Hope, Support for Job Seekers

St. Rose of Lima Catholic Parish, a founding member of AIM, was mentioned in the Washington Post this past Sunday. The article, "Keeping the Faith When Looking for Work," offers a look at the growing number of faith-based job support groups in the area. St. Rose, in Gaithersburg, hosts the New Hope Job Search Support Group twice a month as a service to not just parishioners but the larger community as well.

Thanks to Dushaw for the link.

Calendar Update - 1/23/2006

1/15-2/24
Annual AIM Ad Book Campaign
Contact: Linda Culbertson or Harvey Lerner.

1/24 (7:30-9:00pm)
Ad Book Campaign - SCI Team Meeting
All Ad Book Team members expected to attend; location: Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church (Bethesda); contact: Harvey Lerner.

2/9 (7:30-9:00pm)
AIM Countywide Action Team Meeting
Core teams from each member congregation are expected to attend; location: Kehilat Shalom (Montgomery Village); contact: Alisa Glassman or Russ Louch.

2/15 (7:30-9:00pm)
AIM Strategy Team Meeting
All members of the Strategy Team are expected to attend; location: AIM Office; contact: Russ Louch.

2/24-2/25
IAF-East Organizing Careers Workshop
Training and orientation for individuals interested in exploring a possible career as an organizer with the IAF (contact the AIM office for details and application); contact: Alisa Glassman.

3/8-3/15
IAF National Training
In-depth training in broad-based community organizing taught by experienced IAF organizers and national staff; qualified AIM leaders are welcome to attend (contact the AIM office for details); location: Maritime Institute (near BWI airport); contact: Alisa Glassman.

3/9 (7:30-9:00pm)
AIM Action!
We expect a major turnout (each AIM congregation has already agreed to a specific quota); many elected officials, candidates for office, the media and other guests are also expected to attend; AIM will launch its new 2006 Issue Agenda; location: to be determined; contact: Alisa Glassman or Russ Louch.

Community Support

This week AIM launched its annual Ad Book Campaign, an opportunity for the larger community to help support the work we do to make Montgomery County a better place to live for all of us.

AIM has three primary funding sources:
- Our core operating budget is funded by the dues our member congregations pay to the organization.
- We receive additional funding in the form of grants provided by local, regional and national foundations.
- And finally, we produce an annual Ad Book.

The Ad Book is basically a yearbook that outlines AIM's work and successes of the previous twelve months. Members of the larger community (individuals, other organizations and businesses) are able to purchase ads of varying size in the book as a way for them to support AIM. The Ad Book is professionally printed and then distributed to all 32 member congregations.

If you are interested in purchasing an ad, or would just like more information on this important fundraising project, please contact the AIM office. Thanks!

Victory for Shady Grove Affordable/Workforce Housing

Congratulations to the AIM Housing Action Team who through their persistent organizing and action achieved a major victory this week!

Yesterday the Montgomery County Council approved a new Shady Grove master plan (.pdf) in a lopsided, 8-1 vote. Councilmember Phil Andrews (Dist 3) was the lone dissenter. The approved plan includes the 6,340 residential units proposed by planning officials in a new "urban center" development that will replace the county service park currently adjacent to the Shady Grove Metro station. AIM leaders supported this increased density as necessary in order to include the maximum number of affordable and workforce housing units. 1,200 such units are to be included.

This issue was covered in a recent Washington Post article, as well as the Montgomery Gazette.

"An Abiding Belief In Political Action"

"[AIM] ...has built itself into one of the county's most influential advocates on social issues."

That's from the print edition headline of the Washington Post's December 8th "Montgomery Extra" cover story. The article itself, by staff writer Cameron Barr, is an interesting read and one of the most in-depth pieces we've seen since our founding six years ago. Check it out.

When One Suffers....

Earlier this week one of AIM's member congregations, St. Mark's United Methodist Church, was targeted by vandals who defaced a number of buildings in the historic African-American community of Boyds. This past Thursday, AIM leaders from across the county attended a press conference* held by Rev. Tim Warner, pastor of St. Mark's and other community leaders and elected officials.

Speaking on behalf of AIM's 32 member congregations, Rev. Jeff MacKnight made the following statement:

Good afternoon. My name is Jeff MacKnight. I am the pastor of St. Dunstan Episcopal Church in Bethesda. And I am a leader in AIM, Action In Montgomery. I met Rev. Warner two and a half years ago through our work together in AIM. Two years ago, 40 AIM leaders met at the Boyds Negro School for AIM's annual retreat. Ms. Betty Hawkins blessed us that day with history of the school and of the Boyds community.

If I had never met Rev. Warner or the members of St. Mark's United Methodist Church, I would still have been outraged by these acts of hate. Yet, I have known, prayed and fought for justice side by side with Rev. Warner and St. Mark's leaders for two and a half. We are neighbors, we are all children of God.

St. Paul said, "When one suffers, we all suffer together. When one is honored, all rejoice together." (I Cor 12:26)

In my heart, it feels like the swastikas were painted on my church in Bethesda. Rev. Warner and St. Mark's members, AIM clergy and lay leaders are appalled and hurt. We cannot accept such bald-faced bigotry, nor excuse such ignominious acts. We will continue to stand together and fight for justice in Montgomery County. We aim for One County.

*Washington Post article (free reg required)

Welcome!

Welcome to the Action In Montgomery (AIM) blog!

A group of AIM leaders has been discussing how the utilization of internet technology could augment our more traditional community organizing work. While we continue to believe that social change is best accomplished through the building of a relational power base in our communities, and in teaching leaders how to use that power for the common good, we also recognize that the web offers some intriguing tools for the dissemination of information. It is in that spirit that we are launching this blog.

The blog's primary focus will simply be presentation of information and updates on AIM actions, events and our current issue campaigns.

Please explore the rest of our website, but if you would really like to learn more about AIM, contact an AIM leader in your congregation or community, or contact our office.