Charm City Dreamers

Meet the new CEO of the Associated Black Charities (ABC), Chrissy Thornton. Learn about ABC's mission to work as an educator, advocate and supporter to eliminate the race-based barriers that have been created by structural racism. In this episode, we explore Chrissy story as a non-profit leader and how she hopes to expand the scope and impact of the work of the Associated Black Charities through collaborations with other communities. We hope you enjoy!

Mark Anthony Thomas will serve as the GBC’s first CEO since the organization’s spring merger with the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore (EAGB). The merger linked two major regional organizations to better align efforts around a singular vision and to position the Greater Baltimore region to address critical challenges facing the communities the organization serves. In this episode we explore economic development, Mark's history serving civic institutions, and the opportunities of public/private partnerships. Enjoy!

Dr. Al-Adhami, CEO, envisioned and developed the technology behind the Jiddu, and founded Astek after winning multiple entrepreneurship awards, while completing his PhD in Mechanical Engineering. The company is currently located in University Of Maryland's biopark. We discuss his story from immigrant to entrepreneur and highlight the growing biotechnology sector in Baltimore.

Learn about the Maryland General Assembly with newly elected delegate Mark Edelson. In this episode, we explore his story as an immigrant from South Africa to now serving in the Maryland House of Delegates. Mark shares his legislative agenda and hopes for the state and our city. We discuss why he is optimistic and how he fell in love with Baltimore "a city of hidden gems".

In this episode, we have the honor and privelage of interviewing Annie Milli the Executive Director of Live Baltimore. Live Baltimore works citywide to grow Baltimore’s economy by attracting residents, retaining residents, and supporting healthy housing markets. Each year, Live Baltimore provides thousands of individuals with information on the city’s 250+ neighborhoods, rental living options, homebuying incentive programs, historic tax credits, and more.

In this episode we highlight Adam Lindquist, VP of Programs, and Chelsea Anspach communications manager with waterfront partnership. We discuss their mission and vision of maintaining and enhancing a clean, green, safe, sustainable, and thriving urban waterfront for all to enjoy. We discuss topics ranging from Mr. Trashwheel to the Healthy Harbor Initiative. We hope you enjoy!

 In this episode, we interview Sridevi Sarma, associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and vice dean for graduate education at the Whiting School of Engineering, develops computational, data-driven, and biological approaches to advance the knowledge and treatment of diseases of the nervous system including epilepsy, chronic pain, Parkinson’s disease, and insomnia. She is also the executive director of NeuroTech Harbor which is an accelerator focused on advancing the development of solutions that improve neurological health through the lens of Equitech values of inclusivity. Enjoy!

JC Faulk is the founder of Bmore Community Food. Bmore Community Food feeds vulnerable people across Baltimore City, by rescuing good food that would ordinarily be thrown away, and then supplementing it with fresh meat and non-perishable goods. This work brings our most vulnerable city residents into the light. They have been isolated and marginalized for far too long. It is the aim of Bmore Community Food to end the suffering caused by food insecurity.

 In this episode, we interview Yong Taing, the information technologist of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) which created the James Webb & Hubble Space Telescopes. The James Webb Telescope is the largest telescope in space and its initial photos have already identified thousands of never-before-seen stars. We hope this intergalactic dreamer inspires you to think bigger. Enjoy!

 In this episode, we interview Dr Jessica Lee. Dr. Lee is an OBGYN at University of Maryland and she is the Director of Family Planning. Dr. Lee believes all women deserve access to and support for comprehensive reproductive health care. Given the recent Supreme Court case overturning Roe V Wade, we wanted to share an episode on the real life implications of the decision and how Maryland is leading the charge on women's comprehensive healthcare.

In this episode we interview Brian Plante, the culinary director of the Alfred Group. Brian was previously the chef at Rye Street Tavern and we discuss all things food in Baltimore. We hope this episode inspires you to explore the amazing Baltimore restaurant scene. Enjoy!

Rebecca Alban Hoffberger is the founder, director and principal curator of the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM). As a life-long devotee of the power of intuition and fresh thought, Rebecca is constantly challenging the status quo. In this episode we explore how Rebecca founded the museum, delve into her view on the art world, and share her vision for the future.    

The Black Olive Restaurant sits in quaint elegance on the cobblestone section of Bond Street in old Fells Point. The restaurant is owned by the Spiliadis family, whose passion for food as art is grounded in a basic aesthetic principle: cook your food with an eye towards simplicity and tradition, and use only the finest ingredients, no matter what it takes to find them. The restaurant & family have created a baltimore institution where the environment ensures that the depth of conversation & activism matches the richness of flavor their food elicits.  

 When you combine honest, locally-sourced food with staff that is treated like family, you create an environment and experience known as Hersh's. Learn about the thoughtfulness behind the food, service, and welcoming environment of my favorite high-end pizza restaurant. Enjoy this continuation of our series focused on local food entrepreneurs: "What's Cookin Good Lookin!" Enjoy!

Cafe Dear Leon is using food to write a love letter to our community. Learn about the thoughtfulness behind the food, service, and welcoming environment of this new top bakery in town. Enjoy this continuation of our series focused on local food entrepreneurs: "What's Cookin Good Lookin!"  

Learn about how this home baker founded one of Baltimore's most popular and fastest growing bakeries in Baltimore. Bagels, chirp cookies, snickerdoodles, turkey havarti sandwiches and more! Enjoy this continuation of our series focused on local food entrepreneurs.

Bothered by how real estate and the control of land seemed to have done more to divide us as people than actually bring us together, in 2006 Thibault moved back to Baltimore where he helped start Seawall, an impact driven company made up of passionate social entrepreneurs who believe in re-imagining the real estate industry as we know it.  Seawall believes that all facets of the built environment should be used to empower communities, unite our cities, and help launch powerful ideas that create important movements. Since its inception, the company has focused its energy and resources on providing discounted apartments for teachers, collaborative office space for non-profit organizations, workforce housing, community-driven retail, public markets, launchpads for chefs, and creative space for charter schools. In 2011, Thibault was honored by President Obama’s White House as a Champion for Change and Seawall’s projects have received numerous local and national awards. In this episode we focus on Lexington Market

Alec Ross is one of the world’s leading experts on innovation. Author of New York Times–bestselling book "The Industries of the Future", he is currently a Distinguished Visiting Professor at The University of Bologna Business School and a Board Partner at Amplo, a global venture capital firm. During the Obama Administration, he served as Senior Advisor for Innovation to the Secretary of State, to help modernize the practice of diplomacy and advance America’s foreign policy interests. In this episode we explore his new book "The Raging 2020s" and the social contract required to help us navigate the 21st century.

BrickRose Exchange has been recognized for its positive contributions and lasting effects on the community by American Express, iFundWomen, Comcast and other organizations. As part of our series on the future of innovation, we interviewed Bianca on how to re-imagine real estate. BrickRose provides space and education for artists, creatives, and non-profit organizers. They strive to make the creative community more accessible through their shared network of resources with other like-minded organizations who share a passion for social change!

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) - Removes barriers to justice through free civil legal help, community engagement, and advocacy for equitable laws.  Their vision is for a fair legal system that is free of injustice and equitably serves underrepresented Marylanders. In this episode we interview executive director Susan Francis about the future of our legal system and the national implications of their work. Enjoy!