Voices of the People

The Voices of the People captures-in real time-the Pulse of the residents in and around Baltimore's Historic Pennsylvania Avenue, Baltimore at large, and tourists worldwide who stop in for sweet confections (that they can't get from anywhere else) and unique treats to delicious cultural experiences besides. Its logbooks, murals, stories, and exhibits are packed between its pages. The creation of The Avenue Bakery is the perfect example of how one human-times-ten-can make a difference for a community. Some say that The Avenue Bakery is the little engine that could ... that could stand in the way of a community losing its culture, traditions-its unique, flavorful legacy. James Hamlin, by creating The Avenue Bakery, is that man. "The operation of The Avenue Bakery is a culmination of my many learning and life experiences cultivated over time," said James Hamlin. "Putting this book together, I said to myself, 'What do I want people, especially our youth, to get out of it?' And it's this: It's about identifying and learning how to put to good use teachable moments-and bringing those teachable moments forward to incorporate them into a business plan, a life plan." They say that nine out of ten businesses fail in the first year because there's no demand for their product and their product does not fulfill a niche. "What we did was fulfill a demand and niche that brought back fond memories of family lineages, community legacies, and a cultural, historical era cut short by systemic racism and disrespect-but longed for by its people. The Voices of the People wanted to be heard."