Breakout Live is bringing Baltimore entrepreneurs and artists to the stage

In 2015, Breakout brought a group of 50 entrepreneurs, creatives and others from around the country to Baltimore. As we reported at the time, it provided a chance to see the unique projects taking place in the city, and it didn’t shy away from the city’s challenges.
On Wednesday, Nov. 15, Breakout is returning to Baltimore. This time, they’ll take the stage at the Parkway Theatre for Breakout Live. The idea is to offer a similar exchange of ideas, add a performance element and open it up to the public to get involved, said Breakout cofounder Graham Cohen.
Speakers and performers include:

• Chris Wilson, founder of Barclay.
• Sarah Hemminger, founder of Thread.
• Changa Bell, founder of the Black Male Yoga Initiative.
• Baltimore-born singer Bobbi Rush.
• Koni Fidel, poet and author of “Raw Wounds.”
• Mayor Catherine Pugh.

This is the first city where Breakout is staging a live, public event. In all, Breakout visited nine cities in the time before and after the Baltimore trip. And some of the attendees from that trip have joined along.
“So many friends of ours in Baltimore have become part of this community and gone on so many different trips,” said Breakout cofounder Graham Cohen.
Among those was Baltimore was social entrepreneur Chris Wilson, who was among the first people they met and got involved in early conversations about the live show, Cohen said. The idea is to spur action after the night is over.
“Our philosophy is once you hear someone like Chris Wilson or Sarah Hemminger’s story, you just get caught up and want to help in any way you can,” Cohen said.
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