Jamar Brown
Since starting his work with OSI-Baltimore in 2009 as part of the Leadership Council—a group of about 60 community members who have expressed an interest in OSI’s work and serve as the organization’s ambassadors in the community—Jamar R. Brown has been inspired and challenged, in a good way, by OSI’s mission and work.
“OSI opened my eyes to the issues in Baltimore. They helped me see there’s an organization boldly addressing those issues,” says Brown. “At OSI we have the conversations that are not very comfortable. OSI is a place that is happy to have those conversations.”
Brown went on to serve as chair of the Leadership Council, and when he received an offer to join the Advisory Board, he couldn’t refuse. He’s thrilled to bring his energy and passion to a board dedicated to tackling the crucial issues affecting his home.
Brown is currently an associate in the Litigation group at Rosenberg Martin Greenberg, LLP. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland Carey School of Law and received his B.A. from Emory University.
Nupur Parekh Flynn
As a life-long resident of Baltimore, Nupur Parekh Flynn understands the critical issues facing the city. With the opioid epidemic, rampant incarceration, and inadequate education, Flynn knows there’s a lot to be done in Baltimore – and she’s ready to take it on with OSI-Baltimore. She’s excited to be a
new Advisory Board member to work with public and private sectors to solve these systemic issues.
“All areas of OSI appeal to me,” she says. “But one of the most important to me is the kids and the things that are happening to them – their inability to go to school, being out on the streets, their inability to really thrive and having all these barriers to success.”
Flynn is currently a trustee of the Sinai Hospital of Baltimore and the Baltimore Museum of Art. From 2004-2019, she was the managing director of marketing and public relations at Brown Capital Management.
Ava Lias-Booker
OSI-Baltimore’s commitment to diversity and inclusion as pathways to systemic change in Baltimore is an important reason Ava Lias-Booker was drawn to serve on the organization’s Advisory Board. That’s no surprise, given her long-standing commitment to those values: she serves as the chair of her law firm’s national diversity and inclusion committee and is a member of its Diversity Action Council.
“I believe that systemic change is the only way to truly improve the lives of people in Baltimore and throughout the region,” says Lias-Booker, who is an active litigation partner at McGuireWoods LLP. “As I talked with people that I respect and admire about the organizations that are leading the
charge in partnering with communities to create that type of lasting, positive change, one name continually emerged: the Open Society Institute.”
Lias-Booker grew up a military brat, came to Baltimore for law school and decided to stay. She recognizes the city’s problems but also
its opportunities.
“I’m convinced the things I’ve gotten to do in Baltimore would have been more difficult to do in a larger city,” she says. “I feel like Baltimore is welcoming to newcomers.”
Larry Moscow
Larry Moscow joined OSI-Baltimore’s Advisory Board because of the organization’s inspiring think tank approach to Baltimore’s issues.
“I continue to be amazed at the quality of people and the caliber of their thinking, whether it be the program leaders, whether it be the people whom they convene to sit around the table together—they are just such high-quality thinkers with commitment across the board from everyone involved,” says Moscow.
He’s excited to work in his community and see OSI expand its role as a national model of best practices for solving cities’ most intractable problems. He sees OSI’s strengths as not only working on the neighborhood and community level but also at the government level.
“It’s really amazing, their ability to play constructively and productively at all these levels.”
Moscow manages the Washington, D.C. office of Maslansky + Partners, a marketing, research and strategy firm specializing in language and messaging.
