DLA Piper Joins New BLocal Initiative to Support Baltimore Businesses and Residents
DLA Piper announces its participation in BLocal, an initiative launched today to strengthen Baltimore’s economy.
BLocal brings together 25 Baltimore-area businesses committed to using their collective hiring and purchasing power to benefit the city and its residents. The initiative includes HopkinsLocal, launched by Johns Hopkins in 2015 to promote economic growth and employment opportunities in Baltimore.
As part of its commitment to BLocal, DLA Piper will hire a minimum of two young people in Baltimore for summer internships each year. The firm also pledged to provide pro bono legal services to city residents for matters relating to workforce development and the creation and development of minority and women-owned enterprises. Alongside its broader efforts to enrich public education in Baltimore, DLA Piper will also mentor middle school students at the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women.
“Since our founding in Baltimore more than 100 years ago, pro bono and community service have been a core part of the firm’s identity,” said Charles Scheeler, attorney in DLA Piper’s Baltimore office who is leading the firm’s work with BLocal. “As we continue to find new ways to give back to a city that has given us so much, we are honored to partner with Johns Hopkins and the many prestigious companies that have joined together to help bolster Baltimore’s economy.”
Companies involved in BLocal will support the community through a variety of initiatives, including providing summer jobs for young people, investing in renovation and construction projects, mentoring small business owners and city youth, and purchasing goods and services from companies led by women and minorities. For more information about BLocal, please visit: http://hopkinslocal.jhu.edu/blocal.
