Inthewakeofthe2015deathofFreddieGrayinpolicecustody,Baltimorewasacityontheedge.PeacefulprotestsanddestructiveriotseruptedintheimmediateaftermathofGray’sdeath,whilethecitywaitedtohearthefateofthesixpoliceofficersinvolvedintheincident,reflectingthedeepdivisionsbetweenauthoritiesandthecommunity--andunderscoringtheurgentneedforreconciliationddd DirectedbySonjaSohn(oneofthestarsoftheHBOseriesTheWire),BaltimoreRisingfollowsactivists,policeofficers,communityleadersandgangaffiliates,whostruggletoholdBaltimoretogether,evenasthehomicideratehitsrecordlevels,andexploreshowtomakechangewhenchangeishard. ThestrifethatgripsBaltimorefollowingthedeathofFreddieGrayexposeslongstandingfaultlinesinadistraughtanddamagedcommunity.BaltimoreRisingchroniclesthedeterminedeffortsofpeopleonallsideswhofightforjusticeandworktomaketheircitybetter,sometimescomingtogetherinunexpectedways,discoveringacommonhumanitywherebeforetheyoftensaweachotheronlyasadversaries. AmongthekeyfiguresspotlightedinBaltimoreRisingare: Genard“Shadow”Barr(communityleader,formergangmember)isanaddictionrecoveryspecialistatthePenn-NorthRecoveryCenter,wherehealsohelpsorganizeareentryjobsprogramforcommunitymembers.BridgingthedividebetweenpoliceandresidentsofthePenn-Northarea,heworkswithallpartiestomitigateviolence.BarrisnowworkingtoopenanentrepreneurshipandjobtrainingcenterinWestBaltimore. CommissionerKevinDavishasledtheBaltimorePoliceDepartmentsince2015.Hetookoverasinterimpolicecommissionerintheaftermathoftheuprisingandsurgingviolence,whenthemayorfiredpreviouscommissionerAnthonyBatts.AlifelongMarylander,CommissionerDavisisa25-yearveteranandfourth-generationpublicsafetyprofessional.Hewasfacedwithrepairingpublictrustinthedepartmentandstemmingarisingtideofhomicidesamidstthetrialsofhissixofficers. MakaylaGilliam-Price(activist)foundedtheyouthjusticeorganizationCityBlocasahighschoolstudent.Shealsoorganizeswiththegrassrootsthink-tankLeadersofaBeautifulStruggle. AdamJackson(activist)isCEOofthegrassrootsthink-tankLeadersofaBeautifulStruggle.HiseffortsareaimedatconnectingyoungpeopletopublicpolicyandcreatingtransformativechangeinBaltimore. DayvonLove(activist),directorofpublicpolicyforLeadersofaBeautifulStruggle,hasdeepexperiencewithgrassrootsactivisminthecommunity.Hehasgivennumerousspeechesandledworkshopstogiveinsightintotheplightofitscitizens. KwameRose(activist),anartist,writer,musicianandpublicspeaker,gainednotorietyduringtheuprisingthatfollowedFreddieGray’sdeathforhispublicconfrontationwithFOXNewsreporterGeraldoRivera.ArrestedduringprotestsoutsidethetrialsofthepoliceofficerschargedintheGraycase,herecentlyacceptedapositionintheofficeofBaltimoreMayorCatherinePugh. Lt.ColonelMelvinRussell,chiefoftheCommunityPartnershipDivision,BaltimorePoliceDepartment,joinedTheBaltimorePoliceDepartment(BPD)in1979asapolicecadet.Heworkedasauniformpatrolandthenanundercoverofficerfor20yearsbeforebecominganEasternDistrictLieutenantin2007.RecentlyheledtheBPD’schaplaincyprogramandworkedcooperativelywithsuchcommunityleadersasGenard“Shadow”Barrtosupportareentryjobsprogramandpreventanotheruprisingduringthepoliceofficers’trialsintheGraycase. DawnyellTaylor(policedetective)hasbeenwiththeBaltimoreCityPoliceformorethan16years.In2015and2016,shewastheleadinvestigatorintheFreddieGrayhomicidecase,andtestifiedatthetrialofOfficerCaesarGoodsonJr.,whowaschargedwithGray’smurder.TaylorcontinuestoserveinthepoliceacademyinBaltimore. TheexecutiveproducersofBaltimoreRisingareSonjaSohn,MarcLevin,AnthonyHemingway,GeorgePelecanosandMarkTaylor;producer,NathanMook;supervisingproducers,DaphnePinkersonandKaraRozansky;directedbySonjaSohn.ForHBO:seniorproducer,NancyAbraham;executiveproducerSheilaNevins.