AIM September Newsletter
We’re taking action at the county and state level this fall! Here’s a recap of our recent work and a look ahead:
AIM Countywide Meeting (Sept 12)
AIM Fall Action (Oct 15)
Statewide Action (November 17)
Summer Training Series Recap
Pedestrian Safety Victory at New Hampshire Estates
AIM Countywide Meeting
At our AIM Countywide Meeting on September 12th, we were excited to welcome new faces and organizations and to see everyone's energy to take action this fall. Here's a recap:
In groups, we determined political asks and next steps for each of our campaigns: Pre-K, Linkages to Learning, Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary, housing, climate, and more.
Each member organization committed to how many people they can turn out to our countywide action on October 15 and statewide action on November 17.
We elected Dr. Stacy Ashton, the Principal of Burnt Mills Elementary School, as the newest member of our AIM Board of Directors—congratulations!
2. AIM Fall Action
We are gearing up for our AIM Fall Action, “Forging Our Future,” on October 15th at 7 pm! Join us on this high energy, joyous evening as we meet with County Executive Marc Elrich to advocate for these priorities in his budget:
Our Children (Pre-K expansion, Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary, and Lake Forest recreation center)
Our Health (Linkages to Learning and dental clinics)
Our Homes (Housing & climate campaigns)
Together, let's create a future where everyone in our communities can thrive!
Please register here and invite your congregation or community:
Floor Team: We are also looking for volunteers to be on floor team to help the action run smoothly. There are roles available for check-in, ushering people to their seats, and more. Please contact Cynthia Marshall (cynthia@actioninmontgomery.org) if you are willing to be on floor team.
Action Rehearsal: The action rehearsal will be on Tuesday, October 8th, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, also at Colesville United Methodist Church. We are asking all speakers, floor team members, and the core team of each congregation or school to come. Dinner will be provided. Please register here:
3. Statewide Action November 17
Save the date for our Statewide Action on November 17th from 3:00–5:00 pm at Wilde Lake Interfaith Center in Columbia!
Together as ACT, AIM, and PATH, we are bringing 500-600 people to meet with our state legislators, Maryland Secretary of Housing, Comptroller, and more to put forth our agenda for the 2025 legislative session. We'll call on our state leaders to help us achieve our priorities, including:
Diverse, attainable housing options
Renters' rights
Clean energy for healthy communities
Pre-K for every child
Help us show our power to make change statewide!
Please register here and invite your congregation or community:
4. Summer Training Series Recap
Our Summer Training Series, “Building Diverse Teams for Justice,” was a success! Leaders across ACT, PATH, and AIM learned how to organize core teams in their congregations and communities.
A total of 199 people from PATH, ACT, and AIM registered to attend at least one of the 6 sessions between June and September. We had fun together and connected with each other between and across organizations through one-on-one and small group conversations. Together, we explored:
How core teams make up the key power base of our organizations.
How to hold listening sessions and one-on-one meetings to build relational power.
How to create and strengthen our core teams.
How we experience the divine as we work in community.
How to use communications to strengthen our teams.
As a result of the series, many leaders said they feel equipped to build stronger teams in their congregations, host listening sessions, and more. Stacy Burvant, an ACT leader who attended, says, “I am now more optimistic than ever in our potential to form core teams in the near future!” This power within our member organizations will be crucial as we act together at the state and county levels this year.
5. Pedestrian Safety Victory
We are excited to announce that, thanks to the hard work of parents in AIM, the New Hampshire Estates Elementary School Safe Route to School Project started on Monday, September 16th!
Parents at New Hampshire Estates Elementary School have been raising concerns that their children (in kindergarten through second grade) have to walk across dangerous intersections to get to school. Several children and parents have been hit by or nearly hit by cars.
Starting in August 2023, New Hampshire Estates parents organized with AIM and CHEER to make a change. They held community meetings with the principal of the school and the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) to push for a solution. The parents persistently emailed MCDOT leaders to insist that their kids have a safe route to school.
Finally, thanks to everyone’s persistent efforts, MCDOT is starting their construction project to improve the safety of 6 intersections!
Great work, New Hampshire Estates parents who organized to make this happen!
Support AIM’s work financially!
