Returning Citizens Taskforce
RCTF has awarded 14 direct service providers working within Prince George’s reentry community as part of Progressive Maryland’s regrant program. The services range from housing, jobs, health care, skills training, education and the arts. The goal of the program is not only to show support to those working with people after release from prison; it is also to build collaboration amongst them.
The awardees are:
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- Acivilate
- Creative Suitland
- Damascus House
- Denney House
- HOTT (Helping Ourselves to Transform)
- John R. Lewis Reentry Reform Services
- Jordan Peer
- M.A.D. (Make a Difference Foundation)
- Neen Cares
- Peerfinity. LLC
- Prepare, Inc.
- Reentry United
- SLK Health Services
- The Job Coach
RCTF meets via zoom bi-weekly. Our next meeting will be on Monday, September 11 from 6:30 – 7:30. On the agenda will be a discussion of proposed legislation to prevent discrimination in housing for people after release from prison.
For more information about our upcoming meeting or about any of our work, please contact Kurt.
Healthcare Justice Campaign: Sharing Good News and Making Good Trouble
Healthcare Issue Update:
Great news in the fight to make medicines affordable! The Biden Administration announced the first 10 drugs that it will focus on in negotiations with pharmaceutical companies. These negotiations will lead to lower prices and result in tens of millions of dollars going back to Medicare to support and benefit Medicare recipients and traditional Medicare. What led to this game changing moment? Grassroots organizing to win this authority for Medicare in the Inflation Reduction Act!
Care Over Cost Organizing Update:
Demanding Senate Hearings: We’re building our public pressure campaign calling out health insurance company greed and care denials. We’re asking Sen. Sanders and the Health Education Labor & Pensions Committee (HELP) to hold a hearing this fall on health care claims and care denials. We want the Committee to hear from everyday people who have been affected by insurance company decisions; and to question industry CEOs about these practices and their profiteering. If your community group, faith based organization or advocacy group wants to sign on to the letter contact Patty to get the form. The deadline is September 16. Here’s the text of the letter.
Events and Rallies in the Community: Our Healthcare Task Force and our partners are planning exciting and important activities this September and October. We need to, in the words of Congressman John Lewis “make good trouble” if we want to win the big policy and political changes we envision! Stay tuned for dates and details. Click here to get updates sooner!
Environmental Justice Task Force
Sir James and the EJTF are enthusiastic and eager to participate in Maryland's climate action plan comment sessions. Public input is crucial in combating climate change and shaping the pollution-free society we aspire to create.
Maryland is in the process of shaping its draft climate action plan and public input is needed to ensure that our future does not include polluting and unclean energy sources and centers the needs of the most vulnerable in our communities suffering from environmental injustice and racism.
Get involved in upcoming events hosted by our coalition partners to learn more and share your input, either in person or online. All community members are invited to attend, no expertise required.
Two options are available:
1. Virtual Webinar on Weds, 9/6 from 7-8pm hosted by CWA & SBCLT. RSVP here.
2. In-Person Town Hall on Weds, 9/6 from 5:30-6:30pm at Henderson Hopkins Elementary, Baltimore, MD hosted by GHHI & MD Climate Partners. RSVP here.
There is also a Baltimore Listening Session on 9/12 at 6pm at Morgan State University.
If you would like to join the EJTF and help knock doors in South Baltimore, reach out to SirJames.
