First and foremost, we want to honor Kurt Stand, our beloved Returning Citizens Taskforce Organizer, who is retiring this week. His monumental work in advocating for and assisting returning citizens has left an indelible mark on our organization and the communities we serve. Kurt, your tireless advocacy, boundless empathy, and infectious spirit have touched countless lives and transformed our organization for the better. While you're retiring from your current role, we're grateful that you'll continue to be part of the Progressive Maryland community bringing your invaluable insight and commitment to our cause. Thank you for everything, and we wish you a happy retirement. 

Before we go into further updates, we'd like to share a personal note from Kurt: "I first attended Progressive Maryland meetings in 2018 and became active in 2019 after the “When They See Us” conference on criminal justice. Out of that conference emerged the Returning Citizens Task Force, which has focused on jobs, housing, voting rights and access to services to individuals after release from prison.  For the past two years I have been privileged to continue that work as a member of Progressive Maryland, honored to work with other staff members committed to social justice, honored to serve RCTF members who remain attuned to the unmet needs of the too many who are locked up, of the too many who are underserved when returning home. Truly, a remarkable group of individuals, and I will miss them. But this is au revoir, not farewell, I will continue to be engaged and know I will see many of you going forward. I sign off in the spirit of peace and hope."

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In Solidarity,

The Progressive Maryland Team

Here’s what’s in today’s memo:

• • PM Events

  • Election Announcements
  • PM Task Forces & Issue Campaigns Updates
  • Local Chapter Updates
  • Ally Events
  • State & National News

PM EVENTS:

Join us tomorrow at Lawyers Mall in Annapolis at 10:30 AM as Progressive Maryland, alongside other advocacy groups, hosts an important press conference. We're coming together to oppose Larry Hogan's Senate Candidacy and protect the progress Maryland has made since the end of his governorship.

Throughout his time as governor, Hogan vetoed essential legislation crucial for Marylanders, showcasing his allegiance to partisan ideology over our state's needs. Despite his moderate facade, Hogan's actions demonstrate his alignment with staunch Republican values. 

Join us as we highlight the importance of keeping Hogan out of the Senate as we refuse to let him jeopardize our hard-fought progress. Let's ensure that Hogan doesn't become Maryland's senator, endangering the values that define our state's politics.

Election Announcements:

We are proud to share our endorsements for 7 candidates in the 2024 primary elections in Baltimore City and Prince George's County.

PM Task Forces & Issue Campaigns Updates

Returning Citizens Task Force

We will participate in the April 17 Expungement and Job Fair at Reid Temple AME Church in Glen Dale from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm along with union apprenticeship programs offered through Forged Pathways. We will discuss building attendance at that event and make other plans for the future at our meeting tomorrow evening (4/16) which will be held virtually.  To attend via zoom, please contact Kurt. 

Beginning in May, we will meet monthly with different zoom contact information. Stay tuned.

Healthcare Justice: Be A Healthcare Justice, Care Over Cost Voter!

We relied on the leadership of progressive legislators in the Maryland General Assembly this session to champion our health insurance reform bill, hospital financial assistance legislation, the Access to Care Act and other measures that will expand healthcare and protect frontline workers. We prevailed because of these elected officials, especially in the State House AND because of the everyday Marylanders who  took action! 

To advance our Care Over Cost  agenda and win good policies we need to elect progressive, community centered candidates who will always put people first!  Electoral and issue campaigns go hand in hand. When we can create synergy between the two we can build long lasting grassroots, progressive power.

2024 is a critical election year in Maryland!! Stay tuned in the coming days for news about our exciting plans for this year’s general election, including posts about our special press conference tomorrow morning.  

Voters need to know how much drug companies’ and insurance companies’ greed is hurting  all of us. They need to know that we can do something, especially in this election cycle. There’s a real choice in this general election between candidates and where they stand on healthcare. Almost every single Republican member of the U.S.House and Senate strongly opposes taking meaningful action to stop drug companies’ price gouging and the insurance companies’ claim and care denials. We can’t let their views prevail! We’ve beaten back corporate PACs and their candidates before: let’s do it again by stepping up our  organizing and outreach efforts this summer and fall. We need you in the fight so jump in by joining or volunteering.  

Local Chapter Updates: 

South Prince George’s County

The South Prince George’s County Chapter came together and decided that we want to take action on getting more money for our schools or fighting our greedy utility companies. We need everyone to take action on this! Please reach out to Anton to commit to the next steps on making change!

Progressive Harford County & Lower Shore Progressive Caucus

Progressive Harford County and the Lower Shore Progressive Caucus are hosting a joint fundraiser to build awareness about climate and sustainability in Maryland. The fundraiser will be held on April 27 from 6-9 p.m. at Concord Point Coffee, 217 North Washington Street, Havre de Grace, MD 21078. Tickets are $25 and additional sponsorship levels and benefits are available too. Speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. 

Events from Allies:

Tonight, the Reel and Meal program will focus on similarities in three refugee situations. All involve Muslim populations. All had their roots in former British colonial rule. Ahmed Mansour, an award-winning Palestinian filmmaker,  will present his film "Angel of Gaza" and help lead the discussion afterward. Two other shorter films will be shown: one about Kashmir and one about the Rohingya from Myanmar. The program starts at 7PM at the New Deal Cafe, 113 Centerway, in Greenbelt. You can also attend via Zoom by prior registration here. For more details about the program, call Frank Gervasi at 301-467-2418. 

An invite from our friends at the Legal Justice Alliance of Baltimore County:

Not everyone is happy with General Assembly performance, but knives are not out
Lots of news from Maryland, other states and the Feds this week. Maryland's in the national news because some of the Assembly's work, along with collaboration from the Governor's office, is providing models for other states. Even so, some of our state-level advocates are grumbling that the Assembly could have done a lot more. In the other states, we can see some models growing there, too -- some progressive, some not so. And a flurry of international news over the weekend is deftly analyzed by People's Action's Megan E, who shows how the brakes can be put on dangerous conflict when legislators actually do their job instead of threatening those of others. It's all News You Can Use, sometimes abbreviated as NUCU

Progressive Maryland BlogSpace:

We value creating space for our members to express their thoughts on any issues related to our campaigns. Have an idea for a blog post? You can submit writing, film, graphic design, etc. to be published on our website to the blog moderator Woody.

• NEW TODAY – Not everyone is happy with General Assembly performance, but knives are not out
• Ping-pong politics as bridge collapse complicates end of Assembly session

• Key Bridge disaster putting much other news in the shade

• Assembly session heads for close with converging scuffles over taxes

• News You Can Use: Assembly scuffles to scrape up money to match dreams

   

>>Read more on the homepage of progressivemaryland.org

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Progressive Maryland
P.O. Box 6988
Largo, MD 20792