A Milestone of Community Power: Our First Conference Recap

We are overjoyed and deeply grateful for the overwhelming support and energy at our inaugural conference — a true celebration of collaboration, healing, and community-building. We sold out all 125 tickets and were thrilled to welcome 135 passionate participants who showed up, engaged, and made this gathering unforgettable.

A Full House with Inspiring Leadership

We were honored to have three distinguished elected officials in attendance, each reaffirming their commitment to creating meaningful change in Baltimore:

  • Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Baltimore City

  • Zeke Cohen, Baltimore City Council President

  • James Torrence, Councilmember for District 7

Mayor Brandon Scott, City Council President Zeke Cohen and the team

Councilmember for District 7 James Torrence and Mr.Percy

Their presence and support reminded us how policy, grassroots efforts, and partnerships can work together to uplift Baltimore — from healing-centered initiatives to housing development and youth support systems.

22 Powerful Presentations — Countless Impactful Conversations

Across the day, 22 presenters led thought-provoking sessions on topics that matter most to our city. From mental health and youth engagement to cross-sector partnerships, each speaker sparked meaningful dialogue.


A special highlight was the Heart Stories session with Donald Young and Percy Smith, where they courageously opened conversations around suicide prevention and the importance of speaking out about mental health. Their work is already shaping new initiatives that we look forward to supporting.

We also witnessed a powerful and passionate discussion on The Power of Partnership, led by Camille Burke of the Baltimore City Health Department. The conversation explored available housing resources, public health strategies, and the essential role of trust in collaborative efforts.

Marketplace of Ideas: A Living Network of Support

We wrapped the day with our “Marketplace of Ideas,” an open-space dialogue where participants showcased their passions — from senior services and community research to youth empowerment and resource-sharing. The exchange was vibrant, solution-oriented, and full of optimism.


What Attendees Are Saying

According to our post-event survey:

  • 72.2% rated the conference “Excellent”

  • 25% rated it “Very Good”

Participants said the conference helped:

  • Strengthen partnerships and build new connections

  • Increase awareness of Baltimore’s community resources

  • Foster meaningful, collaborative conversations

Key areas attendees want to continue exploring include:

  • Domestic violence and childhood sexual abuse

  • Harm reduction and maternal mortality

  • Veteran services

  • Re-entry strategies

  • Sustainable business partnerships

  • Sexual health and youth empowerment

  • Youth support services and resource alignment

  • Funding and cross-sector collaborations

With Deep Gratitude

This incredible event would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors:

Infinite Legacy, CareFirst, Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, Quest Diagnostics Foundation, and Fulton Bank.

Together, we’ve planted the seeds of lasting impact — and this is just the beginning. We look forward to growing stronger together, shaping a Baltimore where healing, equity, and community power thrive.

The planning committee the rocketstar

Thank you for coming and see you next May!

Minli Guo