Empowering Partners aims to raise awareness about the value of self-advocacy and reconvene or strengthen self-advocacy groups throughout the state.
The Arc Maryland, in partnership with People on the Go of Maryland and The Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, is excited to share with you Empowering Partners, an outgrowth of the successful Partners in Policymaking® program.
About the Program
Empowering Partners serves as the foundation for self-advocacy groups in Maryland, with guidance from The Arc Maryland, local chapters, experienced self-advocate facilitators, and program partners. Through the program, self-advocacy groups share centralized discussion topics, activities, and a unified movement to grow from and build on.
People with IDD need to understand advocacy and have a chance to demonstrate it. It is important to educate the next generation who will be in charge of carrying the movement forward.
Aileen O’Hare, Former Empowering Partners Facilitator
Finding a Self-Advocacy Group Near You
You can join a Self-Advocacy Group near you supported by Empowering Partners to improve your advocacy skills! Here are upcoming meeting times in Maryland:
- People On the Go of Southern Maryland | Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s Counties
- Virtual – October 4th, 2:00 to 3:00 PM
- People On the Go of Southern Maryland’s Facebook
- Chapter Liaison: Mindy Cornett-Shifflett
- Inspiration Advocates | Carroll County
- Hybrid – October 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- Chapter Liaison: Mariel Ramey
- People First | Cecil and Harford Counties
- Virtual – October 5th, 5:30 to 6:30 PM
- Chapter Liaison: Jenny Conde
- Trailblazers | Washington County
- In-Person – October 6th, 1:30 to 2:30 PM
- Chapter Liaison: Brittany Spangler
- Living Boldly | The Arc Central Chesapeake Region
- Hybrid (Linthicum Community Hub) – October 9th, 12:00 to 1:00 PM
- AND Hybrid (Easton Community Hub) – October 10th, 12:00 to 1:00 PM
- Living Boldly’s website
- livingboldly@thearcccr.org
- STAND Together | Montgomery County
- Virtual – October 10th, 4:00 to 5:00 PM
- STAND Together’s website
- Chapter Liaison: Theo Dubuche
- Self-Advocates of Frederick County | Frederick County
- In-Person – October 11th, 4:00 to 5:30 PM
- Chapter Liaison: Megan Dewing
- People Power | Howard County
- Virtual, October 16th, 6:00 to 7:00 PM
- People Power’s Facebook page
- Chapter Liaison: Jill Berry and Christine Towne
- New Hope for All | Baltimore City and Baltimore County
- Hybrid – October 18th, 6:00 to 7:00 PM
- New Hope for All’s website
- Chapter Liaison: Moneen Blake
To learn how you can join an Empowering Partners Self-Advocacy Group near you, contact Natalie Dohner at ndohner@thearcmd.org.
This project is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1,265,982 with 100% funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.