PATH 2024 Impact Report

Photo: Lizzy Unger

In 2024, PATH lived into our core values of building relationships, training and developing leaders for public life, and addressing racial and economic equity. We engaged in deep listening, taught organizing tools to build power, acted on important issues, and won tangible victories that will make a difference in people’s lives.

2024 Victories

Statewide Victories

This year, PATH strategically organized with AIM and ACT in the Maryland State House to help pass key pieces of legislation for climate equity, affordable housing, and tenants’ rights. Over 400 people were involved in the campaign and over 100 people attended our advocacy days in Annapolis. We achieved recognition from our legislators because of our ability to turn out everyday constituents who are directly impacted by the issues we work on. The new legislation we helped pass will:

  • Allocate millions in funding to help apartments upgrade to healthier and cleaner, gas-free appliances.

  • Increase the availability of affordable housing near transit stations.

  • Help protect tenants from wrongful evictions and excessive security deposits.

East Columbia 50+ Center

Beginning in 2021, PATH organized for a new senior center in East Columbia, which serves more low-income seniors and seniors of color than any other center. PATH worked with long-standing community leaders and played a key role in winning the final funding in the county budget for this center after years of delay. The new building opened March 7! Seniors in East Columbia now enjoy a beautiful new building and a variety of activities, including fitness classes, social groups, and dinners.

Expanding Our Base in Howard County

Local Organizing

This fall, we organized people within our congregations to build relationships and engage new leaders. We did presentations and listening sessions to hundreds of people in our congregations to connect the issues people are feeling in their day-to-day lives with our statewide agenda. We saw the real results with increased turnout at our November 17 action.

Leadership Development

This summer, we held a successful training series, “Building Diverse Teams for Justice,” to help leaders learn how to organize core teams in their congregations and communities. A total of 199 people from PATH, ACT, and AIM registered to attend at least one of the 6 sessions between June and September. We had fun together and connected with each other between and across organizations through one-on-one and small group conversations. As a result of the series, many leaders said they feel equipped to build stronger teams in their congregations, host listening sessions, and more.

Organizing Capacity

This year, we increased our organizing capacity through new staffing. In December, we received a two-year, $200,000 grant from the Horizon Foundation, which will enable us to hire a new full-time organizer.
We also expanded our relational power in new communities. One new member congregation, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, joined this year and has become very active. We are also beginning a listening campaign in Spanish at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, and are in early exploration of a campaign for senior services in Spanish.

Leader Profiles

Loretta Jones

Locust United Methodist Church

“PATH has helped me develop as a leader by showing me how to build relationships and get a better understanding of my community’s needs. I’ve learned how to foster greater collaborations, address community challenges, and advocate for more resources. PATH has exposed me to long-term visions for the community and how to inspire others to work toward it.”

Rabbi Gordy Fuller

Jewish Community Relations Council

“Our unity as a community is becoming more important than ever. PATH has helped me learn that, as well as helped me learn more about the diversity that makes this community so great. Building new relationships with other PATH members helps build the community, too, whether from my congregational perspective, as well as my organizational/Jewish Federation perspective. Just as many hands can make light work, many voices, singing the same tune as it were, can have a stronger impact on our advocacy efforts in government, business, and elsewhere.”

Action Spotlight

Statewide Action for a Just Democracy

On Sunday, November 17th, 729 of us from PATH, ACT, and AIM gathered at St. John the Evangelist Church in Columbia for our Statewide Action for a Just Democracy! Everyone in attendance committed to standing in solidarity with marginalized people and participating in our democracy to make it work for all of us.
We presented the 4 policies we’re advocating for this year in Annapolis– climate (ReNEW Act), housing (Housing Production Targets), renters’ rights (Good Cause Eviction) and pre-K expansion. We gained commitments from the Maryland Comptroller, the Maryland Department of Housing, and 12 state senators & delegates to work with us this year on these issues.

Maryland Just Power Alliance

At the action, we announced the Maryland Just Power Alliance, our new statewide collective with PATH, AIM, and ACT! This alliance will enable us to gain more recognition, have a greater influence on statewide policies, and form new partnerships with other statewide organizations.

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead to 2025, we will continue to organize in an effective way in uncertain political times. We plan to build relational power within our member organizations and reach out to potential new allies. We will engage in our democracy to make it work for us, as we pursue state-level campaigns with the Maryland Just Power Alliance and consider new local campaigns.

Thank You to Our Donors

PATH is funded by individual donors, grants, and dues from our member organizations.

A sincere thank you to each of our donors in 2023 and 2024! Your support helps create a more equitable Howard County and state.

  • Ann Aspnes

  • Alan and Laurie Coltri

  • Ken and Chris Crandell

  • John Farrell

  • April Garrett

  • Allison Gradwell

PATH Allies

Donors who help sustain our work with monthly donations

  • Linda Kgasi

  • Linda Lamppert-Leslie

  • Tim and Debi Lattimer

  • Diana Lyles

  • Erinn Camp Mansour

  • Lisa Marini

  • Emily Marshall

  • Steve McGovern

  • Shana Oshiro

  • Anna Rubin

  • Stuart Simon

  • Cynthia Sokolow

Annual Fund Donors

  • Ada Arthur

  • John & Ruella Barnes

  • Thomas Benjamin

  • Irma Bensinger

  • Lenora Booth

  • Kevin Chin

  • Kofo Coker

  • Jim Connolly

  • Kathleen Feddor

  • Rabbi Gordon Fuller

  • Carla Gates

  • Randee Gordon

  • Sally Goss

  • Anne Gould

  • Suzanne Henig

  • Al and Gail Holm

  • Karen Hopkins

  • Tina Horn

  • Jeanette Jenkins

  • Rev. Clifford Johnson

  • Rev. Mary Ka Kanahan

  • Chuck Koplik &
    Sue Tafler

  • Linda Linton

  • Sharon Maneki

  • Cynthia Marshall

  • Rev. Derek Miller

  • Gwendolyn Moore

  • Wendy Pritchett

  • Dennis Rapport

  • Kate Rathbun

  • Gerry Rescigno

  • Natalie Roberts

  • Kenneth Rock

  • Sharon Sachs

  • Sharon Shaw

  • Katie Shaw

  • Betsy Singer

  • Kenneth Stevens

  • Rev. Mary Sulerud

  • Wendel Thompson

  • Patrick Thronson

  • Sonia Watts

Foundations

  • Horizon Foundation

  • Presbyterian Hunger Program

  • Catholic Campaign for Human Development

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