By Wawira Waiganjo
WGC Young Women's Giving Circle "Break the Cycle" Intern

This weekend Paula Seabright from the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County and Isha Ande and Tanvi Anand from the Mount Hebron Period Club and I attended the Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women (MLAW) Fall Conference - "Women Lead in Maryland: Protecting Our Rights"

This was my first time attending an MLAW Conference, and it was an incredibly informative experience. I learned a lot about how bills are proposed and how much collaboration and passion go into each idea.

It was inspiring to see so many groups present thoughtful and motivated proposals on issues that truly matter.

Ms. Paula Seabright and Isha Ande presented a bill being sponsored by Delegate Jessica Feldmark, on expanding period product access in higher education. Their proposal was met with enthusiasm and constructive feedback, including suggestions such as adding information about the cost of period products to strengthen the bill. Other groups shared proposals on topics ranging from increasing the availability of substitute workers for early education facilities to expanding protections for sexual assault survivors; each offering new perspectives and solutions.

When Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth spoke, she was honest about the challenges of passing legislation, but she also encouraged us to stay engaged, to volunteer, advocate, and keep pushing for progress.

In a time when it’s easy to lose hope, this conference reminded me that we do have the power to create change!

At the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, we believe that when our community comes together, we can make a powerful difference - especially for women, girls, and families in need.

With the impending loss of emergency SNAP benefits and the impacts of the federal shutdown, we know that many of our neighbors are struggling to access basic food and product resources and support.

These challenges highlight why collective giving matters - when we pool our dollars, voices, and resources we can respond quickly to urgent needs and help fill critical gaps.

If you or someone you know needs food or product support right now, please know that you are not alone - help is available, and your community is here for you.

​And, WGC is committed to sharing information, raising awareness, and mobilizing support for those in need in our community.

Here is a list of local partners and organizations offering food and product assistance across Howard County:
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• Community Action Council (CAC) & Howard County Food Bank

The Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC) operates the Howard County Food Bank, located at
9385 Gerwig Lane, Suite J, Columbia, MD 21046. The Food Bank offers family-choice shopping, fresh produce, dairy, frozen meats, and pantry staples.

• Columbia Community Care

Columbia Community Care (CCC) provides free groceries, personal care items, and baby supplies at several distribution sites across the county, and can deliver to residents who cannot travel.

• Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center Pantry

The Grassroots Pantry supports individuals and families experiencing food insecurity, homelessness, or crisis. Community members can access the food pantry at the Grassroots Day Resource Center at Leola Dorsey.

• Howard County Health Department: Food Access & Resource Locator

The Howard County Health Department’s Food Access and Resource Locator is an interactive map that helps residents find nearby pantries, food distribution events, and community gardens.

• Howard County Animal Control and Adoption Center Food Bank

​If you are a Howard County resident who needs assistance with feeding your pet, please call us at 410-313-2780 ext. 0 for information about our PET FOOD BANK. We are here to help. 

• S.A.F.E Food Pantry

The S.A.F.E. Food Pantry serves clients with food allergies - distributing gluten-free and allergy-friendly food on the 3rd Saturday of the month from 10am-noon at the NonProfit Collaborative located at 9770 Patuxent Woods Drive in Columbia, MD.

• United Way of Central Maryland: 2-1-1 Helpline

If you’re not sure where to start, dial 2-1-1 or visit 211md.org. The United Way of Central Maryland’s 2-1-1 Helpline connects residents to food resources, emergency shelter, utility assistance, and other essential services - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Together, we can make sure women, girls, and families in Howard County have access to the food and support they need -because when we give collectively, we create a stronger, more caring community for everyone. If you are able, please consider donating to or volunteering with one of these partners - every act of generosity helps feed hope and strengthen our community.

We had a wonderful time at today's Maryland Philanthropy Network’s Annual Member Gathering of funders from across the state. It's an opportunity for MPN members to connect, rejuvenate, and celebrate as a philanthropic community and we are proud MPN members, along with fellow Howard County funders The Community Foundation of Howard County, Horizon Foundation, United Way of Central Maryland and the Reis Foundation. 

We came together to hear:
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• An update from Danista E. Hunte, MPN President & CEO, on the current state of our Network
• A panel on leading with courage with philanthropic leaders from member organizations moderated by Sheryl Goldstein, Founder and CEO of Pluck Consulting
• A keynote address by Phil Buchanan, President of the Center for Effective Philanthropy, on courageous philanthropy
• And we concluded with a networking luncheon designed that fostered connections and collaboration.

This year, our gathering was focused on the theme of "Courageous Philanthropy: Powering Possibility."

The phrase "courageous philanthropy" emphasizes the boldness needed to tackle urgent social issues while remaining aligned with a funder's values. The phrase "powering possibility" emphasizes the potential that arises when resources, ideas, and passions are mobilized for a greater cause. MPN hosted Phil Buchanan, President of the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP), as this year’s keynote speaker. Phil shared insights from CEP research about the state of the sector and funder behavior in light of calls for courageous grantmaking.  

In an era of increasing federal scrutiny and uncertain contexts, leaders in philanthropy must act with courage and disrupt the status quo. This special conversation moderated by Sheryl Goldstein, Founder and CEO of Pluck Consulting, features leaders of a diverse set of MPN member organizations to illuminate how those in our network are navigating complexity, acting courageously, and advancing their missions.

Panelists:

• Melissa Curtin, President & Chief Executive Officer, Community Foundation of Howard County
• David Daniels, Chief Executive Officer, Bainum Family Foundation
• Joshua L. Michael, Ph.D., Executive Director, Sherman Family Foundation

Recognizing that courage takes many forms, we honored and celebrated the variety of ways funders can and do act courageously in alignment with their values and mission and we highlighted a variety of ways those in our network are navigating complexity, acting courageously, and advancing their missions. We all left with deeper connections, an inspired spirit, and practical insights for impactful philanthropy in today’s changing landscape.

WGC was proud to Sponsor the event, and to serve on the Planning Committee, along with our Howard County partners:
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• Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Women's Giving Circle of Howard County
• Dan Flynn, Community Foundation of Howard County
• Kenitra Kengne Fokwa, Horizon Foundation
• Martina Martin, United Way of Central Maryland

This past year the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County and The Horizon Foundation partnered to compile a report examining Black women's experiences, challenges, and contributions in nonprofit leadership roles in Howard County. “Elevating to Evolve: Stories of Wisdom, Excellence and a Call for Change from Black Women Nonprofit Leaders in Howard County” sheds light on the unique journeys of these leaders and calls for actionable steps toward greater equity and inclusion.

The goal of the report is to elevate stories and experiences, and to share perspectives on how individuals, boards, and funders can better support Black women leaders. 

We hosted two town halls with local funders, nonprofits, and board members to discuss the report findings and the roadmap within for organizations to address disparities and support transformative leadership, because we know that ensuring that nonprofit leadership reflects the diversity of the communities they serve is essential for equitable and effective outcomes. 
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As a result of these early conversations with funders and the community we identified several initial activities to support Black women in leadership roles in the sector, including this important Allyship Training for funders and our nonprofit partners at the Howard County Nonprofit Collaborative.

We welcomed Whitney Parnell, Founder & CEO of Service Never Sleeps. SNS is a nonprofit organization that serves as a resource for justice-minded individuals by providing them with the knowledge and tools to advance racial equity within their own spheres of influence. Whitney led us through a thoughtful and meaningful conversation on allyship and our shared humanity - where we agreed that as part of this important work, we are collectively focused on "a world where we are all embraced for who we are, and able to thrive to reach our highest potential."

The WGC and Horizon Foundation will continue to highlight the findings of the report and bring the community together to work toward change - we hope you will continue to join with us.​

We had a wonderful night celebrating women, community, and Black Philanthropy Month on August 5 at the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County's Black Philanthropy Month Happy Hour, in partnership with the Black Philanthropy Circle!

​The Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County and Black Philanthropy Circle of Howard County are funds of The Community Foundation of Howard County.

The WGC is proud to continue our support for Black Philanthropy Month, which is observed every August. The primary aims of BPM are informing, involving, inspiring and investing in Black philanthropic leadership to strengthen African-American and African-descent giving in all its forms, for the benefit of our planet, our communities, our organizations and our lives.

We were welcomed by WGC Events Committee Chair Jade McClary who provided an overview of WGC's efforts supporting Black Philanthropy Month, and WGC's efforts and grantmaking. And, we heard from Melissa Curtin, President & CEO of The Community Foundation of Howard County, who thanked the WGC and BPC for the power of our collective giving efforts.

We heard from WGC's Membership and Development Committee Chair Kashonna Marrow about WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories" and she gave an overview of this year's Black Philanthropy Month OGOS honoree Dr. Nia Jewell Leak. She mentioned that we have recognized over 130 women to date and encouraged everyone to read their profiles. We have so many incredible philanthropists in our community, and who joined us, including former WGC Advisory Board member and former WGC "Our Giving, Our Stories" Chair Malynda Madzel, who started this wonderful effort, and was recently honored nationally for her work to lift the stories and voices of women in our community through "Our Giving, Our Stories" - learn more here. 

We also heard from WGC's Break the Cycle Period Product Drive Chair Paula Seabright about our efforts. Paula thanked everyone for donating products that will go to our partners at JustLiving Advocacy, and we heard from JLA's Nette Stokes who outlined how our support helps women and girls.

Finally, we announced a $1,000 grant to our partners at the Black Philanthropy Circle!

It was a warm, wonderful evening of old and new friends, original founders, new donors, and partners, all having a greater impact together than we might otherwise have alone.

That's the power of a giving circle ... and the excitement of the WGC and the BPC.

Thank you to everyone who joined us!

"We are so excited for these amazing young women" said Paula Seabright, Chair of WGC's Young Women's Giving Circle. "They are learning about philanthropy, grantmaking, fundraising, community, leadership, advocacy, and support for women and girls." ​