Swanisha Hinton Receives The Arc Baltimore’s Visionary Leadership Award

The Arc Baltimore has presented its 2025 Visionary Leadership Award to Swanisha Hinton, the organization’s Vice President of Quality Supports. In that role, Hinton oversees The Arc’s Holistic Support Managers, Outreach, and Quality Enhancement Department.

Presented to Hinton at The Arc Baltimore’s recent Catalyst for Change Awards Ceremony, the Visionary Leadership Award recognizes an individual who pushes the entire organization forward and whose groundbreaking initiatives have improved the lives of people with developmental disabilities whom The Arc supports.

“At The Arc Baltimore, visionary leadership starts by amplifying the voices of those we support, a principle Swanisha Hinton exemplifies as our Vice President of Quality Supports,” says Kathleen McNally Durkin, The Arc Baltimore’s Chief Executive Officer. “Swanisha has been a driving force behind our mission and vision, cultivating a team anchored in the belief that all people are valued, their voices heard, and their impact felt."

Tasked with breathing life into New Hope for All, The Arc Baltimore’s advocacy group for people with disabilities, Hinton was the catalyst needed for growing membership and developing a clear purpose. New Hope for All has since hosted successful voter registration events, attended rallies in Annapolis, and met with legislators about critical issues impacting the developmental disability community.

Hinton has also championed Person-Centered Thinking, a philosophy and approach that prioritizes the person’s needs, preferences, and choices in all aspects of life. By launching a committee to integrate this approach across all aspects of The Arc’s work, Hinton envisions this as a vehicle for systemic transformation throughout The Arc Baltimore.

Hinton began her career as a direct support professional in the human service sector more than 16 years ago. She started work at The Arc Baltimore as an Employment Specialist in the Project SEARCH program, then served as Director of Quality Enhancement after spending several years in the Outreach & Family Services Division. She was named to her present position in 2024.

A graduate of The Arc Baltimore’s Leadership Institute and MCE Leadership, Hinton holds a certificate in Advanced Professional Development for Assistive Technology Applications.

Kicking off The Arc Baltimore’s yearlong 75th anniversary celebration, The Catalyst for Change Awards allowed The Arc to recognize those individuals who have gone that extra mile in their commitment and service to the organization and those people with developmental disabilities who are recipients of The Arc’s programs and services.

The awards ceremony was preceded by The Arc Baltimore’s Annual Meeting, which included election of the 2025-26 Board officers and directors. Emceeing the evening’s festivities was former WMAR-TV 2 news anchor Jamie Costello, who with his wife Cheryl produce, shoot, write, and edit compelling video narratives through their company, CosTELLo YOUR STORY.

Since 1949, The Arc Baltimore has been supporting people with developmental disabilities to lead fulfilling lives with a sense of belonging, purpose, and meaningful relationships. With more than 800 full- and part-time employees, The Arc Baltimore provides employment training and support, day and residential services, family support and education, treatment foster care, assistive technology services, respite care, and public policy advocacy.

For more information, visit www.thearcbaltimore.org, email contactus@thearcbaltimore.org, or call 410-296-2272.