With just 42 days remaining in the legislative session, we're ramping up our efforts to push forward our progressive priorities. As February draws to a close, we find ourselves with numerous events and meetings shaping our agenda for the final stretch of the month. 

This past Saturday, our Returning Citizens Taskforce and Black Workers Center hosted a highly successful hiring fair and expungement clinic last Saturday. You can find more details about the event later in this memo.

Later today, we are gearing up for a crucial healthcare rally in Annapolis, where we will advocate for healthcare justice from our lawmakers. It's not too late to join us – sign up here and stand with us.

And as we bid farewell to Black History Month, don't forget to check out our dedicated section in the memo where this week, we honor the profound contributions to music. 

Stay engaged, stay informed, and let's continue building a more just and equitable Maryland together.

In Solidarity,

The Progressive Maryland Team

Here’s what’s in today’s memo:

• • TLDR: Actions!
  • TLDR: Events!

  • Black History Month

  • PM Task Forces & Issue Campaigns Updates
  • Local Chapter Updates
  • State & National News

Quick Actions to take:

• Email Senators to Support Lower Rx Costs

• Call Senators to Support Lower Rx Costs

• Email Delegates to Stop Subsidizing Trash Incineration
• Sign the Petition to End Trash Incineration in Baltimore (Baltimore City residents only)
• Sign Up to Learn More about our Black Workers Center Career Readiness Program (designed for underemployed workers and returning residents of Prince George's County)
• If you're not yet a member, there's no better time to Join Progressive Maryland!

Quick Events to register for:

• Feb 26 - Rally for Health Justice in Annapolis
• Feb 27 - Progressive Harford County Monthly Meeting (virtual)
• Feb 28 - South Prince George's County Meeting in Fort Washington
• Feb 29 - Burning Trash Is Not Renewable! Press Event & Rally in Annapolis
• March 9 - Housing Justice Rally in Silver Spring

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: 

Each week, we’ve highlighted black leaders, past and present, in different categories to honor the living force that is Black history. The category for the final week of Black History  Month is music!

Billie Holiday, born Eleanora Fagan, (April 7, 1915– July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer. She grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and had a very difficult childhood. As a young teenager, Holiday moved to Harlem and started singing in nightclubs. She made her recording debut at age 18, in November 1933, with Benny Goodman.  Billie Holiday's career was marked by groundbreaking achievements and challenges. After leaving Count Basie's band in 1938 due to conflicts and complaints about pay and working conditions, she joined Artie Shaw's orchestra, becoming one of the first black women to perform with a white ensemble. Despite facing racism, Shaw supported her, confronting segregation policies. Holiday's rendition of "Strange Fruit," a powerful condemnation of lynching, became iconic, though its sensitive subject initially faced resistance from record labels. Her popularity soared, earning her acclaim and a raise in demand. Returning to Commodore Records, she recorded both old hits and new songs, cementing her legacy as a trailblazer in jazz history.

The Orioles, pioneering R&B vocal group, emerged from Baltimore in the late 1940s, laying foundational stones for the genre. With their smooth harmonies and emotive delivery, they captured hearts nationwide. Their 1951 hit "It's Too Soon to Know" marked a pivotal moment in music history, becoming one of the first R&B songs to cross over to the pop charts. The Orioles broke barriers as one of the first African-American groups to achieve mainstream success, paving the way for countless artists to follow. Their influence resonates through generations, shaping the landscape of rhythm and blues and leaving an indelible mark on American music. The original five members of The Orioles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 as early influences.

Joshua Dai’Quan Goods, known professionally as Tate Kobang, is a prolific American rapper, songwriter, and record producer hailing from Northeast Baltimore, Maryland. Born on April 28, 1992, Kobang's journey in the music industry began in earnest with his breakout track "Bank Rolls (Remix)" in April 2015, a tribute to his late mother. The song gained viral attention and was even featured in the game Watch Dogs 2. In December 2023, Kobang achieved another milestone when he earned his first Billboard entry. Notably, he co-wrote the single "Mr. Right Now" by 21 Savage and Metro Boomin featuring Drake in 2020. Despite personal tragedies, including the sudden loss of both parents in 2013, Kobang persevered, finding solace and purpose in music, which also became a means to support his eight younger siblings. His influences range from childhood experiences singing in church to artists like Mr. Cheeks, Method Man, and Cassidy. 

PM Task Forces & Issue Campaigns Updates

Healthcare Justice: Rally for the Progressive Healthcare Agenda Tonight!

Join us in person on Lawyers Mall at 6:30! Sign up here for more details!

Grassroots organizations, community members, workers and advocates are gathering to urge our state lawmakers to take action this year on our Healthcare Agenda: Jobs, Care, Justice

If you can’t be there in person you can join us virtually. Sign up here

We’ll be in Annapolis (or on zoom watching the Rally) to demand lower Rx costs, healthcare protections for LGBTQ+ Marylanders, better pay and working conditions for frontline workers, an end to health insurance care and claim denials, and other issues related to healthcare access and financial assistance. This is a great opportunity for all of us to tell our lawmakers that we want a healthcare system that puts people over profit! 

Stay tuned this week for Rally coverage and our calls to action.

In the meantime, do you have a healthcare story? Are you interested in lobbying and organizing  for passage of our bills? Or do you want to be part of our awesome volunteer team?  Contact Patty.

Returning Citizens Task Force & Black Workers Center

Over 50 people – including between 25 – 30 returning citizens took part in a Hiring Fair/Expungement and Health Clinic on Saturday, February 24.  Progressive Maryland’s Returning Citizens Task Force and Black Workers Center collaborated in organizing the event, which was held at Steamfitters Local 602 training facility in Hyattsville.  Jason Williams, a member of the union and Executive Director of Forged Pathways was a full partner in putting the event together.  In addition to Local 602, Plumbers Local 5 and Sheet Metal Workers Smart 100 were all present at the fair, each providing information on how to sign up for union apprenticeship programs.  A number of attendees also made use of the expungement information presented at the Fair.

Akisha Greene, The Job Coach – a participant in PM’s regrant program -- provided job information as well. She will be helping individuals improve their resumes and interview skills.  SLK Health – another PM grantee -- did AIDS screening. 

The event also reached political leaders. Kym Taylor, State Delegate District 23 and Prince George’s Council Member at Large Calvin Hawkins both attended and spoke with participating returning citizens.  FM Radio 99.5 helped boost attendance by broadcasting information about our Fair as it was taking place.

Housing Justice

On Saturday, March 9, the Progressive Maryland Enclave Tenant Association in Silver Spring  is organizing a rally at 2 PM to continue holding corporate landlords accountable and fighting for policy that protects renters. Join us!

Local Chapter Updates

Progressive Harford County

Join Progressive Harford County for its February chapter meeting on Tomorrow at 7 p.m. on Zoom. We will review the latest initiatives with the chapter. Del. Steve Johnson will also join to inform Progressive Harford members on how to support his legislative bills in Annapolis this session. SIGN UP HERE

South Prince George's County

The Progressive Maryland South Prince George’s County chapter is having an organizing committee meeting on February 28th! Come to help decide what our first campaign will be and come make your voice heard! Email Anton for more information.

News You Can Use:  Shutdowns, showdowns – good ideas and bad; it’s News You Can Use 

Gov. Moore testifies on his own bill (Housing) to an Assembly committee; coming up five weeks to go till sine die (that's when the legislators go home, finished or not). The latest on Maryland, good (grants for behavioral health work; licensing speedups) and bad (wow, who forgot to put the updated tax assessment notices in the mail?). Plus what other states are doing and what we can learn from that, and the circus that is the US House of Representatives continues to entertain right up to the edge of shutdown. Will they slip?

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 – Shutdowns, showdowns, good ideas and bad -- it's News You Can Use

•  News You Can Use: Climate plans (but not enough, some say) and other state initiatives

• News You Can Use: What's happening in Maryland, other states and the federal government

• Anti-DEI laws as passed in Texas may be coming for all of us

>>Read more on the homepage of progressivemaryland.org

Don't forget to follow us on social media!

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