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Honoring the "Old Master's" Life & Legacy As A Quintessential Baltimore Story
The Joe Gans 150th Celebration commemorates the remarkable life and enduring legacy of Joe Gans, the first African American world champion in the sport of boxing and Baltimore’s native son. From November 2024 to November 2025, this year-long celebration honors his historic achievements and profound impact on Baltimore. Through a diverse array of events including educational programs, community activities, sporting events, preservation initiatives, and more, Baltimore City will pay tribute to Gans's journey and explore the rich cultural heritage of this great city.
Organization Hosts
Corner Team, Inc. is organized around the longstanding and successful tradition of community sports programs that address holistic well being at the neighborhood level to shape Champions for Life! Engagement in any sports activity provides opportunities for social interaction and skill-building within diverse settings.
Sports foster pride and increase self-esteem. Sports teach leadership and discipline, and support physical, mental, and social fitness. Through boxing, Corner Team, Inc. connects our Champions with local resources, mentors, academic tutoring, economic opportunities, and strategies for healthy living, nurturing tomorrow's leaders and driving positive change across our Baltimore City communities.
Opened in 2019 by Sara Artes and professional boxer, and former Ghanaian, National Champion Michael Gbenga, Corner Team, Inc. uses Olympic-style boxing to strengthen core competencies that support academic success, inspire healthy and active lifestyles, and build strong communities of engaged citizens.
Friends of Joe Gans, established in 2009 by Kevin Grace, is dedicated to the documentation, preservation, sharing, and celebration of the remarkable life and enduring legacy of Joe Gans. With a commitment to honoring Gans' contributions to history and culture, Friends of Joe Gans works tirelessly to ensure that his story is remembered, cherished, and celebrated for generations to come.
International Veterans Boxing Association, Ring 101, Inc. consists of former fighters and others involved in the sport of boxing who meet monthly for association meetings. The purpose of the International Veterans Boxing Association Ring 101 Inc. is to foster and promote the good and general welfare of the veteran boxer, to take care of the sick and disabled veteran boxer who may be in distress, to take an active interest in the administration of all the laws that affect the sport of boxing in the State of Maryland, to insure that it’s members are given the recognition deserving of their past efforts, and to protect the active boxers to the best of the association’s ability.
Celebration Committee
Henry Jones
Committee Member
Colleen Aycock
Committee Member
Peter Brooks
Committee Member
Coming Soon
Committee Member
Coming Soon
Committee Chair
Sara Artes
Co-Chair
Kevin Grace
Co-Chair
Ruby Watson
Co-Chair
GET IN TOUCH
Have questions about the Joe Gans 150th Celebration or want to get in touch with our team? We're here to help! Feel free to reach out to us using the contact information below:
Follow us on social media for the latest updates and behind-the-scenes looks at the celebration:
443-948-5610