The City of Gaithersburg’s Community Services Division is one of nine local community partners that together were awarded an Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Governments, and Households (ENOUGH) grant from the Maryland Governor’s Office for Children. The innovative initiative funds a community-based strategy to address child poverty in Maryland.
Per the City of Gaithersburg: Six high-need census tracts in central Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village will benefit from the ENOUGH grant, which supports a community-driven, cross-sector partnership to plan and advance place-based strategies that reduce child poverty and increase economic mobility. These tracts are served by five Montgomery County public schools: Gaithersburg, Harriet R. Tubman, South Lake and Summit Hall Elementary Schools; and Gaithersburg Middle and High Schools (map below).
The Community Services Division is part of a coalition of partners led by Identity, Inc. The partnership received $300,000 in grant money and includes:
- Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence
- City of Gaithersburg Community Services Division
- 480 Club
- Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative
- Housing Initiative Partnership
- Identity, Inc.
- Montgomery County Public Schools
- Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Learning (technical support)
- University of Maryland School of Public Health (technical support)
Joseph Hooks, founder and director of 480 Club told us, “I am proud to be a part of the Central Gaithersburg/Montgomery Village Community Partnership that will address poverty and economic mobility. We are dedicated to make continued change for a community we have served for over 10 years. With the trust of the community, the community voice will be the focus to create strategies and an equitable action plan to create a better future for our children and families. This would not be possible without Governor Moore and his administration. Thank you for saying ENOUGH.”
“Each of the partners share the value that to serve others is a privilege that requires excellence and community members are equal partners in the design and delivery of our work,” said Carolyn Camacho, Project Director for Identity.
“The partnership is very grateful to Governor Moore for this unique opportunity to work together to advance the prosperity of our community, one of the most culturally, ethnically and racially diverse areas of the United States”, said Renee Nicolosi, Community Services Division Manager for the City of Gaithersburg.
The $13.1 million in ENOUGH grants funds 27 entities across 12 statutorily eligible counties in Maryland. Awardees include partnerships made up of community-based organizations, local governments, community schools, and other local entities. Grantees span western to eastern Maryland, representing rural, urban, and suburban communities and were selected through a competitive process.
Each application was independently scored using objective rubric criteria including quality community engagement; coordination and partnership experience; strength of governance structure; progress monitoring capacity; quality and feasibility of proposed activities; evidence-based strategies; and sustainability. Read the full press release issued by the Office of Governor Wes Moore here.
Information courtesy of the City of Gaithersburg and Joseph Hooks of 480 Club.