ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today issued a final call for nominations for individuals interested in serving on the County’s LGBTQIA+ and La Alianza Commissions. The two Commissions were proposed by the County Executive and approved by the County Council in July 2022 to promote inclusivity and equity, were approved by the Howard County Council.
Howard County is a model for other communities around our nation on how to uplift all our residents, and how to be inclusive and welcoming to everyone. These new commissions will serve, support, and affirm our LGBTQIA+ and Latino communities, respectively, and will not only provide a seat at the table but access to help ensure the best quality of life for all.
LGBTQIA+ Commission
Building off the work and recommendations already made by the LGBTQ Workgroup, the commission will be made up of 13-21 members who are Howard County residents and from or have close ties with the LGBTQIA+ community or are representatives of regional LGBTQIA+ organizations.
The commission will have the following responsibilities:
- Support efforts to organize, educate, and mobilize the LGBTQIA+ community through coalition building and coordination with allied individuals, groups and organizations;
- Identify best practices to affirm members of the gay and transgender community;
- Recommend initiatives to support LGBTQIA+ families and children; and
- Advise the County on policy and programs that impact our gay and transgender community, and on how to improve outcomes for underserved and at-risk members of the LGBTQIA+ population.
- Support, plan, and execute events, like PRIDE, to celebrate and affirm the community.
La Aliazna Latina Commission
The commission will be made up of 13-19 members and include representatives from Latino organizations and the community. The commission will have the following responsibilities:
- Organize, educate, and mobilize the Latino community
- Work with the County and public entities to identify best practices to affirm members of the Latino community
- Recommend health, education, and workforce policy initiatives to support Latino families and children
- Advise the County Executive and County Council on policy and programs impacting Howard County, such as language access, cultural competency, representation, and government access
- Advise the County Executive and County Council on policy and programs to improve outcomes for underserved and at-risk segments of the Latino population
- Support, plan and execute programs and events to celebrate and affirm the Latino community.
Both commissions will submit annual reports to the County Council and County Executive.
If you, or someone you know, is interested in serving on one of these commissions, please send a resume and brief letter explaining why you’d like to serve to Angela Cabellon either by email to acabellon@howardcountymd.gov or by mail to: Howard County Government, Office of the County Executive, Attn: Angela Cabellon, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043. The names of eligible applicants will be submitted to the County Executive for nomination and then to the County Council for confirmation.
The deadline for nominations is noon on Wednesday, September 21, 2022.