Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives Brings Together All Ethnic Commissions for 2nd Annual Ethnic Commissions’ Joint Legislative Night

ANNAPOLIS, MD –The Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives yesterday evening hosted their 2nd Annual Ethnic Commissions’ Joint Legislative Night. This event highlighted the collaboration between the Governor’s Commission on African Affairs, Asian Pacific American Affairs, Hispanic Affairs, Middle Eastern American Affairs, South Asian American Affairs, and the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs. Over 150 Marylanders attended this event for an evening of diversity and community, sampling cuisine from around the world, and engaging in conversation to develop future collaborations between communities.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have citizens from all corners of the world, to learn from and share in their culture and heritage,” said Steve McAdams, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives. “Our office remains committed to working with our commissions to ensure that all Maryland citizens have the resources they need to thrive in our great state.”

The 2019 Ethnic Commissions’ Joint Legislative Night featured guest speakers: Frank Dickson, Director of Strategic Business Initiatives, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development; Randall Nixon, Associate Director of Maryland Census, Maryland Department of Planning; Secretary James Fielder, Maryland Higher Education Commission; and Governor Hogan’s Chief Legislative Officer, Chris Shank. Speakers discussed how their respective agencies are working to improve Maryland communities through initiatives and legislative priorities. Topics included education, opportunity zones, the 2020 Census, and the Hogan administration’s 2019 legislative priorities.

The Governor’s Commissions on African Affairs, Asian Pacific American Affairs, Hispanic Affairs, Middle Eastern American Affairs, South Asian American Affairs, and the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs work together with the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives to connect Marylanders from their respective communities to state resources and to advise Governor Larry Hogan on the needs of their constituencies. The commissions also work to celebrate the culture, heritage, and history of their communities, and identify areas in which their members can serve Maryland better.