The Evolution of Our Advocacy

Dear Friend,

When I began my tenure at Interfaith Works five years ago, I brought with me many plans, ideas, hopes, and dreams for the organization and the way we serve our community. One of my priorities was strengthening our advocacy efforts. We needed to rebuild meaningful relationships with elected officials and create real opportunities for collaboration. 

Our first Annapolis Day in 2022 reflected that early vision. We were largely on a goodwill mission - introducing ourselves, ensuring legislators knew how we served the community, and helping them understand how to refer their constituents to our services. 

In the years since, our advocacy work has become more focused and strategic. This year, our fifth consecutive Annapolis Day was our most robust yet, centered on legislation addressing barriers to housing faced by our clients. For example, we urged legislators to back “Good Cause Eviction” legislation, which protects families from losing their homes without a legitimate reason. These safeguards would help prevent sudden, unjustified lease non-renewals and reduce homelessness and housing instability in our community. 

This evolution - from raising awareness to championing specific policies that directly affect our neighbors - captures the growth of Annapolis Day for our organization. It also underscores how deeply we strive to connect policy to practice. We lift up the stories, challenges, and aspirations of our community because we know that decisions made in Annapolis, and at the federal, county and municipal levels, directly shape our ability to deliver effective services to the people we serve. 

These days in Annapolis would not be possible without the immense dedication of my colleagues and members of our Board. I am profoundly grateful to everyone who has planned, researched, and shown up for these critical conversations. We are strongest when we work together. 

Watching this work evolve over five years has reinforced for me just how much it matters - and how powerful we can be when we lift up the stories and concerns of our neighbors. I am grateful for every person who has been part of it and am confident that Interfaith  Works’ best years are still ahead. 

Sincerely,

Courtney Hall, CEO