Are you interested in learning how to be an advocate for your community? Apply TODAY to the Community Action Board's Community Advocacy Institute (CAI). Now in its third year, the CAI provides FREE advocacy training for lower-income County residents. Participants attend monthly workshops featuring guest speakers, activities to practice their advocacy skills, and networking opportunities. To qualify for this program, applicants must be able to attend all workshops and programs during the 8-month program, have a household income of $54,000 or less, and be residents of Montgomery County. Apply online HERE by August 24. For more information, please call 240-777-1697 or send email.
 |
In partnership with the Judy Center and DHHS Child and
Adolescent Behavioral Health, TESS is hosting free parenting discussion groups
led by trained mental health professionals. Parents can discuss their concerns in a confidential environment and
receive advice for parenting young children. The remaining sessions, which include free child care, will be held on August 2 and 9 from 1 – 2 pm. Please call 240-773-8260 for more
information or download the flyer in English and Spanish.
 |
On July 30, the Community Action team celebrated Erica Bentley, the VITA program’s 2017-2018 AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator. Erica worked with the VITA team to recruit, train, and manage VITA’s 77 volunteers. Her hard work resulted in over 2,200 hours of service by VITA volunteers! Erica's efforts to expand food resource outreach at the VITA sites resulted in reaching approximately 270 people interested in SNAP or referrals to a range of food and nutrition programs. Community Action thanks Erica for her dedication to the program and wishes her all the best in her future endeavors.
 |
 |
On July 25, Community Action’s VITA program
participated in “ConsumerFest.” The
event, which was sponsored by Congressman Jamie Raskin, Attorney General Brian
Frosh, and the Office of Consumer Protection, focused on fraud prevention,
internet safety, identity theft prevention and online financial
protection. Community Action also participated in the Liberian Community Association's Business Forum on July 28, which was attended by Councilmembers Marc Elrich and Tom Hucker. At both events, VITA staff shared Earned Income Tax Credit information, and highlighted its year-round, free tax preparation services. VITA team member Eddie Mendes led a presentation for self-employed tax filers and Board member Ron Jennings led a presentation about money management. To learn more about VITA or to schedule a
free tax appointment, please click HERE.
 |
Community Action's VITA program is helping the IRS get the word out about the new IRS Withholding Calculator. Following major tax law changes, the IRS
is urging taxpayers to use the Withholding Calculator to check their tax withholding and make
sure they have the right amount of tax taken out of their pay for their
personal situation. Having too little tax withheld could mean a tax bill or a
penalty. With the average refund topping $2,800, some may prefer to get
more money in their pay now. Additional information and resources are available on the CASHBACK website with informational handouts available for download in English and Spanish.
 |
Community Action will participate in the second Single Parent Conference at Montgomery College on August 11. Board member
Lisette Engel will lead a workshop at the free event, along with Charlene
Muhammad, CAA's Head Start manager, and Sharon Strauss, CAA's executive
director. Board member Ron Jennings will join in a panel discussion about
financial literacy, moderated by Eddie Mendes, from CAA's VITA team. The conference offers exhibitors, free child care, and lunch, in addition to workshops about a wide variety of topics, including housing, budgeting, healthy eating, resume writing, parenting, and paying for college.
|
