our story
From stained glass to hardwood—how a historic Baltimore landmark became the city's newest powerhouse for youth development.
Sanctuary Origins
A Church Reborn
On the corner of West Franklin Street stands a 19th-century Gothic-Revival giant that once rang with Sunday hymns. When the congregation left, the building went dark—until a crew of Baltimore ballplayers, educators, and community heavyweights saw a bigger play.
Today those same stained-glass windows flood sunlight onto a pro-grade basketball court, STREAM classrooms, and wellness spaces. This is The Sanctuary Collective: a place where elite basketball training, academic muscle, and mental-health support collide.
What started as a single-building renovation is now a citywide movement restoring opportunity for Baltimore youth. We kept the bones of the church but replaced the pews with hardwood and hustle—proving that community spaces can honor history while driving a whole new era of development.
Founder's journey
From Player to Powerhouse
At the center of it all is Sam Brand, a name that carries serious weight in Baltimore basketball circles. A three-year NCAA Division I letter winner at Morgan State University, Sam left college as the Bears’ all-time three-point record holder. But the bigger story is what happened after the buzzer.
From 2010 to 2020, Sam took the helm at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and turned a four-win program into a dynasty. Over a decade he racked up a 217–68 record, captured four straight Maryland 3A state titles, and sent 13 players to full college scholarships—all while keeping the team GPA north of 3.0.
Not satisfied with local dominance, Sam stepped onto a national stage as Director of Team Melo (backed by Carmelo Anthony) and Team MD23 (launched by Malcolm Delaney). He managed programs that touched 1,000+ athletes and hosted international camps from Istanbul to Wellington. Everywhere he went, he saw the same problem: elite training was getting priced out of the city and out of reach for the kids who needed it most.
The Sanctuary Collective is Sam’s answer—a Baltimore basketball hub where the doors stay open, the coaching is first-class, and every child with drive gets a shot.
217-68
Career coaching record at Baltimore Poly
4x
Consecutive state championships
200
Players to full college scholarships
Family & Collective Leadership
Backing them is a stacked roster of professionals
Greg Butler, Jr
Melany Glascoe
Robert BranD
Fundraising Advisor
Jamal K. Atkins
Tiffany Taylor-Watson
Program Manager & Facilities Director
Chief Operating Officer
Dakari Taylor-Watson
Tyler Reddy
Community Partnerships Director
Chief Legal Officer
Executive Assistant & Executive Projects Manager
Director of Education
JAMAL K. ATKINS
JAMAL K. ATKINS
Chief Training Officer & Associate Director of Programs
Jamal brings a double threat to The Sanctuary Collective: world-class technical expertise and decades of global basketball leadership. With more than 25 years of experience in engineering design, implementation, and team development, Jamal has built and managed complex audio, video, and security systems across the United States, Europe, and Africa. His projects range from high-tech military installations in Zambia to campus-wide communications networks, giving him the kind of logistical skill that keeps big visions on schedule and on budget.
Off the court, Jamal is equally accomplished on it. As Founder and Director of the Basketball Academy of Excellence, he has spent two decades coaching and mentoring athletes across Southern Africa and Europe, earning certifications from FIBA Africa and FIBA Europe and a USA Basketball Gold Level Coach designation. He has led youth life-skills programs that reached tens of thousands of students, developed national basketball leagues, and guided amateur and professional teams on multiple continents.
At The Sanctuary, Jamal blends this global perspective with a deep love for Baltimore youth—using technology, coaching, and life-skills training to create opportunities that extend far beyond the hardwood.
TYLER REDDY
TYLER REDDY
Chief Legal Officer
Tyler brings a rare blend of sports-industry savvy and high-stakes legal expertise to The Sanctuary Collective. A graduate of California Western School of Law with a J.D. focused on business transactions, Tyler has built a career at the intersection of athletics and law—protecting ideas, negotiating deals, and structuring partnerships that keep organizations growing and secure.
Before earning his law degree, Tyler logged years inside the game itself, working for the Denver Nuggets (NBA) and Colorado Avalanche (NHL) and supporting athlete representation at various sports agencies. Those experiences gave him a firsthand understanding of how contracts, branding, and player development shape the business of sports—a perspective he now uses to safeguard The Sanctuary’s mission and growth.
As Chief Legal Officer, Tyler manages everything from corporate governance to partnership agreements to ensuring that every sponsorship, scholarship, and community partnership stands on solid legal ground. Whether negotiating with major corporate sponsors or advising on the capital campaign to purchase and renovate The Sanctuary’s historic home, Tyler combines the precision of an attorney with the competitive drive of an athlete to keep Baltimore’s premier youth movement protected, compliant, and ready to scale.
TIFFANY TAYLOR-WATSON
TIFFANY TAYLOR-WATSON
Chief Growth & Operating Officer
Tiffany brings a mix of boardroom strategy and founder-level grit to every venture she touches. For more than two decades she has led high-growth businesses across wealth management, franchising, and social-impact sectors, designing scalable operations and building teams that deliver measurable results.
As a proven C-suite operator, Tiffany helped drive a boutique wealth management firm’s assets from $40 million to nearly $1 billion, launching new market verticals, creating a full-service brokerage, and rebranding the firm for national visibility. She has also founded, acquired, and turned around multiple franchise operations in fitness, health, and retail—accelerating revenue, earning industry awards, and mentoring emerging franchise leaders.
Earlier in her career, Tiffany built entrepreneurial ventures for celebrities, nonprofits, and consumer brands, helping organizations raise millions globally and expand into new domestic and international markets. A sought-after speaker and media voice on wealth building, entrepreneurship, and leadership equity, she’s been featured on national television, notable podcasts, and various conference stages as a keynote and favored panelist.
Today, through her work at T. Watson and as a trusted advisor to boards and founders, Tiffany continues to help visionary teams build businesses that scale with discipline and endure with purpose, while championing diversity and next-generation leadership.
DAKARI TAYLOR-WATSON
DAKARI TAYLOR-WATSON
VP, Community & Corporate Engagement
Dakari is a systems thinker and relationship builder who turns bold ideas into programs that transform schools and neighborhoods. With a Master of Public Health from Morgan State University and more than a decade leading high-impact initiatives across Washington, D.C. and beyond, Dakari specializes in strategic planning, program design, and partnership development that move the needle for students and families.
Currently serving as Manager of Connected Schools DC+XQ with District of Columbia Public Schools, Dakari leads a groundbreaking effort to reimagine how schools, agencies, and communities work together. In just months, he has grown a network of partners—from Fortune 500 companies like Deloitte and NASA to grassroots organizations—by more than 240%, while managing budgets, training teams, and embedding equity into every system.
Previously, Dakari spent eight years with Communities in Schools of the Nation’s Capital, where he scaled operations across multiple campuses, secured major grants, and designed data-driven programs supporting thousands of students. A Fulbright scholar and global traveler, he brings a multicultural perspective and a talent for turning complex challenges into sustainable solutions.
At The Sanctuary Collective, Dakari blends his passion for youth advocacy, community, corporate partnership, and DEI expertise to help Baltimore’s next generation learn, lead, and thrive on and off the court.
GREG BUTLER, JR
GREG BUTLER, JR
Director of Education
Greg’s path to leadership was forged in the streets of Baltimore during the 2015 uprising following the death of Freddie Gray—a moment that sparked his lifelong commitment to justice and youth empowerment. His voice and perspective connected him with city leaders, including Governor Wes Moore, whose book Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City drew on voices like Greg’s. He also gained mentorship under Deputy Mayor Bob Maloney and the Baltimore Fire Department, grounding his activism in both passion and civic responsibility.
A proud graduate of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Greg played on the school’s first citywide competitive basketball team in years under Coach Sam Brand—now his colleague at The Sanctuary. That experience instilled values of teamwork, resilience, and leadership that remain central to his work with Baltimore’s youth.
Professionally, Greg served for five years as Dean of Students at Green Street Academy, where he mentored and guided middle and high school students. Today, he leads as Director of Education at The Sanctuary Collective while continuing hands-on mentorship as Dean of Students at the Baltimore Leadership School. Through academics, mentorship, and athletics, Greg champions Sanctuary’s mission: to equip young people with the life skills and supportive environments they need to thrive on and off the court.
ROBERT BRAND
Robert BranD
Fundraising Development Director
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
MELANY GLASCOE
MELANY GLASCOE
Executive Assistant
Melany keeps The Sanctuary Collective moving at game speed. As Executive Assistant, she provides the high-level administrative and organizational support that allows programs to run smoothly and leaders to focus on growing Baltimore’s premier youth movement. From coordinating schedules and tracking grants to managing daily operations, Melany makes sure every practice, tutoring session, and community event happens without a hitch.
A proud product of Baltimore’s Park Heights neighborhood, Melany brings a personal understanding of the challenges—and the promise—facing city youth. Her background spans more than a decade in administration, public service, and youth support, including roles in education, program coordination, and family resource assistance. Along the way she has helped students stay on track academically, planned community events, and connected families to services that strengthen independence and well-being.
Melany holds an A.A. in Early Childhood Education from the Community College of Baltimore County, along with certifications in Grant Writing, CPR, First Aid, and Crisis De-escalation. She combines these skills with a deep commitment to lifelong learning and community care. At The Sanctuary, Melany channels her expertise and Baltimore pride to help build a safe, inspiring space where sports become a bridge to growth, healing, and opportunity for youth and families.
POwerhouse partners
Philosophy
Athletics as a Path to Equity
Basketball may be the hook, but youth development is the mission. Every practice, tutoring session, and wellness workshop is designed to teach teamwork, resilience, leadership, and emotional discipline—skills that win in life as well as on the scoreboard.
Baltimore once produced college stars by keeping gyms open and costs low. Over time, elite training shifted to wealthier suburbs, cutting off the pipeline for city kids. The Sanctuary flipsthat model back, offering free and sliding-scale programs funded by corporate sponsors, grants, and a cross-subsidy system where adult leagues help underwrite youth scholarships.
The result: a Baltimore youth development engine where a family’s financial situation never dictates a child’s future.
Historic Space, Modern Mission
Step inside and you’ll feel past and future collide. The stained-glass windows—captured in our vibrant logo—nod to the building’s roots. The polished hardwood, STREAM classrooms, weight room, and wellness suites signal a new era of possibility.
This isn’t just a gym. It’s a replicable teaching and training environment where academics, athletics, and mental health coexist. From free basketball training Baltimore families rely on to after-school tutoring and nutrition labs, every program reinforces the idea that whole-child wellness drives lifelong success.
Power Partners and Big-League Backing
Major brands and pro players want in because they recognize the credibility of this team and the scale of the mission.
Early support from Carmelo Anthony, Enoch Pratt Library, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, DTLR, Microsoft, and the State of Maryland fuels scholarships, keeps programs affordable, and provides the data corporate partners need to see their impact.
When you partner with The Sanctuary, you’re not just donating—you’re investing in a proven model that delivers measurable community outcomes.
A Collective Effort with Citywide Support
Momentum travels fast when results are real. Early backers like Carmelo Anthony, Enoch Pratt Library, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, DTLR, Microsoft, and the State of Maryland have already invested, alongside hundreds of individual donors. Their support funds scholarships, pays for healthy meals, and keeps the lights on for every kid ready to work.
A major capital campaign is underway to purchase the building and complete a green renovation —an investment that will redirect $100,000 a year from rent straight into scholarships and program expansion.
Be Part of the Story
The Sanctuary Collective proves that Baltimore basketball can be more than a game—it can be a citywide force for equity, education, and transformation. Whether you donate, volunteer, or bring your company in as a sponsor, your support fuels a movement that blends championship standards with open-door access.
Join us as we continue turning a historic church into a launchpad for Baltimore’s next generation of leaders.