HopkinsLocal Advisory Council

In fall 2019, the university and health system invited a group of individuals from city agencies, nonprofit groups, local businesses, and several key areas within Johns Hopkins to serve on the newly created HopkinsLocal Advisory Council. The members represent a range of interests from the Baltimore community and will guide Johns Hopkins’ strategy for economic inclusion.

Since the program launch in 2015, the HopkinsLocal team has benefitted from thoughtful conversations and partnerships with many groups and individuals in Baltimore. With the creation of new goals through FY22, Johns Hopkins wanted to give local leaders a direct voice at the table, to make sure the institutions are actively engaging with community leaders and to help the program team strategize about the vision going forward.

The council will meet quarterly and other times as needed to discuss ways Johns Hopkins can further support the economic growth of its home city.

The current council members are:

Karen Heyward-West, Executive Director, Baltimore Alliance for Careers in Healthcare (BACH)
Christopher R. Lundy, Esq., Chief of the Baltimore City Minority and Women’s Business Opportunity Office (MWBOO) at Baltimore City Law Department
Ana Rodney, Executive Director, Momcares, 10KSB Alum
Takia Ross, Boss Up Baltimore Entrepreneur and Owner, Accessimatized
Justin Shaw, Owner, Shaws Covenant, 10KSB Alum
Paul Taylor, Director, Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women Owned Businesses
Melvin Wilson, Co-Director, Turnaround Tuesday – BUILD
Tracy Akinade, Senior Program Coordinator, Experiential Learning, Carey Business School
Arion Long, Founder and Chief Estrogren Officer, Femly
David McDonald, Executive, All Staffed Up
Jeff Hargrave, Founder & President, Mahogany Inc., 10KSB Alum
Jimmy Stewart, Executive Director, Project JumpStart, Inc.
Matthew Reeds, Co-Founder, Reeds Fund
Mike Henderson, President, Associated Builders and Contractors
Trina Selden, Founder & Executive Director, Out for Justice, Inc.