A day in the field exploring how culture, entrepreneurship, design, and community shape Baltimore’s social impact ecosystem.

As part of the Drs. Elmer and Joanne Martin Social Impact Fellowship, CLLCTIVLY hosted a Baltimore Social Impact Immersion Tour, inviting Fellows to learn directly from founders, artists, and community builders across the city.

The day began at The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum, where Dr. Joanne Martin grounded the experience with reflections on the Black Helping Tradition. She reminded Fellows that community development and cultural development go hand in hand, a principle that continues to shape how communities organize, build, and care for one another.

From there, Fellows traveled across Baltimore to meet leaders whose work reflects different expressions of social impact.

Oyin Handmade
Founder Jamyla Bennu shared the story behind Oyin Handmade, a Baltimore-based natural hair care company that began with small-batch products and grew into an internationally recognized brand rooted in creativity and purpose.

228 Grant Street Candle Company
At 228 Grant Street Candle Company, founder Kendal Brown led Fellows through a candle-making experience that blended craft and storytelling. In the process, she reminded us of the power of legacy and the importance of using what’s already in your hand—a lesson about creativity, resourcefulness, and building from what you have.

Library Nineteen
At Library Nineteen, co-founder Kuo Pao Lian guided Fellows on a tour of the space, sharing how the library has been reimagined as a place for books, art, and gathering. The visit showed how thoughtful design can shape how people learn and connect.

The Last Resort Artist Retreat
The tour concluded at The Last Resort Artist Retreat, where Victoria Adams and Arthur Fitzhugh shared their vision for a space dedicated to artistic practice and reflection creating room for creativity and communal care.

More than a tour, the experience invited Fellows to encounter Baltimore as a living ecosystem where culture, entrepreneurship, design, and community come together to shape what’s possible.