The UHI serves as an interface between Johns Hopkins and the Baltimore community in which it resides. The UHI was established in 2000 by Dr. William Brody, then president of the University, in response to a recommendation from the Urban Health Council — a group of community residents, clergy, local leaders, business representatives, city officials, and faculty, staff, and students from the Johns Hopkins Institutions (JHI). Together with its community partners, the UHI explores ways that the research, teaching, and clinical expertise of the University can be better harnessed for the benefit of the residents of East Baltimore.

Established in 2017, the Bunting Neighborhood Leadership Program (BNLP) is a one-of-a-kind initiative led by the Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute that aims to equip emerging leaders, who are well positioned to address community problems, with the knowledge, tools, skills, and mentorship to:

• Improve neighborhood health outcomes and engage their communities;
• Identify key issues within their neighborhoods;
• Conduct needs assessments and issue identification that emphasizes learning from the community;
• Deconstruct issues by identifying relevant pieces of the issue that can be changed or improved; and
• Measure and develop outcomes for change and systems of accountability.

With the assistance and guidance of the BNLP committee and core instructors Fellows are able to:

• Identify goals and dedicate a year to accomplishing them;
• Be engaged in their own learning through self-study, discovery learning, case studies, and a variety of other strategies;
• Engage with and learn from a diverse group of emerging leaders from across Baltimore;
• Receive mentoring, coaching, and technical assistance to help guide them in meeting their learning goals.