"Helping People Changing Lives"

The Community Action Agency Hosts an Evening of Impact, Inspiration, and Hope

On Monday, August 4, 2025, the Community Action Agency held an Evening of Impact, Inspiration, and Hope at the Anne Arundel Career Center. With a small group of invited guests, including elected officials and community members, the Agency provided an evening focused on storytelling by people served by our programs.

The event was developed so each guest would have an opportunity to sit down one-on-one with three program participants in a “speed-dating” format. Program participants shared their personal stories, our guests listened and engaged in conversation. When people tell personal stories, it gives information context, making facts easier to understand and retain. Stories can also change our outlook and behavior because they engage emotions. As people listen to others share their experiences, often times they can identify relatable experiences to themselves or others they know, which leads to increased engagement. This one-on-one engagement is powerful for both the storyteller and the listener.

At the end of the evening, both program participants and guests shared that they found the experience personal and powerful. The Agency will be hosting the event again in the future.

Community Action’s Summer Therapeutic Enrichment Camp Wraps Up a Successful Session



The Anne Arundel County Community Action Agency proudly concludes the second summer of its transformative Summer Therapeutic Enrichment Camp at Riva Baptist Church, engaging 42 students in a dynamic 6-week program focused on behavioral and mental health success. This Therapeutic Leadership Program combined trauma-resilience education, social-emotional learning, and team building, beginning each day with affirmations, journaling, and yoga mindfulness to foster positive mindsets.

Participants developed essential life skills through evidence-based workshops on self-awareness, emotional regulation, and responsible decision-making, supported by trauma-informed practices. The program also provided exposure to 21st-century career pathways via guest speakers and local business visits, while team-building activities strengthened collaboration and leadership.

Highlights included yoga and mindfulness sessions, therapeutic art workshops, fire safety training, storytelling and spoken word, and emotional intelligence development. Excursions to SkyZone, Annapolis Bowl, and a culminating trip to the National Museum of African American History and Culture enriched the experience. The summer concluded with the Equity Youth Workshop, marking a season of growth, confidence, and leadership for all participants.

Early Head Start Celebrates Staff Milestones



Community Action’s Early Head Start program is celebrating the one-year anniversary of two teachers! Maria Gurrero joined the EHS team as a translator, and during the year received her teaching certificate. April Perry was hired as a provisional teacher, also earning her associate’s degree in child development during her first year. We are very proud of both teachers who worked hard within the program educating South County and Annapolis children while also continuing their educations to meet their career goals.  We appreciate the dedication of Ms. Gurrero and Ms. Perry as they work to prepare the children we serve for their transition to preschool. Congratulations, ladies!

Coming this Fall – The Homebuyer Wallet!

Get ready for our new Homebuyer Wallet, launching this fall — and it’s completely free! This platform will help you stay organized on your path to homeownership with checklists, budgeting tools, and local resource guides to keep all your important documents and notes in one place. Whether you’re just starting your journey or finalizing your purchase, the Homebuyer Wallet will be your go-to companion for making your dream home a reality.

Community Action Staff Assist County’s Office of Planning and Zoning with Outreach

The Community Action Agency has been working with the County’s Office of Planning and Zoning on outreach activities for Plan 2040 – specifically Region 8, which is from MD 450 and MD 214, east of the Patuxent River, and west of MD 2. It includes Davidsonville, Harwood, Lothian, and parts of Friendship and Edgewater.

The Region plans process offers an opportunity for residents to shape the future of their community. Input includes strategies related to housing, transportation, environmental conservation, and land development, which will inform future decisions including zoning changes, public infrastructure projects, and review of private development plans.

Over the past several months, Community Action staff members have been involved with setting up community meetings, attending community events, and visiting local food banks, baby banks, libraries, senior centers, and retail centers to survey community members and share information. The project is wrapping up and will culminate in a meeting of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee, which was appointed by the County Executive, in September. At the meeting, the Office of Planning and Zoning will present their recommendations to the Committee. The date has yet to be finalized.

The next Stakeholder Advisory Committee meeting is taking place at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at St. James Parish, 5757 Solomon’s Island Road, Lothian. The public is invited to attend.

August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month!

Most people rely on their eyes to see and make sense of the world. If you are reading this, your eyes are hard at work. Children use their eyes for countless things, too, such as doing homework, playing sports, picking out clothing, and helping with household chores. This is why is important to keep children’s eyes healthy and safe.

Here are tips to help children take care of their eyes:

·      Eat right to protect your sight! Keep children’s eyes healthy by eating a well-balanced diet. Have children eat plenty of different kinds of fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens like spinach, kale, and collard greens. Fish such as salmon, tuna, and halibut have also been shown to help eyes, too.

·      Keep children moving! Did you know that kids who exercise often have a healthier body weight than kids who don’t? Being overweight or obese can put children and adults at higher risk for diabetes and other conditions that can lead to vision problems.

·      Encourage children to speak up if their vision changes! If children mention that their vision is blurry or they have trouble seeing things at school, they should have their eyes examined. If adults notice a child squinting a lot, ask the child if they are experiencing changes in their vision.

·      Wear your glasses! If a child has been prescribed to wear glasses to correct their vision, make sure they are wearing them! To help them see better, teach children to keep their glasses clean and free of smudges. Teaching children to store their glasses when they aren’t wearing them will help avoid scratches that can impact vision.

·      Keep germs away! Make sure children wash their hands before putting them close to their eyes, especially is they are putting in or removing contact lenses.

·      Gear up! If children are playing sports, using chemicals during science class, mowing the lawn, or engaging in other activities that could impact their eyes, make sure they are wearing the proper protection to keep eyes safes. Many eye injuries can be prevented with better safety habits, such as using protective eyewear.

·      Wear shades! The sun’s rays can hurt your eyes. Choose sunglasses for children that block 99% or 100% of both UVA and UVB radiation from the sun. Remind children to never look directly at the sun.

·      20/20/20 rule! Remind children to give their eyes a break! If children spend a lot of time looking at computer, phone, or TV screens, it can tire their eyes. Encourage children to give their eyes a rest with the 20/20/20 rule: every 20 minutes, look about 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

·      Say no to smoking! Did you know smoking is as bad for your eyes as it is that rest of your body? Smoking can put people at risk for some pretty serious eye issues, which can lead to blindness.

·      Talk about it!

Does anyone in your family have issues with their eyes? Not sure? Ask! Talking about eye health with your family can help all of you enjoy healthy eyes.

After being referred by his mother, MJ participated in a Turnaround Thursday (TAT) session at Luminus Health. Once the session was over, he decided to register for the program, attending several TAT sessions and completed TAT Essential Skills training.

MJ experienced unfortunate circumstances during his senior year in high school when he received a charge for theft (less than fifty dollars) and was incarcerated for two months. This added to other negative experiences from his childhood, including the death of his father when he was seven years old. MJ spoke of the trauma he faced, his first time being arrested, being physically removed from his family during incarceration, and not being able to graduate from high school – which he said was devastating. After two months, he was sent home with a daily monitoring device and eight years of probation, which he successfully completed.

During the Essential Skills training, a partner came to provide information about free training opportunities, including CDL, HVAC, and auto mechanics. MJ immediately expressed an interest in auto mechanics but then began to think about barriers that would prevent him from being successful, starting with the inability to pay for gas without a job. MJ also consistently spoke of obtaining his GED during training, a goal he had promised himself to accomplish.

Today, MJ is starting his third week in auto mechanics training. Community Action’s TAT/Diversion and Reentry Services program is assisting with gas and transportation until he completes the program. TAT staff also reached out to Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC), to set MJ up with GED preparation classes, which start on August 25, 2025. MJ’s resume will also be submitted to our partner Luminus Health and other employers to be considered for part-time employment.

At Turnaround Thursday, staff follow the progression of our participants for two years. We are excited to be on this journey with MJ as he moves forward to completing his goals.

Have you Purchased Your Raffle Tickets for Community Action's 5th Annual Taste of Anne Arundel?

We are just a couple of weeks away from the drawing of the winning tickets for the Agency’s summer fundraiser! The Agency is pleased to have the support of 22 local restaurants to make our fundraiser a success. With $1500 in restaurant gift cards as prizes, we are confident that our three winners will enjoy eating delicious food, while knowing they support the mission of the Community Action Agency! Talk about a win-win!

Each $5 raffle ticket offers purchasers three chances to win prizes! The first prize winner will receive $750 in restaurant gift cards, second place receives $500 in gift cards, and third place will receive gift cards totaling $250. That sounds like a lot of good eating!

The restaurant sponsors of our raffle include: Arturo’s Trattoria, Ashling, Betty Lou’s, Brian Boru, Carpaccio Tuscan Kitchen, Carrol’s Creek Café, Cypress, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, Galway Bay, Harvest Thyme Kitchen, Killarney House, Leo, Pirate’s Cove, Robiolina Amore, The Farmhouse, The Grill at Quarterfield Station, The Point Crabhouse and Grill, The Social, Timber Pizza, Two Rivers Steak and Fish House, Vin 909 Wine Café, and Wharf 38. 

With restaurants located throughout our community, winning ticket holders will have the opportunity to taste their way through Anne Arundel County!

Tickets can be purchased online by clicking here or by visiting https://go.rallyup.com/tasteofannearundel5. You can also scan the QR code in the graphic below. If you prefer to purchase raffle tickets using cash or check, please contact Ms. Snyder at jnsyder@aaccaa.info prior to August 22nd.

The drawing for the winners will be held on August 27, 2025. Get your tickets before it's too late!

The Community Action Agency is seeking volunteers who are ready to come help and make a difference in our community! Volunteers are needed to assist with a variety of tasks.

For more information, please call 410.626.1900 x1024.