Here is a list of activities I have participated in, meetings I have attended, and events I have supported in the month of January 2025:
“Resilio” Exhibition Opening Reception at VIDA Gallery | January 24, 2025
Truly: A Work of Art! And a Labor of Love! These extraordinarily talented artists' works are being showcased in a very well-known restaurant, Caliente Grill in the Hillsmere community of Annapolis. Stop by, eat deliciously, and enjoy the ambiance and the sense of community. Owner Roxanna Rodriguez is just the best!
Exhibition “Resilio” Opening Reception - Friday, January 24th 5:30pm - 6:30pm at Vida Gallery at Caliente Grill - 907 Bay Ridge RD Annapolis, MD 21403. The exhibit is open through March 5th / Curated by Wilfredo Vallares
Check-in virtual Meeting with the Cure Violence Intervention Program Team (including our County Department of Health staff), where they are all working in our Harbour House and Eastport Terrace communities on a daily basis
Attended the Annapolis Police Department’s (APD’s) Holiday Luncheon
Attended a viewing for an Annapolis Resident
Monday, January 6: The beginning of 8 inches of snow, ice, and extremely cold temperatures: “All Hands on Deck”
Note: So several events, meetings, activities, etc. for January were cancelled, postponed, or were too problematic to travel safely
Attended the last 5 minutes of the City Council’s Housing and Human Welfare Standing Committee virtual meeting
Meeting with the APD’s Chief and Deputy Chief
Attended the viewing for my Cousin (Anne Arundel County)
Attended the viewing and funeral for an Annapolis Resident, and read a City Council Citation
Attended 2 City Council meetings
Attended the Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works (DPW) “Safe Routes to Transit” Study virtual meeting. This is a County-wide planning-level study to determine the needs for improving pedestrian and bicycle access to bus and rail transit stops, focused on 3 geographically defined areas, including the greater Parole area. The project is partially funded by a “Safe Streets and Roads for All” grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Ward 2 Town Hall | January 14, 2025
Attended the “Ward 2 Town Hall” hosted by Ward 2 Alderwoman Karma O’Neill at the USNA Stadium, and I volunteered to take photos at the Town Hall for Alderwoman O’Neill
Attended (again) the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Awards Dinner, Live Casino Hotel, with my City Council colleagues
Had a Mini-Meeting with the Mayor’s Chief of Staff
On-site Meeting with the Annapolis Department of Transportation (ADOT) leadership regarding EV Charging Stations and Little Free Libraries, E-bike Voucher Pilot Program, City Manager’s Monthly Report, etc.
Attended the in-person monthly City Council Work Session (budget priorities for Fiscal Year 2026 were discussed)
Attended (again) the Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Legislative Kick-off Breakfast which brings together elected leaders, Chamber members, and the entire business community; updates were provided by newly elected U.S. Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (Federal), State Senator Pam Beidle (State), and County Executive Steuart Pittman (County), Double Tree Hotel
Attended and celebrated the Golden (50th ) Anniversary of the Arundel Lodge, and presented them with a City Council Citation, Annapolis
2025 Annual Oasis Conference Weekend | January 18, 2025
I was honored to be the Keynote Speaker at the 2025 Annual Oasis Conference Weekend for Tuwa Temple No. 228 and Tuwa Court No. 210, Prince Hall Shriners of Annapolis, at the Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center. Here I am enjoying the Conference with my friend and member of the Tuwa Court, Stacey.
Was asked to be the Keynote Speaker for the “2025 Annual Oasis Conference Weekend for Tuwa Temple No. 228 and Tuwa Court No. 210, Prince Hall Shriners of Annapolis”, at the Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center
Attended the monthly virtual Audit Committee meeting (a hybrid Committee composed of Alderpersons and Residents)
Attended my monthly meeting with the Mayor, City Hall
Attended the meeting of the St. John’s College’s, Elizabeth Myers Mitchell’s Advisory Council (of which I am a member and have been since 2021), On Campus
Attended a private reception at St. John’s College to preview the exhibition “nature's readymades”, at the Elizabeth Myers Mitchell Art Museum
Attended and participated (again) in the Anne Arundel County Public Schools' 2nd Annual National Mentoring Month Celebration, In-Person, AACPS Headquarters
Attended and was asked to speak at a Memorial Service for my Cousin, Annapolis Resident
Was personally invited and attended a Hispanic/Latino Art Exhibit, Caliente Grill, Annapolis
Attended and spoke at a double funeral for 2 Residents (brothers)
Annual Annapolis Pride Legislative Reception | January 27, 2025
I enjoyed the Annual Annapolis Pride Legislative Reception at Leo’s Restaurant with my good friend Jake Trudeau. I also donated 100 Pride pens at this event.
(Photos 1 and 2 courtesy of Delegate Dana Jones)
Attended the third annual Annapolis Pride Legislative Reception, Leo’s Restaurant
Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Annual Event Celebrating 35 Years | January 28th
The “Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County” event was held at The Ellipse, 26 West Street; Annual updates were provided from 2024 and upcoming events were announced for 2025. Many were in attendance including leadership from CRAB (Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating), my cousin Lyndra Pratt Marshall and her husband Roger Marshall, and City of Annapolis Alderpersons Karma O'Neill and Rob Savidge.
Attended the “Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County” event, The Ellipse: what’s upcoming in 2025, and a reflection on the regional triumphs of 2024, 26 West Street
Attended the Anne Arundel County Public Schools “Middle School Sports Community Information Night” where information was presented, on the new Middle School Athletics program, for families and community members—how to register for sports, schedules, equipment, transportation, academic eligibility, and more, at Lindale Middle School in Linthicum
Note: I had a scheduling conflict so I could not attend the Information Night at the Wiley H. Bates Middle School in Annapolis; the same Information was presented at Bates, as well as at Arundel Middle School (the 3rd information location)
Attended the County Executive’s Budget Town Hall, North County High School (my Cousin asked me to accompany her and some of her residents regarding a long-standing and plaguing community issues)
Chaired the City Council’s Public Safety Standing Committee, In-person Meeting, where in-depth presentations were provided by the Mayor’s Office’s “Uplift Annapolis” (their initiatives), Office of Emergency Management, Annapolis Fire Department, and Annapolis Police Department, and where Ward 1 was highlighted, and Ward 1 Alderman Harry Huntley and his residents and businesses were specially invited to attend with the
opportunity to ask questions, make comments, etc.; 6:30-9:48 p.m.
Attended a virtual meeting and briefing with the Long Range Planning Team for the “Carr’s Beach and Elktonia” project, including the McAdams Team and our Resilience Authority
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