Charm City Dreamers

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.

Brad is the vice president - innovative operations, at AbsoluteCare which is a comprehensive staff model Patient Centered Ambulatory ICU utilizing innovative Population Health Management tools. Their wholistic concierge approach focuses on creating life-changing results for healthcare populations that are most at risk. In this episode we explore how to make meaningful change for the most at risk people in our healthcare population.

With nearly four decades of experience in education and administrator experience, Deborah S. Phelps is recognized as an innovative, energetic and talented leader and master teacher. The proud mother of three children and grandmother of six, Ms. Phelps has been serving as the Executive Director of The Education Foundation of the Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc., since 2012.

Learn how past dreamer and serial entrepreneur Jason Bass is leveraging his contacts in the restaurant and hospitality industry to help our community during the COVID19 crisis. We also explore how he plans to bring people together in the age of stay at home.

In this episode we interviewed 3 past dreamers (Alicia Wilson, David Estrin, & Van Brooks) live at the Mcdonogh High School Townhall Assembly about their professional experience and advice for the McDonogh School community

In this episode we speak with Dr. Bian, a first responder in the emergency room at Cornell and Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC. We discuss life on the COVID front lines and the implications that New York's response may have for our community. We then speak with Dr. Fein, an OB/GYN at University of Maryland Medical Center, about the response in Baltimore and the experience of dealing with pregnancy during COVID.

In this episode we speak with celebrity chef Duff Goldman about his food journey and why Charm City is part of his brand. We also discuss some of his favorite recipes and our listeners can check out his youtube channel and instagram live feed to learn how to bake like an expert! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt56tNiyfbDwdNV5sv8E5PA

In this episode we chat with our past dreamer Chris Wilson about how to use your time in quarantine productively to develop your own master plan and visualize your own future success. Chris has transformed his life from natural life in prison to actualizing his master plan and becoming an international award winning author, artist, and community philanthropist.