Charm City Dreamers

Dr. Frances Murphy Draper is Chair and Publisher of the AFRO-American Newspapers (a publication founded by her great grandfather in 1892). The AFRO is the oldest continuously published black newspaper (by the same family) in the United States. Dr. Draper also served as president, chief operating officer, voting trustee, treasurer and board member. In addition, she is a four-term gubernatorial appointee (1995-2019) to the Morgan State University Board of Regents where she most recently served as vice chair and a member of the executive committee.

Expert Negotiator, Sports Agent, Attorney, Educator, New York Times Bestselling Author, and Civic Leader, Ron Shapiro founded a prominent Baltimore law firm, a sports management practice, a negotiations institute, and a consulting/coaching company. His books have inspired millions of people: "Power of Nice", "Bullies Tyrants & Impossible People", "Dare to Prepare" & "Perfecting your Pitch". Ron has served on over 25 boards of charitable and community organizations and is deeply passionate about Baltimore and making a difference.

For the last 10 years, he has developed products, partnered with national brands and founded small businesses. He co-founded Treason Toting Company in Baltimore, MD in 2013. As CEO, he raised over a half a million in venture capital. He also won Light City's 2018 Ravens Pitch Competition. In 2017 he co-founded a successful event series called The Night Brunch. He has spoken at Universities, on panels and mentored for business incubators. This year, Jason created the self-titled website to chronicle his projects, create a living body of work, and document personal style. The content is designed to inform, but most importantly; inspire all people to discover their passions, confidently pursue them, and become their best selves. Hear it from someone that looks like you, talks like you and has testimonies like yours. Jason's goal is to encourage, motivate, educate, all while being transparent about the real cost and benefits of being a self-made entrepreneur and first-time father.

In 2012, after the untimely death of Shantell's one year old daughter and in an effort to prevent parents and families from suffering this same heartbreak, she founded Touching Young Lives, Incorporated; a nonprofit that focuses on the health and well-being of infants and children by offering best practice infant care education and providing families with Portable Alternative Cribs as safe infant sleeping spaces. Portable Alternative Cribs are eco-friendly cardboard boxes, with padding at the bottom, that serves as a safe and alternative sleeping space for parents and caregivers. She has worked with thousands of children in Baltimore with one goal in mind-preventing another untimely infant death.

In this episode we interview the executive director, Joshua Day, Director of Development, Wes Jamison, and one of their strength ambassadors Corey. MissionFit aims to destroy barriers of access and knowledge that prevent our youth from achieving health, and to build a community that makes health and wellness possible and a priority for everyone.

Caryn York is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF), an independent, statewide nonprofit organization that promotes policies and programs to help low-wage workers advance to high-wage jobs. Caryn is JOTF's youngest CEO and the first African American female to lead the twenty-three-year organization.

Ali and Andres are two of the co-founders of the Holistic Life Foundation. Through their work at the Holistic Life Foundation they have helped develop and pilot yoga and mindfulness programs at public and private schools, drug treatment centers, juvenile detention centers, mental crisis facilities, and retreat centers, nationally and internationally. Their work with the Holistic Life Foundation has been featured on Making a Difference on the NBC Nightly News, CNN, and CBS, as well as O the Oprah Magazine, The Washington Post, Upworthy, Mindful Magazine, Yoga Journal, Shambala Sun, and many other publications.

Antonia came to Homeless Persons Representation Project (HPRP) as its Executive Director in 2007. She is responsible for providing strategic leadership for Maryland's only legal services and advocacy organization dedicated to eliminating homelessness; communicating the mission, programs, and need of its clients to the public; developing and maintaining sound relationships with collaborators, supporters, funders and other stakeholders; providing efficient management and direction to staff and volunteers; ensuring fiscal responsibility and leading fundraising efforts; and reporting to and supporting the work of HPRP's board of directors.