The Living Well

What The Living Well does

The Living Well (TLW), doing business as The Living Well Center for Social and Economic Vibrancy, is a Black-owned, Black-led nonprofit and community organization founded in 2009 by Maurissa Stone and headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. It operates as a "liberatory third space" organized around three integrated pillars — Soulful Expression (arts and cultural programming), Conscious Expansion (Race, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion education and Transformational Learning Circles), and Optimal Wellness (Kemetic Yoga, Breaking Free men's healing circles, and trauma-informed wellness) — and runs a 50+ member Brain Trust of artists, healers, policymakers, and Afro-futurists. In 2023 it launched The Black Canni, a cannabis education and convening platform created after Maryland's adult-use legalization, which hosts signature events (Sesh Talk, Taste of 4/20, Seeds of Repair reparative justice circles, the Infused Beverage Lab) and draws sponsorship revenue from cannabis and beverage brands. In 2024 TLW began a 14-month residency at Baltimore Unity Hall (1505 Eutaw Place), serving as the primary physical venue for all major programming alongside its administrative office at 703 N Fremont Ave.

The organization does not sell software or technology products; its core technology is in-person programming, event ticketing via Eventbrite, content marketing through its Minding Our Business blog, and an email newsletter. Revenue is generated through three streams: (1) donations and philanthropy, anchored by annual CLLCTIVGIVE crowdfunding campaigns that have cumulatively raised over $60,000; (2) event fees such as $35 per participant for Kemetic Yoga sessions, with most programming offered free and donations welcomed; and (3) sponsorships from cannabis and beverage companies supporting Black Canni programming. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on social media, email, word-of-mouth, and partnerships with organizations including CLLCTIVLY, Tetragram, and the Diasporic Alliance of Cannabis Opportunities (DACO), with 27 employees and a clearly Baltimore-anchored geographic footprint.

Name

The Living Well

Legal name

The Living Well

Website

https://livewellbemore.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Living Well is a Black-led Baltimore nonprofit founded in 2009 that operates a community wellness, racial equity, and cannabis education platform through in-person programming, healing circles, REDI training, and a 50-member Brain Trust of changemakers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Wellness Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Meditation Retreats, Workshops & Immersive Programs (HSADAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mindfulness-Based Coaching & Training (MBSR/MBCT-style) (HSADAJAB), Mind-Body Wellness Coaching (Holistic/Integrative) (HSADAGAG), Mindfulness, Meditation & Stress Management Education (EDAAAHAD), Mental Wellness & Resilience Education (Non-clinical) (EDAAAHAK), Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)

Keywords

• Community wellness programs
• Racial equity training
• Cannabis education
• Healing circles
• Black community empowerment

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropy: The organization relies heavily on donations and charitable contributions. It participates in CLLCTIVGIVE, Baltimore's largest 24-hour crowdfunding campaign for Black-led organizations, having raised over $60,000 in past campaigns. Monetary donations are welcomed for free community programming.
2. Event Fees: Some events charge fees, such as Kemetic Yoga sessions at $35 per participant. Other events are free with donations welcomed.
3. Sponsorships: The Black Canni platform generates revenue through event sponsorships from cannabis industry companies, beverage brands, and related businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Living Well operates a Black-led community wellness and social enterprise platform that curates in-person programming organized around three pillars: Soulful Expression (arts and cultural events), Conscious Expansion (race, equity, diversity, and inclusion education), and Optimal Wellness (healing practices including Kemetic Yoga and Breaking Free Men's Healing Circles). Signature offerings include The Black Canni cannabis education platform, Brain Trust consulting collective, and Transformational Learning Circles, all delivered through events at Baltimore Unity Hall and partner venues. Programming is largely offered free to community members with donations, sponsorships, and select pay-as-you-go class fees supporting operations.

Product overview

The Living Well Center for Social and Economic Vibrancy is a Black-owned, Black-led community wellness organization that operates as a platform-plus-programs model centered on three core pillars: Soulful Expression (creative/artistic programming), Conscious Expansion (REDI education and training), and Optimal Wellness (holistic health services). The portfolio includes The Black Canni (cannabis education platform), The Living Library (cultural knowledge archive), Brain Trust (changemaker collective), Breaking Free Men's Healing Circles, and various signature events including Kemetic Yoga, Transformational Learning Circles, and Sesh Talks. The organization serves as a liberatory third space focused on healing, cultural sustainability, and collective power for the Baltimore community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Living Well Center for Social and Economic Vibrancy Core community wellness and social enterprise hub delivering immersive experiences centered on community skill exchange, soulful expression, conscious expansion, social well-being, and economic empowerment for Baltimore's Black community.
• Soulful Expression Programming pillar hosting artistic and cultural events—dance, music, visual arts, and African Diasporic cultural expressions—for community members seeking creative expression and healing through the arts.
• Conscious Expansion Educational pillar delivering Transformational Learning Circles and REDI workshops that provide pathways toward healing and dismantling structural racism for social entrepreneurs, CDCs, and government agencies.
• Optimal Wellness Holistic health programming pillar including Kemetic Yoga sessions, Breaking Free healing circles, and wellness workshops designed to promote physical, mental, and spiritual well-being in the community.
• The Black Canni Cannabis education and convening platform bringing together Black cannabis innovators, legacy operators, consumers, healers, researchers, cultivators, and policymakers through immersive learning experiences, Sesh Talks, and Brain Trust-led forums.
• Brain Trust A collective of 50+ award-winning changemakers offering institutions consulting tools for equity audits, cultural competency training, REDI facilitation, and organizational transformation for social entrepreneurs, CDCs, and government agencies.
• The Living Library Dynamic cultural archive and healing resource space centering Black knowledge and ancestral wisdom, where practitioners serve as 'living books' for facilitated brave-circle knowledge exchanges.
• Breaking Free: Men's Healing Circles Trauma-informed healing circles creating sacred space for Black men to process, heal, and rebuild through community-rooted mental wellness practices incorporating martial arts and mindfulness techniques.
• Kemetic Yoga Slow-paced, strain-free yoga practice rooted in ancient Egyptian spiritual and mythological traditions, incorporating nasal breathing, Four Part Breathing methods, and principles of interconnectedness for nervous system regulation and healing.
• Transformational Learning Circles Curated sessions providing participants with sustainable practices that advance racial justice and healing inside and outside organizational systems, offered at no cost to Baltimore City's social and public health organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $60,000 raised through CLLCTIVGIVE campaigns
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CLLCTIVLYcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 August 2025CLLCTIVLY hosts CLLCTIVGIVE, a 24-hour crowdfunding campaign mobilizing support for Baltimore's Black-led organizations. Since 2019, CLLCTIVLY has invested over $3 million in no-strings-attached grants. The Living Well participates annually, having raised over $60,000 in past campaigns to fund healing programs and ecosystem-building efforts.
• TetragramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Living Well partnered with Tetragram to conduct a survey focused on the impact of cannabis use on managing autoimmune conditions in people of color. Tetragram founder Otha Smith III also leads Sesh Talk educational sessions on cannabis journaling and personalized healing through The Living Well platform.
• Diasporic Alliance of Cannabis Opportunities (DACO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Living Well and DACO co-host the Seeds of Repair: A Reparative Justice Circle as part of Black Cannabis Week Daily Dose Tour. Both organizations are committed to equity, healing, and liberation through cannabis, working to ensure communities most harmed by the War on Drugs lead the way in building repair.
• Emerging Light ReentryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Resource Guide and holistic reentry hub for adults transitioning from incarceration. The Living Well's Signature Style Swap fundraising event supports women returning from incarceration, with proceeds donated to Emerging Light Reentry.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Loveland Foundation: The Loveland Foundation provides therapy support and healing resources specifically for Black women and girls. Comparable to The Living Well's mission-oriented, Black-focused community wellness and healing-circle programming, with similar donation-driven funding model.
• Therapy for Black Girls: Therapy for Black Girls is a community-oriented platform offering mental wellness resources, podcasts, and provider directories for Black women. Comparable in creating culturally-grounded wellness spaces for Black communities, though more digitally distributed.
• People's Institute for Survival and Beyond: PISAB is a national leader in anti-racism training and organizing, offering Undoing Racism workshops. Founder Maurissa Stone is a PISAB alum; the organization is directly comparable to The Living Well's Transformational Learning Circles and REDI training programming.
• BEAM (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective): BEAM is a Black-led nonprofit focused on mental health and emotional healing for Black communities through training, advocacy, and community programming. Directly comparable to The Living Well's Optimal Wellness/Conscious Expansion pillars targeting Black community wellness and healing.
• Black Yoga Alliance: Black Yoga Alliance is a community-driven organization supporting Black yoga teachers and practitioners. Directly comparable to The Living Well's Kemetic Yoga and Optimal Wellness programming, sharing a focus on yoga and mind-body practices within Black communities.
• Minorities for Medical Marijuana: Minorities for Medical Marijuana focuses on cannabis education, advocacy, and equitable participation for communities of color. Directly comparable to The Living Well's Black Canni program in addressing cannabis equity and education for Black communities.
• Black Futures Lab: Black Futures Lab is a Black-led organization transforming Black communities through policy, organizing, and civic engagement. Comparable in being a Black-led institution focused on community empowerment, economic empowerment, and racial equity - similar programmatic scope to The Living Well's three pillars.
• The Confess Project: The Confess Project trains barbers to be mental health advocates for Black men. Highly comparable to The Living Well's Breaking Free Men's Healing Circles, both addressing Black men's mental wellness through culturally-rooted, non-clinical community interventions.

Broad incumbents

• RaceForward: RaceForward operates the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) and runs racial equity training programs nationally. A broader institutional incumbent in the racial equity training space where The Living Well's REDI consulting operates.

Others

• CLLCTIVLY: CLLCTIVLY is Baltimore's platform for Black-led organizations and runs the CLLCTIVGIVE crowdfunding campaign. A core ecosystem partner of The Living Well and a comparable Baltimore-based Black-focused community/philanthropy infrastructure organization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/402020033142982
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-living-well

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Living Well