On
Monday, January 20, join thousands of other county residents in honoring the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by participating in the Volunteer Center’s annual
MLK Day of Service event, set for 1-3 pm at the Bethesda North Marriott and Conference Center.
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Our faith communities are expected to play a key role in the 2020 Census. What is at stake is over $675 billion in federal funding that comes down to $18,250 per person in Maryland over the course of 10 years. To be loving our neighbors as ourselves means being sure they get counted and subsequently receive an education, fire safety, human services and more.
Our faith leaders are trusted like none others and our faith communities are best suited for reaching hard-to-count families, individuals and children. In today’s political climate many people distrust government and without understanding the confidential nature of the Census, they will not comply with it.
Hopefully your faith community will become a 2020 Census Partner. You will learn all about it at the 2020 Census Partnership meeting on Tuesday, January 21, in the Ellsworth Room of the Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Plaza at 7:30 pm. Shawn Ellis, 2020 Census Manager, and Nathaniel Massaquoi, Partnership Specialist in US Census Bureau. will be leading a highly informative session. Your questions will be answered and you will leave with impressive resource material.
Kindly RSVP under "Upcoming Events". You may click the 'Everyone Counts in Montgomery County' flier to the right that introduces the role faith communities will play in our essential effort to county everyone.
Looking forward to seeing you and your teammates on January 21, and working with you through the spring for enhancing the quality of life for everyone in Montgomery County.
In solidarity,
Rev. Mansfield "Kasey" Kaseman
Interfaith Community Liaison
Office of Community Partnerships
As we face increasing hate and violence at home and abroad, what could be better than remembering the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?! Here are opportunities stretching over four days to join people of all ages, races, ethnicities, genders and faiths in remembering, celebrating, serving and recommitting ourselves to the dream of a more beloved community.
Much thought and effort has been invested in everyone of the programs beginning with Marian Wright Edelman and the Interfaith Shabbat Service on Friday evening. Sunday’s Interfaith Service features remarkable music, dance performances and reflections by the Rev. Dr. Haywood Robinson and Imam Tarek Elgawhary. Check out the one minute video on volunteer service projects and be impressed by the array of events on Monday beginning with the Memorial Scholarship Breakfast, including the 48th Annual Tribute in Rockville and concluding with the 25th Annual Celebration and Tribute at the Music Center at Strathmore.
After discussions and focus groups with County and nonprofit stakeholders, Montgomery County is pleased to announce the FY21 Community Grants Application Process. Please note that there are a number of changes to the grants process for FY21 as outlined below.
The County Council and County Executive FY21 Community Grants programs, including the application process and corresponding budgets, will be combined, creating a single, streamlined process.
The community grant application portal for FY21 grants will open for submissions onJanuary 2, 2020.
The Community Grant application portal will close on January 29, 2020.
OMB and County departmental staff will review the renewal grant applications and make recommendations to the Executive, and the Executive will include specific recommendations for renewal grants in his FY21 Recommended Budget in March.
The Executive will include in his FY21 Recommended Budget, subject to affordability, an amount of funding available for new and enhanced community grants programs.
Due to timing constraints, recommendations for specific new and enhanced Community Grants will not be included in the FY21 Recommended Budget. Instead, OMB and Council staff will jointly develop a review process for new and enhanced programs. These recommendations will be transmitted to Council after March 15.
Community Grant application training workshops will be conducted throughout the County for nonprofit partners during the week of January 6, 2020. These are scheduled for:
Tuesday, January 7, 2020 – Plum Gar Recreation Center at 10:00 am;
Tuesday, January 7, 2020 – Wheaton Community Center at 2:00 pm;
Wednesday, January 8, 2020 – Council Office Building at 5:30 pm; and
Thursday, January 9, 2020 – Silver Spring Civic Center at 10:00 am.
Given the current fiscal climate and the intention to transition to a new Community Grants process in FY22, the County Executive will recommend prioritizing funding in the following order.
Renewing viable and effective FY20 Community Grants funded programs.
Renewing programs and funding levels for Community Grants from FY18 and FY19, if they were funded at a lower level or not funded for FY20.
Creating, as funding allows, a limited pool of resources for new programs or program enhancements capped at $20,000 per organization.
The Community Grants application and review process for the Cost-Sharing Capital Grants process will not change so that State matching funds can continue to be maximized.
Additional changes to the grants process are being discussed for implementation in fiscal year 2022, there will be additional opportunities for the nonprofit community to have input in that process – those opportunities will be announced for Spring and Summer 2020.
Stay Connected
If you would like your event featured in the
Faith Community Advisory Council newsletter, please contact us at interfaith@montgomerycountymd.gov
Faith Community Advisory Council | www.montgomerycountyinterfaithmd.org
