Elevate Maryland

This week, Candace and Tom sat down with Delegate Eric Luedtke to discuss the recommendations of the Kirwan Commission regarding Maryland's education system. Delegate Luedtke is the newly appointed Majority Leader of the Maryland House of Delegates and has been an outspoken supporter of the Kirwan recommendations, which will be converted to legislation as the "Blueprint for Maryland's Future".

Thank you to the Merriweather District, Cured/18th & 21st, and the Downtown Columbia Partnership for your sponsorship and support!

The eyes of the nation have been on Howard County as it grapples with a simple, yet undefined, concept - equity in education. While most jurisdictions redistrict their schools solely to redistribute capacity, Howard County considered a plan that would also balance poverty and wealth in one of the wealthiest jurisdictions in the country.

We invited three people to the show to discuss - New York Times Magazine journalist Dana Goldstein, The Century Foundation's Michelle Burris, and Wilde Lake High School Student Alisa Drake

Join Candace and Tom this week as they sit down with Greg Fitchitt, the Regional President of Howard Hughes's Columbia, Maryland region. Curious about what's next for Columbia? How is affordable housing being addressed? How is Howard Hughes building off of the legacy of a larger-than-life predecessor like Jim Rouse? This show covers it all.

This week's three things:

1. Voter registrations in Howard County

2. Silence in the context of contentious redistricting

3. Howard County's Affordable Housing Master Plan.

Thank you to Cured/18th & 21st and Howard Hughes for providing Elevate Maryland a new home in Downtown Columbia!

This week, Candace and Tom interview the author of The Lines Between Us, Lawrence Lanahan. This book focuses on the legal and geographic boundaries that keep us separate and the real life consequences from growing up on different sides of the lines. This interview touches on affordable housing, schools, zoning, and the manner in which suburban counties thwart inclusive housing.

Thank you to our hosts at The Common Kitchen.

This week, Candace and Tom sit down with District 2 County Council-member Opel Jones to discuss the boundary adjustment process, advertising school districts in real estate sales, the school surcharge tax, and working with stakeholders to design a "solution" instead of just passing legislation.

Thank you to our host, The Common Kitchen in Clarksville, MD!

"Food is bait." - Andy Shallal

This week, Candace and Tom welcome Andy Shallal, the founder of Busboys and Poets, to Howard County. Busboys and Poets is described as "a community where racial and cultural connections are consciously uplifted – a place to take a deliberate pause and feed your mind, body and soul – a space for art, culture and politics to intentionally collide." What should we expect in the newest restaurant? Why do art, culture, and food mix so well? Why does Andy Shallal hate Seinfeld? This won't be an episode you'll want to miss.

Thank you to our friends at Howard Hughes in Downtown Columbia for hosting?

This is the third in our Elevate Maryland History-Maker series! In 1982, C. Vernon Gray became the first African American elected to the Howard County Council. In 1995, Frank Turner was elected to be the first African American to represent Howard County in the General Assembly. We are excited to have these trail-blazers on the show to discuss their historic careers in public service! Thank you to The Common Kitchen for hosting!

Howard County is in the midst of historic redistricting that will not only balance capacity, but also look to incorporate socio-economic balance amongst our schools. How will we respond?

In 2016, Dr. John B. King, Jr. was appointed by President Barack Obama as the 10th United States Secretary of Education. We sit down with him this week to discuss equity in education, the interface of land use policies and school segregation, the central importance of pre-K intervention and education, and, of course, Howard County Redistricting. Thank you to Damian O'Doherty and Center Maryland for providing this great opportunity!

As goes Baltimore City, so goes the state of Maryland. Sheila Dixon was the last mayor who experienced a decrease in violence during her term. Tune into this episode of Elevate Maryland to hear her discuss how she took on city crime, what it means to "know city government", and how to take a holistic approach to regional challenges. You'll even hear her identify the qualities she would like to see in the next mayor of Baltimore!

Thank you, as always, to our host The Common Kitchen!

This week, Candace and Tom interview Just Up the Pike's Dan Reed about his advocacy for inclusive housing in Montgomery County. They not only address affordable housing, but also the "missing middle" that normally is left out of discussions about housing. This week's three things include: 1) Howard County school redistricting, 2) the School Surcharge tax, and 3) Howard County for All!

Thank you to our host, La Palapa in Ellicott City!