Schmoke will be recognized at 10th Annual WaveMaker Awards
Kurt Schmoke
The Baltimore District Council of The Urban Land Institute (ULI) is pleased to announce it has named Kurt Schmoke the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award winner.
Schmoke, president of the University of Baltimore and former three-term Mayor of Baltimore, will be recognized at ULI’s tenth annual WaveMaker Awards onThursday, October 4 at The Winslow Parker Metal Building.
ULI’s Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a recognized leader in the development community who has served more than two decades; has touched all aspects of development (acquisition, design, financing, implementation); and has touched a variety of different land uses (retail, office residential, hospitality, etc.).
Schmoke has been a prominent initiator of programs for housing, education, public health and economic development, with an emphasis on matters of environmental justice, fair housing and civil rights. He has made a significant impact as an elected official, educator, and lawyer. Schmoke served as state’s attorney of Baltimore City from 1982-1987 and mayor for 12 years until 1999. During his tenure, he received the National Literacy Award from President George H.W. Bush for his efforts to promote adult literacy and was praised by President Bill Clinton for his programs to improve public housing and enhance community economic development.
At the time, the Clinton Administration also named Baltimore one of six cities to receive the Empowerment Zone designation. His other public service roles include appointment as Assistant Director, White House Domestic Policy Staff under President Jimmy Carter and Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Maryland.
“As an elected official, educator, and lawyer, Kurt Schmoke has made an outstanding commitment to development not just in our community, but also throughout the nation,” said Kim Clark, ULI Baltimore District Council Chair. “His emphasis on improving all areas of community revitalization, from real estate development and fair housing to law, literacy and the environment will leave a lasting impact for years to come. We are honored to present him with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.”
After completing three terms as mayor, Schmoke served as partner in the law firm of Wilmer, Cutler and Pickering, where he actively became involved in the American Bar Association (ABA) and National Bar Association. He served a term as chair of the ABA’s Council on Racial and Ethnic Justice and has provided countless hours of pro bono legal services to charitable organizations, such as the Children’s Health Forum, a non-profit group established to combat lead poising among our nation’s youth.
Schmoke was appointed Dean of Howard University School of Law in 2003 and served until 2012, focusing his attention on increasing bar passage rates and expanding the clinical law program to emphasize matters of environmental justice, fair housing and civil rights.
He earned his undergraduate degree in history from Yale University, pursued graduate studies at Oxford University and earned his Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School.
ABOUT ULI BALTIMORE
The "go to" organization for unbiased strategic visioning, ULI comprises an international community of development experts who take on today's issues in the context of a livable tomorrow. The local component of the Urban Land Institute, the Baltimore District Council coordinates monthly program events and a leadership forum addressing land use, development and financing issues facing our region. A committee made up of local ULI members identifies topics and speakers for our programs and special events throughout the year.
For more information about ULI Baltimore or the WaveMaker Awards, visit www.baltimore.uli.org
