Charm City Dreamers

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.

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.