"Helping People Changing Lives"

During Times of Uncertainty, Community Action’s Team is Business as Usual

The Community Action Agency’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Charlestine R. Fairley and Vice President Joshua Hatch recently attended the National Community Action Foundation’s “Understanding the New Washington” conference in Washington, D.C.

The National Community Action Foundation was founded in 1981 to prevent the dismantling of the Community Action Agency network. The foundation’s first initiative was the creation of the Community Services Block Grant program, which preserves the network and the federal-to-local funding pipeline to mitigate the causes and conditions of poverty. They represent the advocacy arm for the Community Action network and are not federally funded.

The conference was convened to help Community Action agencies understand the shifting political tone in Washington, D.C., which will impact the people the network serves nationwide. David Bradley, the CEO of the National Community Action Foundation, gave a speech entitled “Things Every Community Action Professional Must Know about Congress.”

A bipartisan slate of current and former members of Congress also spoke, including Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT-02), Rep. G.T. Thompson (R-PA-15), and former representatives Steve Israel (D-NY) and Charlie Dent (R-PA). Staff members of the House Oversight Committee gave remarks about the DOGE experiment.

Dr. Fairley and Mr. Hatch had the opportunity to visit the offices of several members of our Congressional team, including Senator Chris Van Hollen, Senator Angela Alsobrooks, Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Rep. Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), and Rep. Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) to discuss the work the Anne Arundel County Community Action Agency is doing in our community and to garner support for our Agency.

While the message and mood of the conference was cautious, Dr. Fairley came back to Annapolis determined that our Agency would continue our daily work fighting to support the most vulnerable sector of our community. 

The message is clear: our doors are open, and its business as usual!

Joshua Hatch Honored with “Few of the Many” Award

The Community Action is pleased to announce that Joshua Hatch, the Agency’s Vice President, received the “Few of the Many” Award at a ceremony on March 19, 2025, at Maryland Hall.

The “Few of the Many” Awards is Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman’s signature Black History Month event in partnership with the Caucus of African American Leaders. This year’s theme – African Americans and Labor – honors individuals who have contributed exceptionally to the community through their work and service.

Mr. Hatch was cited as a dedicated professional committed to empowering individuals impacted by the criminal legal system to rebuild their lives.



Congratulations for the recognition of your hard work, Mr. Hatch!

Community Action Participants Support Dragon Night: A Celebration of Black History & Community

On February 21, 2025, Annapolis Middle School hosted Dragon Night, a dynamic Black History Month celebration highlighting African American history through art, performances, music, vendors, and cultural displays.



Renowned art influencer, Ms. Sandra Saint Leger, partnered with the Community Action Agency (CAA) through the Coordinated Community Supports Partnership Grant, bringing creativity and cultural enrichment to the event. The CAA Grant Team, alongside school staff and dedicated volunteers, played a key role in event setup, staffing, and community outreach to ensure maximum student and family participation. Additionally, the Agency provided transportation for several families, making this important celebration more accessible to the community.

The Coordinated Community Supports Partnership Grant aims to expand access to high-quality behavioral health and wraparound services for students and families across Maryland, reinforcing our commitment to holistic community support.

We are proud to uplift and celebrate history, culture, and community engagement—together, we create meaningful impact!

For more information about the Coordinated Community Supports program, please contact Mr. Johnson at ijohnson@aaccaa.info.

New Community Outreach Hours at Offsite Locations

The Community Action Agency has made changes to staff hours at two of our offsite locations.

The Agency will have a staff member at the Edgewater Library, 25 Stepneys Lane, Edgewater on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. The Department of Social Services will also have a representative on site on those days for those interesting in applying for SNAP benefits and other DSS services.

The Agency is pleased to announce we will have a staff member at the Severn Center, located at 1160 Reese Road, Severn, on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from 10 a.m. - noon. Other organizations also have representatives on those dates, including DSS (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.), Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corp. (noon - 8 p.m.), Severn Library (11 a.m. - 1 p.m.) and the Governor's Office (9 a.m. - 11 a.m.)

Ms. Rose was referred to Turnaround Thursday in March 2025. She called Community Action to inquire about the Turnaround Thursday Movement and was provided with information before she attended her first Turnaround Thursday the following week. She was interested in participating, completing the intake paperwork with the Case Manager and went through the one-on-one assessment with the Job Developer.

Ms. Rose had some challenges she was dealing with, but her goal and focus was on obtaining employment to be able to provide for her family. She was ready and anxious to start the Turnaround Thursday process. The Job Developer requested a resume after learning of her training and skillset in the medical field. She wanted to continue to attend the weekly meetings but did not have access to or funds for transportation, but the Agency was able to make sure she was able to attend the meetings. The team saw her potential and wanted to ensure that she did not miss the opportunity.

As Ms. Rose continued her journey and attended weekly meetings, the Job Developer insisted she view Luminis Health’s website for positions of interest. She applied for multiple positions and submitted her resume. She was also blessed to receive additional bus passes to take care of other tasks she needed to take care of.

Luminis Health and Turnaround Thursday worked collaboratively with Ms. Rose. Within a 3-week period, Ms. Rose was preparing for her interview. She explained that Luminis staff took her to the high technology department she would work in and the joy she felt thinking about being back at work. A few days later, Ms. Rose called the Agency to let us know she received her offer letter, which she accepted.

Ms. Rose came to Turnaround Thursday this past week to say “thank you” and to share her good news!



Congratulations, Ms. Rose, from the Community Action Turnaround Thursday team!

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Did you know that colorectal cancer (CRC0 is the second deadliest cancer in the United States? Each year, more than 56,000 Americans will die from CRC and more than 140,000 new cases will be diagnosed. More women over the age of 75 die from colorectal cancer than breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, 80-90 million Americans are considered at risk due to age or other factors.

The exact causes of CRC are unknown, but the disease appears to be caused by both inherited and lifestyle factors. Lifestyle factors – such as cigarette smoking, lack of physical exercise, and obesity – may increase the risk of developing the disease. Genetic factors may determine which at-risk individuals actually go on to develop the disease.

It is recommended that people see their doctor for yearly screening if you are aged 45 or older. To maintain colorectal health, eat a diet low in animal fats and high in fruits, vegetables, and fiber. It is also important to get regular exercise, avoid smoking, and keep alcohol consumption in moderation. Colon cancer screenings can identify and allow removal of pre-cancerous polyps and prevent the development of cancer.

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.