Beyond the Hyphen: Bridging Voices at the Intersection of Identity, Politics, Arts, & Civic Reform

In this episode of Beyond the Hyphen, Host Mark Li sits down with Maryland State Delegate Lesley Lopez, who represents District 39 in Montgomery County. Before entering elected office, Delegate Lopez built a career spanning journalism, political communications, advocacy, and public service, with experience at ABC News, BBC, CNN, on Capitol Hill, and with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. In this conversation, Delegate Lopez reflects on what changes when you move from asking political leaders questions to answering them yourself. She discusses how journalism shaped the way she understands public issues, what political communications taught her about representation and storytelling, and how becoming an elected official changed her perspective on both sides of that relationship. The conversation also explores her work with immigrant communities, her approach to communicating across diverse constituencies, her experience with gun violence and firearm policy, leadership within Maryland’s Women’s Legislative Caucus, her 2024 congressional campaign, and what young people can learn from careers that cross the boundaries between journalism, communications, and politics.

In this episode of Beyond the Hyphen, Host Mark Li sits down with Maryland State Delegate Lily Qi, the first Chinese-born state legislator in Maryland history.

Drawing from her new memoir, Elected American: From Red China to Blue Maryland, Delegate Qi reflects on her journey from growing up in Shanghai during the Cultural Revolution to building a life and career in the United States. She discusses immigration, identity, belonging, public service, and the experiences that shaped her understanding of American democracy.

The conversation also explores her work in economic development and government, mobilizing Chinese American voters, building coalitions across diverse AAPI communities, the meaning of being a “first,” and what young immigrants and Asian American students should understand about finding their own place in civic life.

Host Mark Li sits down with Stanford Thompson, Executive Director of Equity Arc and founder of Play On Philly, for a conversation on music, leadership, and the power of belonging.

From his early years as a trumpet student at the Curtis Institute of Music to studying Venezuela's El Sistema movement and building two nationally recognized organizations, Thompson reflects on the experiences that shaped his belief that artistic excellence and educational opportunity go hand in hand.

Together, Mark and Stanford explore the future of classical music, coalition-building, identity, and the role artists can play beyond the concert hall. They discuss Equity Arc's mission to expand pathways for young musicians, the importance of community and representation, lessons from the nationally publicized U.S. Marine Band controversy, and why the arts remain a powerful force for civic engagement and social change.

In this episode of Beyond the Hyphen, host Mark Li sits down with Maryland State Delegate Jared Solomon to explore the institutions, public systems, and civic spaces that shape everyday life in America. Before entering elected office, Delegate Solomon worked as a social studies teacher, federal policy advisor, and education advocate, experiences that continue to shape his approach to public service today. Together, they discuss education, transportation, civic trust, youth disconnection from institutions, and the role schools and public infrastructure play in building strong communities. From classrooms and rail systems to public spaces and civic belonging, this conversation examines what it means to rebuild trust in the systems young people grow up inside.

In this episode of Beyond the Hyphen, host Mark Li sits down with Maryland State Delegate Gabriel Moreno to explore immigration, identity, public service, and the future of civic leadership in America’s diverse communities. Born and raised in El Paso to immigrant parents from Mexico, Delegate Moreno reflects on his journey through education, immigration advocacy, nonprofit leadership, and law before entering the Maryland House of Delegates. Together, they discuss student voice, belonging, youth engagement, and what immigration advocacy reveals about the strengths and challenges of American civic life today. From Howard County’s evolving identity to the importance of community trust and representation, this conversation examines leadership through a deeply human lens.

In this episode of Beyond the Hyphen, host Mark Li sits down with Georgette Bhathena, Chief Programs Officer at The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), to explore how one of the nation’s leading AAPI organizations is building long-term change through media, culture, research, philanthropy, and civic advocacy. Together, they discuss the evolving landscape of Asian American identity, the fight for belonging and visibility, the role of storytelling in shaping public narratives, and what it means to build lasting institutions for future generations. From representation and coalition-building to Gen Z leadership and the future of Asian American civic life, this conversation examines how organizations like TAAF are helping redefine who gets to feel fully American.

In this episode of Beyond the Hyphen, host Mark Li sits down with Sarah Elfreth, who represents Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

From her early start in student government and higher education leadership to becoming the youngest woman ever elected to the Maryland State Senate and now serving in Congress, Congresswoman Elfreth’s path reflects a grounded, institution-focused approach to public service. In this conversation, Mark and Congresswoman Elfreth explore what it actually takes to move policy forward—from expanding voting access and digital inclusion to tackling environmental challenges in the Chesapeake Bay and navigating the realities of governing at the federal level.

They also discuss how decisions are made inside institutions, the balance between economic growth and sustainability, and why process and accountability matter in moments of national decision-making. Throughout the episode, Congresswoman Elfreth shares her perspective on where younger generations fit into today’s political landscape—and how they can move from observing change to actually shaping it.

In this episode of Beyond the Hyphen, host Mark Li sits down with Kweisi Mfume, who represents Maryland’s 7th Congressional District. From leaving high school at 16 to support his family in Baltimore, to serving in Congress, leading the NAACP, and returning to public office decades later, Congressman Mfume’s journey reflects a life shaped by responsibility, resilience, and long-term commitment to public service.

This conversation goes beyond titles and positions. Mark and Congressman Mfume explore how power actually works inside institutions, what it takes to sustain leadership over time, and how policy decisions translate into real outcomes for communities. They also discuss the role of youth in civic life, the challenges of building trust in public institutions, and where younger generations can find meaningful ways to engage and create lasting impact.

In this episode of Beyond the Hyphen, Host Mark Li sits down with Marc Korman, who represents District 16 in Montgomery County and currently serves as Chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee in the Maryland House of Delegates.

They talk about how decisions are actually made in Maryland inside the systems that shape transportation, infrastructure, and environmental policy. Delegate Korman walks through what it takes for a bill to move, where real influence sits within the legislative process, and why outcomes are often decided long before a final vote.

We also explore the gap between passing policy and delivering results, the long-term challenges behind building a reliable regional transit system, and how tradeoffs are made when balancing growth, sustainability, and navigating youth participation above all in the civic system.

In this episode of Beyond the Hyphen, host Mark Li sits down with Chair of the Maryland Senate Finance Committee Pamela Beidle, who represents District 32. From her beginnings in local government to her work shaping policy at the state level, Senator Beidle offers a grounded perspective on how leadership evolves, and how decisions made in Annapolis impact everyday life.

We explore the role of state government in areas like economic development, infrastructure, and environmental policy, and what those decisions mean for students and young people across Maryland. This conversation also takes a closer look at youth civic engagement, the barriers that keep young people from fully participating, and what it actually takes to move from awareness to impact in the community.