““We can change outcomes for our city’s youth by equipping them with skills to write and advocate; and we can change our city by ensuring youth voices are heard.” ”
OUR TEAM
Whitney WARD Birenbaum, Executive Director
Whitney taught middle school Language Arts and Humanities in Baltimore City Schools for 13 years. She has been recognized locally and nationally for her work in the classroom. She co-founded CHARM because she saw how much her students grew—both academically and in their self-confidence—when they produced writing that made an impact on the world around them.
Donte Kirby, Journalism Coordinator
Donte is a Philadelphia native that spent the last year and a half as an education volunteer with the Peace Corps in Rwanda, where he taught English to over 150 students. He is currently a Report for America Fellow covering digital equity in Baltimore for Technical.ly, a Baltimore-based news source publishing stories about the impact of the technology economy on growing cities and focusing on the entrepreneurs and technologists that make up that ecosystem. He is looking forward to seeing the stories of Baltimore's youth and helping them delve into journalistic storytelling.
Yifan Luo, Lead Graphic Designer
Yifan is an illustrator with a passion for storytelling and visual journalism. She holds a BA from Brown University and an MFA in Illustration Practice from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). In recent years, she has collaborated with nonprofits, food justice organizations, local businesses, and more to bring their visions to life.
Madison Mattison, Partnerships Coordinator
Madison Mattison currently works as CHARM's Partnership Coordinator and focuses on maintaining working relationships within the CHARM community. She is a graduate of Goucher College and received her BA in Professional and Creative Writing. Madison is a Baltimore native who loves crabs, the Orioles, walking around her neighborhood and hanging out in Fells Point. She has poems published in CHARM Lit Magazine and her debut short story published in Grub Street of Towson University.
Albert Phillips, Jr., Program Support
Albert Phillips Jr. is the founder and CEO of Free Black Mind Educational Group, a company that creates empowering and educational digital and print resources and programming for Black youth. He specializes in urban education and youth development. Albert earned a Master of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from Morgan State University. He is an MFA candidate in Creative Writing & Publishing Arts at University of Baltimore.
Annalies WInny, Workshop Coordinator
Annalies Winny is a journalist covering the intersection of public policy, development and urban life. She has reported from several cities including Baltimore, Monrovia, Liberia, London and New York. Her work appears in Global Health NOW, The Guardian, VICE News, The Atlantic’s CityLab, Prospect Magazine, Baltimore City Paper and others. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Nonfiction Writing from The New School in New York City. Twitter and Instagram: @annalieswinny Website: www.annalieswinny.com