OUR TRIP to ANNAPOLIS: MBRT Hosts Inaugural Youth Congress
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SPRING 2020 A Publication for Maryland Business Roundtable for Education FEATURE OUR TRIP TO ANNAPOLIS: 3 MBRT Hosts Inaugural Youth Congress Day Event at the Maryland State House 2 » SPRING 2020 » IMAGINE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE MBRT’S STATEWIDE ALIGNMENT CONTINUES Two organizations that feature senior-level executives and statewide impact on the communities in which they serve strengthened their partnership during the past two years. Leadership Maryland (www.LeadershipMD.org) is a professional development program that harnesses the strength of business and community leaders to focus on Maryland’s most vital social, economic, and education issues. Because those topics have direct relevance to the employers and partners that have participated in MBRT over the years, the staff of our Roundtable has benefited significantly – and offered their unique benefits and expertise – by serving as members of the past two Leadership Maryland classes. Brian Dulay, MBRT Executive Director, graduated from the 2018 class in December of that year; Nona Carroll, MBRT Chief Strategy Officer, graduated last December as part of the 2019 class. Each speaks highly of the experience and recommends it to other aspiring leaders in our state. “I made terrific new friends and connections among my 50 classmates that year, and I continue to draw upon and value those experiences during my travels and business needs throughout the state,” Dulay said. A bonus to their participation in successive classes is an ability in 2020 and beyond to amplify a shared message that reflects those new skills and opportunities. Leadership Maryland began in 1993, and its alumni network now consists of more than 1,100 leaders from all industries and regions of the state. The program uses an eight-month, hands-on travel and reflection model each year, centered each month on two-day intense sessions to utilize classmates’ insights while addressing key topics that vary by region. Ideally, Leadership I found tremendous Maryland members have a desire to learn more about Maryland’s most critical value in learning issues and offer a personal commitment to be a force of positive change in their about the unique organizations and personal/professional lives. aspects of the state while challenging my Examples of immediate alignment between MBRT and the 2018 and 2019 leadership approach and assumptions classes have included: joint invitations for MBRT staff and Leadership Maryland in a safe and well- classmates to serve in advisory roles or as participants on workgroups; connected environment marketing and branding cooperation in multiple workforce sectors; introductory comprising of my membership meetings to potential new partners; exploratory outreach involving 50 classmates, local and state officials who have background with or interest in both Leadership also known as the Maryland and MBRT; and fun, social events throughout the year that allow for #classofdistinction. work-based and personal moments of friendship. — Nona Carroll, MBRT MBRT welcomes similar alignment pathways among its Chief Strategy Officer, graduate of Leadership network. Please contact Brian, Nona or a member of our Maryland 2019 staff if your school system or employer participates in leadership development that might offer complementary experiences. We know there is always the potential to do so much more together than when working on our own projects or day-to-day needs in isolation. Brian Dulay Executive Director IMAGINE » SPRING 2020 » 3 FEATURE OUR TRIP TO ANNAPOLIS: MBRT HOSTS INAUGURAL YOUTH CONGRESS DAY EVENT AT THE MARYLAND STATE HOUSE By Natalie Williams, Senior Director of Communications and Public Affairs On the heels of the 2019-2020 school year’s 100th day of school, the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) held its inaugural Youth Congress Day 2020 on Tuesday, January 21st at the Maryland State Capitol in Annapolis, Maryland. Representing five school districts, more than 100 students and administrators participated in this first of a kind event for the organization. The event was hosted by the Honorable Maryland State Delegate Terri Hill and supported by numerous members of the Maryland State Senate and House of Delegates. PLANNING The decision to hold such an event was birthed from the idea of fully supporting and celebrating the success of Year and students to attend to deciding what would be on our 2 of the Next Generation Scholars grant, a state-funded luncheon’s menu - and everything in between. grant program established by Maryland House Bill 1403 (2016) that provides funding for college access through THE ARRIVAL nonprofit organizations to enhance college and career Students and their chaperones had a scheduled arrival time awareness and college completion for low-income Maryland of 8:30 am making for an early start to the day. For some, high school students. As the lead organization fulfilling this traveling from the Eastern Shore, Kent, Dorchester, and grant, MBRT has impacted thousands of students through its Caroline Counties, the ride would be a long one, somewhere programming. By bringing students to the very place where between 1-2 hours in travel time. Prince George’s County laws are passed, budgets are approved, and assumptions students enjoyed what amounts to a normal commute in the are made on their behalf, it was the perfect opportunity to DC Metropolitan area, a 45 minute ride. have their presence felt, and for some, their voices heard on this day. Upon arrival, all students entered through the security entrance having their bags scanned and displaying their I.D.s Understandably, the idea of planning a trip with 100 students for entry into the grand halls of the Lowe House of Delegates in the month of January seemed a bit risky to some given the Office Building. Once inside, they would find beautiful marble potential threat of wintry weather, news of impending exam floors, bright lights, walls adorned with historical artifacts, and schedules, transportation challenges and the opening of the lots of people on the move. 441st Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly. Mary Mulvihill, Maryland General Assembly’s Visitors With the cooperation and leadership of the Honorable Program Coordinator, along with four dedicated tour Shirley Nathan-Pulliam, now former Senator and Co-Chair of guides, welcomed students to the Maryland State House the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, and discussed the significance of the students’ planned we were able to do nearly the impossible despite the activities, and shared a video, “The Legislative Process,” odds. In the short span of two months, my colleagues and which illustrated in-depth how a bill moves forward through I planned a full day of events, from identifying schools General Assembly to become state law. 4 » SPRING 2020 » IMAGINE Divided into four groups, students traveled through the sacred tunnel of the Capitol, a sprawling underground pathway that allows legislators and staffers easy access to the general assembly floor. The groups took turns visiting both the Senate and House of Delegate chambers to witness the general session in progress, providing a better understanding of the state legislative process. Following the session, students from Surrattsville High School (SHS) in Prince George’s County had the pleasure of taking pictures on the General Assembly floor with Senator Thomas V. Mike Miller, Former President of the Senate, and alum of SHS. Many students found the viewing to be quite informative and engaging. “I liked seeing behind the scenes of how things work in Congress and I would really like to know how to become a part of Congress now!” said Cortney Wai, an 11th grader from Colonel Richardson High School. TOURING OF HISTORIC ROOMS Students also visited the Rotunda, the largest wooden dome in North America built between 1772-79 and added to the statehouse between 1785-94. It is home to President George Washington’s copy of his resignation speech as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army given in the Old Senate Chamber on December 23, 1783. The document is considered by historians to be the fourth most important document in American history. In the Senate Committee and Stairwell Rooms, students viewed historic portraits featuring George Washington, Marquis de Lafayette, and Tench Tilghman at Yorktown, VA. The portraits depicted a significant moment in US history leading to the end of the Revolutionary War, as well as, features historical portraits of Maryland’s four signers of the Declaration of Independence. IMAGINE » SPRING 2020 » 5 STATEHOUSE SUCCESS 5 School Districts Represented Nearly 100 Students and Administrators Attended Maryland Senator and Delegate Participation Increased Awareness of MBRT in Annapolis Media Coverage Bryce Davis, from Gwynn Park High School in Prince George's County, was among several students interviewed by WBAL's Education Reporter Tim Tooten Great Feedback from Students and Partners at the 2020 Youth Congress Day. To view more media coverage of this event, please visit www.mbrt.org. I liked seeing behind the scenes of how things work in Congress and I would really like to know how to become a part of Congress now! — C ortney Wai, 11th grade Colonel Richardson High School 6 » SPRING 2020 » IMAGINE The tour concluded with a special exhibit highlighting Abolitionist Frederick Douglass and his family. The tours allowed for a more hands-on approach to learning history and were, “Way more interesting and better than being lectured in a classroom”