County Recognizes Volunteers, Awardees and Graduates of the Community Advocacy Institute at Community Action Celebration

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, May 22, 2019

At the Community Action Awards and Celebration held in Silver Spring last night, the Community Action Board (CAB) honored individuals and organizations for their work in promoting self-sufficiency. A joint proclamation from the County Executive and the County Council declared May as “Community Action Month”. The program included remarks by County Executive Marc Elrich and Councilmembers Riemer, Glass, and Albornoz acknowledging Community Action’s legacy in reducing poverty. “One of the things that makes Community Action unique is its multi-faceted approach to addressing poverty and helping people become self-sufficient,” said Elrich.

A special certificate of appreciation was presented to Chuck Short, special assistant to the County Executive, for his more than 45 years of commitment to the Community Action Agency.

“The Community Action Agency incorporates equity principles by ensuring that residents, regardless of language spoken, background, or socio-economic status have access to critical services, such as free tax preparation and vital supports, including food and nutrition, health outreach, and legal services,” said Betty Lam, chief of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Community Affairs.

The celebration included a graduation ceremony for eighteen county residents who completed the Community Advocacy Institute. Developed and led by the CAB, the eight-month training program, now in its third year, engages low-income residents as they learn about advocacy and apply their skills in a related project, such as testifying before County Council, submitting a letter to an elected official, or meeting with a representative.

The CAB presented the Marcia Plater Community Action Award for a Volunteer to Dehe Cao, a tax preparer with the agency's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. Montgomery College received the Marcia Plater Community Action Award for its VITA Partnership, referring accounting students as volunteers and providing EITC outreach to students at the annual Single Parents Conference. Sara Harris was the recipient of the Gerald J. Roper Sr. Community Action Award for a Volunteer for her years of service at the Takoma-East Silver Spring Community Action Center. The Hughes United Methodist Church Holiday Giving Program was honored with the Gerald J. Roper Sr. Community Action Award for a Volunteer Initiative. The Henry L. Dixon Community Action Award for an innovative program at a Community Action partner was presented to KindWorks’ program in support of the American Job Center at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.

One hundred forty-five volunteers were recognized for supporting services delivered directly through the agency, providing over 3,000 hours of service while leveraging the agency's local funding and its federally-funded Head Start and Community Services Block Grants.Outgoing Board members Mary Bennett, Jacqueline Dennard and Gail Gunod-Green were recognized for their leadership by Laura Irwin, chair of the Community Action Board.

The Community Action Agency (CAA) is the County's federally funded anti-poverty program and part of DHHS' Office of Community Affairs. Its mission is to reduce poverty and increase self-sufficiency through services, partnerships and advocacy. The agency is located at 1401 Rockville Pike, with additional programmatic locations around the County. The TESS (Takoma East Silver Spring) Community Action Center in Long Branch provides social services, a senior support group, Summer Meals, and is host to a variety of community partnerships, including the Judy Center, Impact Silver Spring's ESL classes, and Pro Bono legal assistance. Community Action’s VITA delivers year-round free tax preparation and EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) outreach at sites throughout the county. The agency monitors County-funded contracts with 28 nonprofits serving the low-income community, which deliver food, clothing, and social services, as well as legal assistance, employment training, education and community engagement. The agency is governed by the Montgomery County Community Action Board (CAB), which is authorized by federal, state and county government to advise about the needs of low-income people, recommending services and policies. The Board provides oversight for the agency’s federal grants including Head Start, which is monitored and supported by CAA staff.

For more information visit montgomerycountymd.gov/communityaction.

                                                                       # # #

Media Contact: Mary Anderson, 240-777-6534

 

Release ID: 19-174
Media Contact: Mary Anderson 240-777-6534