In this special live-recorded episode, Rev and I take you to the heart of West Baltimore at Avenue Market, a historic space pulsing with possibility. Once a staple of Pennsylvania Avenue’s golden era, the market is now poised for a powerful comeback, and we were there to capture the voices leading that charge.

Set against the backdrop of a changing city, this conversation explores how markets like Avenue are being reimagined not just as places to shop, but as platforms for health, equity, and local power.

We’re joined once again by Abigail Lammel, Communications Manager for Baltimore Public Markets, and David Tyson, Operations Manager, who give us an insider’s view into how public infrastructure and intentional design can lay the groundwork for neighborhood transformation. Their work behind the scenes is shaping not just markets, but futures.

Then we dive deep with Bolon Zahir Xi-Amaru, Director of Health and Food Justice at No Boundaries Coalition, a grassroots organization at the forefront of equity work in Central West Baltimore. Bolon brings truth and urgency, challenging us to think bigger about what public markets can be: sites of healing, hubs of resistance, and cornerstones of economic justice.

Recorded live at Avenue Market, this episode is full of energy, candor, and vision. You’ll hear about the bold plans underway, the challenges of restoring trust, and the collective hope of turning a once-dormant market into a thriving community anchor.

This isn’t just about buildings. It’s about agency. It’s about what happens when neighbors, nonprofits, and city leaders come to the same table.

Avenue Market is rising, and the people are leading the way.