By Andrea Stevens
AFRO Staff Writer
astevens@afro.com
In a city shaped by grit, creativity and resilience, Black women entrepreneurs are redefining what it means to do business in Baltimore. From revitalizing downtown to building new culinary traditions and creative storefronts, these women are transforming their communities through innovation, vision and purpose. Their work reflects a growing movement of local leadership that prioritizes inclusion, equity and economic self-determination.
Shelonda Stokes heads two downtown organizations with a mission to revitalize the city’s core. She serves as president of both the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore and the Downtown Management Authority. Since becoming president in mid-2020 she has increased revenues, oversaw the relocation of 12 state agencies to the central business district and helped spur nearly $7 billion in active and planned development.
Stokes said her identity has shaped both the challenges and responsibilities she’s faced throughout her career.
“My experience as a Black woman business owner has been both a privilege and a responsibility,” she said. “Too often it has meant being the first or the only in the room, carrying the pressure of being under a microscope and the constant need to prove myself.”
She also launched the BOOST program, which stands for Black-Owned and Occupied Storefront Tenancy. BOOST awards selected business owners funding for buildout, operations or lease costs and provides legal aid, training and marketing support. Under her leadership, downtown Baltimore has become more vibrant economically and culturally. Stokes is a Morgan State University engineering alumna and a regent for the university. She has co-chaired civic leadership initiatives, including transition teams for the governor and mayor.
Reflecting on her journey, Stokes emphasized the importance of community and mentorship in sustaining leadership and driving impact.
“Through this journey I have learned that you cannot carry that weight alone,” she said. “The mentors who share their wisdom, the peers who support you and the community that surrounds you make it possible to keep going. Their strength allows you to go further than you could on your own and to create an even greater impact.”
Alisa Brock is the owner of Drama MaMa Bookshop and a stationery manufacturing company in Federal Hill. Her business creates journals, notebooks and planners in a “Build-a-Bear” model for stationery. She is listed in Visit Baltimore’s Black-owned business directory, which was promoted during large events to enhance exposure. During the pandemic, the Downtown Partnership included her products in a holiday pop-up at Center Plaza, purchasing notebooks in advance at cost. That purchasing acted like an investment and helped sustain sales when her online business had slowed.
Brock, a lifelong writer and journal user, said her work is rooted in personal meaning.
“I would not be in business this long had I not leaned into the fact that I feel like I’m doing purpose-driven work,” Brock said.
Her journey hasn’t been without setbacks. After facing environmental issues in one of her former storefronts, she had to move quickly, often without institutional support. In navigating those challenges, she said staying focused on her purpose has been key.
“It’s incredibly important to stay the course by focusing on why you do what you do,” Brock said. “‘Why’ is the one thing that’s going to be consistent through it all.”
