BALTIMORE — Notre Dame of Maryland University has joined a statewide effort to expand service and volunteerism as a host site for two members of the inaugural Maryland Corps, a first-of-its-kind service pathway for people of all ages through the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation.
Agyasi Downs and Kimberly Heywood will serve for nine months at Notre Dame supporting the University’s signature outreach initiative, the York Road Education & Service (YES) program. The Maryland Corps members will tutor and mentor youth at the Govans Elementary School and Tunbridge Public Charter School, recruit and train Notre Dame student volunteers, and help coordinate additional Notre Dame outreach programming.
“We are looking forward to all of the ways that Agyasi and Kimberly will help Notre Dame enhance and sustain the YES program, as well as continue to strengthen our partnerships and engagement in the York Road community,” said Lindsay Chudzik, Notre Dame’s director of service learning and community engagement.
Through the new Maryland Corps and Service Year Option, the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation is creating new service programs to meet community needs, enhancing workforce development, and promoting preparedness for both higher and vocational education.
“We're beyond excited to roll out these programs,” said Paul Monteiro, Maryland’s Secretary of Service and Civic Innovation. “They're not just about offering opportunities but linking service, education, and job readiness into a unified, powerful experience.”
At Notre Dame, the YES program introduces local elementary and middle students to college, provides them with role models, and enables the University to respond to community needs. Recently, students in Notre Dame’s School of Pharmacy and School of Nursing hosted a health fair to increase awareness of both professions, expanding the possibilities of YES program’s community engagement.
“The launch of the Service Year Option and Maryland Corps Program represents a renewed commitment to cultivating opportunities and inspiring a spirit of service in Maryland,” said Governor Wes Moore. “We're not just launching programs; we're connecting Marylanders to their communities and unlocking their potential in ways that will shape our collective future.”
Established in 1895, Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) is a private, Catholic institution in Baltimore, Maryland, with the mission to educate leaders to transform the world. Notre Dame has been named one of the best "Regional Universities North" by U.S. News & World Report.
Julia Campagna, director of mission and ministry at NDMU, discusses both the history of All Saints' Day and how the holiday is recognized on campus in this USA TODAY feature article.
