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Category: Justice & Witness

Native Plant Give Away May 8, 2022

Native Plant Give Away May 8, 2022

Help people and wildlife thrive in our area! Plant natives! CCC is organizing a native plant distribution for anyone interested in planting seedling in their yard, container, or communal space. We are partnering with Interfaith Light & Power and National Wildlife Federation for this plant giveaway.

To receive your plants (typically 3-5 rooted seedlings), please sign the native plant pledge (https://www.nwf.org/NativePlantPledge). This will give the CCC Green Team a sense of how many we plan to distribute on Mother’s Day after the in-person service (11:30am-12:30pm in the CCC parking lot). Rain or shine!

Sacred Grounds – Planting Hope 2022

Sacred Grounds – Planting Hope 2022

Pledge to Plant Native Plants Helping People and Wildlife


Please join your fellow congregation members in helping people and wildlife by Caring for Creation. We’ll do this by planting native plants in our yards that are suited to the local wildlife, soil and rainfall here in the Maryland/District of Columbia region.

Native plants help protect the local streams and rivers we love and enjoy. These waterways are a source of sustenance for birds, frogs, fish, and butterflies, and a place for children to play. Our actions will protect people who live alongside and downstream from pollution and flooding. All life depends upon water.

By planting native plants, we plant with a purpose and put the teachings of our faith into practice. By working together with people of all faiths we can care for the Earth that we share.

 

Make a pledge today to plant natives in your yard, and we’ll provide you with a starter kit of free plants, as well as the information you need for the plants to thrive. We’re aiming to recruit 200+ homes—will you be one of them?

Native Plants Workshop 4/7/2022

Native Plants Workshop 4/7/2022

Sacred Grounds: Caring for Creation in Montgomery County Using Native Plants to Care for Earth at Home: Creating Joy and Beauty with Wildlife Habitat & Rain Gardens

 

** online workshop **
Thursday, April 7th at 7:30 pm
Register: bit.ly/regMCgarden

Many in our community find joy, peace, and inspiration outdoors. By planting native plants, we can take part in protecting the natural world that nurtures us. Join us virtually from 7:30 pm on Thursday April 7th to learn from experts about how you can create wildlife habitat and protect our local streams by planting native plants. You’ll also learn how you can create and design a rain garden that is eligible for municipal funding worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars – from the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection.

We will share tips on the following:


* What are the best native plants for my yard?
* Where can I buy them?
* How will they help with flooding and pollution into our local streams and Chesapeake Bay?
* Designing a garden with native plants
* Other features to help birds and butterflies thrive at our homes
* County financial aid application/rebate information
* How to be an ambassador for wildlife
and answers to your other questions!

Register and receive the Zoom link here: bit.ly/regMCgarden

Advocating for Racial Justice in Maryland

Advocating for Racial Justice in Maryland

A Message from the Racial Justice Circle, 2/19/2022:

 

CCC is a part of two coalitions working toward racial justice in Maryland. The Maryland Alliance for Judicial Reform (MAJR) is promoting about a dozen bills in the Maryland State Legislature. As announced in the 19 January eNewsNotes, you can become a participant in advocating for these bills by clicking on https://www.ma4jr.org/individuals/ and signing up to contact your legislators. MAJR will contact you when it is a good time to do this by sending you an email. You can see a listing of these bills by clicking on https://www.ma4jr.org/legislation-2022/.

 

The other coalition to which CCC belongs is the Silver Spring Justice Coalition (SSJC). The CCC Racial Justice Circle has chosen two bills supported by SSJC for our priority concern here at CCC.

 

– HB429, Kwam’s Law: Expanding Police Body Worn Camera. This is a bill that SSJC has been working closely on in partnership with Melody Cooper, whose son, Kwamena Ocran, was killed by plainclothes Gaithersburg City Police who were not wearing bodyworn cameras.

 

– HB129/SB12, Behavioral Health Crisis Response Services and Public Safety, limits law enforcement Interactions with people in mental health crisis. Provides funding to minimize law enforcement interaction with individuals experiencing mental health crisis

 

If you agree, contact your senators and delegates and let them know you want them to vote in favor of these bills. If you do not know who your legislators are, you can find out at the following link: http://mdelect.net.

Silver Spring, MD Community Responds to Police Report on the Police Killing of Resident Robert White

Silver Spring, MD Community Responds to Police Report on the Police Killing of Resident Robert White

A public opportunity for Silver Spring residents to respond to the just-released police report on the police killing on June 11 of community resident Robert White is scheduled for Sunday, April 7, 2 p.m., at Christ Congregational Church through a press conference and vigil commemorating Robert White’s life. This event will be held in cooperation with Silver Spring Justice Coalition.  Many in the local community have been greatly disturbed by the death of Robert White. Several community hearings and events have been held since his death seeking answers to why an innocent black man lost his life in June.

The police have conducted an investigation, which includes an opinion from an outside evaluator as well as an internal police review by Montgomery County Police Department. The police report was submitted to County Executive Marc Elrich in March 2019. Elrich requested that it be made public. The police report finds no fault by the department’s officers. The police report is available at

http://www.mymcpnews.com/2019/04/03/montgomery-county-department-of-police-release-review-memorandum-of-june-11-2018-police-involved-shooting-incident/

The community vigil and press conference by the church and Silver Spring Justice Coalition will provide an opportunity for residents to raise questions and for a brief vigil service in honor of Robert White. “The conclusion drawn by MCPD in its internal affairs investigation cause pain to our community because the police investigation failed to provide any moral or rational justification for the initial encounter by the police officer that led to Robert White’s killing,” said Carlean Ponder, of Silver Spring Justice Coalition. She added that “walking while Black, in a residential neighborhood, is conduct that can subject any member of the community to confrontation and being followed by law enforcement.” Reverend Matt Braddock, senior minister at Christ Congregational Church, added that the Sunday event offers an opportunity to the Silver Spring community to “stand up and speak out and engage in a faith-based response.”

Speakers Sunday will include Will Jawando, Montgomery County Councilmember; the Rev. Dr. Matt Braddock, Senior Minister, Christ Congregational Church; Cherri Branson of the NAACP; and Rosemary McCloskey, neighbor of Robert White.  Community members should enter the church from the parking lot at the rear of the church.

View Pastor Matt Braddock’s, A Response To Lack of Fault in the Montgomery County Police Department’s Killing of Robert White.

Press Coverage of Event

View Press Coverage of Event, Silver Spring residents demand action after investigation clears officer in death of Robert White (WTOP)
View Press Coverage of Event, Calls for Reform Emerge After Silver Spring Shooting (NBC News 4)