When Archimedes of Syracuse, the Greek “father of mathematical physics” and astronomer, said he could move the Earth with a long enough lever, he didn?t have the Open Society Institute of Baltimore in mind.
But that?s the principle that this 10-year-old nonprofit ? the brainchild of controversial billionaire financier George Soros ? employs to push structural changes in Baltimore?s justice, education and drug treatment institutions.
“We?re an operating foundation that focuses on tackling drug addiction treatment, reducing overreliance on incarceration and keeping students and young people in school and graduating,” said Diana Morris, director of OSI-Baltimore.
“And we focus on these three interrelated issues because we?re very concerned with building a Baltimore that?s very inclusive, where everyone has the opportunity to succeed,” Morris added, noting that the nonprofit has helped triple state funding for the city?s substance abuse treatment programs.
This has doubled the number of client openings available at any given time, she said.
A component of the worldwide Soros Foundations Network, which aims “to shape public policy to promote democratic governance, human rights and economic, legal and social reform,” OSI-Baltimore ? the national organization?s only U.S. field office ? specializes in identifying crucial, crossover issues in its mandate areas.
It then uses its expertise, resourcesand contacts to leverage structural change ? through government agencies, partnering with like-minded nonprofits, and through its own educational outreach ? for greater citizen empowerment.
“OSI has always stood out for having program officers that have knowledge about issues that often times exceeds our own,” said Matthew Joseph, executive director of Advocates for Children and Youth.
But as an “inside and outside” change agency, the $5.5 million-a-year ($4.5 million in grants), 12-employee OSI-Baltimore also funds advocacy groups that directly monitor, advise and exhort relevant government agencies.
It also sponsors a fellowship program, which funds eight to 10 activists every 18 months ? at about $52,000 per fellow ? to implement innovative social programs, selected from 200 to 300 applicant proposals. Currently there are about 100 former and current fellows working throughout Baltimore.
“I think that what?s great about OSI. That they are willing to take risks and fund initiatives that make sense but that require some cool thinking,” said Jason Perkins Cohen, executive director, Jobs Opportunity Task Force.
A proponent of drug abuse treatment over incarceration for drug offenses, Morris? goal is to get another 16,000 city substance abusers into treatment ? a number she believes is a “tipping point” for cascading improvements elsewhere.
“But in the end,” she said, “the big changes we?re looking for have to have government money supporting them.”
