From October 4–10, 2026, the ACG brought together 22 American and German professionals for the latest U.S. installment of its Study Tour on Social Cohesion, with visits to Baltimore, Maryland, and Austin, Texas. Following an earlier exchange in Germany, participants spent a week meeting with community organizations, local government officials, economic development professionals, and social innovators to examine how American communities are responding to shared socioeconomic challenges.
The Baltimore portion of the study tour focused on the role of community-based organizations in strengthening neighborhoods, expanding access to essential resources, and creating opportunities for residents to participate in local development.
The group began its substantive program with Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore (NHS), where participants learned about the organization’s history, programs, and approach to community development. Dan Ellis, Chief Executive Officer, and Shadia Musa, Director of Community Relations, were among the scheduled contributors to discussions about the organization’s work and its impact. Participants also explored the history of housing in Baltimore, including its struggle to overcome the impacts of redlining, the city’s ongoing revitalization, and the importance of engaging residents in shaping their neighborhoods. A house tour provided an opportunity to connect these discussions with the realities of housing and neighborhood investment.
The visit highlighted the multifaceted nature of community development. Housing is not simply a question of providing buildings or increasing supply; it is also connected to neighborhood stability, access to services, resident participation, and the long-term vitality of local communities. By learning about NHS’s programs and its comprehensive community development approach, the delegation examined how organizations can work with residents to address local needs and support more resilient neighborhoods.
Food insecurity was another important theme. At the Baltimore Hunger Project, participants met with founder and Executive Director Lynne Kahn and her team to learn about the organization’s work addressing childhood hunger. The visit offered insight into how access to food improves children’s ability to learn. Discussions throughout the Baltimore program encouraged participants to consider how access to housing, food, and other essential resources affects people’s ability to participate fully in their communities.
The delegation also explored the importance of collaboration among organizations working at the neighborhood level. On October 6, a panel on community-led development brought together Tony Scott, Executive Director of Southwest Partnership and a participant in the 2025 ACG Study Tour on Social Cohesion; Ashley Wallace, Executive Director of Central Baltimore Partnership; and Molly McCullough, Interim Executive Director of Southeast Community Development Corporation. Led by Scott, the conversation examined community development through the experiences of organizations working in different parts of Baltimore.
The panel offered an opportunity to consider how local partnerships can help residents and organizations address challenges that extend beyond the remit of any single institution. Community-led development depends on relationships, local knowledge, and sustained engagement. The panelists’ experiences illustrated the importance of connecting organizations, residents, and other stakeholders around shared priorities.
Participants also heard from practitioners whose work addresses social challenges through different approaches. A session titled “Innovators in Social Cohesion” featured Dr. Seema Iyer, Senior Director of Public Impact Initiatives at Johns Hopkins University; Marybeth Moran, founder of the Identity Access Project; and Kelley “Earth” Webb, Site Director of Safe Streets Franklin Square. Their perspectives provided an opportunity to examine how initiatives in research and public impact, identity and access, and community-based violence prevention contribute to stronger communities.
The group also visited the National Museum for Railroad and Innovation for a guided tour of its Underground Railroad exhibition. The visit provided historical context for discussions about freedom, equality, and social justice in the United States, connecting the country’s history with continuing questions about inclusion and opportunity.
Informal conversations further strengthened the exchange. Larquana Bryan, National Security Fellow at the Aspen Institute and a participant in the 2024 Social Cohesion Study Tour; Eni Owoeye of the U.S. Department of State and a participant in the 2025 cohort; and Tony Scott joined the group for its welcome dinner. On Monday, 2024 study tour participants Destine Brown, a Baltimore City public school teacher, and Afua Owusu, Communications Specialist for the Tech Coalition, joined the delegation for dinner. These conversations gave participants opportunities to reconnect with alumni and learn from professionals working in different fields.
After several days in Baltimore, the delegation traveled to Austin, Texas, to explore how a rapidly growing city and its surrounding region are approaching economic opportunity, inclusion, and community development.
The first day of meetings began at Opportunity Austin, where participants met with Corey Rose, Director of International Relations. The organization provided a starting point for examining the regional economic development landscape and the relationship between economic growth and opportunity. The discussion complemented the delegation’s earlier conversations about neighborhood development by broadening the focus to the regional economy and the institutions that support it.
Participants next visited the Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce and met with Chief Executive Officer Todd Hogan. The conversation provided an opportunity to consider the role of business networks in supporting LGBTQ+ professionals and entrepreneurs and in fostering connections across the local economy. Together, the two meetings offered different perspectives on economic participation: one focused on regional growth and international engagement, and the other on the role of a business community in creating connections and opportunities for its members.
The delegation then met with Dr. Lindsey Wilson, Director of the City of Austin’s Department of Equity and Inclusion, and her team. This discussion focused on the role of local government in advancing civil rights, providing immigration services, and ensuring accurate data collection to properly serve the people of Austin. For participants working in government, civil society, and other sectors, the meeting provided an opportunity to learn how a municipal department approaches these issues and how public institutions fit into broader efforts to build inclusive communities.
The day concluded with a guided experience led by Black Austin Tours. The “Taste & Sounds of the Chitlin Circuit: East Austin Music & Food Experience” introduced participants to East Austin’s history and cultural traditions through music, food, and local storytelling. The experience underscored the importance of recognizing and preserving cultural heritage as part of a community’s identity. It also offered a different perspective on social cohesion, highlighting how shared history and cultural expression can foster a sense of belonging.
Immigration and integration were central themes of the final day in Austin. The group met with VECINA Executive Director Maria Laura Arabbo to learn about the organization’s work in immigration. The discussion offered an opportunity to explore the challenges immigrants face and the role organizations can play in navigating complex systems and accessing
Participants also visited Casa Marianella, where they met with Co-Executive Director Jennifer Long. Casa Marianella provides shelter and support for immigrants and asylum seekers in the Austin area. The meeting brought the delegation into conversation with an organization working directly with people navigating migration and resettlement. It provided an opportunity to consider how community-based services can help newcomers establish stability and build connections in their new surroundings. There, the group spoke with immigrants about their experiences since coming to the United States and the difficulties they have faced in navigating the system.
These visits complemented the discussions in Baltimore about access to essential resources and community resilience. Although the organizations work in different contexts, their experiences raised common questions about how communities support people facing economic, social, or structural barriers and how institutions can respond to needs that cross traditional policy boundaries.
The delegation’s program in Austin also included a meeting with Kai Hennig, German Consul General in Texas. The conversation offered a German diplomatic perspective on the region and reinforced the study tour’s transatlantic dimension. Mr. Hennig provided insights on the important role Texas plays in subnational diplomacy as a growing hub for German businesses and energy resources.
Across Baltimore and Austin, the study tour demonstrated that social cohesion is shaped by a wide range of institutions and relationships. Housing organizations, food assistance initiatives, neighborhood partnerships, universities, local governments, economic development groups, and organizations supporting immigrants all contribute to the conditions that enable people to participate in community life.
The two cities offered distinct perspectives on these challenges. In Baltimore, participants examined neighborhood revitalization, community-led development, food insecurity, and public safety initiatives. In Austin, the program emphasized regional economic opportunity, equity and inclusion, cultural heritage, and support for immigrants and asylum seekers. Together, the visits illustrated that there is no single approach to strengthening social cohesion. Progress depends on understanding local circumstances, listening to communities, and building relationships among the people and institutions working toward shared goals.
The exchange also reinforced the value of bringing American and German professionals together to learn directly from one another. While policies and programs cannot always be transferred from one city or country to another, comparative experiences can help practitioners question assumptions, identify promising approaches, and develop new ideas for their own communities.
The week concluded with a group reflection session, giving participants an opportunity to consider the lessons from both cities and the connections they had developed throughout the program. By combining formal meetings with site visits, cultural experiences, and informal conversations, the study tour created space for both professional learning and lasting relationships.
Launched in 2022, the ACG’s Study Tour on Social Cohesion brings Americans and Germans together to explore how communities can become more inclusive and resilient. The program is supported through the Transatlantic Program of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, funded through the European Recovery Program (ERP) of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE).