Act now for complete streets!
County Executive Calvin Ball recently released his proposed capital budget for FY 2022. It includes $5.375 million for projects that will make walking and biking in Howard County better, easier and safer. If adopted, this would represent record funding for active transportation projects in our community. It is now up to the Howard County Council to approve these funds in the final budget. Without these necessary funds, the lack of connectivity, inaccessible spaces and unsafe roads will continue to be the reality in Howard County. Completing these projects are necessary and crucial steps to achieving our community’s complete streets vision in the long run. Tell the County Council to fully fund these projects to improve biking, walking and accessibility in our community!
Take action now>>
Read the Streets for All Coalition’s full statement on the proposed budget>>
New coalition will help Marylanders make choices surrounding end-of-life care
MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society, the Horizon Foundation, the Maryland Hospital Association and AARP Maryland have teamed up to form a new statewide group, the Maryland Honoring Choices Coalition. The newly formed coalition will not only focus on raising awareness about the importance of naming one’s agent, but will also educate Marylanders about end-of-life issues and the ability to electronically upload their advance healthcare directive documents for their doctors to access. The coalition will reach out to healthcare providers, insurers, legislators and state administration to advocate for changes to statewide practices to ensure residents are regularly prompted to name a health care agent and/or complete an advance care plan. Learn more about the coalition and join us today to get involved in our efforts to eliminate barriers to advance care planning for all Marylanders.
Join the coalition>>
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Horizon Foundation and Wendt Center for Loss and Healing host workshop for Howard County educators
Educators have been on the front lines of managing the increased anxiety, isolation, anger, sadness and uncertainty that all of us have experienced over the past year. That’s why the Horizon Foundation teamed up with the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing to host a series of virtual workshops focused on Howard County teachers and school staff. The series kicked off on April 14 with a session, “Uncertainty and Grief – The Impact of COVID,” that not only explored the hardships educators have experienced during this global health pandemic, but frames the COVID-19 pandemic as a grief experience. The series discussed grief responses and provide realistic strategies to sustain in the face of grief and trauma exposure.
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Horizon Foundation stands in solidarity to #StopAsianHate
On March 24, Howard County’s Asian American and Pacific Islander community organized the #STOPASIANHATE Solidarity Vigil to protest the recent rise in harassment and violence against Asian Americans across the United States. Nikki Highsmith Vernick, the Horizon Foundation’s president and CEO, spoke at the vigil and several Foundation staff members attended. The Foundation is proud to stand in unity with our Asian American and Pacific Islander community, and the vigil was an outstanding example of what collaboration, partnership and community means. Despite the rain, so many of us showed up to take a stand against the senseless violence happening to Asian Americans across the country. Thank you to the organizers and sponsors who allowed us to take part in this event.
Read about the vigil in the Howard County Times>>
HealthCare Access Maryland to host “Re-thinking Mental Health: Workplace Equity for Communities of Color
The Horizon Foundation is proud to be a sponsor for HealthCare Access Maryland’s upcoming speaker series, “Re-thinking Mental Health: Workplace Equity for Communities of Color,” coming up on May 18. The panel of experts will discuss mental health challenges facing communities of color and how they impact today’s workforce, the impact of racism and trauma on mental health and how employers can create a workplace that supports mental health and well-being.
Learn more and register>>
Foundation hosts “Health in the Age of COVID-19 and Beyond” event with Black and Latinx communities
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our daily lives, vaccine availability also continues to shift. Black and Latinx community members need consistent and trusted information to make informed decisions about the vaccine. Though systemic issues are at the root of vaccine confidence, we want to ensure our community has the information they need at their fingertips. To help accomplish this, on March 17, we held two information gathering sessions that brought together leaders from the Black and Latinx communities to provide feedback on our local vaccine campaign for Howard County. Their feedback and insights were not only valuable for our campaign, but will be critical for our work moving forward. Thank you to everyone who supported and participated in these sessions! Stay tuned for our campaign launch in the coming months.
