Charm City Dreamers

Sam is the founder of Baltimore Votes and the Director of Full Participation Program at the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC). He leads NCoC’s efforts to cultivate the country’s largest network of local leaders committed to ensuring their communities achieve full participation in elections. Locally, Baltimore Votes is committed to working towards a future where every person, in every precinct votes in every election, and that work doesn’t stop just because our city is in the middle of a health crisis. Your support in this unprecedented time means so much to us.

Valeria Fuentes is the founder of Roots and Raíces, which is a platform for artists, musicians, and activists to highlight, support, and celebrate immigrants in Baltimore through the arts and civic engagement. In this episode we focus on civic engagement and voting initiatives within the hispanic community. She is also on the advisory board of Baltimore Votes.

In this episode we discuss voting rights for people who have been affected by the criminal justice system. Out for Justice, Inc. (OFJ) is a grassroots nonprofit organization that was founded in 2006 in Baltimore, Maryland by a group of formerly incarcerated individuals who were ready and willing to work but repeatedly denied employment due to their criminal record. With the support of justice-impacted individuals, their friends, and their family members, OFJ strives to bring about policy reform that ends employment barriers and perpetual punishment that adversely affects citizens impacted by the criminal justice system.

Natasha Murphy is a firm believer in enacting meaningful change via informed planning, policy, and advocacy. Natasha proudly serves as the Deputy Director of Advocacy for Black Girls Vote, Inc. a nonprofit, grassroots organization focused on engaging, educating, and empowering women of color to leverage their voting power to transform the democratic process. 

Brittany is the founder of B360 which utilizes dirt bike culture to end the cycle of poverty, disrupt the prison pipeline, and build bridges in communities. Through a STEM education program, community engagement, workforce pipe-lining and events , we equip youth and adults with the skills to secure educational and career opportunities in STEM fields, motor sports and  beyond! 

Adam is the executive director of Libraries Without Borders and the co-founder of the Digital Equity Coalition. He advocates for dynamic programs that increase access to information by meeting people where they are—whether through digital literacy classes in Laundromats or health workshops in churches. In 2017, he launched the Legal Literacy Initiative to help public libraries deliver legal information to underserved communities across the US. He also launched the Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition which brought together 50 organizations to support a rapid response and coordinated actions during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Jacob is the CEO of Catalyte. Catalyte believes that aptitude is equally distributed, but opportunity is not. They find hidden technology talent others can’t. The company provides new opportunities for sustainable and diverse tech talent that powers transformational software engineering ‒ when, where and how it’s needed – and accelerates business outcomes.  Listen to this week's episode to learn more about the work they are doing in Baltimore and the national implications for the future of our workforce.

Delali Dzirasa is the CEO and founder of Fearless, a full stack digital services firm in Baltimore, Maryland with a mission to create software with a soul - tools that empower communities and make a difference. Delali is also the Chair of Hack Baltimore, a city-wide innovation movement that teams up technologists, civic leaders and city residents to design sustainable solutions for Baltimore’s biggest challenges. He is passionate about increasing the rate of city youth heading into STEM fields and works closely with city nonprofits to provide funding and mentorship programs in city schools

In this episode we explore how Mesh Networks are helping to provide digital equity with Jonathan Moore the CEO of Rowdy Orbit and Alexandria Warrick Adams the Executive Director of Elev8. Rowdy Orbit focuses on digital transformation within underserved communities and Elev8 Baltimore provides out-of-school time opportunities and coordinates school-based health services, resources, support and outreach for families in Baltimore. Together Elev8 and Rowdy orbit are collaborating to help bring digital access to underserved communities in Baltimore.

Jason grew up in Montana and Nevada and first ventured to the East Coast to attend the Naval Academy.  There he met and ultimately married a Baltimore girl, which meant his destiny was to become a Baltimorean as well.  Jason has spent most of his professional career at the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and capacity-building, and he’s passionate about helping Baltimore realize its potential as a world-class city known for innovation and equity.

John is a Senior Fellow at the Technology Policy Institute and a senior advisor to the Urban Libraries Council. He served as an Associate Director for Research at the Pew Research Center. During the Obama Administration, Horrigan was part of the leadership team at the Federal Communications Commission for the development of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) He recently authored a white paper on Baltimore's Digital Divide

Fagan Harris is the President and CEO of Baltimore Corps, an organization that enlists talented people in public service and social entrepreneurship in Baltimore City. Harris co-founded the organization with Wes Moore in 2013, and continues to set the organization’s strategic direction and lead its dedicated community of staff, fellows, associates, awardees, visionary cause leaders, and partners. For his work in social entrepreneurship, Harris was recognized, among others, as a Visionary by Baltimore Magazine (2018), in the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s ‘40 Under 40’ (2016), and in Forbes Magazine’s ‘30 Under 30’ (2015). Harris also has received numerous awards, including fellowships from Ashoka, Echoing Green, and The Aspen Institute.

In this episode we have a discussion with Nikhil Gupta, Senior Director of Investment, at Thread. Thread engages Baltimore City students in the lowest 25% of their 9th grade class and works to establish a new social support structure while building a community where everyone can thrive. Thread volunteers create real change by showing up for Thread young people and each other and build deep relationships that last a lifetime. If you are ready to make friends, make a difference, and write a new Baltimore story, come join Thread at www.thread.org.  

DeRay is an American civil rights activist, podcaster, and former school administrator. An early supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement, he has been active in the protests in Ferguson and Baltimore. Mckesson launched Campaign Zero, a policy platform to end police violence, and hosts of Pod Save The People. In this episode we focus specifically on police violence and mass incarceration.

Samuel Hoi is the president of Maryland Institute College of Art, the oldest continuously degree-granting college of art in the United States. In this episode we explore an open dialogue around race equity and COVID as it relates to higher education. Sammy is an experienced and innovative higher education leader and an advocate for art and design education, committed to the belief that creative professionals are the drivers in social, economic and cultural advancement.

Alicia is the vice president for economic development at the Johns Hopkins University and Health System. She leads a core team driving Johns Hopkins’ strategy and initiatives as an anchor institution in and around Baltimore, and elevating and expanding the institutions commitment to the city through investments in economic and neighborhood development, health care, and education.

Diane Bell-McKoy is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Associated Black Charities (ABC), a non-profit which focuses on education, policy design and innovative transactional and transformative strategies to eliminate the impact of structural racism and its adverse economic outcomes on the African American community.

In this episode we explore a transparent dialogue around the future of policing with Baltimore Police Commissioner Harrison. We discuss how Baltimore has the opportunity to be a model police department to the rest of the country. Commissioner Harrison shared his background, how he can apply lessons learned to the Baltimore Police Department, and what collaborative steps with the community can & have been taken to ensure that we build a safe & healthy environment for all community members.

In this episode we have a conversation with Brandon Scott who is the current city council president and democratic nominee for mayor. We explore his background, past achievements, and vision for Baltimore. Our discussion focuses on race equity and the future of policing. Lastly we spoke about how the innovative solutions to tackling social injustice in Baltimore can be a model to the rest of the country.

In this episode we explore a deep conversation around race equity and the Black Experience in America. D has authored "We Speak For Ourselves: A Word from Forgotten Black America", "The Beast Side: Living and Dying While Black in America", and "The Cook Up: A Crack Rock Memoir" We highly recommend you check out his past books and educate yourself.