I worked on the BMore Cooperative Housing project, which focused on transforming Baltimore’s vacant properties into permanently affordable, resident-owned homes. Our team engaged with cooperative housing experts and conducted research to understand the legal, financial, and zoning frameworks needed to support this work. I helped research Maryland’s Limited-Equity Cooperative law, recent zoning reforms, and models for shared ownership and community wealth building.
This project strengthened my understanding of how community-driven housing can improve livability by supporting affordability, stabilizing neighborhoods, and giving residents long-term decision-making power. I learned to translate policy research into practical communication materials, work collaboratively within an interdisciplinary group, and tell a clear story about why cooperative housing matters for Baltimore.
Through this project, I also developed professional connections that led me to intern at Baltimore’s Department of Housing and Community Development. The experience helped shape my future plans to work in local housing and public health policy. The BMore CoOp project represents a turning point in how I see leadership. Leadership is not about managing others; rather, it about listening, learning, and helping communities build the future they want to live in.
