(BALTIMORE – October 29, 2025) – There are roughly 150,000 children in Maryland living in poverty. For too long, concentrated childhood poverty has existed in neighborhoods across the state — denying many children the ability to reach their full potential. But every child deserves more than just a chance to survive; they deserve the opportunity to thrive.
For decades, government programs have tried to reduce poverty without directly listening to the people most affected — and with mixed results. ENOUGH flips that model on its head. The initiative brings together state agencies, local nonprofits, philanthropies, and community leaders with shared goals and clear outcomes. Most importantly, it recognizes that people who live in a community are best positioned to lead the change in that community. It puts funding and power directly in the hands of neighborhood organizations — not agencies or outsiders.
Enter Alexandria Warrick Adams, Executive Director of Elev8 Baltimore. Bold, fearless, and focused, she’s on a mission to make a difference for the young people she serves — and she won’t take no for an answer. A Portland native who’s made Baltimore her home, Alex’s reputation for leadership extends from City Hall to Annapolis. And last night, she showed exactly why.
A Business Roundtable with Purpose
Elev8 Baltimore convened a Business Roundtable at The Mill on North to discuss the Enough Grant and how it can strengthen the West Baltimore business ecosystem. This wasn’t a typical networking event — it was about aligning purpose with opportunity.
“Elev8 partners with schools, families, and the community to ensure that all students are prepared for high school, college, and life,” Adams told BMORENews. Her focus includes “safe after-school and summer school experiences for young people and their families.”
She also highlighted Elev8’s Healthy Families pillar. Working with the University of Maryland and Bmore for Healthy Babies, the initiative “focuses on infant mortality and early readiness for young people and their families.”
“The residents of Sandtown-Winchester and Harlem Park were ready for this,” Adams said. “Do you need help with your strategic plan? What I can do is apply for technical-assistance resources that business owners can access at no charge.”
Leaders Who Showed Up
The room wasn’t packed, but it was powerful. The people who came were doers — entrepreneurs and civic leaders who believe in the potential of 21217.
Among those in attendance:
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Charlyn Nater, Baltimore Main Streets.
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Jacqui Cummings, Black Wall Street 25th Street.
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Monique Smith, author, speaker, and C-suite executive.
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Selisa Jefferson, Economic Development Officer, West North Avenue Development Authority (WNADA).
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Chad Williams, Executive Director, WNADA.
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Edwin Avent, CEO, Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys.
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Chris Brown, William C. Brown Funeral Homes.
Dinner was catered by Next Phaze Café, a longtime BMORENews supporter, owned by Tony Randall and his daughter Tameeka Randall.
Senator Antonio Hayes, whose advocacy continues to bring millions in investment to West North Avenue.
The vendors provided dinner, including Next Phaze Café, a longtime BMORENews supporter owned by Tony Randall and his daughter, Tameeka Randall. Special thanks to the Mill on North‘s staff, including Karla and Kyle. (You are the best!)
Reframing the Narrative
Let’s be honest — many Baltimoreans still carry biases about North Avenue. For some, it’s a line they don’t cross. But that stigma is changing. West North Avenue is in the midst of a renaissance — perhaps the first genuine one since integration.
There was a time when Black Baltimoreans couldn’t live west of Fulton Avenue or north of North Avenue. Those barriers are gone, but decades of neglect still scar the landscape. What’s new is the energy — and people like Alex are pushing it forward.
One attendee summed it up perfectly:
“This room should be packed!”
That moment lingered. Because while Black America commands nearly $2 trillion in annual disposable income — the equivalent of the world’s 10th-largest economy — our collective business ownership still lags. We’ve mastered spending; now we must master building.
And that’s what this meeting was about. The Enough Grant isn’t charity — it’s strategy. It’s about putting tools and trust back in the hands of those who know their neighborhoods best.
A Bold Step Forward
West Baltimore’s revival won’t come from outside investors alone — it will come from the people who live, work, and worship here. Last night’s gathering at The Mill on North proved that vision is alive and well.
Alex Warrick Adams deserves credit for bringing the right people together, asking the right questions, and planting new seeds for collaboration.
Next up: Elev8 Baltimore is sponsoring the Black Wall Street NEW BALTIMORE at Coppin State University next Thursday, November 6th, from 6 to 8 pm in Coppin’s College of Business.
The work continues. And this time, the people leading it are sitting at the table — not waiting to be invited.
