Community Action Board Is Accepting Applications for Its Training Program That Teaches Participants How to Advocate for Policy Change

Montgomery County’s Community Action Board (CAB) is now accepting applications to participate in its free, eight-month Community Advocacy Institute (CAI) training program that teaches participants how to effectively advocate for policy change. Applications are due Friday, Aug. 18.

The board is the governing body for the Community Action Agency (CAA), Montgomery County’s Federally designated anti-poverty agency. The CAA is part of the County’s Department of Health and Human Services.

The CAI is for Montgomery County residents with combined household incomes of $64,000 or less. Monthly sessions, which begin in October, include some in-person sessions and some virtual workshops. The program is offered in English and Spanish.

Since it started in 2016, there have been more than 125 graduates of the training program. Many graduates now serve on County advisory groups and nonprofit boards. Others are active in important advocacy efforts.

“So many policy decisions affect people who don’t have time or access to advocate effectively; the CAI helps give them a road map to being a part of the decision-making process,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “I strongly believe that effective policies can only be created and implemented if all community members have a seat at the table and an opportunity to participate.”



“Being a graduate of the CAI was and is a very good experience for anyone looking to advocate, uplift and improve our community here in Montgomery County,” said Albert Reed, a 2021 graduate of the program and a member of the County’s Commission on Children and Youth. “The connections, friendships and opportunities I made, and continue to make as a result of participating in CAI, are priceless. For me, this program is the gift that keeps on giving.”

Workshops cover a range of topics including working with elected officials, storytelling, research, letter writing, developing testimony and key advocacy issues. Participants must attend all workshops and complete an advocacy project to graduate.

More information and a link to the application are available on the Community Action Agency website. Additional information is available by calling 240-777-1697. TTY users can call Maryland Relay at 711.

Montgomery County, City of Rockville to Host Sept. 11 Community Remembrance on Friday, Sept. 10, in Downtown Rockville

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will be joined by County Council President Tom Hucker, Rockville Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton, other elected officials and community members at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 10, in Downtown Rockville for a Sept. 11 community remembrance.

The ceremonies in recognition of the 20^th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on America will be held at Courthouse Square Park, which is at the corner of Jefferson Street and Maryland Avenue in Downtown Rockville.

These ceremonies will honor and commemorate the more than 2,900 victims of the deadly attack--including 11 who lived in Montgomery County. Also to be honored will be the courageous first responders, including those who immediately rushed to help in the attack at the Pentagon.

The event will take place in the small memorial park that was established with 11 benches, each dedicated to a lost County resident. The benches are engraved with lines from a poem, song or thought, selected by family members. One corner of the park has a small, three-columned stainless-steel pavilion with two round columns that is built into a book form that lists the names of those lost.

The 11 Montgomery County residents who lost their lives on Sept. 11 were William Edward Caswell, Gerald Paul Fisher, Lawrence D. Getzfred, Michele M. Heidenberger, Angela Marie Houtz, Teddington Hamm Moy, Darin H. Pontell, Scott A. Powell, Todd Hayes Reuben, Patricia J. Statz and Ernest M. Willcher.

County Partners with Nonprofit Groups to Provide Donation Options to Support Residents Displaced by Recent Flooding

Montgomery County is continuing to work with its nonprofit partners to assist residents who were displaced from their residences due to flooding caused by the heavy rains that hit the area on Sept. 1.

Residents who want to assist the displaced residents with their housing and recovery needs can directly contact two nonprofits that are working directly with the displaced residents.

Interfaith Works, based in Rockville, can be contacted via its website to donate monetary support, clothing and kitchenware. The Interfaith Works Clothing Center is located at 751 Twinbrook Parkway in Rockville.

A Wider Circle, located at 9159 Brookville Rd. in Silver Spring, will accept donations of larger furniture to help the flood victims. Visit its website for more information.

Sikh Community Dedicates Day of Service to Help Those in Need

In celebration of the 551st anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith, members from the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation (GGSF) and Sikh Spiritual Center in Rockville had something special in mind. They dedicated many hours over the past few weeks to collecting blankets, donations and food, culminating with a special day of service.

The effort resulted in more than 2,000 meals, 551 blankets, 551 boxes of fresh produce and pies being distributed on Nov. 30 to families in need at JoAnn Leleck Elementary School at Broad Acres in Silver Spring, in coordination with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). The school’s students have one of the highest poverty rates among MCPS schools. Bus drivers transported the donations to the school and dozens of volunteers helped distribute the food and blankets to more than 550 families.

The GGSF Sikh Center has been coordinating extensive efforts since the COVID-19 health crisis began in March to combat hunger in the County. Its volunteers have repackaged bulk rice, beans and lentils for distribution to local food banks and the center has provided hot meals and produce boxes on a weekly basis. The efforts have been aided by other volunteers of many faiths who have come to the GGSF Center.

Those who could benefit from assistance or who know someone who might need help can get more information at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/get-help/food.html. Information on assistance also can be obtained from the Montgomery Call Center at 311.

Anyone interested in volunteering to help in a variety of ways can learn more at the Montgomery County Volunteer Center’s website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/get-help/food.html#donations.

Civic Associations in Glenmont and Silver Spring Team Up to Establish ‘Little Free Libraries’

The COVID-19 health crisis that has dominated 2020 has led to people throughout the world changing their life patterns. In Montgomery County, those changes have impacted work routines, schools, activities and free time. For residents in the Wheaton-Silver Spring area, two award-winning civic associations have been working hard to make some parts of living during a pandemic a bit easier.

The Glenmont Forest Neighbors Civic Association (GFNCA) and the Greater Silver Spring Civitans club (GSSC) have teamed up to create and maintain two “Little Free Libraries” to benefit the community. One was launched in November 2019 at Judson Road and Lindell Street, and a second will be installed in a new community park beside Glenmont Fire Station 18, which is at 12210 Georgia Ave. GFNCA previously established little libraries on Livingston Street; at the Lindell and Randolph Streets juncture; at the intersection of Henderson Street and Grandview Avenue; and at Judson Road and Newton Street. Though installed on private property, the “lend-a-book-take-a-book” libraries are open to all members of the community.

The collaboration between the organizations is part of an effort to include additional amenities for the new park. In addition to a playground, pavilion and the library, GFNCA has been awarded a grant for a public art installation there.

The Little Free Library program was started in 2009 by Todd Bol of Hudson, Wi. He filled a structure with books and put it on a post in his front yard. His neighbors and friends loved it, so he built several more and gave them away. The program evolved into a nonprofit organization as Little Free Libraries continued to grow annually. In 2020, the organization surpassed 100,000 registered Little Free Libraries in more than 100 countries worldwide.

In addition to be a place where community members can donate books for others to pick up and read, many Little Free Libraries are placed in areas that also provide settings that inspire readers to enjoy their books. For example, the library at the Judson/Lindell median is a gathering place with natural seating and a community bulletin board.

Little Free Libraries have been especially important during the health crisis of 2020 as many public buildings and services have not been available. The buildings of Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) have remained closed and there was a considerable time after the health crisis began in which MCPL was unable to lend materials even under safe, specialized procedures.

Even in the best of times, Little Free Libraries enhanced public libraries in unique ways, including that they are created and maintained by their respective communities. GSSC, which has provided funding for the two community libraries that the organizations have worked on jointly, will maintain those little libraries.

“We will keep it going, look after them and refurbish them as needed,” said GSSC Vice-President Mirza Donegan.

GFNCA President Jim Epstein credited the Montgomery Housing Partnership for getting the local library program off to a solid start by sending four GFNCA board members to training by NeighborWorks America, which granted GFNCA $2,000 for community projects. The Mid-County Regional Services Center provided additional startup funds through its “Neighborhood Event Matching Funds” program. Others have contributed in a variety of ways. The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection recycled tree stumps for seating at one location and FAsMarketplace member Tychelle Mosely Art painted the little library for the new park location with original art.

Community members who seek more information or would like to join these civic organizations can contact glenmontforestnca@gmail.com or silverspringcivitans@gmail.com.

Department of General Services Does a Community Good

Dozens of leaders from our Department of General Services showed up with their loppers, rakes, hammers and hearts to revive a local group home property in need of significant landscaping and outside repair. The team transitioned the property from a yard and garden overgrown with weeds and a dilapidated deck to a manicured, landscaped home for the residents to enjoy the outdoors.

The crew spent the hot, humid day weeding, lugging, drilling and hauling but in the end it was worth the hard work to ensure the tenants could enjoy their outdoor space.

The work was done for a home owned by Jubilee Association of Maryland, which provides community-based residential services and supports for adults with developmental disabilities. About fifty individuals are served in fifteen group homes/Alternative Living Arrangements (ALUs) in our local community. Live-in counselors and Community Living Assistants staff each home; levels of staffing are based on the needs of the individual.

Community Use of Public Facilities Accepting Requests for Use of Public School Facilities

The Community Use of Public Facilities began accepting general reservation requests for use of indoor public school facilities for the 2017-2018 school year on August 15. This includes before and after-school enrichment programs, evening use, weekend use, etc., regardless of room type. For more information, visit: montgomerycountymd.gov/CUPF.

Montgomery County’s Faith Communities Connect with New Neighbors Guide

Our world is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis with millions of refugees and immigrants fleeing persecution and violence. In response, the County Executive’s Faith Community Advisory Council has prepared a do-it-yourself guide to assist the County’s faith communities in welcoming our new neighbors.

The guide describes ways people may connect with the heart of their faith, learn about the needs of their neighbors, and work with nonprofits and government agencies to make Montgomery County the most welcoming community in America.

The New Neighbors Guide is available at https://www.scribd.com/doc/313811103/Faith-Community-Welcome-New-Neighbors-Guide

Faith Community Welcome New Neighbors Guide by Public Information Office

Bike to Work Day

Montgomery County Commuter Services, Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association are sponsoring this year’s Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 16. More than 10,000 area commuters are expected to participate in the free celebration of bicycling as a fun and healthy way to get to work.

Drop in at one of the County’s morning pit stops in Bethesda, Fallsgrove Village Center, Friendship Heights, North Bethesda, Rockville Town Center and Silver Spring and, for the first time, an afternoon pit stop in Silver Spring. All of the pit stops will feature a raffle with the grand prize being a bicycle. Free tee shirts will be distributed at the pit stops to the first 14,000 registered participants.

Cyclists are encouraged to register online.

Get more details on the pit stops and more information about Bike to Work Day online.

Volunteers Needed for 100,000 Homes Campaign

Montgomery County is now a part of the national 100,000 Homes Campaign, a movement of more than 200 communities working to find permanent homes for 100,000 chronic and medically vulnerable homeless Americans. The local campaign will prioritize those most in need of permanent housing and improve access to permanent supportive housing and services for homeless individuals.

During the 100,000 Homes Campaign Registry Week -- November 3 to 7 -- 300 volunteers will be needed to help in various capacities. Most will conduct the surveys of homeless individuals. However, others are needed to prepare survey materials, assist at volunteer headquarters or serve on a campaign subcommittee.

Food and drinks will be provided to volunteers at the training session and during volunteer shifts. Volunteers under 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

For more information, email the campaign at 100khomesmc@gmail.com.

To support the campaign by donating or becoming a sponsor, contact Campaign Manager Herb Smith at hsmith@mcch.net or 301-917-6648.

Register to volunteer.

Leggett, Councilmembers to Participate in Hearing about On-The-Job Safety And Health Challenges Faced By Immigrant Workers

County Executive Ike Leggett and Councilmembers Nancy Navarro, Valerie Ervin, and George Leventhal will participate in the public hearing on September 21 held by the Montgomery County Worker Safety & Health Commission on “Safety & Health Challenges on the Job Faced by Immigrant Workers.”

The hearing will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Silver Spring Civic Building, at Ellsworth Dr. and Fenton St.  It follows Montgomery County’s adoption of a regulation strengthening worker health and safety on County-funded construction projects.

Among those testifying will be the widow of a worker killed on the job in the County and other workers injured on the job.

See more information.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Thursday, September 6 – Public presentation of renovation plans for Ross Boddy Neighborhood Recreation Center. 7 p.m. In the multi-purpose room of the center, 18529 Brooke Rd., Sandy Spring. The departments of Recreation and General Services and the project architects will present the renovation plans that would modernize the facility and add a gymnasium and other improvements. For additional information on the meeting, contact Wilbert Givens at 240-777-8050. Learn more about the project.

Saturday, September 22 -- Car Free Day. The event is organized and promoted by the Council of Governments’ Commuter Connections program to encourage people to use alternative methods of transportation, such as walking, biking, public transportation or going “car lite” by riding in a carpool. The region benefits through improved air quality, reduced traffic congestion and parking demands, and energy conservation.  Car Free Day coincides with International Mobility Week, September 16-22. Pledge to be “car free” or “car lite” at the Council of Governments’ website.  Learn about carpooling options at MCDOT's Commuter Services' website or call 240-773-TRIPS (8747).

Check County Calendar for complete list of events.