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March 29, 2021
Hello Neighbors,
The House of Delegates passed a slew of major legislation this year. Over the past 75 days, we; passed emergency legislation (the RELIEF Act) to ensure that small businesses and hard-working Marylanders get desperately needed assistance, created new requirements and accountability measures to help improve our unemployment system, approved major police reform legislation which balanced police accountability with new support programs for officers, took major actions to improve our public education system by overriding the Governor’s veto on the Blueprint, helped ensure that the students most affected by the pandemic and virtual schooling get the services they need through the Blueprint 2.0 and so much more.
With just over two weeks left in Session, my colleagues and I will be working around the clock to ensure that critical legislation passes both chambers. I want every person who reaches out to my office to know that I care deeply about what you have to say and am so appreciative of those who take the time to share their thoughts with me. Please always feel free to reach out to our office at Dana.Jones@house.state.md.us or by phone at 410-841-3211.
Protecting the Chesapeake
When constituents reached out to my office in droves in regards to HB843, I was shocked to hear that many of the community members most affected by the bill did not even know of its existence. Over the past several weeks, I worked to make sure that my colleagues in the Anne Arundel County Delegation and the Environment and Transportation Committee considered the concerns of my constituents before repealing long-standing environmental protections. I want every person who reaches out to my office to know that I care deeply about what you have to say and am so appreciative of those who take the time to share their thoughts with me. Please always feel free to reach out to our office at Dana.Jones@house.state.md.us or by phone at 410-841-3211.
Michelle Obama Award 2021
I was so appreciative and honored to recently be named a recipient 2021 Michelle Obama Award. I want to thank the office of County Executive Steuart Pittman and the Caucus of African American Leaders for this amazing honor.
I'm overwhelmed. This truly means so very much to me and my family. Named after one of my role models - as a woman, as a servant to others, and as a mother. I am humbled to be named alongside such tremendous leaders in our community who I regard so highly.
I want to thank all of those who I have worked with, especially Feed Anne Arundel, Tyler Heights Elementary, Georgetown East Elementary, Light of the World Family Ministries, and so many others who have established food pantries and distribution lines. Thank you to the hundreds of those who donated food, money, thousands of diapers & sanitary items to your neighbors. Thank you to all the volunteers who spent countless hours through this pandemic serving those in need. When we all work together, we all do better. I look forward to continuing to work with you all - to serve our shared communities.
A brief award ceremony will be held on Tuesday, March 30, at 6:00 pm. You can watch by going to any of the links or channels listed below -
Channel 38 on Verizon
Channel 98 on Comcast / Broadstripe
Legislative Scholarship
Applications for the 2021 - 2022 school year are now open! To be eligible for this scholarship, you must live within District 30a, which you can check here! Scholarships are awarded based on need and on a case-by-case basis. Prior to applying, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is available and can be submitted online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
You can find directions on how to submit your application online here.
If you have any questions, comments, and/or concerns, you can contact our Scholarship Program Manager, David Duba, at 410-841-3211 or david.danajones.office@gmail.com.
Vaccine Appointment Assistance & Information
Do you have questions about how to make or want help making a vaccine appointment? Our office has answers!
You can submit your questions to us by going to -http://bit.ly/Vaccinequestions1
O http://bit.ly/VaccineQuestions2 para en español.
Volunteers Needed!
The City of Annapolis needs your help! They are looking for volunteers (Spanish-speaking preferred) to help get information out on accessing the vaccine. Volunteers will be handing out informational flyers and engaging directly with community members. Please email Laura Gutierrez at lgutierrez@annapolis.gov with the subject line “volunteer” if you are interested in helping out or would like more information.
COVID-19 Vaccinations
STARTING TOMORROW! Maryland will be moving into Phase 2B of our vaccination plan. Under this stage, Marylanders over 16 years old with underlying medical conditions that increase the risk for severe COVID-19 illness are now eligible. Those eligible may preregister for an appointment by going to https://massvax.maryland.gov/
Eligible Maryland residents can use these links to make an appointment at locations throughout the state:
- Safeway
- CVS (Those without online access can call 800-746-7287)
- VA Maryland Health Care System (Eligible Veterans only)
For more tips on how to register for a vaccination appointment you can click here!
NOTE To Those Who Have ALREADY Received The Vaccine: If you have been able to receive a vaccine from a mass vaccination site like Six Flags or a pharmacy like a CVS, please take the time to remove your name from any pre-registration waitlists you used. This small step makes a big difference to others still waiting for their shot. This continues to be a very fluid situation, and I encourage you all to follow any of my social media pages for up-to-date information as it becomes publicly available.
You can also use the State of Maryland Vaccination Site Search Tool to search for all vaccination locations within the state. Find out how to get alerted when appointments become available here!
If you have any questions about the vaccine rollout or are eligible for a vaccine and need help making an appointment, please email Dana.Jones@house.state.md.us, and our office will assist you.
Love Our Libraries
2021 is the Anne Arundel County Public Library's 100th anniversary! Our library offers a wide variety of programming and resources. In honor of their centennial celebration, each week, I will be highlighting one program, resource, or event that our libraries have to offer.
Wednesday, March 31, at 4:00pm, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) is coming to AACPL. Hear from scientists in the SERC Molecular Ecology Lab, take a tour of one of their field sites, and get a closer look at how fungus friends are helpers in our forests. Students can even conduct hands-on activities right from home! Just Pick up a kit at your nearest Public Library starting March 24th at no cost (while supplies last). Click here to register for this exciting event.
I would encourage everyone to follow the Anne Arundel County Public Library’s Facebook page to get updates on programs and new resources. Also, check out their calendar to find the perfect event for you and your family to enjoy!
COVID-19 Tests
Anne Arundel County offers testing at no cost. Symptoms are not required for testing, and a doctor’s note is not needed. Test results are usually available in three to five days. You can call the Anne Arundel county COVID-19 Health Information Line: 410-222-7256 with all of your COVID-19 related questions.
COVID-19 Resources
My full breakdown of resources - everything from eviction prevention to utility assistance, is available here. If you or someone you know needs help navigating any state resources, you can always reach out to my office. My Chief of Staff, Lydia McPherson, or I can assist you.
Attention College Students
The Maryland Student Legislature has been providing college students with an invaluable hands-on education opportunity for more than three decades. The program allows students to participate in a simulation of the Maryland General Assembly, helping them gain real-world experience of our legislative process. This year, MSL will hold its 32nd Annual Session virtually on Saturday, April 17th, from 12-4 pm. Students can sign up to participate here!
Stand Up for the Light House
Annapolis Canoe and Kayak is partnering with the Light House - Homeless Prevention Support Center to provide you with an opportunity to win fun prizes while supporting a great cause. Enter this two-week-long raffle to win a stand-up paddleboard or a $1,000 Amazon Gift Card! All proceeds go to support The Light House Shelter to support the essential services they provide.
Tickets on Sale NOW through Thursday, April 8th at noon. Purchase either a SUP Board Ticket or Amazon Ticket here!
Juneteenth
Today, the City of Annapolis announced that we will be hosting Maryland’s first Juneteenth Festival. The festivities kick off on Friday, June 18th, with a special award ceremony followed by a parade and music festival on Saturday the 19th. You can learn more about this inaugural celebration here!
Introducing the New D30A Mascot
I am overjoyed to introduce MD District 30a’s official mascot, Annie Chesapeake. Annie is ready to serve the great people (& pups) of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County!
You can follow my adventures on my Twitter @DanaCJones or hit her up on Instagram @AnnieChesapeake.
You can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to learn about volunteer opportunities, community resources, COVID-19 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,
