What if the most impactful work shaping your daily life never makes the news? We sit down with Mike Kelly, executive director of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC), to reveal how a small regional team coordinates transportation, housing, workforce, and climate resilience across Central Maryland—and why that matters for every commute, job search, and neighborhood. Mike breaks down the inner workings of the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization and how it helps local go...
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What if the most impactful work shaping your daily life never makes the news? We sit down with Mike Kelly, executive director of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC), to reveal how a small regional team coordinates transportation, housing, workforce, and climate resilience across Central Maryland—and why that matters for every commute, job search, and neighborhood. Mike breaks down the inner workings of the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization and how it helps local go...
What if the most impactful work shaping your daily life never makes the news? We sit down with Mike Kelly, executive director of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC), to reveal how a small regional team coordinates transportation, housing, workforce, and climate resilience across Central Maryland—and why that matters for every commute, job search, and neighborhood. Mike breaks down the inner workings of the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization and how it helps local go...
Land use isn’t abstract policy—it’s the shape of your morning, your rent, and your kid’s walk to school. We sit down with Deputy CAO Janssen Evelyn to go inside the decisions that turn a 200‑page plan into the street under your feet: who builds, what gets built, and how we protect nature while making room for the people who keep our county running. We unpack the real work behind Plan 2040 and why equity isn’t a slogan here—it’s baked into housing and transportation choices. Janssen shares ho...
What would you do if your day in immigration court came without a lawyer? County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with Annapolis Immigration Justice Network (AIJN) Executive Director, Jessa Coulter, to explore how a lean, local model of legal aid helps immigrant families secure due process, stability, and a real shot at a future. Jessa traces AIJN’s roots from a 2017 volunteer effort to a focused countywide network that funds low-bono attorneys. You’ll learn why immigration courts lack pub...
Ever wanted to ask a question to the County Executive about your local government? For this episode, County Executive Pittman held live “office hours,” pulled from call-ins, emails, and street interviews at River Days, and tackled big topics: how we fund public safety, where affordable homes will come from, why some projects move and others stall, and how you can steer decisions that touch your street. We start with the nuts and bolts of safety. From contract funding for officers to technolo...
Did you know that in Anne Arundel County, a third of its residents are living paycheck to paycheck? In this eye-opening conversation, County Executive Pittman sits down with Dr. Pam Brown, Executive Director of the Anne Arundel County Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families, to discuss her new "Poverty Amidst Plenty" report and the solutions that give hope. Dr. Brown's unique perspective, shaped by a childhood in a poor urban neighborhood in England, drives her innovative approach. She...
Ever wondered what happens when your food leaves the farm? Kevin Atticks, Maryland's Secretary of Agriculture, takes us behind the scenes of our food system with a fresh perspective that might change how you think about farming forever. Unlike his predecessors who typically came from traditional farming backgrounds, Atticks brings expertise in value-added agriculture—helping farmers transform their raw products into profitable goods like locally-distilled whiskey or farm-fresh ice cream. Thi...
Modern libraries have transformed far beyond their traditional role as book repositories, evolving into dynamic community hubs that serve diverse needs. During his conversation with County Executive Steuart Pittman, Skip Auld, CEO of Anne Arundel County Public Libraries, shares his 50-year perspective on this evolution. The Anne Arundel library system now offers a "library of things" - fishing poles, museum passes, and sewing machines alongside books, e-books, and audiobooks. Their 16 branche...
In this conversation, the Annapolis-born muralist Comacell Brown speaks with County Executive Steuart Pittman on how his artistic journey evolved from painting t-shirts in middle school to creating large-scale public art throughout Anne Arundel County and beyond. Brown takes us behind the scenes of the stunning Arundel Center mural, where he collaborated with fellow artist Cindy Fletcher Holden to transform a four-story "Great White Wall" into an interactive celebration of county life. The p...
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott joins County Executive Steuart Pittman for a candid conversation about Baltimore's remarkable public safety turnaround. The city is experiencing its lowest homicide rate in 50 years through a comprehensive public health approach to violence prevention. With $50 million invested in community violence intervention programs, Baltimore has expanded from four to ten Safe Streets sites where credible messengers – often those who previously participated in street life –...
Housing is at a crisis point in Maryland, with a shortage of nearly 100,000 units driving up costs and leaving communities struggling. In this eye-opening conversation, County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with Maryland Housing Secretary Jake Day to unpack not just the problems, but the potential solutions. Secretary Day brings a fascinating background to his role—from small-town Eastern Shore kid to Salisbury mayor to state cabinet secretary. His journey through architecture school, m...
Tourism is evolving beyond simple transactions – it's now about creating transformational experiences that benefit both visitors and residents alike. In this enlightening conversation with County Executive Steuart Pittman, Kristen Pironis, CEO of Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, reveals how she revitalized the organization during a challenging transition period to become a dynamic force for community development. Pironis took a leap of faith when she left a comfortable 16-year career ...
Listen to County Executive Steuart Pittman and Joe Toolan candidly discuss growth, visibility, and the life-saving power of community. Joe Toolan, chair of Annapolis Pride, shares his remarkable journey from feeling isolated as a young gay person of color in Pasadena, Maryland, to leading one of the region's most impactful LGBTQ+ organizations. Born in Guatemala and adopted at three months old, Toolan's early experiences of difference shaped his commitment to ensuring no one feels alon...
What happens when a community decides to embrace rather than reject those returning from incarceration? Anne Arundel County has discovered a powerful answer through an innovative partnership between detention facilities and community organizations. This eye-opening conversation brings together Superintendent of Detention Facilities Chris Klein and Joshua Hatch, Vice President of Community Action Agency's diversion and reentry services. Together, they reveal how their unique collaboration has...
In this revealing conversation with County Executive Steuart Pittman, Chief Awad opens up about the extraordinary path that led her to law enforcement leadership. At just nine years old, following her father's departure, Awad became a co-parent to her six siblings, navigating life in economically challenged neighborhoods while watching her mother struggle to provide. This firsthand experience with adversity shaped her understanding of community needs and cultivated leadership skills th...
Peek behind the curtain of local government finance with County Executive Steuart Pittman and Budget Officer Chris Trumbauer as they reveal how Anne Arundel County achieves fiscal resilience while expanding essential services. Trumbauer, who initially joined the administration as a policy advisor before becoming Budget Officer, brings unique insight into the county's financial strategy. "Budget isn't numbers," he explains. "Budget's about values, budget's about people." This philosophy has g...
What happens on the land ends up in the water. This simple truth drives the passionate work of Matt Johnston and the Arundel Rivers Federation, a small but mighty nonprofit making big waves in Chesapeake Bay conservation. Johnston, the organization's Executive Director, shares how their team monitors water quality in three southern Anne Arundel County watersheds while advocating for policies that protect our precious waterways. From their popular pump-out boat program preventing recreational...
Dr. Tonii Gedin, Anne Arundel County's Health Officer, pulls back the curtain on what actually happens inside a health department with over 800 employees. What begins as a friendly conversation quickly transforms into a masterclass on modern public health approaches that save lives every day without most residents ever realizing it. Dr. Gedin's path from ICU nurse to health department leadership reveals how public health work extends far beyond what most citizens understand. Through her stra...
County Executive Steuart Pittman holds a deep, enriching conversation with Apostle Antonio Palmer and Dr. Barbara Palmer, founders of Kingdom Celebration Center and Kingdom Care. What began as a single church in Annapolis in 1995 has evolved into a comprehensive service network touching thousands of lives across Anne Arundel County and beyond. When pandemic hunger struck, the Palmers didn't just respond—they scaled, expanding from serving 500 people monthly to feeding 3,000 individuals acros...
County Executive Steuart Pittman welcomes Amy Gowan, President and CEO of the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC), for a fascinating exploration of what drives economic prosperity in communities and how local government can facilitate business success. Amy brings a uniquely diverse background to her role, having worked in homeless services, housing policy, planning departments, and as an advisor to both a mayor and city council member before landing in economic development....
County Executive Steuart Pittman welcomes Kris Valerio-Shock, President and CEO of Leadership Anne Arundel, for a fascinating conversation about cultivating community leadership. What begins as a simple introduction to LAA's programs quickly evolves into a deeper exploration of how intentional leadership development transforms communities from the ground up. Valerio-Shock shares the organization's dual approach through their Flagship Program and Neighborhood Leadership Academy. While the Fla...
What if the most impactful work shaping your daily life never makes the news? We sit down with Mike Kelly, executive director of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC), to reveal how a small regional team coordinates transportation, housing, workforce, and climate resilience across Central Maryland—and why that matters for every commute, job search, and neighborhood. Mike breaks down the inner workings of the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization and how it helps local go...
