Montgomery County Executive Elrich and Community Action Board Celebrate Advocacy Institute Graduates

For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 23, 2024

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich on May 21 joined the Montgomery County Community Action Board (CAB), the County’s Federally designated anti-poverty advisory group, in Silver Spring to celebrate graduates of the Community Advocacy Institute (CAI), the CAB’s free advocacy training.

The CAI is a free bilingual (English and Spanish) eight-month training program specifically for lower-income County residents. Workshops include how to work with elected officials, storytelling, research, letter-writing, developing testimony and learning about key advocacy issues. The CAB, which provides governance to the County’s Department of Health and Human Services Community Action Agency, including Head Start, facilitates the CAI.

Since 2016, 140 community members have successfully completed the CAI. Many are now serving on County advisory groups and nonprofit boards and participating in various advocacy efforts.

County Councilmembers Natali Fani-González and Dawn Luedtke, State Delegate Greg Wims, representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services and CAB leadership also attended the event.

“Elected officials need to hear from the diversity of residents to develop effective policies and budgets that address the community's needs,” said County Executive Elrich. “The Community Advocacy Institute is an important program that teaches residents advocacy skills so that they can be involved in issues that affect them. Congratulations to the graduates.”  

The graduation also celebrated the 60th anniversary of Community Action at the national level. In August 1964, President Lyndon Johnson created Community Action as part of his “War on Poverty,” with the passage of the Economic Opportunity Act. Since then, Community Action agencies have been established across the country. Today, they serve 99 percent of counties.

In Montgomery County, the Head Start program began in 1965, while Community Action started in 1966 with the establishment of the Community Action Committee. Two years later, the Takoma-East Silver Spring (TESS) Community Action Center was created.

Graduates shared their personal statements during the ceremony, noting what the CAI meant to them and their plans for future advocacy.

“The CAI is a supportive program that gave me the opportunity to grow and learn effective ways to advocate for issues impacting the community,” said graduate Waleska Flores Rovelo. 

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Release ID: 24-246
Media Contact: Leah Goldfine 240-777-1708
Categories: Health