10 to watch: Under 30, changing Baltimore

The city is full of young, inspiring people -- meet our inaugural class of 2010

For b's inaugural "10 People to Watch Under 30" edition, we looked for those who inspired us, challenged traditional thinking, weren't happy with the status quo. What we found were Baltimoreans committed to our city in various arenas, from the arts and sports to education, volunteerism and community activism. Here's our "10 People to Watch" class of 2010.

JEREMY FREDERICK, 26 | Mount Vernon | green-roof guru: If Jeremy Frederick had his way, the Baltimore skyline would be dotted green. Since joining Baltimore-based Floura Teeter Landscape Architects straight out of college four years ago, Frederick has been instrumental around town integrating green-roof technology -- designs that improve air quality, reduce urban heat and lower cooling and heating costs. "As a city that's reinvesting in itself, Baltimore has a chance to rebuild smarter with green roofs," said Frederick, who holds a degree in landscape architecture from Penn State University. Frederick's first green-roof project was Baltimore Station, a substance-abuse treatment center near Federal Hill. Baltimore Convention Center's green roof is under construction, along with a roof on a new library in Hummelstown, Pa. And Frederick and Floura Teeter are working on a design for a roof at Baltimore's District Court downtown. So what would be his favorite place in the city to put a green roof? "My dream green-roof project in Baltimore is always the next green-roof project," he said by e-mail. "The real dream would be to stand on the tallest building in Baltimore and be able to marvel at a vast network of green roofs being used as parks, gardens and eco-rejuvenators." JORDAN BARTEL, B

TAMARA CHUMLEY, 28 | White Marsh | project manager, BaltimoreACTS: Just a few days after Haiti was rocked by January's devastating earthquake, Tamara Chumley found herself in a meeting with co-workers at Feats Inc., an event marketing agency. There, BaltimoreACTS was born. "There's a group of people in the community passionate about making a difference and making change," said Chumley. "This was a way to activate people." BaltimoreACTS' first mission was to be a biggie -- a relief concert at the Meyerhoff that was to feature Mario and Mya (it was postponed in early February because of the massive snowstorm and has not been rescheduled). Chumley said she hopes the organization will also address local issues such as youth education, poverty and crime. Chumley, a Loyola University graduate who grew up in Bel Air, is also a member of Business Volunteers Unlimited Maryland's inaugural GIVE class, which helps young professionals find volunteer opportunities. And she's a wish-granter with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Her role model for giving back: her mother, a breast cancer survivor. "She's one of those very giving people, willing to help anyone else," said Chumley, a mother herself. "Early on, I saw that." JORDAN BARTEL, B

ALESSANDRA MANFRE, 28 | Mount Vernon | Iraqi Student Project board member: Alessandra Manfre has her own mixed views about the Iraq war. But since joining the Iraqi Student Project last February, Manfre has immersed herself in an under-reported consequence of the war: college-aged students in Iraq who are forced to leave their studies and country. ISP's mission: fund young refugees' undergraduate education in America and then return them to help rebuild Iraq. "While [ISP] brings talent to this country, it does serve to bring stability to the country that [it] lacks," said Manfre. Her charge is 18-year-old Ahmed, now a freshman at Goucher, Manfre's alma mater. Goucher is picking up Ahmed's tuition, but Manfre and her support team have a $15,000 annual budget to cover the rest. Manfre finds it difficult to think about what it will be like to say goodbye to Ahmed. "I'll be happy as long as he's happy and contributes in any way, shape or form," she said. "In Iraq, there's a lack of everything now. He'll help make things better." JORDAN BARTEL, B