WASHINGTON — A broad cross section of Baltimore leaders met with Obama administration officials on Monday to discuss how to expand "social entrepreneurship" as one solution to the deep societal problems underpinning last year's riots.
The administration officials, including Domestic Policy Council Director Cecilia Muñoz, heard from advocates such as Sarah Hemminger, the CEO of a volunteer-driven mentoring program called Thread, and the city's health commissioner, Dr. Leana Wen, about efforts to improve the lives of city residents.
The discussion drew an impressive mix of city leaders, including Democratic mayoral nominee Catherine E. Pugh, real estate developer and former Under Armour executive Scott Plank, Hopkins University president Ronald Daniels and Del. Brooke Lierman. Several other faith, business and political leaders also attended.
"The political reality is that we're not going to pass a lot more programs," said Sen. Ben Cardin, a Maryland Democrat. "We know that we've got to get more out of our current programs."
The Obama administration has directed millions in federal investment to Baltimore since the unrest after the death of Freddie Gray last year promoted a national conversation about poverty, education and racism. Muñoz said the administration also wants to learn from non-government programs that are affecting change in the city.
"We recognize that as important as government is — and as important as our capacity to do things at scale is — we're not being smart if we expect that government is going to be able to do this by ourselves," she said.
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