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5 things you may not know about XCEL IMPACT honoree Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. Mayor Brandon Scott has built a career around public service, youth investment, and changing Baltimore from the ground up. Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott has spent his career proving that leadership can start close to home and still make a national impact. The 52nd mayor of Baltimore is among the 2026 BLACK ENTERPRISE XCEL IMPACT Honorees being recognized during the 10th anniversary of the XCEL Summit For Men for his work in public service and community leadership. Here are five things you may not know about the Baltimore native. 1. He grew up in Park Heights. Raised in the Park Heights community, Scott witnessed firsthand the effects of disinvestment in neighborhoods and youth. That experience has influenced his focus on education, recreation, housing, and public safety. Under his administration, Baltimore invested in new and renovated schools and recreation centers while dedicating $100 million to previously stalled housing projects in underserved communities. 2. He was inspired by Congressman Elijah Cummings. Scott has spoken openly about the importance of seeing Black leadership up close. During a BLACK ENTERPRISE XCEL fireside chat, he recalled former Congressman Elijah Cummings as the one elected official he could see regularly in his community. "I can be for them what I didn't have," Scott said. He added that he wanted to take Cummings' example "to the next level" by showing up for young people in ways they had not seen before. 3. He entered city hall before becoming mayor. Scott's political career began on the Baltimore City Council, where he represented the 2nd District for eight years. He was later unanimously elected president of the council before becoming mayor in 2020. His path into government also included working as a young staffer under former Baltimore Mayor Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake. "She allowed me as a young staffer to have so much autonomy and really, authority, at 23, 24, 25 years old," Scott said. 4. Public safety is a major part of his leadership agenda. Scott has made reducing gun violence a central priority. During his first term, Baltimore implemented its first Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan, while the city reported a significant decline in homicides and vacant properties. Scott has also argued for a broader approach to public safety. "We're not making them the end be all," he said of the police department during his XCEL conversation, emphasizing the use of additional community resources. 5. He wants more young Black people in government. For Scott, leadership development starts with participation. He has encouraged young Black professionals interested in politics to gain experience in their communities, campaigns, and government. "You have to be in your community. You have to have a track record serving your community," Scott said. That philosophy reflects XCEL's broader mission: recognizing Black excellence while encouraging the next generation to build influence across industries and institutions. Scott will be recognized alongside fellow 2026 XCEL Impact Honorees Victor J. Glover Jr., Jalen Rose, Taye Diggs, and Everette Taylor at the XCEL Summit For Men, taking place Oct. 21-23 in Orlando, Florida.

Baltimore City housing emails reveal suspected fraud and policy violations in housing office. New emails obtained by WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates confirm a fraud investigation involving a Baltimore City Department of Housing office is underway. The office is the same unit that placed a woman and her six children into an East Baltimore rowhome. The woman, Teonna Brown, faces criminal charges after police found her children unattended and living in deplorable conditions. The fraud investigation into the Division of Home Ownership and Housing Preservation concerns funds not getting to families in need, 11 News Investigates has learned through emails obtained through a public records request. "We have completed our review of the potential fraud case involving the Department of Housing and have identified one individual believed to be involved in criminal activity," one email exchange from Baltimore Police Colonel John Herzog reads. Police referred the case to the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office. On Wednesday, Mayor Brandon Scott addressed the investigation during an unrelated news conference. "That investigation came directly from me to the colonel. So that tells you everything I think about the activity," Scott said. The mayor also said the fraud investigation began with concerns brought to his attention by housing officials. "We took the appropriate course," Scott said. "We do not want to get ahead of any investigation because I want people held accountable in every way they can." The Division of Home Ownership and Housing Preservation is responsible for providing money to clients in need of rent or mortgage assistance or help paying for repairs. The email exchange obtained by 11 News Investigates also revealed "additional significant internal policy and procedural violations appear to have been committed by several members of the agency." Mayor Scott declined to provide additional information, citing the ongoing investigation. "We have to let the experts and the professionals do their work," the mayor added.

Char Technologies advances pyrolysis processing facilities across Canada and the United States. Char Technologies is scaling high-temperature pyrolysis facilities across Canada and the U.S. to process woody biomass and biosolids into RNG and biocarbon for steelmakers. Strategic partnerships have enabled successful PFAS elimination in biochar and created immediate commercial-scale off-take avenues. September 7, 2026 1-2 minutes Char Technologies is scaling up high-temperature pyrolysis facilities in Canada and the United States to turn complex organic waste streams into valuable outputs. The company is deploying systems that convert woody biomass and municipal biosolids into biocarbon, biochar, and renewable natural gas (RNG), while strategic partners like ArcelorMittal, Synagro, and the City of Baltimore collaborate on commercial deployment and contaminant remediation. The industry faces a major challenge in processing low-value organic waste, such as woody biomass and biosolids, into economically viable products. Unlocking financial feasibility requires capturing value from both the solid and volatile fractions of feedstocks. Furthermore, biochar markets often rely on diffuse off-take partners and volatile carbon credits, while biosolids management presents the additional technical hurdles of removing persistent contaminants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). To address these hurdles, Char Technologies utilizes a high-temperature pyrolysis process that splits woody biomass into 20% solid biocarbon and 78% volatile matter and gas. The volatile gas stream is upgraded into RNG, creating a dual revenue model that maximizes process economics. To target immediate, large-scale industrial off-take, the company partnered with steelmaker ArcelorMittal to supply biocarbon as a direct replacement for metallurgical coal. For biosolids, Char Technologies partnered with Synagro and the City of Baltimore on a pilot initiative designed to eliminate PFAS during thermal conversion. These initiatives have yielded strong operational and technical milestones. Pilot results with Synagro and the City of Baltimore confirmed that PFAS were substantially eliminated from the resulting biosolids-derived biochar. On the commercial front, Char Technologies is preparing to launch its first full-scale plant in Thorold, Ontario, with additional regional sites under development in Saint-Félicien, Québec, and Hurkett, Ontario. To accelerate broader deployment across the United States, the company plans to pursue technology licensing models alongside direct project development. * Shanthi Prabha V Shanthi Prabha V, PhD, is the Managing Editor of Biochar Today.