Be More. Do More. BaltiMore.

Since 1852, when Loyola first opened in two townhouses on Holliday Street, Baltimore’s Jesuit university has been writing the story of its role in this city.

The Loyola community prides itself on its mission to instill in its members a sense of becoming men and women for and with others who learn, lead, and serve in a diverse and changing world.

So it’s no surprise that so many Greyhounds are actively involved in working to make this city an even better place, even after they graduate. They are working in businesses and non-profits, serving in the public and private sectors, teaching and leading, giving of themselves in their careers—and often through additional service as well.

Meet a few of those members of the Loyola family who believe that Charm City will continue to thrive, and who are proud to be part of shaping its future.

Justice in the City

“As a judge, I am very aware of the impact my decisions have on individuals, the community, and on families. I work through committees set up by the court to make sure that people have access to lawyers and to justice,” said Mark Scurti, ’87, District Court Judge for Baltimore City. “Many have never been in court. Many don’t want to be there. Many come angry and upset, hoping to get justice for the issue that brought them to court.”

Scurti, who studied marketing and business at Loyola, is concerned about drugs, homelessness, race relations, and foreclosures in the city—especially because he loves Baltimore’s sense of community and its arts and culture, including its flourishing food scene.

“My hope and dream for Baltimore is to see the city reduce crime and gun violence on the streets, eradicate the drug culture, particularly heroin,” he said. “And I am always delighted to see investment in the city through mixed-use facilities.”

A city of potential

C. Matthew Hill, ’02, loves Baltimore for its history and its “quirky and inspiring people.” He knows where to find the best crab cake (Koco’s Pub) and how many vacant houses there are in the city (31,000). As staff attorney for the Public Justice Center, it’s that number that he cares about most.

Hill is team leader for the Human Right to Housing project that seeks to ensure that every person has the opportunity to live in affordable, habitable, accessible, and fair housing in a thriving neighborhood.

“At root, there is simply not enough housing in Baltimore in good shape at a price that most people in Baltimore can afford,” said Hill, who sees the issues created by slumlords and questionable fees that make housing even less affordable. “My clients keep fighting to get by, though. And in that way, they are a constant inspiration.”

Hill describes how the problems are the result of government policies and social oppression over hundreds of years. But he also sees the possibilities for positive change.

“I think Baltimore has the enormous potential to transform from a city of haves and have-nots to a city where every child has a chance,” he said. “We are at the beginning of an unprecedented cultural wave of baby boomers and young adults returning to cities, including Baltimore. If we have the courage to invest in comprehensive, community-driven development—without displacing current residents—we have the potential to raise huge numbers of people from poverty and create more economically and racially inclusive communities.”

Finding strength in the Word

Rosalind Moore was born and raised in Northwest Baltimore. Growing up, she traveled back and forth across Cold Spring Lane, which is the southern border of Loyola’s Evergreen campus. But she never took notice of the University.

Today she works at Loyola as the executive assistant to the vice president for enrollment management and communications, Marc M. Camille, Ed.D. She lives in Baltimore’s Loch Raven area, and when the University formed a work group to look at civic and urban engagement for Loyola’s next strategic plan, she was invited to participate.

“Around the cities and in the schools, you have people saying what you can’t do,” she challenged the group. “Collectively, are we all really engaging each other, or are we still in silos? Especially with the unrest the city saw last spring, this is a time in my spiritual life where I think God is telling us something.”

At Baltimore’s Friendship Baptist Church, Moore leads a Bible study for teen girls. When the girls arrive, Moore invites them to begin with a technique she learned from Camille, offering prayer, a snack, and time for them to unburden themselves. The girls speak about their anxiety and issues in school, at home, and in their communities.

“It’s just so much that they have to absorb. I pray for all the kids every day,” Moore said. “They’re pretty firm in their faith and in their beliefs, and that helps them prepare themselves. But they are still affected.”

In her work at Loyola, Moore has served on the College Diversity Committee and the Multicultural Affairs Committee, among others, and she has participated in trainings and conferences.

“I take what I learn in diversity training, and I apply it to my church and to the real world. It’s what I give back. It works hand in hand—work, community, and all to the glory of God.”