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Maryland Progressives:

We're thrilled to announce the 2023 Fall Cohort for the Maryland People's Leadership Institute (MPLI). The MPLI has once again recruited an exceptional group of fifteen leaders and activists, representing the rich diversity of Maryland's communities. This year's cohort hails from four different Maryland counties and the city of Baltimore, bringing a wealth of perspectives and experiences to our program. 

 

MPLI is dedicated to identifying, training, and supporting community leaders with aspirations of running for office or managing successful campaigns. It's a transformative campaign training program that empowers individuals with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to make a meaningful impact in their communities.   

 

Curious to learn more about our inspiring 2023 MPLI cohort? Discover their stories and visions for a better Maryland by checking out their bios on our website.

 

Read on to find information about numerous events hosted by our allies, important task force updates, and news you can use!

 



 

 

In Solidarity,

The Progressive Maryland Team

Here’s what’s in today’s memo:

    • PM Events: Annual Gala
    • PM task forces & issue campaigns: RCTF, HJTF, EJTF
    • Events from Allies
    • State & National news

PM EVENTS:

ANNUAL GALA –  Limited Tickets Left🎟️

Join us in just two weeks for our Annual Gala on September 21st at 4pm in Annapolis! Secure your tickets today and be part of this extraordinary event! 

Updates: PM Task Forces & Issue Campaigns 

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:  

      • 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

EVENTS FROM ALLIES:

Operation Clean Sweep

The Maryland Department Of Transportation will be starting the third phase of Operation Clean Sweep! Mark your calendars for September 5 - 8. Help MDOT make our community cleaner and greener.

 

Life After Release Expungement Clinic 

The criminal record’s expungement clinic is a chance for members of the community to meet with an attorney to have their criminal records expunged. The goal is to have a petition for expungement drawn up after meeting with an attorney. 

Time: Tuesdays and Saturdays 1 – 3 p.m. EDT

Location: 4719 Silver Hill Rd Suitland-Silver Hill, MD 20746

 

Town Hall - 9/6 at Henderson-Hopkins Elementary School

Green & Healthy Homes Initiative will host a town hall this Wednesday, September 6th from 5:30 - 7:30pm. Discover the implications of proposed MD climate policies on housing, environmental justice, air quality, health, and more. Plus, enjoy a light dinner! Don't miss out!

Clean Water Action Webinar

Clean Water Action is hosting a webinar about giving input on Maryland's Climate Pathway. The draft plan doesn't address ending trash incineration and misses out on vital Zero Waste policies that could slash waste sector emissions by 84%. Join the Free Webinar on Wednesday, 9/6, from 7-8 PM to learn about the plan, its gaps, and how you can make your voice heard!

State and National News:

Labor Day launches us into Fall, and Maryland is pronounced...well, above average as a good place for workers -- maybe we can do better than 14th next year?
But union power in previously difficult areas (for instance, community college faculty) is increasing, even as more and more teachers find a second job is necessary.
The National Labor Relations Board has put employers on notice that cheesy delaying tactics in labor struggles could just get the workers a win by default. And more News You Can Use, this week and every week. Read it all here.

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.

>>Read more on the homepage of progressivemaryland.org

 

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

woody woodruff

About

M.A. and Ph.d. from University of Maryland Merrill College of Journalism, would-be radical, sci-fi fan... retired to a life of keyboard radicalism...