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January 31st, 2025
Dear Neighbor,
Make Way for the MD Women’s Caucus!
This past week we concluded our 3rd Annual Women Legislators of Maryland Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Clothing Drive! THANK YOU so much to all of the amazing donors who yet again made this year’s drive an incredible success! For the third year in a row, House of Ruth Maryland will be receiving thousands of donations to help the women and families they serve.
I’m so proud to chair this drive, and I couldn’t do it without the dedication and support of Caucus Executive Director Ariyana Ward, and all our wonderful members.
If you missed the chance to donate but would like to get involved, I encourage you to visit the House of Ruth Maryland website by clicking here.
Stay tuned for updates on our period poverty drive coming later this session!
To add to the excitement, last week the Women Legislators of Maryland held our first in-person meeting in five years!! I'm incredibly proud to have presided over my first general meeting as Women's Caucus President, and so ready for more! How lucky am I to partner with these amazing women and work together to create meaningful change.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller for coming and bringing inspiring words for us all. I also want to thank Comptroller of Maryland Brooke Lierman for attending and keeping us up to date on the transformational updates she is spearheading for Maryland's tax system.
I can't wait to share more updates from the Caucus soon and feel free to follow the Women’s Caucus Facebookand Instagram!
Proud to be an Ally 🏳️🌈
A terrific night surrounded by amazing advocates who are also dear friends for the 2025 Annapolis Pride Legislative Reception!! ❤️
It is a difficult time in America right now, and I can't imagine how hard it is for folks to hear their humanity called into question, demeaned, and discriminated against by this Federal Administration. I am honored to uplift and support the work of our amazing advocates in their tireless and courageous work fighting for LGBTQIA+ individuals in Maryland. Please know that no matter what I will always be here, and I will never stop advocating for all Marylanders.
As always, a special thank you to the incredible Joe Toolan, and to LEO Annapolis for the delicious food and for providing the space!
90 Days of Amazing Visits!
One of my most favorite parts of session is meeting with the amazing advocates who visit Annapolis every year. Learning about their legislative priorities and how those bills are needed in their everyday work is critical to making legislation the very best it can be!
This week, Delegate Heather Bagnall and I were so lucky to get a visit from AFSCME Maryland!
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees represents nearly 45,000 workers across Maryland, fighting to protect our beloved public employees.
Thank you to everyone who came by, and thank you to all the hardworking individuals they represent! If you would like to learn more about AFSCME Maryland, click here.
Yesterday, I felt so inspired seeing Moms Demand Action Maryland hard at work!!
These dedicated volunteers stopped by my office during their Advocacy Day, mobilizing support for common sense gun laws to protect our students, families, and loved ones.
If you would like to discover more about Moms Demand Action MD, check out their website here!
Thank you to everyone who takes the time to come all the way to Annapolis to connect with me. It is so special to be able to talk and hear to everyone's personal insight on the issues we face today, and I look forward to more of these meetings!
Elktonia - Carr's Beach Public Engagement
Annapolis Recreation & Parks will be hosting the start of their public engagement process for the development of the Master Plan for Carr's Beach! I am so proud to have helped secured the funding necessary for this important project, and I'm excited to see Annapolis engage with the community on what they want to see out of it. Elktonia - Carr's Beach holds a profound place in our history, and it's redevelopment will not be complete without your input.Please put these meetings on your calendar and make a plan to attend! Be sure to check out this great opportunity to chat with project planners and help contribute your amazing ideas.
For more information visithttps://bit.ly/annapolisparksandrecreation
State of Black Annapolis Speaker Series Returns!
The City of Annapolis and Michael E. Busch Public Library invites you to their 4th annual “State of Black Annapolis,” speaker series to commemorate Black History Month!
The speaker series will feature local experts and historians on topics that relate to African-American culture and life to highlight aspects of our history that are not always well-known.
The series will be held in the main meeting room of the Library from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday in February. Each week a free dinner will be provided by Black-owned catering companies from the Annapolis area. Each event is free, family friendly, and open to the public so please join if you are able!
Introducing IRS Direct File
Get ready for tax season! The Office of the Comptroller of Maryland has announced that Maryland will join the IRS’s Direct File program so eligible Maryland taxpayers can file their federal tax returns for free this year. Be sure to check out this free, mobile friendly, and secure resource!
For more information and to check your eligibility: marylandtaxes.gov/directfile
Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay Nominations ⛵
To commemorate the recent passing of Vincent Leggett– a historian, community organizer, and longtime leader of the Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation– the Department of Natural Resources is updating it’s nomination process for the Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay Award!
In order to make the process more inclusive and recognize individuals whose work may not be well publicized, DNR is accepting public nominations.
Individuals nominated for this lifetime achievement award bestowed by the governor should exhibit an extraordinary commitment to the conservation and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. If you would like to nominate someone you know the nomination period is now open until March 31. The Governor and DNR will announce award winners by June 1st.
To submit a nomination form click here!
Annapolis Maritime Resilience Initiative Engagement
As we encounter more flooding, erosion, and sea levels rising in our local watersheds, the City of Annapolis and Resilience Authority is prioritizing prevention!
The Annapolis Maritime Resilience Initiative aims to Identify and prioritize critical sites impacted by these changes in the Spa Creek and Back Creek watersheds located in and around Eastport.
I invite you to join for a Community Engagement Meeting on February 4th from: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Pip Moyer Recreation Center.
Share your experiences and help accomplish local long-term goals like enhancing our ecosystem resilience and improving habitat and water quality. Additionally, report flooding, sea level rise, and erosion in your community with MyCoast.
AACPL Black History Month Programming!
Every year, the Anne Arundel County Public Library does a remarkable job scheduling and planning Black History programming for our County. This year, they have another great list of programming that I wanted to make sure that you knew about.
Please click HERE for the complete list! #BlackHistoryMonth
You can follow me on Facebook, X, and Instagram to learn about volunteer opportunities, community resources, legislative updates and much more. If you have any questions or concerns, you can always contact my office by email at Dana.Jones@house.state.md.us or by phone at 410-841-3211.
Stay safe and healthy,
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