Chandler Walters ’14 to Receive 2025 William L. Marbury Outstanding Advocate Award, Keynote at Upper School Quaker Community Day

Each year, the William L. Marbury Outstanding Advocate Award is presented to someone who is not an attorney and has demonstrated outstanding service representing the civil legal needs of low-income Marylanders or expanding access to justice. This year, that honor goes to Friends School of Baltimore alumnus Chandler Walters ’14. We caught up with Chandler to talk about his career, what this award means to him, and the impact of his experience at Friends.

Can you tell me a bit about your current work and how you ended up there?

I currently serve as Outreach and Communications Manager at Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS), where I lead community engagement initiatives, communications strategies, and support volunteer recruitment and pro bono program development. I also co-chair MVLS’s Anti-Racism Committee, working to ensure equitable access to legal services across Maryland. My path into this work was shaped early on by experiences in social justice projects, where I realized the difference we can make when we leverage our skills and privilege to serve others. This understanding has guided my career and continues to fuel my commitment to public service.

What does it mean to you to be awarded the 2025 William L. Marbury Outstanding Advocate Award?

Being recognized with the 2025 William L. Marbury Outstanding Advocate Award is both a tremendous honor and a humbling reminder of the importance of this work. It reflects not only my contributions but also the mentors, colleagues, and communities who inspire me to keep striving for justice every day.

How did your Friends School education prepare you for life beyond high school?

My education at Friends School of Baltimore prepared me for life well beyond high school. The Quaker emphasis on integrity, reflection, and service instilled values that shape how I approach problem-solving and leadership. Friends taught me that privilege carries responsibility and that meaningful change often begins with small, intentional actions. These principles have guided me through college, graduate school, and my professional work, shaping both how I operate and why I care so deeply about social justice and community impact.

Do you have a memorable Friends School experience that helped you become the person you are today?

A defining experience from my time at Friends was a social justice class during my junior year. My group chose to address food insecurity in Baltimore’s most underserved communities. That project was my first real exposure to seeing tangible change come from focused effort and collaboration. I remember thinking then that the difference we can make- no matter how big or small- is what life is about. That lesson continues to guide my work today.

I also had teachers and coaches who left lasting impressions on me. From the classroom to the sports field, they emphasized discipline, teamwork, and ethical responsibility. They modeled how to combine skill, heart, and purpose in everything you do- an approach that I carry into my career and community work every day.

Friends School didn’t just educate me academically; it instilled in me a framework for how to engage the world and strive for equity. The lessons I learned there remain the foundation of my professional life and personal values, and I am proud to carry them forward in every effort to expand justice and opportunity for others.

The 2025 MLSC Awards Reception will be held on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., at historic Westminster Hall in Baltimore. Additional information can be found online here.

In addition, Walters served as the keynote speaker for the Upper School's Quaker Community Day this fall. Walters highlighted his pipeline from attending Friends School to gaining early experience in social justice projects to ultimately working at MVLS, and answered a breadth of students' questions about his career and commitment to public service.