24 Honorees. Baltimore’s Own. (BALTIMORE – November 2, 2026) – You can’t ask for a more Baltimore-centric list of honorees. When I look around our community, I see wealth. I see diamonds. I see gems. I see pearls of wisdom. I see decades of entrepreneurial experience and generations of business owners who have helped Baltimore stand tall. That is what LOYALTY, our celebration of the 24th anniversary of BMORENews.com, represents: recognizing the people who keep showing up for our community. Look at Pam Reaves—a corporate executive, entrepreneur, author, and creator of her own beauty line. Look at Imam Earl El-Amin, a pillar of Baltimore’s Muslim community. Then there’s Mike Brown. At Dunbar, we called him “Superman” because he would fly through the air and slam that basketball. Today, he remains active in the community and a strong supporter of Black businesses, including Benedetto Haberdashery. These are people whose contributions deserve recognition. And they are part of a much larger story about what we build, what we sustain, and what we pass on. We recently honored Al Wiley, whose family’s funeral home represents generations of service. During that occasion, I was reminded that Brandon Wiley is now carrying that responsibility forward. That is how a legacy continues: another generation steps up. That brings me to one of our special speakers for the evening, Jordan Randall. I came across this young man online raising questions about business ownership and encouraging people to understand who they support with their dollars. What struck me was his awareness. At 32, he understands that ownership matters. Where we spend matters. Supporting our own requires intention. For 24 years, BMORENews.com has worked to tell our stories, highlight our entrepreneurs, and recognize people whose contributions too often go unnoticed. This anniversary is an opportunity to support that work and celebrate the people who make it meaningful. Our 24 honorees are: Ven McCormick Timmy Greene Rashida Foreman-Bey Leona Johnson Tucker Dr. Al Hathaway Kosher Wood Keith Goodie Commissioner Leonard Hamm Joel Gamble Imam Earl El-Amin Billy Snowden William Wells Ray Sydnor Wayne Grube Danny Michael Blount The Honorable Clarence “Tiger” Davis Rasul Muhammad Michelle Braxton Rosalyn Gains Linda Lomax Mike Brown Al Leslie Edwin Avent Pam Reaves Get your tickets. Come out and support BMORENews.com. Support our honorees. Support our community. LOYALTY means showing up for the people who keep showing up for us. RSVP to loyalty2026.eventbrite.com