Innovation Works Baltimore

It was an exciting day visiting the kiosks in downtown Baltimore! Proud to see food and beverage social entrepreneurs from the Innovation Works pipeline showcased, thanks to the partnership with @orange_barrel_media Orange Barrel and @ikesmartcity Stay tuned for next month’s spotlight on Social Entrepreneurs in Commercial Spaces! InnovationWorks #Baltimore #SocialEntrepreneurs #FoodAndBeverage #DowntownBaltimore #OrangeBarrelMedia #IKEKiosks #SupportLocal

Exciting News! We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with @orange_barrel_media This collaboration will highlight different sectors of social entrepreneurs in our pipeline. Over the next few weeks, as you make your way around the city, check out @orange_barrel_media and @ikesmartcity kiosks and celebrate these phenomenal entrepreneurs working to build a more diverse and equitable economy for Baltimore’s future. This particular image is located at the corner of Lombard and Light street on the building occupied by T. Rowe Price. #Partnership #InnovationWorks #SocialImpact #Baltimore #Entrepreneurship #Equity #Diversity

Grateful and honored to have our organization spotlighted by @brookingsinst . Thank you for recognizing our efforts and sharing our vision with your platform. Visit the link in our bio to read the full article! #iwbmore #impactinvesting #socialentrepreneurship #BaltimoreCity

Who will own Baltimore’s neighborhood businesses over the next decade? Across the country, many longtime business owners are reaching retirement age without clear succession plans in place. In historically Black neighborhoods, this raises bigger questions around ownership, legacy, commercial corridors, and who benefits from the next chapter of neighborhood change. At the Baltimore Neighborhood Economics Lab, this breakout session will explore what it takes to move from unplanned exits to intentional transitions and what support systems are needed to keep businesses rooted in community. “The Silver Tsunami: Who Will Own Our Neighborhood Businesses?” features: • Nneka Nnamdi, Founder & COO, Fight Blight Bmore • Hank Cunningham, Founder & CEO, Cunningham Consulting Group • Taber J. Small, Vice President, Meridian Management Group • Arnold Farmer II, CPA Farmer, CPA, Senior Manager, Practice Growth and Engagement, SC&H Moderated by Monica M. Mitchell, Chief of Staff and Programs, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. 📅 Thursday, May 28, 2026 🕛 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM 📍 University of Baltimore – Welcome Center SEE LINKS IN BIO TO REGISTER!

Capital is often framed as a solution. But depending on how systems are structured, it can also extract, exclude, and create barriers that neighborhoods spend years trying to recover from. At the Baltimore Neighborhood Economics Lab, one of our breakout sessions—The Debt Trap: How Capital Drains Our Communities- will explore how financial systems operate in real-world contexts and the unintended consequences they can create for small businesses, neighborhoods, and community stability. This session brings together perspectives from entrepreneurship, lending, technical assistance, and community investment: • Karida Collins, Neighborhood Fiber Company • Jennifer Smith Funn, Maryland Small Business Development Center • #DavidArriola, National Community Reinvestment Coalition • Mac McComas, Baltimore Social Environmental Collaborative (BSEC), Johns Hopkins University The focus is not only on identifying problems. It is about creating space to better understand how capital functions, examine where current systems fall short, and surface ideas that could lead to more supportive and sustainable pathways forward. This is one of four breakout sessions designed to explore how neighborhood economies actually function beyond assumptions and surface-level conversations. 📍 Baltimore Neighborhood Economics Lab 🗓 May 28, 2026 If you’re planning to join us at the Baltimore Neighborhood Economics Lab at the University of Baltimore, hit the link in our bio to register.

Today the Innovation Works team had the pleasure of attending the @greaterbaltimorecommittee All Partner Meeting at Laurel Park. The conversation, hosted by the Maryland Jockey Club, explored horse racing and the equine industry’s role in economic growth, place-based investment, and community revitalization. We also got a behind-the-scenes look with a paddock tour to see the horses ahead of the day’s first race, followed by a Winner’s Circle experience. Always valuable to be in spaces where industry, place, and opportunity come together especially alongside our team. #InnovationWorks #Baltimore #economicdevelopment

Join us for the 3rd Annual Baltimore Neighborhood Economics Lab on May 28 at the University of Baltimore. We will host two fireside conversations exploring how economic signals translate into neighborhood realities, from policy and capital to the lived experiences shaping Baltimore’s communities. Alongside the fireside chats, participants will engage in breakout sessions on: • The Hidden Economy • The Debt Trap • Public Safety & Neighborhood Economies • The Silver Tsunami Link in bio to Register Spots are limited. #Baltimore #NeighborhoodEconomics #EconomicDevelopment #CommunityDevelopment #innovationworks

We’re proud to announce our 3rd Annual Baltimore Neighborhood Economics Lab. A day centered on real conversations, insightful perspectives, and the people shaping local economies every day. Save the date: May 28, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM Registration coming soon. #Baltimore #EconomicDevelopment #InnovationWorks #BNEL2026

Last week, we welcomed the Spring 2026 Boost Cohort at Innovation Works Baltimore Boost is a curriculum based program designed to support enterprises as they strengthen their business models, refine their strategies, and prepare for growth. Throughout the week, this cohort engaged deeply in the work, bringing thoughtful questions, real time challenges, and a willingness to learn from both the content and each other. We want to thank the #speakers, #mentors, and #facilitators who contributed their time and expertise across the curriculum. Your perspective and guidance helped shape a meaningful learning experience. A special thank you to the Innovation Works Baltimore and Ignite Capital team whose dedication and effort made the week possible. To the #cohort, we look forward to continuing the work ahead. #innovationworks

✨Shared space today with some of the most brilliant purpose driven, and impactful Black founders and entrepreneurs in Baltimore. Today was day one of the week long INNOVATION WORKS BOOST program. The agenda created space for connection, clarifying mission and impact, and receiving real time feedback/feed forward from peers and mentors. I found it incredibly valuable. As divine alignment would have it, when I walked in this morning, I saw a former client, the CEO who I partnered with to pilot the very services I intend to scale in this season within my business: Fractional People and Culture Leadership. More to come on this.🖤✨🙏🏽 Deeply inspired by the words of Brother Leon, who invited us to consider the most beautiful reframe as we approached the mic and perhaps felt flutters: “I feel my heart beating – I experienced it as a reminder that I am alive.” Gratitude for aliveness – especially during a time such as this. @iwbmore

Inside the Work — a storytelling series from Innovation Works. This week, we’re highlighting Bianca Wise, owner of Home Helpers Home Care Baltimore — a trusted provider delivering compassionate, in-home care to seniors, veterans, and individuals with ongoing care needs. Bianca is creating a model of care rooted in dignity, trust, and community, ensuring that individuals can continue to live safely and comfortably in their own homes. Through her leadership, Home Helpers Home Care Baltimore has grown into a reliable resource for families across the region, offering personalized care that meets people where they are. Watch her full story: https://youtu.be/PZSXPtzLBVg #innovationworks #socialentrepreneurship #baltimore #insidethework#homehelpershomecare @straightwaymedia

Congrats to @vonvargas , featured in this year’s Maryland Film Festival as part of the inaugural Tall Stories Film Showcase. An award-winning artist, producer, and DJ, Von uses hip-hop as a platform for storytelling and impact from his work with Von Vargas Music to his role on the Mayor’s Arts & Culture Advisory Council. Proud to see him continue shaping Baltimore’s creative landscape.