LEONARDTOWN, Md. – July 9, 2021: On June 24, 2021, the Leadership Southern Maryland (LSM) Class of 2021 participated in the final educational session of their program – Housing and Human Services.
The morning began with Cathy Meyers, LSM founding sponsor and executive director at Center for Children, Inc., presenting the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) assessment. Afterward, she gave context to the assessment, educating the class on how childhood experiences, poverty, mental health, and homelessness can be intertwined and how adverse childhood experiences can affect one’s ability to thrive. The class also received an overview of housing in the region from Theresa Kuhns LSM’19, Vice President, Government Affairs, Southern Maryland Association of Realtors ®.
Chris Longmore LSM’09, attorney and partner at Dugan, McKissick & Longmore, led the lunchtime activity and discussion on how the class, as leaders, can help with housing and human services issues in Southern Maryland and beyond. Next, the class heard from Mike Bellis LSM’19, former director of the United Way Charles County and Taylor Davis, deputy director of the Southern Maryland Family Advocacy Center. The discussion centered on a number of topics related to human services with a focus on the challenges of reaching persons in need during the global pandemic.
The class then traveled to homes established and operated by the ARC of Southern Maryland where they learned more about the organization’s mission and volunteered their time with residents supported by the ARC’s programs. They wrapped up their day with a networking event at Running Hare Vineyard. Class participants were able to meet and interact with LSM graduates, over 400 strong, and reflect on the day’s events.
Leadership Southern Maryland is a nine-month tuition-based program that educates and inspires a diverse group of current and emerging leaders creating opportunities for collaborations and partnerships impacting the community needs of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties ensuring a cross-section of the region including diversity of geographic location, profession, ethnicity, and gender.
For more information, please contact Denise Foster, executive director, Leadership Southern Maryland, 301-862-7663, via email denise@leadershipsomd.org or visit www.leadershipsomd.org.
