VITA Kicks-Off the Tax Season

Community Action Participates in the Women's Legislative Briefing

Community Action was a proud sponsor of the Commission for Women's 2019 Women’s Legislative Briefing, with several Board members, staff, and CAI alumni participating. County Executive Marc Elrich and Congressman John Sarbanes joined other dignitaries at the opening ceremony. Mόnica Ramírez, founder of Justice for Migrant Women, delivered an inspiring keynote address about advocating for gender equity and ending workplace sexual harassment.  The event included the launch of the Commission for Women's  report, A Tale of Two Counties: The Status of Women in Montgomery County.  Sharon Strauss, executive director of the Community Action Agency, served on the WLB's planning committee and participated on the Economic Justice for Women panel to discuss legislation and policies which especially help women and families.  Catherine Hill, executive director of the Women's Caucus of the Maryland General Assembly, moderated the panel, which included Marceline White, executive director of the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition, and Michelle Daugherty Siri, executive director Women's law Center of Maryland.

CAI Participants Learn About Key Advocacy Issues

On January 5, the second CAI workshop called Exploring the Issues took place. Guest speakers included Amanda Harris, DHHS Services to End and Prevent Homelessness; Elijah Wheeler, The Collaboration Council; Kaori Hirakawa, The Gilchrist Center; Odile Brunetto, DHHS Aging and Disability Services; and Denise Bracalilly Stultz, Montgomery County Public Schools. Luis Martinez from the DHHS Office of Community Affairs provided an overview of DHHS services. Melissa Rock from Advocates for Children and Youth presented on how to develop an effective advocacy campaign. 

Thriving Germantown Brings Together Stakeholders

DHHS leadership, Community Action Board members, and Community Action staff joined partners from numerous public and private organizations at the Thriving Germantown Partner Meeting and Action Planning Session. The session included updates on the program, along with training on Collective Impact and “Turn the Curve Thinking”. The Thriving Germantown HUB provides an integrated response to economic and social disparities found in Germantown. Children and families in the program receive home visits, regular follow-up, outreach and advocacy with community resources. To learn more, please click HERE.

Montgomery County 
Community Action Agency
1401 Rockville Pike, 3rd Fl

Rockville, MD 20852
240-777-1697 (main)

240-777-3295 (fax)

• Website
• Facebook
• Contact 

Community Action Partner Spotlight: Community Ministries of Rockville

VITA's Monthly Tax Tip: Create a Strong Password

The IRS urges everyone with any type of online account to review new, stronger standards to protect their passwords. Doing so will help protect against savvy cybercriminals who wants to access people’s accounts and steal their identities.

Here are three steps people can follow to build a better password:

• Step 1: Leverage powers of association. People can identify associated items that have personal meaning and use them in their passwords.
• Step 2: Make unique associations. Passphrases should be words that can go together in your head, but no one else would ever suspect.
  • Good example: Items in a living room such as BlueCouchFlowerBamboo.
  • Bad example: Names of children or pets.
• Step 3: Create a passphrase that you can picture in your head. The key is to create a passphrase that is hard for a cybercriminal to guess, but easy for the user to remember.

In addition to creating strong passwords, people can:

• Use a different password or passphrase for each account. People can consider using a password manager if necessary for multiple accounts.
• Use multi-factor authentication whenever possible. They should not rely on the passphrase alone to protect sensitive data. Multi-factor authentication means returning account holders need more than just their username and password to access an account. They also need, for example, a security code sent as text to a mobile phone.

Change all factory-set passwords. They should do this for wireless devices such as printers and routers.

MCPS Head Start/PreK Registration Opens March 1

Head Start/PreK registration for the 2019-2020 school year starts March 1. Registration will be available at 4910 Macon Road, 9 am - 4 pm, and at numerous sites throughout the County. Please call 240-740-4530 to learn more or to schedule an appointment. Registration information in seven languages is available HERE.

Office of Human Rights Hosts Civil Rights Tour

The Office of Human Rights invites residents to participate in its Educational Freedom Experience April 6 - 14.  The tour will include multiple stops at historic civil rights sites throughout the south. Please call 240-777-8450 or click HERE to learn more.

Announcements:

• Feb. 7, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm, Homeless Continuum of Care Meeting at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church
  Community‐wide Meeting
• Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 - 11:30 am, Literacy Play and Learn Group at TESS. 
• Feb. 26, CAB meeting at 1401 Rockville Pike, Room 3603
• Now through - April 15, CAA VITA free tax appointments. Call 240-777-1123 or click HERE to schedule.
• Tuesdays, Now through - March 5, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Intermediate English Class at TESS. Registration/  placement testing on Jan. 8, 6:30 - 8:30 pm. 
• Thursdays, Now through - March 28, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, English Language Exchange at TESS