New County Grants Process the Focus of CAI Alumni Workshop

Carolyn Chen, Legislative Analyst and Council Grants Manager, was the featured presenter at the September 26 Community Advocacy Institute Alumni workshop, sharing information and answering questions about this process. Myriam Paul, Community Action Board member and participant in the Council Grants Group, facilitated the workshop. Attendees learned about important changes to the County's Grants process and were encouraged to apply to participate in upcoming focus groups. Please click HERE to learn more about the County Grants process. 

Free Tax Appointments Available Through October

The VITA off-season is coming to a close, with October 30 the last day for appointments. County residents with household incomes of $55,000 or less can have their amended and prior year tax returns prepared for free at three locations:

• Tuesdays, 10 am - 5 pm, TESS Community Action Center, 8513 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring (October 15, 3 - 8 pm)
• Wednesdays, 10 am - 5 pm, Community Action Agency, 1401 Rockville Pike, Rockville (October 16, 3 - 8 pm)
• Fridays, 10 am - 5 pm, Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center, 11002 Veirs Mill Road, Suite 506, Wheaton

VITA information is available in English, Spanish, Amharic, French, Chinese, and Korean.

Please call 240-777-1123 or click HERE to schedule an appointment.

Advocates Learn About Food Security in Maryland

_{L to R: Aizat Oladapo, CAA Program Manager; Dzigbordi Egbenya, CAI graduate; Michelle Rogers, CAI graduate; and Matilda Adu, CAI graduate}

Community Action was excited to participate in the 2019 MD Food Access and Nutrition Network Fighting Hunger in Maryland Conference, joining Maryland Hunger Solutions, Manna Food Center, the Montgomery County Food Council, and many more partners. Congratulations to the Community Advocacy Institute graduates who participated in the conference, sharing their experience advocating for food security.

Community Members Register to Vote at TESS

_{Almaz Yoseph, TESS volunteer and Ruel Michelin, Board of Elections representative} 

On September 24, Community Action participated in National Voter Registration Day by hosting an event at the TESS Community Action Center. Community members had the opportunity to register to vote and have their questions answered by Board of Elections staff. To learn how to register to vote, please click HERE.

Head Start Providers' Forum Connects Organizations Serving County Families

_{Lisa Conlon, MCPS Pre-K/Head Start Social Services Specialist and Community Action Board Member}

Community Action joined numerous organizations for the Head Start Community Providers’ Forum on September 27. The annual meeting provides an opportunity to share resources, collaborate, and discuss community needs. Lisa Conlon, Community Action Board member and Pre-K/Head Start Social Services Specialist, and Zelda Wafer-Alonge, Community Action Board member and Chair of the Head Start Parents Policy Council, participated in the event.

Community Action Bids a Fond Farewell to Dana Jones

_{L to R: Sharon Strauss, CAA Director; Angela Martin, MD Community Action Partnership Director; Dana Jones, UPO CEO and President; Charlestine Fairely, Anne Arundel County CAA Director; and Freddy Mitchell, Shore Up! Director}

Sharon Strauss, Community Action Executive Director, joined numerous colleagues to say goodbye to Dana Jones, CEO and President of United Planning Organization, who is retiring after 15 years with the organization. UPO, the Community Action Agency for Washington, DC, is a member of the Maryland Community Action Partnership. Prior to joining the UPO team, Mr. Jones worked at the Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action Committee (the CAA serving Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s Counties) and Shore Up! (the CAA serving the Lower Eastern Shore). 

National Conference Highlights Best Practices and Key Issues for Community Action

_{Dana Jones, UPO CEO (center) and President and Denise Harlow, Community Action Partnership CEO (right)}

Community Action staff joined over 1,500 colleagues from across the country at the National Community Action Partnership’s Annual Convention in Chicago. Numerous workshops, panel discussions, and presentations focused on a wide range of topics, including migration, reducing child poverty, legislative updates, data collection, Head Start, and criminal justice reform. Congratulations to Dana Jones, CEO and President of United Planning Organization, the winner of the LBJ Human Services Award! UPO is the Community Action Agency for Washington, DC.

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

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

240-777-3295 (fax)

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Community Action Partner Spotlight: Interfaith Works Clothing Center

VITA's Monthly Tax Tip: Two Education Credits Help Taxpayers with College Costs

With school back in session, parents and students should look into tax credits that can help with the cost of higher education. They do this by reducing the amount of tax someone owes on their tax return. If the credit reduces tax to less than zero, the taxpayer may get a refund.

Taxpayers who pay for higher education in 2019 can see these tax savings when they file their tax returns. If taxpayers, their spouses, or their dependents take post-high school coursework, they may be eligible for a tax benefit.

There are two credits available to help taxpayers offset the costs of higher education. The American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit may reduce the amount of income tax owed. Taxpayers use Form 8863, Education Credits, to claim the credits.

To be eligible to claim the American Opportunity Tax Credit, or the Lifetime Learning Credit, a taxpayer or a dependent must have received a Form 1098-T from an eligible educational institution.

The American Opportunity Tax Credit:

• Worth a maximum benefit up to $2,500 per eligible student.
• Only for the first four years at an eligible college or vocational school.
• For students pursuing a degree or other recognized education credential.
• Partially refundable. This means if the credit brings the amount of tax owed to zero, 40 percent of any remaining amount of the credit, up to $1,000, is refundable.

The Lifetime Learning Credit:

• Worth a maximum benefit up to $2,000 per tax return, per year, no matter how many students qualify.
• Available for all years of post-secondary education and for courses to acquire or improve job skills.
• Available for an unlimited number of tax years.

VITA Program Seeking Volunteers for the Tax Season

Community Action's VITA program is now recruiting volunteers to serve as tax preparers, site coordinators, quality reviewers, greeters, schedulers, and interpreters. Volunteers receive free training and positions are available at sites throughout the County. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old. To complete an application, please click HERE. To learn more, please email the VITA program or call 240-777-1123.

Register Your Child for MCPS Pre-K

Space is still available for 4-year-olds for the 2019-2020 MCPS Pre-K program. Income-eligible Montgomery County families can register their children Monday - Friday at 4910 Macon Road, Room 143, Rockville, 9 am - 4 pm. Please call 240-740-4530 to learn more. Detailed registration information is available in English, Spanish, French, Amharic, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.

Welcoming Frank Sainfort, 2019-2020 AmeriCorps Member

_{Maureen Larenas, TESS Manager and Frank Sainfort, AmeriCorps Member}

Community Action is excited to welcome Frank Sainfort, our new AmeriCorps Member who will be working at the TESS Community Action Center. Frank will help implement a new two-generational (2-Gen) model through volunteer recruitment, training, program coordination, and assessment. 

Announcements:

Oct. 16, 5:30 - 8:30 pm, Resilience Film Screening and Discussion, Adventist Health Care, 9901 Medical Center Dr.

Oct. 19, 10 am - 1 pm, Grand Opening of Manna Marketplace, 12301 Old Columbia Pike

Oct. 20, 10 am - 12 pm, Grand Reopening of newly renovated Manna Warehouse, 9311 Gaither Road

Oct. 22, 7 pm, Community Action Board meeting, 1401 Rockville Pike 

Oct. 25, 11 am - 1 pm, Senior Social at TESS

Wednesdays, 11 am - 3 pm, Now Through Nov. 27, Crossroads Network Farmers Market, Anne St. at University Blvd. East in Takoma Park