Our House Baltimore

About Our House Baltimore

Our House Baltimore is an intimate sliding-scale play space and cafe offering culturally affirming programming and open play for children and their caregivers. Owned by Maureen Nicol, Ed.D., a mom who created the space she wanted her own child to enjoy, Our House serves as a safe haven where children engage in play-based learning while caregivers take time for themselves. The space functions as a cultural hub that fosters community engagement among families and promotes caregiver well-being through relaxation and social opportunities, ultimately contributing to healthier family dynamics.

Our House Baltimore is designed as a multigenerational space that offers belonging and affirmation for everyone, centering arts and play-based programming led by facilitators and educators at sliding scale for families and children. The initiative honors creativity, culture, community, and play while supporting local educators and facilitators by hiring and compensating them for their expertise. Our House Baltimore strives to be a comfortable space for children and their caregivers, and particularly for families receiving SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, or experiencing financial insecurity.

Maureen is a creative director, digital storyteller, and educator with a doctorate in curriculum and teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University, who previously founded Mamas Who Dream after observing the lack of accessible spaces for women of color. Her work consistently focuses on creating transformative spaces for caregivers and children of color, and with this award's support, she anticipates bringing on additional teammates to help grow Our House Baltimore.