For more than 10 years, Jeffrey Zwillenberg has focused his career in education reform to help ensure that all kids have the opportunity to be successful in school and beyond. As the Senior Executive Director of Reading Partners Baltimore, Jeffrey leads a staff and AmeriCorps team of 35+ members, achieving programmatic, community engagement, and fundraising goals to further expand and evolve Reading Partners' impact on Baltimore students and throughout Baltimore communities. Prior to Reading Partners, Jeffrey held several roles at national nonprofit New Leaders, including the national director of program operations and the national director of city team operations.

Charm City Dreamers

Reading Partners - Jeffrey Zwillenberg

McKeever "Mac" Conwell II is the founder and managing partner of RareBreed Ventures. Mac is a former software engineer and two-time founder. One of Mac's companies failed, the other went on to a succesful exit. In this episode we explore the early stage startup ecosystem in the region and specifically discuss investing in under-represented communities.

Mac Conwell - Early Stage Startup Ecosystem

In this episode, we interview Tom Osha who is the senior vice president of innovation and economic development of the Wexford Science & Technology Institute. We explore what is an innovation district and how the work they are doing at University Of Maryland Bio-Park and other projects can be scaled nationally to expedite the future of industry and innovation.

Tom Osha - Innovation Districts

Carim V. Khouzami is the chief executive officer of Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), the nation's first gas utility. Khouzami oversees safety, reliability, customer service, financial performance and BGE’s commitment to creating an inclusive culture. He is a member of BGE's Board of Directors and the executive committee of BGE's parent company, Exelon. In this episode we explore the future of industry in Baltimore as well as the future of energy and infrastructure in this country.

Carim Khouzami - BG&E CEO

Baltimore Tracks is a coalition of Baltimore-based technology & tech-enabled company leaders that are committed to increasing opportunities for People of Color in technology. Learn more about this initiative through our interview with Baltimore Tracks co-founders Nick Culbertson (CEO of Protenus) and Sherrod Davis (Chief of Staff of Protenus) 

Baltimore Tracks - Nick Culbertson & Sherrod Davis

Eddie is the Co-CEO of the World Trade Center Institute (WTCI). WTCI's mission is to empower globally-minded leaders with new ideas and valuable connections. They believe that sharing knowledge and experiences makes a positive impact on Maryland and across the globe. Today more than 2,500 Maryland firms benefit from WTCI’s global connections, events, programs and services. Their members range from local startups to many of the region’s top corporations, universities, and government agencies.

Eddie Resende - World Trade Center Institute (WTCI)

Ron is President at Gula Tech Adventures which focuses on cyber technology, cyber policy and recruiting more people to the cyber workforce. Since 2017, GTA has invested in dozens of cyber start-ups and funds and supported multiple cyber nonprofits and projects. Ron was the co-founder and CEO of Tenable Network Security. He helped grow the company to 20,000 customers, raise $300m in venture capital and grow revenues to $100m, setting up the company for an IPO in 2018. Please enjoy this episode focused on the future of inudstry!

Ron Gula - Cyber Security Industry

Christy Wyskiel is the Senior Advisor to the President of Johns Hopkins University for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. In this role, she also serves as the Executive Director of Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures, the division of the university responsible for technology transfer, industry research partnerships, and company incubation under the brand ‘FastForward.’  Since her appointment in 2013, Christy has transformed the culture of commercialization at Johns Hopkins, opening 43,000 square feet of FastForward innovation space to support startup companies, facilitating the creation of 90+ companies, and generating $333 million in university revenue from licensing and industry collaborations. Johns Hopkins University startups have raised over $2.7 billion in venture capital during her tenure. Christy is a fierce advocate for the future of Baltimore and the role that Johns Hopkins University can play in populating the city skyline with companies borne, built and grown locally.

Christy Wyskiel - Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures

In this episode we explore the future of industry in Baltimore and how it has the potential to be the first "EquiTech" city. Jamie McDonald is CEO of UpSurge. She is an experienced entrepreneur, movement builder, and speaker. Prior to joining UpSurge, she was an advisor to global entrepreneurs, social innovators, and impact-focused executives. She’s been deeply involved in work on behalf of Baltimore throughout her career.

Jamie McDonald - Upsurge

TT the Artist is the director of the documentary "Dark City Beneath The Beat". In this episode we explore Baltimore Club Music and mental health. "Dark City Beneath The Beat" is a musical, documentary reimagining the narrative of Baltimore City through its home grown sound and dance known as Baltimore club music.

TT the Artist - Dark City Beneath the Beat

The Baltimore Station turns lives around. They are an innovative therapeutic residential and outpatient treatment program supporting veterans who are overcoming obstacles to regain self-sufficiency. In this episode we explore art as a means of therapy for Veterans struggling with mental health, homelessness, and addiction.

John Friedel - The Baltimore Station

Liz has been a choreographer and a teaching artist in the inner city for around 20 years; she also grew up in poverty which colors the lens through which she creates. Experiencing growing up mixed race in the inner-city regularly inspires her creations; past and present. She is an inter-disciplinary artist focused on the themes of blackness in America, cultural traditions surrounding african american hair and afro-futurism. Liz also provides mural art tours through Baltimore City.

Liz Miller - Mural Tours, Art, & Mental Health

 Jeffrey Kent combines dramatic gestures, vivid colors, multiple layers, impasto, and reverse text in his paintings. His struggle with dyslexia (without access to diagnosis and care) is a recurring theme expressed in reverse text. His bricolage artworks consider the history of inequity by manipulating objects of daily life. In his critique of accessibility of the Art World, Kent’s street performances, community investment projects, and multimedia public presentations bring fine art to people who wouldn’t have opportunities to experience it. In addition to his art practices, Kent founded the folded alternative art space in Baltimore, Subbasement Artist Studios (2004-2014); Co-Owner of Unexpected Art Space (2013-2016); Co-founder of Connect+Collect and Director of Promotion and Outreach at BmoreArt (2018-), Artistic Director at The Peale Museum(2019-): designed to create awareness and momentum among art collectors, and promotes a culture of collecting in Baltimore. His artworks are in the collections of Robert W Deutsch Foundation, Hilton Hotels, FTI Consulting Inc., among others.

Jeffrey Kent - Art & Mental Health

We are so proud to release this episode to recap the last 100 episodes. Thank you so much to our listeners and supporters for helping make this happen. We hope you enjoy the review and it inspires you to make a difference in your community! If you are moved by this episode feel free to check out our past dreamers!

100 Episodes in Review

In this episode we explore the cross section of art and mental health. Our conversation highlights two nationally renown Baltimore artists: Landis Expandis & Michael Owen. Landis is a man of multi-faceted talent: he is a painter, musician, and DJ. Best known as the lead singer and drummer for the All Mighty Senators, a Baltimore funk rock band that has toured the country and released more than fifteen albums. Michael is acontemporary American painter. Since 2003, he has created hundreds of large-scale works, exploring social, emotional and spiritual issues.

Art & Mental Health - Landis Expandis & Michael Owen

Charm City Dreamers is a podcast that shares inspiring stories of a diverse group leaders in Baltimore. Our goal is to motivate people to Bmore and reach their dreams!

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Charm City Dreamers

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