In the face of revelers, it will always be the people of Baltimore who guard her with fierce grit, benevolent grace, and a dash of audacity. We shine bright not despite but because of our scars.

In April of 2015, Baltimore launched its national "Visit My Baltimore" marketing campaign. But, unexpectedly, news of the recent death of Freddie Gray, a 25-yr. old West Baltimore resident, rocked the city!

The marketing campaign was paused to focus all of the necessary attention on the people of Baltimore and their outcry which sounded across the city. During the weeks that followed, residents discovered what black and brown people had known all their lives. There were indeed two Baltimores. Though the campaign was relaunched, it was difficult for the celebrity driven promotion to compete with the city's growing false perception.

Impacted by the dark shadow that was cast by the tragic events of April 2015, the campaign ended with little traction in 2017.

The large-scale, three-section mural of Freddie Gray at the corner of North Mount and Presbury Street. Image By Nether

Baltimore’s summer season was on the horizon and there seemed to be no positive story to tell, and no dollars to pull from. How do we get people to want to visit Baltimore, when (on CNN) they have been watching one block in our city “on fire” 24-7?

The marketing team at Visit Baltimore led by Dionne Joyner-Weems, also a West Baltimore native, discovered that there were roughly 500 posts across social media where Baltimore residents were using #MyBmore. Though most of the posts were two years old, they reflected the scenes that took place in Baltimore’s communities following Baltimore’s Uprising.

Some images were gritty but honest, while others were fun and light. The photos revealed the authenticity and raw beauty of Baltimore’s neighborhoods and it’s people.

#MyBmore Launch | July 2017 - Motor House

Why spend our time trying to sway the world to see us, when our focus should be elevating how Baltimore's people see themselves? And, it was then that the #MyBmore movement was born. Growing from 500 posts to more than 400,000 is still unheard of for any city.

#MyBmore will forever mark the moment when the people of Baltimore stopped asking the world to see them; instead, Baltimore showed the world who they are!