Nearly 350 people celebrated community spirit at a Community Cookout featuring food, games, and connection.
Nearly 350 people from the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), the BioPark, and the West Baltimore community came together June 4 for a Community Cookout, an evening filled with delicious food, outdoor games, and meaningful connections.
Held on the BioPark lawn, partway between the UMB Community Engagement Center (CEC) and the new 4MLK building, this free community meal was co-hosted by UMB’s Office of Community and Civic Engagement (OCCE), the BioPark, and Wexford Science & Technology. The event welcomed everyone: neighbors, families, BioPark tenants, and UMB students, faculty, and staff, all gathering to build relationships and celebrate the vibrant spirit of West Baltimore.
Guests enjoyed a classic cookout dinner with burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, and seasonal favorites by Xquisite Catering along with cold beverages and Taharka Brothers ice cream. Lawn games like Connect 4 and cornhole brought out laughter and friendly competition, while a “Community Joy Board” invited guests to reflect on what they love most about their neighborhood and what community means to them. Responses included words like “friendship,” “a village,” and “trust,” as well as sentiments such as “getting along with everyone around you,” “helping others,” “safe gathering spaces,” “helping your neighbors,” and “a group of people living together and sharing things in common.”
“Our goal with this event, like all of OCCE’s community dinners, is to foster connection and build meaningful relationships among neighbors, UMB, and local organizations,” said Danielle Harris, LCSW-C, director of community engagement operations. “It also serves as a welcoming entry point for community members to learn about the many free programs and resources UMB offers. This meal was particularly special because it marked a new commitment from our partners at the BioPark as co-sponsors of this long-standing OCCE tradition.”
“We are proud to support this initiative and to strengthen our relationship with the Southwest Baltimore community,” said Hannah Schmitz, the BioPark’s knowledge community director at Wexford Science and Technology. “Events like these reflect our shared commitment to building lasting connections and supporting the people that make our community so vibrant.”
Volunteers from both UMB and the local community played an important role, helping to serve food, welcome guests, and support activities, creating a welcoming environment where all could feel at home.
As music played and the grill sizzled, the Community Cookout became more than just a meal. It became a celebration of shared purpose and a reflection of UMB, the BioPark, and the community’s continued commitment to inclusive, collaborative community engagement in West Baltimore.