Charm City Dreamers

In this episode we interview Elie Klein, the director of development for USA & Canada of ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran. We discuss the current situation in Israel and the work they are doing at their 40 acre rehabiliation village. ADI is the Hebrew word for a radiant and multifaceted jewel, a name that reflects their expansive vision and broad scope of activities, including disability care, rehabilitation, research, employment, education, community services and Tikkun Olam. It also speaks to the importance and great value of their mission to care for the most precious members of our society – those who cannot care for themselves. ADI provides comprehensive rehabilitative solutions for children, adolescents and adults with severe disabilities and complex medical conditions and pioneers cutting-edge therapeutic and recovery services for anyone touched by disability, all in a dignified, warm and loving atmosphere.

In this episode we have a conversation with Fagan Harris, who is now the Chief of Staff for Governor Wes Moore. At the time of this episode, Fagan was 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.

In this episode we have a conversation with Mayor Brandon Scott, who was the city council president and democratic nominee for mayor at the time of our interview. 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..

Torrey Smith, former NFL Raven wide receiver and 2x Superbowl Champion, is the founder of Level 82. In this episode we explore the importance of mental health and how Level82 is helping leverage the power of community collaboration to enable all Baltimore families to reach their full potential

In this episode we interview Matthew Reeds who is the new Deputy Director of Baltimore Homecoming. We discuss the city's unique assets and Baltimore Homecoming's mission to connect Baltimoreans from across the world with our city's leaders and innovators to spark new collaborations and drive new investments in Baltimore's future. We envision a world where Baltimore is recognized as a leading hub for social & private sector entrepreneurship and where local leaders work hand-in-hand with a global network of Baltimoreans to advance a more prosperous and just city. Furthermore Matthew has served on various boards including the Board of Regents of Morgan State University and The Morgan State University Foundation. Matthew has become one of Baltimore's rising young adults in the areas of philanthropy, business, and community service, recently named to HBCU Buzz's Top 30 under 30 and by the Baltimore Business Journal as a Person on the Move.

In this episode we interview Brooke Lierman, the first female Comptroller of the State of Maryland. Brooke explains the role of the comptroller and the catalytic investments that give her optimism for the future of Maryland and the City of Baltimore. As Brooke states, "Maryland will never be a truly great state until Baltimore reaches its full potential." We hope you enjoy!

In this episode we interview Corey Voelkel the founder of Aveley Farms Coffee Roasters. We discuss food and coffee culture in Baltimore. Corey shares his vision for expansion and the story of building Aveley Farms after his experience in tech in San Diego. We hope you enjoy!

In this episode we interview Yair Flicker the President and Founder of SmartLogic, Baltimore-based consultancy that has been building custom web and mobile software applications since 2005. We explore the journey of starting and running a small business, and examine how to build a niche community. Yair discusses the future of technology and the advantages to launching a business in the Baltimore community. We hope you enjoy!

Meet the new CEO of the Associated Black Charities (ABC), Chrissy Thornton. Learn about ABC's mission to work as an educator, advocate and supporter to eliminate the race-based barriers that have been created by structural racism. In this episode, we explore Chrissy story as a non-profit leader and how she hopes to expand the scope and impact of the work of the Associated Black Charities through collaborations with other communities. We hope you enjoy!

Mark Anthony Thomas will serve as the GBC's first CEO since the organization's spring merger with the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore (EAGB). The merger linked two major regional organizations to better align efforts around a singular vision and to position the Greater Baltimore region to address critical challenges facing the communities the organization serves. In this episode we explore economic development, Mark's history serving civic institutions, and the opportunities of public/private partnerships. Enjoy!