Layla Zulfa
BALTIMORE, MD — In an era often defined by political polarization and social fragmentation, a quiet but powerful movement is taking root in the heart of American cities. From Tuesday, October 14, to Thursday, October 16, more than 100 grassroots leaders from across the nation converged in Baltimore for the annual "National Change Lab." Hosted by the Change Collective—a flagship initiative of the nonprofit Civic Nation—the three-day convening served as a crucible for innovation, where fellows from five diverse city cohorts (Chicago, Detroit, Jackson, Memphis, and San Antonio) shared strategies for community revitalization and democratic renewal.
The event, which celebrated the graduation of the latest class of Change Collective fellows, was more than a conference; it was a testament to the "soft power" of local leadership. By centering the experience in Baltimore, organizers underscored the necessity of place-based solutions, drawing on the expertise of local small business owners, regional sports titans, and state-level policy architects.
The Architecture of Community: A Chronology of the Lab
Day One: Sports as a Unifying Force
The conference opened with a sharp focus on the intersection of culture and civic engagement. In a headline panel, the leadership of Baltimore’s two professional sports franchises—Catie Griggs, President of Business Operations for the Baltimore Orioles, and Sashi Brown, President of the Baltimore Ravens—discussed how sports can serve as a "third space" in an increasingly isolated society.
Griggs emphasized that stadiums function as rare public squares. "The Orioles take a tremendous amount of pride in creating a space where our community can show up, come together and where their first interaction with a stranger can be a high-five over a home run," she noted. Her sentiment was echoed by Brown, who framed the Ravens’ role not merely as entertainment, but as a "fundamental belief that we have a responsibility back to the community… because we are a rare and unique unifying force for Baltimore that the entire region can rally around."
Day Two: The Alchemy of State and Local Synergy
The second day shifted toward the mechanics of governance. In a fireside chat, Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman and Fagan Harris, senior advisor to Governor Wes Moore, explored how state-level resources can be effectively deployed to bolster local initiative.
Lierman argued against the traditional "transactional" relationship between government and local organizers. She urged attendees to look beyond simple grants and contracts, advocating instead for the "power of convening." According to Lierman, the government’s greatest asset is its ability to bring disparate stakeholders into a single room to solve complex infrastructure and social problems. Harris expanded on this, describing the collaboration as a "powerful and unique alchemy." He noted that real change occurs only when there is a "marriage between the leaders on the ground… and the elected leaders who have those communities’ backs."
Day Three: Democracy and the Future of Innovation
The final day addressed the broader philosophical challenges facing American democracy. Hahrie Han, Director of the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University, and Xavier de Souza Briggs, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, led a session on how local leaders can navigate the "uncertain world."
Han challenged the fellows to cultivate "moral compasses" within their communities. "How do I equip people to develop the compass they need to navigate the complex, uncertain world we live in?" she asked. The answer, according to the panelists, lies in anchoring civic action in shared values and interests, rather than purely transactional goals.
Innovation in Action: Lessons from the Field
The conference concluded with a keynote session that brought theory into practice. Three prominent Baltimore-based leaders—Brittany Young (Founder/CEO of B-360), Andrew Coy (CEO of the Digital Harbor Foundation), and Bree Jones (CEO of Parity Homes)—offered a masterclass in nonprofit sustainability and community-driven development.
Proving the Market
Bree Jones of Parity Homes addressed the persistent struggle of securing capital in historically marginalized neighborhoods. She critiqued the tendency of large institutional investors to view Black neighborhoods through a lens of "deficit."
"If the investors don’t think that there is a market, let me prove that there is a market," Jones asserted. Her work in Baltimore involves rebuilding the social fabric of neighborhoods impacted by decades of redlining. She challenged the audience to stop asking for permission and start building models that prove the latent value in overlooked communities.
The Power of Narrative
Brittany Young, who founded B-360 to provide youth with career pathways through dirt bike culture and STEM education, emphasized the necessity of rigorous storytelling. She recalled the humble beginnings of her organization—starting with a pilot program for just 30 students—and advised fellows to frame their pitches with clear outcomes.
"I’m really big on storytelling," Young noted. "Telling the story of starting with, ‘If you invest a million dollars, here is what I am going to do with that million dollars, that outcome, and that return.’"
Creating Institutional "FOMO"
Andrew Coy rounded out the discussion with a pragmatic approach to fundraising and local support. He advised leaders to leverage their work outside of their immediate geography to gain credibility, noting that success in other cities often creates a "fear of missing out" (FOMO) among local funders. By creating a national footprint, leaders can generate the local recognition necessary to sustain their work long-term.
Implications for the Future of Civic Culture
The National Change Lab serves as a microcosm of what Civic Nation aims to achieve: the development of a resilient, interconnected network of local leaders who can bridge the divides of race, class, and ideology.
The implications of this gathering are significant. As the United States grapples with a loss of faith in national institutions, the Change Collective model posits that the most effective way to restore trust is to start at the neighborhood level. By training fellows to draft "Civic Action Plans"—concrete, project-based strategies for solving local problems—the program ensures that the energy of the conference does not dissipate when the attendees return home.
Furthermore, the emphasis on "bridging divides" within the cohorts—which include members of vastly different backgrounds—offers a blueprint for how to operate in a polarized environment. By bringing together leaders who might not otherwise cross paths, the Change Collective creates a "civic infrastructure" that is as vital as physical infrastructure.
About the Organizations
The Change Collective
The Change Collective is a dynamic leadership community designed to train, connect, and elevate local changemakers. By providing access to mentorship, leadership development, and a national network of peers, the initiative empowers individuals to solve problems at the community level. It is a signature initiative of Civic Nation.
Civic Nation
Civic Nation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves as an impact hub for initiatives that strengthen civic culture and participation. In addition to the Change Collective, Civic Nation is the home of:
- ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge: Promoting nonpartisan student voter participation.
- It’s On Us: A campaign to end sexual assault on college campuses.
- We The Action: Connecting lawyers with nonprofits.
- When We All Vote: A nonpartisan organization increasing participation in every election.
Looking Ahead
As the 2024 National Change Lab concludes, the focus shifts to the implementation of the Civic Action Plans discussed throughout the week. For the leaders who traveled to Baltimore, the work is only just beginning. As Fagan Harris noted, the goal is to build a "marriage" between the grassroots and the governing—a partnership that, if successful, could provide the foundation for a more robust and responsive American democracy.
For more information on the initiatives discussed or to connect with the fellows, please visit change-collective.org or contact the Civic Nation press team at [email protected].
Civic Nation is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. For the latest updates from our network of generation-defining initiatives, subscribe to our newsletter via our website.
Lina Irawan
Lina Hope
