BALTIMORE — Alexandria Warrick Adams, a proven leader in the education and youth development fields, has taken on the top position at Elev8 Baltimore, an award-winning community schools initiative working in four schools in the city.
Warrick Adams replaces Nicole A. Johnson, who stepped down from the role after seven years as senior director to start an independent consulting business.
Warrick Adams has extensive experience with Elev8 Baltimore, having worked at the initiative for three years as a site manager and resource development manager.
Prior to that, she was instrumental in developing and launching Elev8 Baltimore, working with East Baltimore Development, Inc. and key consultants to secure the initial $12 million grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies and develop partnerships to provide Elev8 Baltimore’s services.
Elev8 Baltimore is a full-service community schools approach that provides high-quality out-of-school time activities, school-based health services and resources and support for students and families in four East Baltimore schools.
“We are thrilled to have Alex come back to Elev8 Baltimore to continue the strong tradition of excellence the initiative has become known for,” said Henry E. Posko Jr., president and CEO of Humanim. “As a division of Humanim, Elev8 Baltimore helps us achieve our mission to expand opportunities for families and children living in Baltimore City. Alex is one of the few people in this city who understands Elev8 Baltimore inside and out and can help lead the initiative to even greater success.”
Warrick Adams left Elev8 Baltimore in 2012 for the Family League of Baltimore, where she helped implement a citywide strategy to align community resources and strengthen partnerships with schools to improve outcomes for youth and families. She was given more responsibilities a year later when she was named Community and School
Engagement Program Director and worked to implement the Community and School Engagement Strategy at 22 community schools.
“Beginning with Elev8 Baltimore and moving on to the Family League, I now have both a citywide and a national perspective around this very important work,” said Warrick Adams. “I have a clear vision of where Elev8 Baltimore can go and I am so excited to be back here so I can continue to be a strong leader around community schools and opportunities for students, not just in East Baltimore but citywide. This brings my vision full-circle.”
Warrick Adams said that she envisions expanding Elev8 Baltimore’s programming into high schools to continue supporting the elementary and middle- grades students who benefited from Elev8 Baltimore’s out-of-school activities, school-based health and family services and resources.
“We’re going to be thinking about the next level of support needed in their secondary educational experience – whether that’s helping students get into college or get trained for a job,” she said.
As part of Humanim, Elev8 Baltimore provides services at its network of four schools: Collington Square School, Dr. Rayner Browne Academy, Tench Tilghman Elementary/Middle School and Commodore John Rogers Elementary/Middle School. Elev8 Baltimore provides staff and funding to support a range of activities within the schools.