Read-Aloud MVA Testing at The Food Project Is Opening Doors—One License at a Time
At The Food Project, the line starts forming by 8:00 a.m. Over 80 people show up each month before the sun is high, hoping to be one of the 120 participants selected to take the Maryland Learner’s Permit Test—right here at our Community Resource Hub. Within one hour, all the testing spots are filled. We don’t advertise. The need is just that deep.
This powerful opportunity is made possible through a groundbreaking partnership between UEmpower of Maryland and the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). Since 2022, we’ve been hosting monthly read-aloud learner’s permit testing for youth, caregivers, returning citizens, and neighbors who need a supportive, accessible way to pursue one of life’s most important tools: a driver’s license.
One of the most inspiring examples is our very own dishwasher—a young man with a big dream: to drive. But for a long time, that dream felt out of reach. He struggled with reading, and the traditional testing environment didn’t offer the support he needed. Through the read-aloud accommodations provided at The Food Project, he was able to take the test in a way that worked for him. Today, he has his license and a new job outside of the neighborhood—his first step toward long-term independence.
To further bridge resources and ensure that participants are fully prepared, The Franciscan Center of Baltimore joins us on the same day to assist with essential documents—including birth certificates and Social Security cards—so that once participants pass the test, they already have everything they need to complete their licensing process at the MVA.
This is what empowerment looks like: access, support, dignity, and real opportunity—all in one place.
Thanks to our partnership with the MVA’s Outreach Team and The Franciscan Center, hundreds of people have gained access to the learner’s permit test in a familiar, welcoming environment—complete with guidance, accommodations, and wraparound support. And whether they pass the first time or need a second chance, we’re with them every step of the way.
This effort is just one of the many ways UEmpower of Maryland is bridging resources to empower lives in Southwest Baltimore. From food and job training to legal aid, therapy, and now driver’s licensing—we’re helping our community move forward, together.
Stay connected. Support the mission. Learn more at UEmpowerofMD.org
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