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ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
We should never allow ourselves to become desensitized to gun violence and the loss of lives to it, especially at the cost to our children.
We mourn for the students and staff murdered in the Nashville school shooting:
Nine-year-olds Evelyn Dieckhaus, William Kinney, and Hallie Scruggs; Head of School Katherine Koonce, Custodian Mike Hill, and substitute teacher Cynthia Peak.
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Making Herstory
We congratulate the six women newly elected to the Montgomery County Council, making it majority-female for the first time.
These women are making herstory, individually and collectively: Marilyn Balcombe (D-District 2), Kate Stewart (D-District 4), Kristin Mink (D-District 5), Natali Fani-González (D-District 6), Dawn Luedtke (D-District 7), and Laurie-Ann Sayles (D-At-large).
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Hot Off the E-Presses: Our 2022 Annual Report | |
We are proud to share our 2022 Annual Report. Each year, compiling the annual report allows us to reflect on program highlights and celebrate our community. Looking back inspires us to look forward as we work with our partners to build a stronger Montgomery County for children, youth, and families. | |
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Black Maternal Health Week: April 11-17
Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) is an annual campaign founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance to build awareness, activism, and community-building. Each year, BMHW kicks off on April 11 to coincide with the annual International Day for Maternal Health and Rights.
This year's theme is “Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy." Learn more and find a social media toolkit at BlackMamasMatter.org/BMHW.
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The maternal death rate among Black Americans is much higher than other racial groups. In 2021 it was 69.9 per 100,000, which is 2.6 times higher than the rate for white women. We must do better! | |
Conference Focuses on Elevating Out-of-School Time Experiences | |
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We were delighted to partner with Wonders Professional Development Consortium to offer an Out-of-School Time (OST) Conference for educators who provide OST programming in MCPS spaces.
OST colleagues gathered for the March 25 training at Montgomery College's Rockville campus to learn more about how to design intentional and inclusive environments that help all children thrive. Topics included the importance of literacy in OST settings, anti-bias and equity, and trauma-informed care. Thanks to our expert presenters and all who attended!
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NEW Youth Arts & Entrepreneurship Program | |
MoCo ReConnect has launched a new initiative, the Youth Arts & Entrepreneurship (YAE) Program. The YAE came to fruition through the vision of youth who came to receive services at MoCo ReConnect and noticed that more could be done to uplift their peers. When asked what that would look like, they stated a need for a space for youth to have a creative outlet while exposing them to skills and resources required to develop their own careers through a variety of art mediums. | |
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Each month from February to June, the YAE program will host two 2-hour workshops with a focus on creative expression, followed by a session on technical language, networking opportunities, and career exploration.
The YAE program will also host two community art galas to highlight young artists and their talents at MoCo ReConnect.
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Open Solicitation: Art and Entrepreneurship Workshop Facilitators
The MoCo ReConnect Drop-In and Reengagement Center in Wheaton seeks workshop facilitators to lead arts and entrepreneurship programs in our shared space. The Youth Arts and Entrepreneurship (YAE) Program solicits local artists to facilitate programming that is hands-on, interactive, and youth focused. Submissions will be reviewed and contracts offered on a rolling basis. For more information and how to apply, download the Open Solicitation.
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NOW AVAILABLE:
FY24 County Executive's Recommended Community Grants NDA Information Sheet
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The information sheet, which you can download here, outlines the County Executive's proposed reforms to the Community Grants Non-Departmental Accounts budget, process, and timeline within his FY24 CE Recommended Budget.
For more information, see this video of the March 22 Nonprofit Meet-Up facilitated by Nonprofit Montgomery and featuring Rafael Murphy, Director of the Office of Grants Management.
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Our Pathway to Services office is a specialized access point providing information that connects youth and their caregivers to community-based supports and services in Montgomery County.
Youth requiring a higher level of intensive services are referred to our Local Care Team (LCT), which is a coordinated interagency team designed to assist parents/caregivers with accessing and coordinating services as well as developing plans of care for community-based services.
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The LCT also serves as the access point to wraparound care, a strengths-based, family-driven process that puts in place an array of services and informal supports to help strengthen families and address emotional and behavioral concerns. | |
Welcome to our Collab Corner. Each month, we ask a few Collaboration Council staff members to share a little about their personal interests or pastimes - things they've been doing to relax, recharge, learn something new, or just have fun. | |
Thylan Singleton
Program Manager, Out-of-School Time
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Folks often say that witnessing Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre is life-changing. Well, my experience at this year’s Revelations piece was just that, life-changing! From the Negro spirituals to the use of gospel songs and blues, this profound performance explored the places of holiest joy and of deepest grief in the soul. While I listened to the rousing "Wade in the Water" selection, I was immediately taken back to my childhood, specifically Sunday mornings in my grandma's living room as I waited for her to get dressed for church. In fact, Alvin Ailey himself even asserted, "one of America's richest treasures was the African-American cultural heritage," and this Revelations tribute was that, indeed. | |
The performance reminded me that dance, and art at-large, can truly be a window into the heart and soul, revealing some of the deepest and most vulnerable parts of ourselves. If you haven't had the pleasure of experiencing this exquisite expression of art just yet, I encourage you. It’s a wonderful experience for the entire family! | |
Yaineababa Masresha
Accountant
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I recently visited two restaurants, Rohobot Ethiopian Restaurant in Silver Spring and Lauriol Plaza in DC. I love trying new restaurants, and it was great to experience food from two different cultures and see their similarities.
I noticed Ethiopian and Mexican food have some dishes that have the same level of spiciness. I also noticed Mexican food uses tortilla and Ethiopian use enjera (flat bread made with teff flour). Food brings people together from all walks of life, and I enjoyed my visits.
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Thank you for your continued support of children, youth and families in Montgomery County. | |
Click the logos to visit our program websites: | | | | |
