Elevate Maryland

On June 10, 2022, Rushern Baker suspended his campaign for Governor. Ten days later, he's on our show to tell you what he thinks about the 2022 Primary, why public financing needs some tweaks, and how Maryland's next Governor should declare a state of emergency for Baltimore City.

He even gives some hints about who he may be endorsing for Governor over the next seven days.

This is not one you will want to miss. 

Candace and Tom go back to the hyper-local for this interview with Howard County Board of Education candidate Jacky McCoy. They discuss everything from what it was like to be educated in the "capital of the south" to her grandson's curriculum in Howard County schools. These races don't always get the coverage they deserve, so please make sure to tune in for this important interview.

Candace and Tom continue their Maryland gubernatorial interviews with Democrat John King, Jr. This is Dr. King's third time on the show and he joined us hot off the release of a new poll showing him tied for second place. Tune in to hear his prescriptions for Maryland, why he's not running away from CRT, and the "three-legged stool" of housing policy!

Candace and Tom celebrate FIVE YEARS of podcasting by hosting a live interview with Howard County Council District 4 candidate Janssen Evelyn. He addressed why housing is one of his top priorities and the way in which art infuses itself into his life. Janssen also recounts some stories from the field as he works to become the first person of color to represent Downtown Columbia on the County Council.

Candace and Tom meet with law professor Sheryll Cashin to discuss her new book, White Space, Black Hood: Opportunity Hoarding and Segregation in the Age of Inequality. In her book, Professor Cashin argues that the "ghetto", and all of our ideas about it, performs a political function that reinforces inequality and is used as a basis for further segregation, divestment, and surveillance. 

Delegate Brooke Lierman is running to be the first woman Comptroller of Maryland, but that is far from the only reason you should be excited about her candidacy. In this episode, Candace and Tom talk to Brooke about her ideas for bringing an equity lens to the office and how that could improve the lives of thousands of Maryland families. Brooke also discusses her plans for the 2022 General Assembly session and her previous legislative accomplishments.

Every year, Candace and Tom break down the year that was - the ups, downs, and in betweens. And, believe it or not, 2021 ends with an ominous note, but it also brought us days of hope and joy.

Continuing Elevate's annual tradition, Tom and Candace also close the show by answering their own Elevator Speech questions and provide goals for the year ahead.

In Elevate Maryland's return to live shows at its new location, Busboys & Poets, Candace and Tom sit down with Howard County Council-member Opel Jones to discuss his first three years in office and his recently announced campaign for re-election. He addressed the difficulty in diversifying the Council, challenges he's faced as the only person of color in a five-member body, and his legislative process for proposing new laws. Dr. Jones promised a spicy interview and he delivered in this can't miss show.

Thank you to Busboys & Poets for being such great hosts!

Columbia, Maryland was created with an eye towards intentionally integrating neighborhoods based on race and income. Despite their intent, many of the methods utilized by The Rouse Company were made illegal with the Fair Housing Act, most prominently the practice of "steering" homeowners or renters to certain properties based on race. As these methods have become prohibited, Columbia's communities have begun to self-segregate due to the conscious and subconscious biases of consumers.

The Columbia Housing Center was created to reverse the tide and encourage renters and homebuyers to make choices that will reinvest in Columbia's original vision. Columbia icon Jane Dembner has left a lasting mark on the community she loved and Andy Masters is worthy of carrying that legacy forward.

Edgar Villanueva is a globally-recognized activist and author of the award-winning book Decolonizing Wealth: Indigenous Wisdom to Heal Divides and Restore Balance. In this interview, Edgar discusses the troubled foundations of philanthropy from how these funds are derived to the discriminatory manner grants are awarded. He also challenges the hierarchal model of most philanthropic organizations with recommendations for how leaders can establish communal power-sharing leadership norms.

Philanthropy is part of the essential fabric of civil society and Edgar is an important voice in ensuring this private power is exercised in an inclusive and loving way.

Takirra Winfield Dixon - Founder, Unapologetic Communications

Gabrielle Wyatt - Founder, The Highland Project

Erica Green - Reporter, The New York Times

Coming off of Erica Green's powerful profile of former Queen Anne's County Superintendent Dr. Andrea Kane, our guests discuss their work, their challenges, and what they want you to know about their lived experience. This panel interview is intimate, powerful, moving, inspirational, and everything we want Elevate Maryland to be. 

Richard Rothstein is the author of the New York Times Bestseller The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America. In this interview, Mr. Rothstein describes how our communities continue to be segregated by law due to laws and policies adopted in the early 20th century. He also recommends action at the local level to reverse generational harm. The Color of Law fundamentally changed how housing is discussed in this country and this interview demonstrates why that debate is fundamental to how we live today.

In this show, Candace and Tom interview retiring Howard Community College President Dr. Kate Hetherington. She discussed how following a set procedure and path set HCC up to be one of the few community colleges recognized with the distinguished Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award. Dr. Hetherington also describes how the school charted a path through the pandemic, which continues to the present, and how she's decided to take on the issues of racial equity when many would rather she keep quiet on the subject.

This is not an interview to miss!

In this episode, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr., discusses his decision not to run for Governor and instead seek reelection. We also hit on the topics of housing, education, equity, and his prolonged stint as a prominent local DJ! You won't want to miss his unpopular benign opinion, even though it technically has to do with food.

UpSurge was founded to make Baltimore the first "Equitech" city in the world. This effort is premised on the idea that Maryland's tech ecosystem is primed for exponential growth with the incorporation of Baltimore's diverse workforce. In this episode, Jamie describes UpSurge's methodology of bringing people into the tech sector who have been boxed out by incumbent interests and insular markets

The Fair Housing Act passed in 1968, which prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, religion, national origin, and, since 1974, sex. Our guest this week believes we need another amendment that will prohibit discrimination in housing based on economic status. Although racism and sexism are seen as overtly bad, Richard Kahlenberg notes that Americans are much more ambivalent, or even supportive, of discrimination based on class. The result is that our communities are segregated based on income, resulting in bad outcomes not only for those less off, but also the wealthy families that support these divisions.

We live in a great time of cynicism and apathy as it relates to politics and political power. In this episode, Candace and Tom interview coauthor Hahrie Han about her new book Prisms of the People: Power and Organizing in Twenty-First-Century America. She describes how people mistake attention for power and how the key to effectuating political change is creating a sense of belonging amongst fellow activists. Han also notes that the art of political negotiation not only is critical between electeds, but also across advocacy groups. This is a must listen for anyone looking to create political change.

The 2021 General Assembly Session will be remembered for many things, but top among them is Maryland's historic legislation on police reform. In this episode, Candace and Tom interview the co-chairs of the Maryland House Judiciary Committee, Luke Clippinger and Vanessa Atterbeary. They review the ups and downs of a unique COVID-impacted session and close, as always, with books, restaurants, and unpopular benign opinions.

Candace returns for this interview with Howard County Library President and CEO Tonya Aikens to discuss the new "Brave Voices Brave Choices" campaign.  This new initiative will replace the iconic "Choose Civility" campaign, which has adorned resident bumpers for over a decade.  Tonya explains why it was necessary to move past the "Choose Civility" frame and tells listeners what they can expect in the months and years ahead from Brave Voices Brave Choices.