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Community Action Board (CAB)




Board at Earned Income Tax Awareness Day Event

CAB serves in an advisory capacity to the County Executive and County Council, and as an advocate on behalf of the poor and working poor of the County. Members are appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Council. CAB supports governance of Community Action Agency programs, including Head Start. The CAB meets the on 4th Tuesday of the month (except in July, August and December) at 6 pm.  The CAB Executive Committee meets on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 6 pm.  All meetings are being held virtually during the COVID-19 emergency.

FY21 Community Action Board Meetings
September 22, 2020
October 27, 2020
November 24, 2020
January 26, 2021
February 23, 2021
March 23, 2021
April 27, 2021
May 25, 2021 (Community Advocacy Instiute Graduation Ceremony)
June 22, 2021

*All board meetings are open to the public but virtual meetings are password protected for security purposes.  Please call 240-777-1697 to request the link and password.
Community Action Board Members


Meredith Bowers, At-Large Executive Committee Member
Private Nonprofit Representative, Nonprofit Montgomery 

Valerie Chatfield-Smith
Representative of the Low-Income Community, Gaithersburg

Lisa Conlon
Government/Public Representative, Board of Education

Erika Conner
Representative of the Low-Income Community

Lisette Engel, Vice Chair
Representative of the Low-Income Community, Germantown

Candace Groudine
Government/Public Representative, Human Rights Commission 

Laura E. Irwin, Ex Officio Executive Committee Member
Private Nonprofit Representative, Spanish Catholic Center, Catholic Charities

Ron Jennings
Private Nonprofit Representative, Coalition for the Advancement of Financial Education

Jeffery Johnson, At-Large Executive Committee Member
Private Nonprofit Representative, People’s Community Baptist Church

Tiffany Jones, Chair
Representative of the Head Start Policy Council and of the Low-Income Community, Rockville

Will Kenlaw
Government/Public Representative, Department of Transportation 

Danette Lawrence
Government/Public Representative, Housing Opportunities Commission

Agnes Leshner
Private Nonprofit Representative, Montgomery’s Kids

Pamela Luckett
Government/Public Representative, County Council Designee

Myriam Paul, Secretary
Representative of the Low-Income Community, Rockville

Timothy Robinson
Private Nonprofit Representative, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity

Michael Subin, At-Large Executive Committee Member
Government/Public Representative, County Executive’s Designee

Zelda Wafer-Alonge, At-Large Executive Committee Member
Representative of the Head Start Policy Council and the Low-Income Community, Wheaton

 

*If you would like to contact the Community Action Board, please call 240-777-1697 or send email to the Staff Liaison.

Board Meeting Minutes
Community Advocacy Institute

The Community Action Board established the Community Advocacy Institute (CAI) in 2016 to teach advocacy skills to low-income residents.  Participants attend monthly workshops on a variety of topics, including how to work with elected officials, storytelling, letter-writing and developing testimony, and key advocacy issues for low-income residents.  Board members facilitate all of the workshops and welcome guest speakers, including County Councilmembers, advocates, and issue experts.

Participants must be residents of Montgomery County with a household income of $56,000 or less.  Successful completion of the CAI includes participation in all workshops throughout the eight-month program and completion of an advocacy project.  The CAI runs October through May.  The recruitment process for the 2020-2021 program has ended, but recruitment for next year's program will begin in July 2021.

 
The 2020 Community Advocacy Institute

Community Advocacy Institute

Community Advocacy Institute

Follow Community Action on Social Media

Community Action E-Newsletter

Maryland Community Action Partnership