Now Accepting Applications
In Their Own Words:
Journeys of Transformation
Alumni share the personal, professional, and community
impact of their Leadership Baltimore County journey.
I learned what kind of leader I was—and more importantly, how I interact with others in a group setting.
WATCH
IKE
CHESSER
I’m just amazed to see how Leadership Baltimore County has grown, how well it’s being run, and how it’s just as popular today as when we kicked it off.
Class of 1985
OSEMARY
BURRELL
I learned what kind of leader I was—and more importantly, how I interact with others in a group setting.
Class of 2025
RNEST
JACKSON
I gained a deeper understanding of Baltimore County—its operations and the wide range of services it provides.
Class of 2025
ON
ELLIOTT
Leadership Baltimore County really helped me to develop a greater depth of knowledge, learn about things I wasn’t aware of, and connect with people and organizations I didn’t know existed.
Class of 2024
NDREA
ENGLAND
It’s powerful to sit at a table where everyone sees leadership a little differently. That diversity helped me broaden how I define leadership.
Class of 2024
ILPA
NUNNA
The leadership tools and cross-sector insights I gained gave me the clarity to act with purpose and the confidence to bring others together quickly.
LBC reminded me that leadership is community centered. The sessions challenged how I think about service, collaboration, and urgency. They gave me more than frameworks as they offered real-world examples, lived experiences, and new ways of thinking that shaped how I showed up during this response.
The program created space to learn directly from community leaders. Hearing real stories and challenges from those doing the work every day shaped how I approach both partnerships and problem-solving.
Also, the relationships I built in LBC are rooted in shared action. One nonprofit leader I met through the program became instrumental in coordinating food distribution efforts. That connection would not have happened without the cohort space that was created.
The LBC experience expanded my view of what leadership looks like in Baltimore. Leadership is not just about strategy or authority. It is about being present, connecting people to solutions, and stepping in with empathy and clarity when the city needs it most.
Class of 2024
ISA
VAN RIPER
The program pushed me to grow, especially through the 360 evaluations and working closely with my peers and coach to address feedback and maximize strengths.
Class of 2024
PRIL
SMITH
The relationships I’ve built through Leadership Baltimore County have been truly genuine and organic.
Class of 2024
ORTNEY
WEINSTOCK
Leadership Baltimore County is a great benefit to anyone who wants to give back, expand their network, and enrich their daily work.
Class of 2023
RICA
ANTHONY
Being a part of Leadership Baltimore County has made me more attuned with how education overlaps with government, health care, safety, and so many other diverse areas.
Class of 2023
AEAH
FORTUNE
I really do believe that we all have more in common than apart, and focusing on the things that you learn in a program like Leadership Baltimore County helps us to focus on those ways where we can give back and serve.
Class of 2023
HOMAS
HIGDON
I would recommend Leadership Baltimore County to anyone looking to take their career to the next level. It was a transformational process for me.
Class of 2023
EBECCA
GREENBERG
I was able to really see where there are opportunities to lean into the community and support it in ways that felt comfortable for me—opportunities I didn’t even know existed.
Class of 2023
ENDRA
BROWN
It was just very eye-opening for me and for others to see and hear how our perspectives and experiences and talents can really add into the efforts that are improving and growing our community.
Class of 2022
RIAN
CROWELL
We were having real conversations, sometimes tough ones. It pushed us to see the world beyond our individual bubbles and challenged the way we think about our own roles in the community.
Class of 2022
HUCK
FRANKLIN
One of our first sessions focused on being present and truly seeing each other—and that stuck with me. That’s something I’ve carried into how I engage with people in the community.
Class of 2022
OSEMARY
ANDERSON
It was a powerful experience to learn about all the different sectors of Baltimore County—business, workforce development, education, and politics. It completely expanded how I see our community.
Class of 2021
ARCO
ÁVILA
There was a level of trust and openness in our group that you don’t often find in professional settings.
Class of 2021
ANDAS
GRANADOS
Leadership Baltimore County brings people together from diverse backgrounds, and it’s more than networking. It’s about how we can come together to make an impact in our community.
Class of 2021
INA
MCKNIGHT
I am grateful for my LBC experience. It challenged me, connected me, and helped me grow as a leader committed to solutions that serve the greater good.
The LBC experience expanded my ability to go deeper into root cause analysis for problems that our communities face every day to deliver solutions that serve the greater good.
I specifically remember during the Regionalism project, we brought City and County officials together with opposing views on some of the challenges between the areas (e.g., water service). I remember the spirited conversation that exposed some of the deeper issues with how the two jurisdictions interface. The discussion exposed how the water service issue was really only a symptom of larger issues between the City and County.
Class of 2021
ARCUS
WALKER
Hearing from a classmate in the Baltimore County Police Department during a time of political unrest grounded me. It reminded me there are two sides to the coin, and it came at a time when I needed to hear it.
Class of 2021
EAH
COVINGTON
One of the most eye-opening moments for me was understanding the immense financial strain placed on the county—everything from roads and parks to libraries and essential public services.
Class of 2020
EKEMIA
DORSEY
It is more than just an experience — it is a journey. And it allows the person, through self-reflection, to really grow.
Class of 2020
ULIE
MANEEN
Leadership Baltimore County helps you strengthen existing relationships, build new ones, and most importantly, connect your leadership skills to the needs of the broader community.
Class of 2020
RISTIAN
SEKSE
I’ve gained exposure to the systems and departments that make the county and state run—and that insight has helped me make stronger connections for the communities and charities I support.
Class of 2020
EFF
MORGAN
My business depends on this county. I rely on trained people to make our product. That starts with schools, continues with safety, and requires a solid local economy. Leadership Baltimore County helped me see how all that fits together.
Class of 2019
ENYO
PEARL
The 360-degree leadership assessment was really helpful—it showed me how I actually show up in the workplace.
Class of 2019
ANNA
RACHINSKAYA
My engagement in the community became more focused and well-rounded. I became involved in areas I had never considered—like education, transportation, and social services.
The LBC experience expanded my exposure to the county-wide issues. Being a healthcare professional and an operator of a community-based services company pre-conditioned me to look at the community through the healthcare and senior services lenses. I was not attuned to the community needs in the areas like education, transportation, social services, or county/state government.
LBC afforded me an opportunity to learn about these areas of community life and become a better lay leader. For instance, an exercise in taking public transportation was an eye opener. My employees depend on the public transportation for travel to, from, and between the caregiving sites. Understanding their challenge helped my company to consider these issues while matching a caregiver to client. Another example was a presentation from a social services representative. We pride ourselves on offering a competitive salary to our administrative staff. However, learning that our receptionist falls into the ‘working poor’ category helped us to re-shape our reimbursement policy. In short, LBC pushed me to expand my rather narrow professional and personal perspectives to the well-nuanced understanding of the community at large.
Class of 2019
ICHAEL
CORTES
The Public Safety Day we organized was an opportunity to collaborate and help people understand what first responders do daily.
Class of 2018
ATTIE
DASH
I was already community-focused from my work in the nonprofit field, but Leadership Baltimore County really helped me expand that reach in a meaningful way.
Class of 2018
ENN
STINE
I expected to learn about systems and leadership. What I didn’t expect was the lasting personal and professional support that came with it.
Class of 2017
HRISTINA
BLOCK
Even ten years later, I still feel the connections and value from Leadership Baltimore County.
Class of 2016
EAN
HULL
I have classmates from different organizations, each with unique goals and perspectives. One of the most rewarding parts was understanding their impact on the community through their lens.
Class of 2016
ATHY
MARTIN
Throughout life, we face all kinds of challenges — and along the way, we meet people who walk with us, challenge us, and teach us. The Leadership Baltimore County network is built on that foundation.
Class of 2008
ORI
ROGERS
Leadership Baltimore County was so pivotal for me. I was going through a transition, and the experience helped me reimagine what I could do professionally.
Class of 2008
HIP
WOODS
The structure of the program—bringing together people who are thinkers, who care about their community, who want to learn and lead—that was powerful for me. It gave me a broader view of leadership.
Class of 2008
ARY JEAN
HARRISON
I was able to recruit people I met to nonprofit boards I was serving on and even to places I worked. Those relationships helped us move real projects forward. The connections weren’t just friendly—they were functional.
Class of 2002
IM
REGAN
Leadership Baltimore County helps to develop our people into truly community minded folks.
Class of 1997
AYMOND
BURKE
Being part of Leadership Baltimore County expanded my perspective on what it meant to be active in the community… It exposes the participants to areas that they would never otherwise have exposure to.
Class of 1986
