Charm City Dreamers

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! 

Dent Education promotes equity by empowering under-resourced youth to discover and develop their innate creative potential to shape the world around them. They have reached 2,000 students and help them earn $185,000. In this episode we explore the future of education and entrepreneurship with Experiential Learning & Marketing Director Hailey Jordan as well as 16 year old Made@Dent co-owner and Marketplace director Assi Sy. Enjoy!

In this episode we explore corporate charitable giving and the future of philanthropy. John currently serves as the President of the T. Rowe Price Foundation and President of the Program for Charitable Giving.  Enjoy!

For more than 10 years, Jeffrey Zwillenberg has focused his career in education reform to help ensure that all kids have the opportunity to be successful in school and beyond. As the Senior Executive Director of Reading Partners Baltimore, Jeffrey leads a staff and AmeriCorps team of 35+ members, achieving programmatic, community engagement, and fundraising goals to further expand and evolve Reading Partners' impact on Baltimore students and throughout Baltimore communities. Prior to Reading Partners, Jeffrey held several roles at national nonprofit New Leaders, including the national director of program operations and the national director of city team operations.

McKeever "Mac" Conwell II is the founder and managing partner of RareBreed Ventures. Mac is a former software engineer and two-time founder. One of Mac's companies failed, the other went on to a succesful exit. In this episode we explore the early stage startup ecosystem in the region and specifically discuss investing in under-represented communities.

In this episode, we interview Tom Osha who is the senior vice president of innovation and economic development of the Wexford Science & Technology Institute. We explore what is an innovation district and how the work they are doing at University Of Maryland Bio-Park and other projects can be scaled nationally to expedite the future of industry and innovation.

Baltimore Tracks is a coalition of Baltimore-based technology & tech-enabled company leaders that are committed to increasing opportunities for People of Color in technology. Learn more about this initiative through our interview with Baltimore Tracks co-founders Nick Culbertson (CEO of Protenus) and Sherrod Davis (Chief of Staff of Protenus) 

Eddie is the Co-CEO of the World Trade Center Institute (WTCI). WTCI's mission is to empower globally-minded leaders with new ideas and valuable connections. They believe that sharing knowledge and experiences makes a positive impact on Maryland and across the globe. Today more than 2,500 Maryland firms benefit from WTCI’s global connections, events, programs and services. Their members range from local startups to many of the region’s top corporations, universities, and government agencies.

Ron is President at Gula Tech Adventures which focuses on cyber technology, cyber policy and recruiting more people to the cyber workforce. Since 2017, GTA has invested in dozens of cyber start-ups and funds and supported multiple cyber nonprofits and projects. Ron was the co-founder and CEO of Tenable Network Security. He helped grow the company to 20,000 customers, raise $300m in venture capital and grow revenues to $100m, setting up the company for an IPO in 2018. Please enjoy this episode focused on the future of inudstry!

Christy Wyskiel is the Senior Advisor to the President of Johns Hopkins University for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. In this role, she also serves as the Executive Director of Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures, the division of the university responsible for technology transfer, industry research partnerships, and company incubation under the brand ‘FastForward.’  Since her appointment in 2013, Christy has transformed the culture of commercialization at Johns Hopkins, opening 43,000 square feet of FastForward innovation space to support startup companies, facilitating the creation of 90+ companies, and generating $333 million in university revenue from licensing and industry collaborations. Johns Hopkins University startups have raised over $2.7 billion in venture capital during her tenure. Christy is a fierce advocate for the future of Baltimore and the role that Johns Hopkins University can play in populating the city skyline with companies borne, built and grown locally.

In this episode we explore the future of industry in Baltimore and how it has the potential to be the first "EquiTech" city. Jamie McDonald is CEO of UpSurge. She is an experienced entrepreneur, movement builder, and speaker. Prior to joining UpSurge, she was an advisor to global entrepreneurs, social innovators, and impact-focused executives. She’s been deeply involved in work on behalf of Baltimore throughout her career.

TT the Artist is the director of the documentary "Dark City Beneath The Beat". In this episode we explore Baltimore Club Music and mental health. "Dark City Beneath The Beat" is a musical, documentary reimagining the narrative of Baltimore City through its home grown sound and dance known as Baltimore club music.

The Baltimore Station turns lives around. They are an innovative therapeutic residential and outpatient treatment program supporting veterans who are overcoming obstacles to regain self-sufficiency. In this episode we explore art as a means of therapy for Veterans struggling with mental health, homelessness, and addiction.

Liz has been a choreographer and a teaching artist in the inner city for around 20 years; she also grew up in poverty which colors the lens through which she creates. Experiencing growing up mixed race in the inner-city regularly inspires her creations; past and present. She is an inter-disciplinary artist focused on the themes of blackness in America, cultural traditions surrounding african american hair and afro-futurism. Liz also provides mural art tours through Baltimore City.

Jeffrey Kent combines dramatic gestures, vivid colors, multiple layers, impasto, and reverse text in his paintings. His struggle with dyslexia (without access to diagnosis and care) is a recurring theme expressed in reverse text. His bricolage artworks consider the history of inequity by manipulating objects of daily life. In his critique of accessibility of the Art World, Kent’s street performances, community investment projects, and multimedia public presentations bring fine art to people who wouldn’t have opportunities to experience it. In addition to his art practices, Kent founded the folded alternative art space in Baltimore, Subbasement Artist Studios (2004-2014); Co-Owner of Unexpected Art Space (2013-2016); Co-founder of Connect+Collect and Director of Promotion and Outreach at BmoreArt (2018-), Artistic Director at The Peale Museum(2019-): designed to create awareness and momentum among art collectors, and promotes a culture of collecting in Baltimore. His artworks are in the collections of Robert

We are so proud to release this episode to recap the last 100 episodes. Thank you so much to our listeners and supporters for helping make this happen. We hope you enjoy the review and it inspires you to make a difference in your community! If you are moved by this episode feel free to check out our past dreamers!

In this episode we explore the cross section of art and mental health. Our conversation highlights two nationally renown Baltimore artists: Landis Expandis & Michael Owen. Landis is a man of multi-faceted talent: he is a painter, musician, and DJ. Best known as the lead singer and drummer for the All Mighty Senators, a Baltimore funk rock band that has toured the country and released more than fifteen albums. Michael is acontemporary American painter. Since 2003, he has created hundreds of large-scale works, exploring social, emotional and spiritual issues.