BLOOM gathered 265 Baltimore girls for a joyful day of revolutionary joy, self-discovery, and sisterhood, empowering them to live out their authentic “me.”
The Center for Restorative Change’s Positive Schools Center (PSC) at the University of Maryland School of Social Work recently co-hosted its second annual BLOOM: Beautifully Living Out Our ME, a transformative gathering designed to uplift and affirm middle and high school girls from Baltimore City Public Schools. Organized in partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools, the Y of Central Maryland, Child First Authority, the Baltimore City Health Department, and the Mayor's Office of Children and Youth, the event brought more than 265 young people to Baltimore Unity Hall for a day centered on joy, self-discovery, and community connection. Throughout the day, participants were reminded that their voices, stories, and dreams are powerful tools for shaping their futures and their communities.
This year’s theme for BLOOM was “Revolutionary Joy.” The event offered a full slate of interactive experiences that invited girls to reflect on who they are and who they are becoming. Through creative arts, guided discussions, and skill-building workshops, they explored themes of identity, leadership, mental wellness, and sisterhood. Community leaders and mentors from across the city held space alongside them, modeling what cross-generational growth and development can look like when care, accountability, and possibility are at the center.
Charde Falcon, a student at Renaissance Academy, shared her definition of “Revolutionary Joy”: “It is not letting people, pain, or problems define who I am. Instead, it is waking up each day and choosing to be amazing.” BLOOM cultivated a joyful, safe environment where girls could show up as their most authentic selves—celebrated, heard, and seen. The event also underscored PSC’s ongoing commitment to restorative, relationship-centered practices in schools, demonstrating how school–community partnerships can nurture belonging and resilience for young people most impacted by inequity.
Mashonah English, principal of Vanguard Middle School, thanked the team for creating a space where girls could “just be”—a sentiment echoed by many participants. One student reflected, “Normally I am chill and quiet, but being here, I can just be myself and geek out.” The goal was to create a space where girls could practice beautifully living out their “me,” not just for a day, but as a mindset they can carry back to their schools, homes, and neighborhoods.