Transform Mid-Atlantic

Transform Mid-Atlantic Transform Mid-Atlantic promotes the development of global citizens and just communities in Maryland, D.C., Delaware, and beyond.

The Transform Mid-Atlantic is a non-profit membership association of public, private, 2- and 4-year colleges and universities. Transform provides leadership to colleges and universities in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Delaware, by advocating, supporting, and encouraging institutional participation in academic and co-curricular based public service and civic engagement programs. Transform streng

thens the capacity of member institutions to enhance student learning and to meaningfully engage with communities. Transform is supported through a combination of institutional dues, federal and private grants, and in-kind contributions. The Transform office is housed by Hood College in Frederick, Maryland.

06/01/2026

At Transform Mid-Atlantic, we are dedicated to our mission of Engaging Campuses in Communities. This week, we’re excited to highlight Ronald Tavares, a TMA AmeriCorps VISTA member serving at Towson University.

An impactful part of Ron’s service experience has been working alongside the TMA VISTA cohort. He describes the cohort experience as an absolute blast, where members come together to share their challenges, celebrate collective victories, and lift each other up. Having previously served in the military, Ron finds that bringing people together in a shared mission feels deeply familiar, and he loves seeing the literal light in everyone's eyes as they build a true sense of community.

That passion for community translates directly into his daily work supporting fellow veterans on campus. Serving with Towson University's veteran center, Ron recently helped organize a celebration for graduating veterans. Seeing those students walk across the stage was a powerful reminder of why national service matters. For Ron, moments like that are all about breaking cycles, building lasting connections, and ensuring future veteran students have a strong network to lean on.

Thank you, Ron, for your dedication to the veteran community at Towson University, and thank you to the team at Towson for their incredible partnership!

Nominations are now open for the 2026 TMA Awards. 🌱This year's theme — Rooted Here and Reaching Far — is a celebration o...
05/26/2026

Nominations are now open for the 2026 TMA Awards. 🌱

This year's theme — Rooted Here and Reaching Far — is a celebration of the changemakers, campuses, and community partners nurturing civic and community engagement across the Mid-Atlantic region.

We believe place matters. The strongest partnerships are built at the grassroots level — community by community, campus by campus, rooted in place, driven by community, and endowed with the collective power to create lasting, sustainable change for our region and democracy.

From the Eastern Shore to the Shenandoah Valley, from the banks of the Chesapeake to the streets of our capital — this work is happening everywhere. And the people leading it deserve to be recognized.

Do you know a campus leader, faculty member, student, or community partnership whose roots and impact run deep? Nominate them by August 13, 2026.
🔗 https://transformmidatlantic.org/tma-awards-2026-nominations/

Self-nominations and nominations of community partners are welcome.

05/26/2026

At Transform Mid-Atlantic, we are dedicated to our mission of Engaging Campuses in Communities. This week, we’re excited to highlight Erykah Joseph-Valentine (Erykah J.), a TMA AmeriCorps VISTA member serving with The Civic Circle in Silver Spring.

Erykah brings a strong background in public service and institutional support to her national service year. Having worked closely with systemic community needs on a broader scale, her experience this year has reaffirmed her decision to bring her talents directly to the local grassroots level.

For Erykah, participating in a year of national service means "really hitting the ground running and being closer to the ground in terms of the people who we actually look to serve."

By shifting her focus to the local level, she is able to make a direct, personal impact where it is needed most.

One of Erykah’s standout projects is building a curriculum tailored specifically for middle and high school students. This initiative is designed to ensure the content truly matches what students need, while uplifting student voices by listening to their feedback to create a program where they can take away real, actionable skills.

The program curriculum serves as a pinnacle point of her recent work. For Erykah, reflecting on the community's needs during a time when funding and awareness are at risk has made this the most insightful year she has ever done.

"This has been a great year and a year of true insight as to what it really looks like to be of service to communities." — Erykah Joseph-Valentine, TMA VISTA Member

A huge thank you to the team at The Civic Circle for their incredible partnership and dedication to empowering the next generation of citizens through this vital community work.

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05/18/2026

At Transform Mid-Atlantic we are dedicated to our mission of Engaging Campuses in Communities. This week, we’re excited to highlight Karma Francis, a TMA AmeriCorps VISTA member serving at Morgan State University at the Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm in Baltimore.

Karma is in her second year of national service, a journey she describes as "bridge building." By leveraging her background in communications, she is helping to bridge the gap between the grassroots work of urban farming and the academic resources of Morgan State University.

One of Karma’s standout projects is the Morganale exhibition, a collaboration that brought together architecture and visual arts students to create a "canvas for storytelling." This project was designed to honor legacy by tracing the journey of land ownership and the evolution of the Park Heights landscape, while simultaneously showcasing resilience by capturing the spirit of the local community and the amazing impact of the Urban Farm.

By moving beyond simply identifying challenges, the initiative focused on building infrastructure and creating real-time solutions for food sovereignty.

The Morganale exhibition opened to the community on April 9th. For Karma, seeing the students bring this vision to life was "absolutely iconic."

"It was a very powerful reminder of what happens when we do bridge that gap between our universities and our communities." — Karma Francis, TMA VISTA Member

A huge thank you to the Mellon Foundation for funding this project, and to the team of farmers and partners—Farmer Chippy, Farmer Tiara, Farmer Block, and VISTA partner Farmer Liam—for making it all happen.

05/04/2026

At Transform Mid-Atlantic, we are dedicated to our mission of Engaging Campuses in Communities. This week, we’re excited to highlight Mariam Kamal, a TMA AmeriCorps VISTA member serving at the International Rescue Committee Baltimore (IRC).

Mariam is working on a system to turn client feedback into permanent program improvements. By making sure refugee voices are heard and acted upon, she is helping build a community that is truly shaped by the people who live there.

Beyond the project work, the heart of service is the people you meet. When we asked Mariam about her experience with the VISTA cohort, she shared:

"It’s a chance to work with people who share a similar worldview and collaborate on a mission we all believe in. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the people who run the program and learning from their journeys. It’s something I hope to incorporate into my own path."

We are inspired by the way our members learn from one another while building stronger, more inclusive communities. Thank you for your service, Mariam!

Learn more about our 2026 VISTA cohort: https://transformmidatlantic.org/2025-2026-tma-americorps-vista-members/

The inaugural Good Trouble: Continuing the Legacy and Purpose of HBCUs conference, held on April 15 (Virtual) and April ...
05/04/2026

The inaugural Good Trouble: Continuing the Legacy and Purpose of HBCUs conference, held on April 15 (Virtual) and April 16 (in person) brought together students, faculty, staff, and community partners from multiple HBCUs to reflect on Black history, civic engagement, and social advocacy.

Through dialogue and workshops, participants explored critical media literacy, leadership, and community impact. Presenters, including our keynote speaker, Dr. Karsonya (Kaye) Wise Whitehead, Ph.D. , inspired students to take action through voting and other forms of social and political engagement.

Hosted by Bowie State University the conference fostered connection, empowerment, and a shared commitment to advancing the legacy of HBCUs and student activism.

A huge Thank You to our corporate sponsor 🤝 Kaiser Permanente and our campus co-sponsors - University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Bowie State University, and Howard University We’re grateful for your support which helped make this event possible and impactful.

04/27/2026

At Transform Mid-Atlantic, we are dedicated to our mission of 🤝Engaging Campuses in Communities, and this week, we are proud to feature a VISTA member who is living that mission every day through her service in Baltimore.

Shelby Donaldson is currently in her second year serving as the Strong York Road Schools AmeriCorps at Loyola University Maryland Over the past two years, she has become a vital bridge between the campus and the surrounding York Road corridor.

Recently, Shelby shared a story from the Walter P. Carter Food Pantry that highlights the real-world impact of these partnerships. A community member who cares for her grandson approached Shelby to express how much the pantry has helped her family over the years. Having a reliable, accessible place to get groceries—especially those items often missed at the store—has made a massive difference in her daily life.

For Shelby, hearing that gratitude firsthand validated the two years of work she’s put into the York Corridor. Knowing that other residents feel the same way serves as a powerful reminder of why community accessibility is so vital.

Shelby’s dedication ensures that the relationship between the campus and the neighborhood remains strong and responsive to local needs. Thank you for your incredible service, Shelby!



👉 Learn more about our 2026 VISTA cohort: https://transformmidatlantic.org/2025-2026-tma-americorps-vista-members/

🌟 Member Monday: Meet Nina Brown, B.S! 🌟 At Transform Mid-Atlantic, we are dedicated to our mission of Engaging Campuses...
04/20/2026

🌟 Member Monday: Meet Nina Brown, B.S! 🌟

At Transform Mid-Atlantic, we are dedicated to our mission of Engaging Campuses in Communities—and this week, we are proud to feature an AmeriCorps VISTA member building vital pathways for students in Baltimore.

Meet Nina Brown, a TMA AmeriCorps VISTA serving with the CCBC Community College of Baltimore County. Nina’s project is all about bridging the gap between GED completion and higher education. To do this, she didn't just jump in, she started by creating a comprehensive process map to identify exactly where GED students could be better supported on their journey.

By analyzing the student experience, Nina has developed and implemented several high-impact strategies:

• Strategic Outreach: Designing resource displays within testing centers so students finishing their high school diplomas have an immediate "what’s next" roadmap.

• Collaborative Training: Leading professional development for GED faculty and transition specialists to ensure they can effectively guide students toward CCBC career pathways.

• Data-Driven Engagement: Leveraging CRM software to streamline communication with students as they reach key academic milestones.

For Nina, this year is a season of exponential growth. As a recent graduate in her first professional role, she describes herself as "soaking in information like a sponge," learning the intricacies of higher education and discovering the vast world of career possibilities.

We are so grateful for Nina’s analytical mind and collaborative spirit. Her work is ensuring that for many students in our region, a high school diploma is just the beginning of a successful academic journey.

👉 Learn more about our 2026 VISTA cohort at https://lnkd.in/eCvehpqx



https://transformmidatlantic.org/2025-2026-tma-americorps-vista-members/

📣The Call for Proposals is NOW OPEN for the 2026 Service-Learning & Civic Engagement (SLCE) Conference.On Saturday, Octo...
04/14/2026

📣The Call for Proposals is NOW OPEN for the 2026 Service-Learning & Civic Engagement (SLCE) Conference.

On Saturday, October 17, American University will host practitioners, scholars, community partners, and students in Washington, D.C. for a day-long, in-person convening built around this year's theme: Co-Creating Change: Collaborative Community Partnerships. 🎓

Whether your work lives in the classroom, in the community, or at the intersection of both — this conference is a space to share it. 📚

Proposals exploring service-learning pedagogy, community-engaged scholarship, and reciprocal campus-community partnerships are especially welcome.

📆Proposals are due by 11:59pm on Monday, June 8, 2026. Visit the link below to learn more and submit.



https://transformmidatlantic.org/2026-slce-call-for-proposals/

Member Monday: Meet Bryan Williamson!At Transform Mid-Atlantic, we are dedicated to Engaging Campuses in Communities 🤝an...
04/13/2026

Member Monday: Meet Bryan Williamson!

At Transform Mid-Atlantic, we are dedicated to Engaging Campuses in Communities 🤝and this week, we’re highlighting a VISTA member who is doing exactly that.

Meet Bryan Williamson, a TMA AmeriCorps VISTA serving with Goldey-Beacom College in Wilmington, Delaware.

In his role with the Community Engagement Project, Bryan is the bridge between the classroom and the community. He has seen major success by pivoting toward "one-off" service projects—a strategy that has significantly boosted student engagement. From coordinating dinner cleanups at the Ronald McDonald House Charities to leading hands-on work at the InnerSource Wellness Center, Bryan is helping students provide vital support to families in need and contribute to local sustainable farming.

Bryan’s service is a masterclass in resilience. Through his VISTA year, he has embraced a "willingness to fail," learning that when a recurring project doesn’t stick, the best move is to adapt, redesign, and try again. This mindset has allowed him to build a stronger, more flexible foundation for student volunteerism at Goldey-Beacom.

A recent transplant from the sunny shores of San Diego, California, Bryan moved to Delaware to seek a change of pace and be closer to family. Despite a "brutal" East Coast winter, he has jumped headfirst into his new community. A true people person, Bryan is a member of Toastmasters, where he’s sharpening his public speaking skills, and is an active leader in his local church group. For Bryan, service is about making lifelong, quality connections and leaving a positive, lasting impression on everyone he meets.

We also asked Bryan for his take on a classic question...
🍕 Does pineapple belong on pizza?

Bryan’s stance is firm: "I don’t think pineapple belongs on anything!" 🍍🚫

Whether he's standing his ground on pizza toppings or building new community partnerships, we’re so glad to have Bryan’s energy and resilience in the TMA AmeriCorps VISTA cohort. We can’t wait to see the impact he continues to make in Wilmington!

👉 Learn more about our VISTA members: https://transformmidatlantic.org/2025-2026-tma-americorps-vista-members/

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Frederick, MD
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