Thanks

My plan is to make this my second-to-last blog post. Before I go I hope to put up one more post that organizes the blog to make it easier for folks to find the relevant information.
For this one, I want to thank all of you.

Thanks to the people at Health Care for the Homeless. Imagine arriving for work every morning with a line of 50 people waiting for health services.

Thanks to the staff and volunteers at the Homeless Persons Representation Project –people who spent years in law school and use their training to provide free legal services to day laborers, welfare recipients, ex-offenders and others at risk of homelessness. These attorneys (who don't get paid attorney wages) go to homeless shelters and places where day laborers gather to serve a community that is both right in front of us and often invisible.

Thanks to my committed colleagues at the Maryland Alliance for the Poor, Medicaid Matters! Maryland and other coalitions I have had the pleasure to work with. These people pool their voices to advocate for better policy choices for our lowest-income neighbors. It is inspiring to see.

Thanks to Interfaith Housing in Western Maryland, Chesapeake Habitat for Humanity and similar nonprofit groups around the state who confront our housing crisis head-on by building and maintaining affordable housing. It is an uphill climb these days, with housing costs skyrocketing and public funds for affordable housing drying up.

Thanks to the governor, lieutenant governor, 188 members of the General Assembly, and elected officials around the state. They make personal and professional sacrifices to serve our community.

Thanks to the (mostly) young people who work as canvassers for a wide range of organizations. I appreciate that you do this work. Note to readers: When a canvasser shows up at my door, GIVE THEM A TIP. It’s thankless work, it doesn’t pay much, and a tip (say, $10) is a small investment in their present and future commitment to our community.

Thanks to the people who work or volunteer at domestic violence shelters, arts organizations, environmental groups, the thousands of other nonprofits around Maryland and all of our state and local government employees who work to support our communities.

It can be draining doing this job sometimes–knowing what we know about budget choices and community needs. But our work is nothing compared to what all of the above experience everyday, on the front lines of serving our neighbors and building and sustaining our communities.

It has been an honor to work with and for all of you these past seven and a half years. Thank you.

To the readers of this blog: Please stay connected to our community. Give money, time or support your favorite nonprofits. And stay engaged in state policy choices. For more ideas on what to do, read our post Do Something.

What's next for me and this blog? You'll find the answers by clicking on "comments" in the next line.