COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Montgomery County Updates

County Executive Marc Elrich is committed to representation on all of the County’s boards, committees, and commissions that is reflective of, and responsive to, our County’s residents. Public participation contributes to the work of County government and provides an important service to the community when a variety of issues, concerns, and viewpoints are presented. Currently, there is a valuable opportunity to serve on the following:

Please share this notice with anyone who may be interested.

Please Note that the BCC Application Process is Online!!!

You may access vacancy announcements for boards, committees, and commissions through the following link: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/boards/index.html . Please read instructions carefully on that page, where you will find a link directly to the vacancy announcements.

Montgomery County Public Schools Back to School Fair

MCPS needs volunteers for its Back to School Fair on Saturday, August 24, 2024 from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm.  They especially need volunteers that can speak another language.  For more information about the fair,  click here; and to sign up to volunteer please click here.

Court Watch Montgomery

Are you passionate about ensuring safety and access to justice for survivors of intimate partner violence in Montgomery County? Court Watch Montgomery (CWM) is looking for dedicated and dynamic individuals to join our Board of Directors! We are committed to building a diverse board with a wide range of skills, experiences, and backgrounds, especially fundraising, finance, or advocacy.  Click here for more information.

Voices for Children Montgomery’s

Court appointed special advocates are caring, consistent volunteers who advocate for children navigating the court and foster care systems.  If you have 10-15 hours a month, you can make a difference for a child in foster care!! Our next training for new CASAs begins on June 22.

Visit https://voicesforchildrenmontgomery.org to learn more about this exciting opportunity!

Courtwatch Montgomery is Looking for Volunteers

Courtwatch Montgomery is seeking objective court monitors with superior listening skills. As unbiased observers with a penchant for detail, we need you to collect accurate data that could have a profound impact on the lives of future victims. Becoming involved with Court Watch will not only provide you with the opportunity to connect with the community in a meaningful way but will allow you to witness first-hand how a data-driven nonprofit organization can create lasting changes to the court system.

Court Monitor Requirements

• Observe and document court data on monitoring forms in Silver Spring District Court (across from downtown Silver Spring metro) or Rockville District court (a few blocks from Rockville metro)
• Volunteers are asked to commit to two weekday mornings per month of their choice to attend protective order hearings held 8:30 a.m to around noon.
• Due to the learning curve and training involved, we require a commitment of at least a year.
• Collaborates immediately after court session with other volunteers in attendance to create a Master Monitoring Form for quality control purposes.
• Willing to attend a four-part training program, carefully read instructions, receive feedback, and revise completed monitoring forms.
• Ability to scan completed forms or take a cell phone photo for electronic submission

To complete an application:  https://courtwatchmontgomery.org/volunteer/

Consider the Benefits of Home Sharing

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) authorized the nonprofit Housing Initiative Partnership (HIP) to launch the Montgomery County Home Sharing Program in 2021 to match older homeowners who have a spare room in their home with compatible home seekers looking for an affordable and safe place to rent for longer than six months. HIP is a green housing developer and HUD-approved housing counseling agency with offices in Germantown and Gaithersburg. Home sharing counselors and case managers employ a thoughtful process that includes discussing a homeowner’s personal preferences and needs to identify potential housemates who have compatible interests. Background checks are mandatory for both homeowners and home seekers. HIP will facilitate client meetings and help negotiate the home sharing arrangement and lease agreement.

The benefits of home sharing are many. It can: help reduce feelings of social isolation for seniors who want to age in place, create an additional stream of monthly income to help meet household expenses, and identify a housemate who could share light housekeeping chores and run errands in exchange for a reduced rent. Average home sharing rents range from $750 – $1250, depending on the size of the room and amenities offered in the home.

HIP services are offered free of charge. Homeowners must reside in their homes in Montgomery County, while home seekers from any location can participate. HIP staff are involved in the process from sign-up through matching, ensuring careful vetting of rental applicants and homeowners, and monitoring once a match is made. 

For more information, please contact Michele Higgs- Community Outreach Coordinator, Housing Initiative Parthership, Inc.  301-85-SHARE (301-857-4273) or e: mhiggs@hiphomes.org

Board Members Needed

The Civic Circle seeks a board member to join our dynamic and growing team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who shares our mission to use music and the arts to empower young students to understand and participate in democracy. This is a chance to join a lively board that includes educators, performing artists, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders. We are committed to building an inclusive board that reflects the full diversity of Montgomery County, and we encourage individuals of all backgrounds and ages to apply. To inquire please contact Eliza Newlin Carney at ecarney@theciviccircle.org.

Transform Lives. Help Nurture Relationships. Embrace your Strengths. Empowering the Ages (ETA) is seeking new board members throughout the region to join us and help with governance, fundraising, and planning for the future. ETA transforms people’s lives and nurtures intergenerational relationships by building bonds between individuals of varying ages, cultures and religious backgrounds. ETA values community, innovation and diversity/inclusion/equity.

To learn more, contact Leah at leah@empoweringtheages.org.

TransCen—a name adopted to illustrate its role as a “transition center” –was established in 1986 as a non-profit organization dedicated to improving employment and career opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities.  If you are interested in becoming involved as a Board Member, please contact Laura Owens at lowens@transcen.org or read more information here: BoardFlyer_2.0 (2)

Montgomery County 50+ Volunteer Network

Connecting Skilled Volunteers with Nonprofits in Need

The Montgomery County 50+ Volunteer Network is a unique, new county initiative housed at the Montgomery County Volunteer Center.  It focuses on leveraging the professional and personal skills of the rapidly growing 50+ population as a valuable resource for nonprofits and government agencies. Through personal consultations, the program effectively matches agencies needing specific assistance with skilled volunteers seeking purposeful opportunities.

For many years, the Volunteer Center has operated the Pro Bono Consultant Program for nonprofits requiring skilled volunteers on short-term projects, and RSVP (Retired Senior and Volunteer Program) whose partner organizations offer volunteer opportunities for seniors 55+.  This new program takes the best practices of each and broadens the quantity and scope of the volunteer opportunities available.

The 50+ Volunteer Network actively recruits professionals who are retired or considering retirement, empty nesters, and others aged 50 and older who want to make a significant contribution of time and talent to serve the community.  Volunteer Center advisors will help them find an opportunity consistent with the individual volunteer’s skills, interests, and availability.  Staff will also work directly with nonprofit and government agencies to determine the types of volunteers and assignments that are the most valuable, as well as provide support to help train, supervise, and manage volunteers.

Opportunities will include:

• Ongoing, program management and support – possibly editing a newsletter, providing administrative and client intake services, managing an event or program, or as a member of a board of directors
• Short-term consulting projects, such as grant-writing, accounting, strategic planning, marketing, web design, or IT help
• Direct services to clients in need, including tutoring or mentoring programs, teaching adult literacy, or providing career counseling to those in transition.

Unlike other programs and web-based services, the 50+ Volunteer Network is unique in its personal matching services, the broad range of opportunities, and the free cost to any nonprofit or government agency that is registered with the Volunteer Center.

For more information, visit our website at www.montgomeryserves.org, or email us at 50plus@montgomerycountymd.gov.