Sagesse brings deep experience in neighborhood and community revitalization with a portfolio that proves it. Our work is rooted in understanding the challenges and knowing what’s needed to meet the moment.
When it clicks, everything changes: the brand story comes to life, momentum builds and teams align around a shared vision. This becomes the roadmap to opportunities that were once out of reach.
In a space where organizations can look similar on the surface, we listen and dig for the nuances that set each one apart. Our approach combines deep industry knowledge with a fresh perspective, uncovering the insights that become leverage for sustainable growth.
Tracy brings a rare ability to see both big-picture strategy and the specific details that give a brand its edge. She leads every client project, understanding the realities mission-driven organizations navigate: stakeholder pressures, funding constraints and the need to stand out in a crowded space. As the founding Executive Director of Live Baltimore, Tracy pioneered one of the first place-based marketing initiatives in the country, establishing a model that’s still thriving today. She knows the community revitalization space inside and out — not because she studied it but because she built it from the ground up.
Outstanding in their field, these professionals share our commitment to purposeful work and collaborate with Sagesse to shape how organizations show up. Together, we translate strategy into compelling visuals and experiences that connect with audiences.
Megan is the engine that turns strategy into reality. She manages the details that make campaigns work—coordinating teams, holding timelines and solving problems before they derail progress. Megan and Tracy have been collaborating for over a decade, working on initiatives across Sagesse’s client base and refining an approach that pairs ambitious strategy with grounded, realistic implementation. Strategic activation, audience engagement and rollout planning are her love language, ensuring brands are seen and embraced by stakeholders.
Aja is a storyteller who turns dense research into narratives that spark connection. For nearly twenty years, she’s uncovered hidden gems in archives and interviews, shaping them into stories that reveal impact and innovation. Her work blends insight with data, pulling forward the voices and moments that make transformation tangible. She stays true to her commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. When organizations want their transformation to feel real and inspiring, Aja makes it happen.
Michael creates bold, cohesive design systems that bring brand strategy to life. He’s been collaborating with Tracy for over 20 years, building a shared creative language that keeps work sharp, on time and on budget. Michael’s extensive portfolio in the community revitalization space helps him translate complex feedback into designs that project elevated authenticity. He brings originality and fresh concepts that cut through the clutter, giving organizations a strong foundation to tell their story with confidence.
Tracy leads every engagement personally, giving clients direct access to her strategic thinking and industry knowledge..
She knows the community revitalization space intimately because she built her career inside it. As the founding Executive Director of Live Baltimore, she developed a social enterprise model that grew the organization into an independent nonprofit, generating 40% of its revenue through private-sector partnerships. What she established in 1998 is still thriving today, using systems and strategies she created.
Before founding Sagesse in 2007, Tracy spent years in film and television, where she learned to tell compelling stories quickly and effectively — skills that translate directly into marketing where attention is scarce and messages need to land fast.
That’s why mission-driven organizations trust her. She understands the realities they face because she’s navigated them firsthand: managing boards, delivering results with limited resources, and finding ways to stand out in a crowded landscape.
Tracy is a frequent speaker and presenter on branding strategy and community revitalization, moderating panels, delivering live presentations and leading instructional webinars. Her insights have been featured extensively in television, print and radio media.
Tracy is also a stage-4 ovarian cancer sur-THRIVOR. Through aggressive treatment and a fierce commitment to wellness, she’s been cancer-free since September 2019 and has become a national advocate for ovarian cancer awareness. The experience brought absolute clarity about how she spends her time and where she invests her energy.
Today, Tracy splits her time between Cape Cod, Massachusetts and Delray Beach, Florida, partnering with clients to transform communities across the country.