On July 30, 2025, Baltimore hosted a pivotal gathering—the Trust‑Based Community Health Summit—at the Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center. Presented by engAGE with Heart, this full-day forum brought together leaders from government, philanthropy, healthcare, faith‑based organizations, and community groups to reimagine how heart health is delivered and sustained. Its goal: to establish trust-based, community-rooted care not just across Maryland, but as a model for the nation.
The summit was a day of rich dialogue, networking, and forward-looking strategy. The organizers framed the event as a turning point in Baltimore’s ongoing efforts to address health inequities, particularly those related to cardiovascular disease (CVD)—a condition that remains one of the city’s leading causes of death, disproportionately affecting Black residents.
The summit convened a wide array of stakeholders—including representatives from Johns Hopkins, the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and providers like CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield—under one roof. Its central premise: that health systems are most effective when they grow from within communities—anchored by institutions of trust such as faith organizations, senior centers, and local leaders. Support for the event came from the Novartis, Global Coalition on Aging, Johns Hopkins Medicine, University of Maryland Baltimore, Mount Pleasant Development Corporation, Liberty Grace Church of God, Medicine for the Greater Good, TLC, and Baltimore City Health Department.
The event opened with a welcome from community leaders and an overview of engAGE with Heart’s mission, followed by an acknowledgment of the diverse partners involved. Attendees included healthcare executives, elected officials, nonprofit directors, public health advocates, and faith leaders—all united by the shared goal of designing a care model that could break cycles of mistrust and underutilization of preventive services.
Kicking off the summit, a distinguished panel including Joshua M. Sharfstein, MD, Vice Dean for Public Health Practice and Community Engagement; Director, Bloomberg American Health Initiative; Esa M. Davis, M.D., M.P.H. FAAFP, Professor of Family and Community Medicine; Reverend Dr. Terris A. King, Pastor, Liberty Grace Church of God; and CEO, King Enterprise Group. The panel was moderated by the Honorable Ben Cardin, Former US Senator Maryland.
State Senator Cory V. McCray was among the high-profile officials lending their support, joining Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen, Mayor Brandon Scott, and others in affirming the summit’s vision. Senator McCray remarked, “This initiative has the potential to heal our community by combining public policy and grassroots trust to deliver equitable, life‑saving care.”
Council President Cohen echoed those sentiments, stating, “Building care models rooted in local relationships is essential. Baltimore is a city of resilience, and when we invest in trust and community capacity, we invest in better health outcomes for everyone. This summit marks a bold step toward fostering both health and hope across our neighborhoods.”
Leading engAGE with Heart is Rev. Dr. Terris King, pastor of Liberty Grace Church of God, whose vision shapes the initiative’s core. Describing the effort as “not just a program, but a ministry,” Dr. King underscored how health, faith, and community converge in service of equity. “We’re catching disease early… we’re saving lives.” Dr. King continued.
His leadership carries forward what began in October 2023, when Liberty Grace and four other Baltimore churches, alongside two senior centers, launched community‑based screenings, healthy food access, and education—an effort designed to meet underserved populations “where they are.”
One of the event’s participants, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, has partnered with many such efforts in the community. Lester Davis, Vice President of Community Affairs at CareFirst, underscored the company’s dedication to closing gaps in care: “We believe in meeting people where they are—physically, emotionally, and culturally. Our partnership with organizations like engAGE with Heart reflects our commitment to addressing the root causes of health disparities and ensuring that prevention and early intervention become the norm, not the exception.”
The discussions were moderated by a mix of academic leaders and community voices, ensuring balanced representation. This format allowed for a deep dive into topics like culturally competent care, the role of faith leaders in healthcare, and sustainable funding strategies.
A Community-Centric Model in Action
The summit spotlighted engAGE with Heart’s threefold approach:
• Education: Empowering communities with prevention-focused knowledge and health literacy.
• Healthy Food Access: Hosting cooking demos, markets, and meal planning with culturally resonant, heart-healthy cuisine.
• Screenings: Offering cardiovascular and diabetes checks through Johns Hopkins and other partners, integrated with follow-up connections via trusted Community Health Ambassadors.
The Trust‑Based Community Health Summit is more than an event—it’s a movement. And for Baltimore, it signals a commitment to building a healthier, more equitable future from the inside out.