Launched in 2022, The Light of Baltimore Incubator at Baker Donelson is a partnership with Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, to support HopkinsLocal businesses and other area local small businesses. As part of the program, Baker Donelson donated the entire 23rd floor of its Baltimore office to a diverse group of 26 small Baltimore businesses in a wide variety of industries.
This partnership arose from a brainstorming phone call between Jennifer Curry, managing shareholder of Baker Donelson's Baltimore office, and Alicia Wilson, vice president of Economic Development and Community Partnerships at Johns Hopkins University and the Johns Hopkins Health System. During the call, they talked about how to partner in a creative way to drive transformational change for Baltimore, its residents, and its small businesses. As law school classmates and now leaders in their respective institutions, they strategized about how to leverage the investments of their respective institutions for that goal.
The result of that conversation is a partnership that underscores Baker Donelson's commitment to Baltimore City and the Firm's innovative approach to creating strategic partnerships. These diverse businesses are future leaders of the Baltimore City business community, and as a leader in the city's revitalization, Baker Donelson is committed to providing programs to help them succeed.
In addition to providing physical office space, Baker Donelson provides free resources to support members of the incubator, including mentorship and leadership, as well as education sessions on various areas of law such as labor and employment, intellectual property, technology, cybersecurity, venture capital, contracts, and more. The goal is to provide ongoing opportunities for participants to learn about various business and legal practices that will help them on their business journeys.
As part of Baker Donelson's commitment to create and support a diverse workforce, members of the incubator are also included in Baker Donelson's Women's Initiative program and have the opportunity to get involved in the Firm's DEI activities.
About Johns Hopkins University Office of Economic Development
The Johns Hopkins Office of Economic Development and Community Partnerships vision paves the way for communities in and around the Hopkins enterprise to achieve their greatest potential and attain a better quality of life by increasing access to diverse, equitable, and lucrative opportunities.
About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies works to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people by focusing on five key areas: the arts, education, the environment, government innovation, and public health.
Encompassing all of Mike Bloomberg's giving, Bloomberg Philanthropies includes his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a pro bono consultancy that works with mayors in cities around the world.
About Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses is an investment to help small businesses grow and create jobs by providing them with greater access to education, capital, and business support services. To date, more than 12,800 business owners have graduated from the program across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. 10,000 Small Businesses was launched in Baltimore through a co-investment with Bloomberg Philanthropies and is delivered in partnership with Johns Hopkins University, Morgan State University, and the Community College of Baltimore County.