Roca Baltimore is getting a $1 million federal boost, secured by U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume, to deepen its work with young men the nonprofit sees as most at risk of violence. The new money will fuel job-track programs and short bursts of cognitive-behavioral training aimed at helping participants slow down, interrupt impulsive reactions, and make different choices. Graduates such as Khiree Oliver say the no-nonsense, hands-on model pulled them onto a new road, and Oliver now works as a behind-the-wheel trainer with the Maryland Transit Administration.
As reported by WMAR2 News, Mfume announced the award in Baltimore, and the station noted the funds will also broaden training for police so officers can better manage stress and better understand how young people think. WMAR2 News highlighted program testimonials and described Roca's strategy of meeting young men "where they are" through relentless outreach and daily work crews. The station quoted staff and graduates on how transitional employment paired with Rewire CBT skills can serve as a bridge to steady jobs.
How the money will be used
Rep. Mfume's appropriations filings list two related Roca projects, "Stopping Violence Through Employment" (requested $1,001,875) and "Building Skills to Support Community Safety" (requested $1,032,551). Both lay out plans to expand transitional employment crews and training programs. According to Rep. Kweisi Mfume's office, the requests describe paid work crews that combine on-site coaching with intensive Rewire practice and an abbreviated "Rewire4" curriculum tailored for police and corrections staff. The filings state that participants work four days a week and spend a fifth day on personal and professional development, with outside job placements offered after 60 consecutive days in the program.
Roca's track record and local impact
Roca's Baltimore site has been credited with helping drive recent declines in shootings and homicides as part of the city's broader violence-reduction push, and local coverage has described staff who keep showing up, again and again, to build trust with young men. As detailed by The Baltimore Banner and in Roca's 2025 annual report, independent evaluations have found lower recidivism for participants, with Abt Associates reporting roughly a 19% lower three-year incarceration rate compared with similar peers. Those outcomes are central to Mfume's case for continued federal support of the model.
Funding context
The new award comes after a rocky funding year for Roca. In April 2025, the Department of Justice rescinded hundreds of grants, and reporting by The Daily Record showed that Roca lost about $1 million in federal dollars, pushing the organization to scramble for replacement support. Local leaders warned that the cuts could weaken community safety work, which makes the Mfume-backed grant a timely stabilizer for staff retention and job-placement pipelines. Program directors say the new money should let them keep outreach going while they chase longer-term public and private funding.
"Keep being driven. Don't just sit around," graduate Khiree Oliver told reporters, explaining the mindset Roca tries to instill in participants, as WMAR2 News reported. Roca leaders say the grant will help them widen their reach and keep employment pathways moving, and Mfume has framed the award as a prevention-focused investment that backs up Baltimore's own efforts to reduce violence.
