The Maryland Dream bill passed!  In a real cliffhanger, the State Legislature passed the Maryland Dream Act on the last day of Session before adjourning for the rest of the year. The passage of the Act will enable thousands of talented young immigrant Marylanders a chance to attend college at in-state tuition rates instead of having to pay double or triple the tuition rates of their peers.  Without the tuition break, most of these undocumented youth would have to give up hope of getting a higher education.

Action In Montgomery (AIM) worked with fellow-Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) organizations BUILD in Baltimore and PATH  in Howard County to spread understanding of the bill's benefits and give Senators and Delegates the maneuvering room they needed to vote with their conscience in favor of the bill.

The three Maryland IAF affiliates members (see below) consist of 85 congregations, schools and neighborhood organizations.  Maryland IAF worked in concert with CASA de MD, the MD Catholic Conference and others to ensure the passage of the MD Dream bill.  The Maryland Dream bill passed in a year when only a small handful of states nationally have been successful in passing immigrant rights bill.

Who is AIM and MD IAF?  

We are a network of multi-faith organizations that builds people power to create a more just Maryland. Our 85 member institutions are churches, schools and neighborhood organization in Baltimore City, Howard County and Montgomery County.  In Baltimore, our members pressed politicians to pass the first living wage law in the country and our sister affiliate in Massachusetts mobilized a grassroots army for the creation of universal health care—both of which have become national models for progressive social policy.

We are part of the Industrial Areas Foundation, the nation’s first and largest coalition of multi-faith organizations—and we have seven decades of experience winning tough battles across the nation. Our 17 member organizations in the east have a deep grassroots presence in the political and financial power centers in the United States.  There are 65 IAF affiliates in the United States, England, Germany and Canada.
 

There are three Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) affiliates in Maryland: 

1. AIM in Montgomery County
2. BUILD in Baltimore and
3. PATH in Howard County.

The leaders and organizers of the IAF build organizations whose primary purpose is power-the ability to act- and whose chief product is social change.

MARYLAND IAF'S VICTORIES INCLUDE:

• Maryland DREAM Act
• State School Funding.  $18 million in state funding for Baltimore schools and $94 million state-wide in 2011.
• College Bound Foundation in Baltimore City
• $225 million for affordable housing since 2003 in Montgomery County.  The funds have been used to build over 5,000 units.
• Passed legislation to protect mobile home owners
• Engage 1,000’s of congregational & community leaders each year in the democratic process
   

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