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Charles County Commission for Women

Annual Report 2018

Background

The Charles County Commissioners established the Charles County Commission for Women

(CCCW) in 1996 by Resolution #96-34 to better define and identify services needed for women

in the County.

Members are appointed by the Charles County Board of County Commissioners.

Mission Statement

The Commission for Women works to raise awareness of issues affecting women and families

by serving as a conduit between women and existing services and advocating for programs,

education and legislation.

Goals/Purpose

i. To act as a referral agency source for women needing assistance.

ii. To support and encourage volunteer programs of benefit to women.

iii. To publicize activities and services of interest to women.

iv. To encourage educational and job training opportunities for women.

v. To promote public forums on women’s needs and problems.

vi. To advocate and publicize newly passed proposed legislation that affects women.

vii. To promote continued equal opportunity in education, employment, sports and health

care for women.

viii. To operate at all times and in all matters as a non-political, non-partisan commission.

Meetings

2018 meetings were held the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Department of

Economic Development (10655 Stanhaven Place, Suite 206, White Plains, MD).

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Membership Monthly Roster

January 2018

Felicia Dixon, Kimberly Graham, Helen Ozah-Mayer, Lucinia Mundy, Angela Owens, Lakia

Pendergrast, Jennifer Owens McSwain, Russell Scott, Maxine Somerville, Sarita Spencer,

Sandra Swinson, Robbie Wilson

February 2018

Felicia Dixon, Kimberly Graham, Helen Ozah-Mayer, Lucinia Mundy, Angela Owens, Lakia

Pendergrast, Jennifer Owens McSwain, Russell Scott, Maxine Somerville, Sarita Spencer,

Sandra Swinson, Robbie Wilson

March 2018

Felicia Dixon, Kimberly Graham, Helen Ozah-Mayer, Lucinia Mundy, Angela Owens, Jennifer

Owens McSwain, Russell Scott, Maxine Somerville, Sarita Spencer, Sandra Swinson, Robbie

Wilson

April 2018

Kimberly Graham, Aretha Larsen, Eileen Lynch, Helen Ozah-Mayer, Lucinia Mundy, Angela

Owens, Jennifer Owens McSwain, Russell Scott, Maxine Somerville, Sarita Spencer, Sandra

Swinson, Robbie Wilson

May 2018

Kimberly Graham, Aretha Larsen, Eileen Lynch, Helen Ozah-Mayer, Lucinia Mundy, Angela

Owens, Jennifer Owens McSwain, Russell Scott, Maxine Somerville, Sarita Spencer, Sandra

Swinson, La’Kenya Walter, Robbie Wilson

June 2018

Kimberly Graham, Aretha Larsen, Eileen Lynch, Lucinia Mundy, Angela Owens, Jennifer

Owens McSwain, Russell Scott, Maxine Somerville, Sarita Spencer, Sandra Swinson, La’Kenya

Walter, Robbie Wilson

July 2018

Kimberly Graham, Danielle Jones, Aretha Larsen, Eileen Lynch, Lucinia Mundy, Angela

Owens, Jennifer Owens McSwain, Russell Scott, Maxine Somerville, Sarita Spencer, Sandra

Swinson, La’Kenya Walter, Robbie Wilson

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August 2018

Kimberly Graham, Danielle Jones, Eileen Lynch, Lucinia Mundy, Angela Owens, Jennifer

Owens McSwain, Russell Scott, Maxine Somerville, Sarita Spencer, Sandra Swinson, La’Kenya

Walter, Robbie Wilson

September 2018

Kimberly Graham, Danielle Jones, Eileen Lynch, Lucinia Mundy, Angela Owens, Jennifer

Owens McSwain, Russell Scott, Maxine Somerville, Sarita Spencer, Sandra Swinson, La’Kenya

Walter, Robbie Wilson

October 2018

Jennifer Clancy, Kimberly Graham, Evelyn Gwynn, Danielle Jones, Eileen Lynch, Lucinia

Mundy, Angela Owens, Jennifer Owens McSwain, Russell Scott, Maxine Somerville, Sarita

Spencer, Sandra Swinson, La’Kenya Walter, Robbie Wilson

November 2018

Jennifer Clancy, Evelyn Gwynn, Danielle Jones, Eileen Lynch, Lucinia Mundy, Angela Owens,

Jennifer Owens McSwain, Russell Scott, Maxine Somerville, Sarita Spencer, Patricia Stine,

Sandra Swinson, La’Kenya Walter, Robbie Wilson

December 2018

Jennifer Clancy, Evelyn Gwynn, Danielle Jones, Eileen Lynch, Lucinia Mundy, Angela Owens,

Jennifer Owens McSwain, Russell Scott, Maxine Somerville, Sarita Spencer, Patricia Stine,

Sandra Swinson, La’Kenya Walter, Robbie Wilson

Please find the following Commission for Women sub-committee activities for the 2018 calendar year.

Charles County Commission for Women – Homelessness Sub-Committee

January 2018

Attended Human Trafficking Awareness Forum at the Hilton Garden Inn in Waldorf, hosted by

Charles County Sherriff’s Office.

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March 2018

Volunteered with Prom Pizazz at The Body of Christ Church in Waldorf – We serviced a total of

Eighty- Eight Young Ladies for the upcoming 2018 Prom and 8th Grade Formal

HITS Expo at St Charles High School – we participated in judging the exhibits and a Scholarship

donation was provided by CCCW.

Charles County Commission for Women – WE Matters Sub-Committee

W.E. (Women’s Empowerment) is the communications and marketing arm of the CCCW

January - December 2018

❖ Enhanced our website and use of social media to act as a referral agency source for

women needing assistance

❖ Created content for advertisement and promotions of events for unified messaging under

CCCW umbrella

❖ Gathered media contacts

❖ Took photos of CCCW events used for advertisement, social media, print articles

❖ Maintained CCCW Facebook and Twitter accounts

❖ Held a Sip-n-Paint on March 17, 2018 at Lifestyles in LaPlata, MD, to raise money and

awareness for Rosemary’s Closet, and other safe havens/shelters for victims and families

of domestic violence. After the paint event was complete, Senator Chris Van Hollen

arrived for a scheduled tour of Lifestyles and spent a moment talking with the CCCW

members and taking photos

❖ Sponsored Maryland Commission for Women Voices of Maryland Listening Tour

Roundtable August 18 at Notre Dame of Maryland, Baltimore, MD

❖ Sub-Committee held another Sip n Paint on October 28, 2018 at the Greater Waldorf

Jaycees where proceeds benefited Rosemary’s Closet

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❖ Attended convening of Commissions for Women from around the state of Maryland and

convening of Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women on November 17 at Notre Dame

of Maryland, Baltimore, MD.

Rosemary’s Closet Annual Figures:

❖ All persons: Total Households Assisted:740 households with a total of 1641 members;

Duplicated Households Assisted: 1560 households with a total of 3523 members.

❖ Domestic violence survivors: Total Households Assisted: 43 households with a total of

106 members; Duplicated Households Assisted: 133 households with a total of 288

members

November 2018

Attended MLAW Conference in Baltimore, MD to provide support for upcoming legislative

session on issues of relevance to women and families.

December 2018

Hosted community conversation on opioids in Charles County at Waldorf West Library.

Charles County Commission for Women – Youth Sub-Committee

February 2018

The CCCW participated in Charles County Public School’s Read Across America Day, reading

to the students at Arthur Middleton Elementary School. This yearly event is a motivation and

awareness program that invites volunteers in the community to celebrate literacy and reading on

Dr. Seuss birthday.

April 2018

The CCCW partnered with Beyond the Classroom and Tabernacle of Praise (T.O.P) on April 28,

2018, hosting a Financial Literacy workshop for Charles County children, youth and adults. The

workshop provided fun, interactive games and information on budgeting, investing, and saving

options for the respective age groups.

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May 2018

Volunteered and manned Mission Tent at March for Babies event held at Blue Crabs Stadium

May 6.

June 2018

The CCCW supported Project Graduation at the College of Southern Maryland, LaPlata Campus

held June 2-4, 2018. Project Graduation is an annual event sponsored by the Charles County

Public School to provide county high school graduates a safe place for celebration.

August 2018

The CCCW participated as a vendor at the 2018 Charles County Early Childhood Day held

August 4, 2018 at Capital Club House in Waldorf, MD. The annual event is sponsored by

Charles County Advocacy Council for Children, Youth and Families. The free event provides

parents, caregivers, and early childhood professionals with resources to help children of Charles

County get a jump start on education. The CCCW provided activities, games, face painting and

free giveaway gifts to the attending children.

Attended Commissioner Amanda Stewart (District 3) annual Back-to-School Community Fiesta

held August 11, 2018 at Mattawoman Middle School. The event focused on saying no to

bullying, drugs and no texting while driving. The first 200 children at the event received a free

school backpack.

October/November 2018

In partnership with the Charles County Public School, the CCCW sponsored a poetry contest

with the county’s middle school students in honor of the 2018 National Red Ribbon Campaign,

October 23-31. Charles County middle school students created posters in support of the national

campaign theme – “Life is Your Journey, Travel Drug Free.” The CCCW provided participant

certificates to the 230 total entries, and the four (4) winners form each participating school

(Milton Somers, Piccowaxen, General Smallwood and Mattawoman) were awarded a $20 gift

card from Chick-fil-A Waldorf.

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December 2018

The CCCW supported William B. Wade Elementary School 2018 Winter Wonderland Breakfast

held December 1, 2018. CCCW volunteered to serve food for the annual PTO Breakfast with

Santa event.

The CCCW supported Arthur Middleton Elementary School on December 15, 2018. CCCW

volunteered to serve food and work in gift shop for annual PTO Breakfast with Santa event.

Meetings:

Attended the quarterly Charles County Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council (DAAC) meetings at

the Charles County Health Department.

Closing

The Commission for Women spent 2018 focused on Community Outreach in the areas of

Partnerships/Advocacy, Youth, and Homelessness. We sought opportunities to continue to raise

awareness and join conversations and events where there was a keen interest in providing

resources and opportunities to help women and families in the county.

All of our members are hardworking dedicated advocates for issues impacting women and

families in Charles County. Most members participate on other boards and have other volunteer

obligations in addition to the work they each do for the Commission for Women.

Respectfully submitted by:

Maxine Griffin Somerville

Chair, Charles County Commission for Women

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