Catholic Charities opens community center in West Baltimore

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Catholic Charities, a Baltimore-based nonprofit providing human services, opened the Carolyn E. Fugett Intergenerational Center, an establishment the organization said is a West Baltimore “opportunity hub.” 

Opening its doors on May 21, the Fugett Intergenerational Center is designed to connect children, families and older adults to education, workforce pathways, and support services all under one roof, according to a release. 

The new center reflects Catholic Charities’ largest single-site investment, the organization said. 

Located at 800 Poplar Grove St. on the former site of Alexander Hamilton Elementary School, the center aims to foster opportunity, connection and economic mobility in a reimagined historic community space.

“This day is about more than opening a building — it’s about opening doors to opportunity and hope,” Catholic Charities Executive Director Dave Kinkopf said in a statement.

“The Fugett Intergenerational Center reflects what’s possible when you invest in communities and bring together the right partners to support the whole person. Here, families can access the tools they need to build stability and create brighter futures.”

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Fugett Intergenerational Center attracted Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller, Senate President Bill Ferguson, Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk and Sen. Antonio Hayes, who joined community leaders, donors, partners and local residents.

Event guests took guided tours of the facility and explored a community expo featuring on-site partners.

“This center was built with the community, not just for the community,” said Kevin Creamer, program director of the Fugett Intergenerational Center. 

“By bringing education, workforce training, behavioral health, and community programming together, we’re making it easier for families and individuals to access resources, here in a space where people can grow, connect, and thrive – together.”

Founded in 1923, Catholic Charities of Baltimore has more than 80 programs in 200 locations.

The new center bears the namesake of Carolyn E. Fugett, a community and education advocate with roots in the Greater Rosemont area. Among the facility’s amenities is an outdoor basketball court named in honor of former executive director Bill McCarthy as a tribute to his leadership and commitment in expanding opportunity in Baltimore.