WHILE AWAITING THE START of the first Unified Steps walking tour through East Baltimore on a sunny Monday morning, Landon King, executive vice dean for the school of medicine, captured the spirit of the event: 

 

As envisioned by King and other Johns Hopkins leaders, the walk marked a step toward improving the connection between Johns Hopkins and the surrounding community. “It’s important not just as a gesture, but as an opportunity to physically indicate that we want 

to get to another place with the community,” King said. (The institution’s renewed commitment to East Baltimore and other Baltimore communities is outlined in the Johns Hopkins Medicine 

community engagement strategy, which rolled out in October.) 

  The walk, which took place Oct. 24, also served as an opportunity to chat with Johns Hopkins executives while participating in a healthy activity. The event kicked off with a pep talk from Paul B. Rothman, dean of the medical faculty and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine, and stretches led by MaryEllen Elie, Healthy at Hopkins program director. Then, 110 participants set off at a brisk pace through the Cleaning, Active, Restoring, Efforts (C.A.R.E.) community, to the east of the Johns Hopkins campus. 

  Scores of employees turned out for the walk, including Roslyn Brown, a billing coordinator in the pharmacy department who has worked at Johns Hopkins for 28 years and lives in East Baltimore. 

“This isn’t only for Hopkins employees; this is for everyone,” Brown said. She believed the walk would prompt neighborhood spectators to seek out Johns Hopkins resources. 

  The enthusiastic crowd included Redonda G. Miller, president of The Johns Hopkins Hospital; Tony Bridges, director of East Baltimore community affairs; and James Page, vice president of diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer for Johns Hopkins 

Medicine. “It’s really important for our community to see Hopkins outside the ivory tower. We need to be in the community,” Page said.

  As walkers circled several city blocks, 

they passed neighborhood mainstays, including the C.A.R.E. Community Association, that seek to strengthen their partnerships with Johns Hopkins. “As Johns Hopkins tries to reach out to be 

more of a partner with the community, it’s important that they come out and see the community,” said Cynthia Gross, the group’s president. “It’s important to help build relationships.” 

  Leon Purcell, executive director of the Men and Families Center, a hub of neighborhood support, was also among the walkers. “I’m here to open the floodgates to get resources and help in the community,” he said. 

  For the center’s project director, Quandra Gaines, the walk was a way to steer the Johns Hopkins Medicine community toward new volunteer opportunities. “You can make a true impact on a child’s life. It’s not just about money. It could just be your presence,” she said. 

  The next Unified Steps walking tour around East Baltimore takes place Nov. 21. Participants will have a chance to meet with representatives from several Johns Hopkins community partners, including First Baptist Church, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and the P-TECH program at Dunbar. 

  For more information about the Johns 

Hopkins Medicine community engagement 

strategy, visit bit.ly/JHMengage. 

  To register for the next Unified 

Steps community walk, 

visit hsscreeningreg.com 

Log-in: Hopkins 

Password: Walks.