Baltimore Homecoming opens public voting for Homecoming Heroes program    

Baltimore Homecoming, an organization mobilizing a network of Baltimore’s most accomplished natives and alumni around the world to invest in and support the city and its communities, Monday announced that public voting is now open for its Homecoming Heroes Program, sponsored by T. Rowe Price.

Now through July 26, the Baltimore community is invited to vote via The Baltimore Banner’s website.

The Homecoming Heroes Program celebrates and uplifts “heroes” — people, leaders, and doers who are making a difference—within Baltimore’s communities by providing winners access to Baltimore Homecoming’s alumni network and special programming to maximize their impact.

After the public nominated individuals making positive changes in their communities, a selection committee composed of past Homecoming Heroes, leaders in the nonprofit industry, and other community members identified 10 semi-finalists. The Baltimore community has until July 26 to vote for the five final winners.

Winners will each be awarded a cash prize and invited to share their work on stage during Baltimore Homecoming’s signature event in 2025.

The public will help select the five winners from the semifinalists listed below, whose diverse work supports social issues such as maternal health care, youth services, reintegration for formerly incarcerated individuals, mentoring, and DEI, among others. Voters can learn about each semi-finalist by viewing videos produced by Wide Angle Youth Media.

The semifinalists are:

• Sara Artes, executive director/co-founder, Corner Team, Inc.
• Vaunita Goodman, founder, Dialysis to the Docks
• Leah Hairston, CEO/founder, Sweet Bee Services
• Jennie Janssen, president/co-founder, Minorities in Aquarium and Zoo Sciences (MIAZS)
• Tammira Lucas, co-founder, Moms as Entrepreneurs
• Jahlik Mathis, founder/executive director, Police and Sneaks
• Cameron Miles, director/founder, Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood
• Ramieka Robinson, senior site director, Goucher Prison Education Partnership
• Derrick Whiting, executive director/founder, The Flowers Whiting Initiative
• Evan Woodward, founder/executive director/historian, Salvage Arc Foundation

Homecoming Heroes is one of two signature community engagement programs that Baltimore Homecoming has offered since its launch in 2018. As part of the program, Baltimore Homecoming leverages its platform and connections to provide Heroes with access to new networks, capital resources, and opportunities; pairs Heroes with coaching partners to provide public speaking and presentation support; produces videos and content to share across communities; and fosters space for one-on-one connections between Homecoming Heroes and alumni.