The Elijah Cummings Youth Program celebrated the congressman’s legacy with a community event ahead of his 74th birthday in Baltimore.
The event took place at Baltimore Unity Hall, where community members gathered for food, fellowship, and meaningful conversations. It was a great opportunity to learn more about Cummings, who was not just a politician but a civil rights activist.
Cummings was instrumental in forming the ECYP, working alongside leaders from Maryland’s Jewish community. For nearly 30 years, this program has focused on nurturing youth leadership in both the Black and Jewish communities within Maryland’s 7th congressional district.
Jennifer Cummings, his daughter and a board member of ECYP, shared how the program brings together 12 to 15 students from across the district. They engage in dialogue, build cross-cultural connections, and find ways to express their unique voices in a diverse world.
Born in Baltimore on January 18, 1951, Cummings served in the House of Representatives from 1996 until his passing in October 2019. He graduated from Baltimore City College High School and Howard University.
Cummings was a passionate advocate for Baltimore’s youth and climbed the political ladder starting in the Maryland House of Delegates. He won his congressional seat in a special election in 1996.
In 2016, he became the senior Democrat on the House Benghazi Committee, which he criticized as a politically motivated effort against Hillary Clinton. He was also an early supporter of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008.
Throughout his career, Cummings used his powerful voice to address the struggles of inner-city residents. He supported various initiatives to help the poor and those battling addiction, including needle exchange programs to combat the spread of AIDS. His popularity in his district was undeniable, and he was a vital community figure.
Cummings chaired the Congressional Black Caucus from 2003 to 2004 and led the House Oversight and Reform Committee from January 2019 until his death. He played a significant role in the impeachment proceedings against former President Donald Trump.
He was the first Black lawmaker to lie in state at the Capitol, and his funeral was attended by prominent figures like Obama, Bill Clinton, John Lewis, Joe Biden, and Nancy Pelosi, among others.
