Partners
A gathering of thought leaders, visionary artists, thought-provoking philosophers, community vanguards and entertainers that are using bold ideas and innovative technologies to reshape the Charm City.
Please be patient! Anyone registering less than 24 hours before the event will have their name badge made on site.
Joe Ehrmann has been an educator, author, activist, pastor and coach for more than 25 years. Joe was an All-American football player at Syracuse University and went on to play professional football for 13 years. He was named the Colts “Man of the Year” and was the NFL’s first Ed Block Courage Award winner. He has been named “The Most Important Coach in America” and selected as “Most Influential Sport Educators in America.”
During his tenure in Baltimore City, Dr. Peter Beilenson’s vision led to expanded drugtreatment programs in Baltimore, improved immunization compliance, a widerange of extremely effective lead poisoning prevention initiatives, juvenileviolence prevention, and the creation of the state-wide initiative for universalhealth coverage in Maryland - Health Care for All. In Howard County he haslaunched the Healthy Howard Access Plan, a first-of-its-kind program in thecountry that provides comprehensive, affordable health and wellness services tothe uninsured of Howard County; the Healthy Howard Initiative—which certifieshealthy schools, workplaces, childcare and restaurants; and the first in the nationban on indoor tanning for minors.
OrchKids is a music program designed to create social change and nurture promising futures for youth in Baltimore City neighborhoods. OrchKids is the cornerstone of the BSO’s efforts to expland the Orchestra’s relevance within the broad Baltimore community. OrchKids provides music eduation, instruments, academic instruction, meals, as well as performance and mentorship opportunities at no cost.
Dan Trahey is the director of artistic program development for OrchKids. He previously served as director of community and outreach events for the Hartford Symphony Orchestra (HSO) in Hartford, Connecticut, where he presented concerts, lectures and demonstrations to more than 40,000 Connecticut school children. In 2000, he founded the McDougal Center Concert Series in New Haven, Connecticut, which continues to present innovative artists to the community.
Firmin DeBrabander has taught at MICA since 2005, and served as chair of the Humanistic Studies department from 2009 until 2012. His specialties include the History of Western Philosophy, Ethics,Political Theory, and Environmental Ethics. More recently, he has written social and political editorials for the Baltimore Sun, Counterpunch, Common Dreams and the New York Times.
Shaquille Brooks is a student at Digital Harbor High School, serving as Secretary for the Student Government and is a member of the Associated Student Congress of Baltimore City. He has been an advisor to the Mayor's Office of Employment Development. Most recently, he pitched an idea and led a team at Baltimore Startup Weekend Education to develop a system to unblock educational websites from the web-filter in Baltimore City Schools.
Aaron Henkin is co-creator and producer of “The Signal,” on WYPR. His work has aired nationally on NPR’s “Morning Edition” & “All Things Considered,” PRI’s “Studio 360” and “The World,” and APM’s “The Story.” Aaron is also creator, producer and host of the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings radio series, “Tapestry of the Times.”
Keimmie Booth is a seventeen-year-old senior at Western High School in Baltimore, Maryland. Keimmie possess an inspiring passion for robotics and youth innovation. She proudly supports Baltimore city’s robotics leagues by volunteering at robotics camps and competitions and when she is not volunteering with other teams, Keimmie serves as the captain of the robotics team 2528 “The RoboDoves.”
Evodie Ngoy, a sophomore at Digital Harbor High School, is from the Democratic Republic of Congo. She is a filmmaker with Wide Angle Youth Media. Her short films include “An Education in Apathy” and her most recent work, “The Paradise that Wasn’t,” addresses her high expectations for American schools, and the sobering realities of her American public school. Through her work, Evodie has built an empowering network between refugees in Baltimore Maryland and is continuing to do so.
Congressman John Sarbanes has represented Maryland's 3rd Congressional Distinct since 2007. As a lifelong Marylander, he is committed to working hard for all the communities that he serves in Congress. He serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, allowing him to focus on major issues like health care policy, energy and the environment, and consumer protection to name a few. He is also fighting to reduce the influence of special interests and big money in our political campaigns and public policy making process.
Seema D. Iyer, PhD is the associate director and research assistant professor for the Jacob France Institute in the University of Baltimore’s (UB) Merrick School of Business and oversees the Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance-Jacob France Institute (BNIA-JFI). Using community-based data, she recently co-wrote a Baltimore Sun op-ed "How Baltimore Grows" on what's working in the City's many neighborhoods. In 2010, she was named one of Maryland's Leading Women by the Daily Record.
Noor Siddiqui’s service on the founding team of a Virginia nonprofit with international reach exposed her to the tenacity and resilience of the world’s poor. After graduating from high school, she set aside her university acceptance letters and opted for the Thiel Fellowship. The Thiel Fellowship grants 20 entrepreneurs under 20, $100,000 to move to Silicon Valley and pursue ‘game-changing’ entrepreneurial ventures. Noor is working on building a more inclusive world by harnessing untapped productive energy at the base of the pyramid.
Amrita “Ami” Kaur Dang is a vocalist, sitarist, and composer/producer from Baltimore, MD and New Delhi, India. Her sound ranges from North Indian classical fused with noise/ambient electronics to experimental dancepop that comes together to create a new genre she calls “Bollywave.” Her current sound references her musical education as well as the grit of the urban landscapes of both Baltimore and New Delhi. Released in February 2011, her debut album “Hukam” was heralded as #7 among top albums of 2011 by Chapel Hill’s WXYC 89.3 FM and one of the best 30 albums of 2011 by Small World Music.
Ellen Durkan teaches part time at Delaware College of Art and Design because she really loves teaching and helping students grow and discover their own creativity.
Ellen has her own blacksmithing forge and many of her creations begin as molten objects pounded on an anvil and bent and cut while red hot. No, she doesn't shoe horses; but if she did, they would be for the fashionistas of the horsy set. She is currently working on wearable steel attire. Ellen has completed a series of stationary metal dresses and is currently building accessories for these iron maidens.
Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez is Chief of Plastic, Reconstructive & Maxillofacial Surgery at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center and is Professor of Surgery at University of Maryland School of Medicine. He specializes in aesthetic facial reconstruction, tissue transplantation, and total body reconstructive surgery. In March of 2012, Dr. Rodriguez and his team performed a total face, double jaw and tongue transplantation on a 37-year-old male with a devastating central face high-energy ballistic injury, representing the most extensive face transplant performed to date.
Dr. Roni Ellington was appointed to the Morgan faculty as Assistant Professor in 2006 with a specialty in Mathematics Education. Her research interests including understanding the experiences of high achieving mathematics students, STEM education, mathematics curriculum, instruction, and teacher professional development. She teaches a variety of courses in mathematics and science education including mathematics curriculum, concept development in mathematics education, research seminar courses, and mathematics in the high school curriculum.
Capt. Eddie chose to pursue an education by experience. Sailing south from New England in the fall of 1971, he discovered the Eastern Shore with its active fleet of working skipjacks. Capt. Ed had found "home." He holds a United States Coast Guard 100 ton auxilliary/sail license, and has been making his livelihood from sailing skipjacks and from wooden boatbuilding and repairs ever since. Capt. Ed approaches the 21st century with a commitment to keeping the heritage of the working skipjack alive.
| 8:00AM | VENUE DOORS OPEN Light Breakfast |
| 9:00AM | AUDITORIUM DOORS OPEN General Admission Seating |
| 9:30AM | PROGRAM BEGINS! Introduction |
| 10:00AM - 11:15AM | SESSION 1 Lance Lucas James Piper Bond Kevin Manning PhD Keimmie Booth (Student) Noor Siddiqui Roni Ellington PhD |
| 11:15AM - 11:45AM | BREAK |
| 11:45AM - 1:00PM | SESSION 2 Firmin DeBrabander PhD Aaron Henkin Eduardo Rodriguez MD Ami Dang Whitney Sibol |
| 1:00PM - 2:00PM | LUNCH |
| 2:00PM - 3:30PM | SESSION 3 Ellen Durkan John Sarbanes Lois Feinblatt Seema D. Iyer PhD Peter Beilenson MD |
| 3:30PM - 4:00PM | BREAK |
| 4:00PM - 5:30PM | SESSION 4 Joe Ehrmann Evodie Ngoy (Student) Shaquille Brooks (Student) Captain Eddie Farley Dan Trahey ORCHKids Orchestra |
| 5:30PM | Baltimore Re-Wired |
