About Us

President's Welcome | Mission | History | Accomplishments | Officers and Committee Chairs

Presidents Welcome

Welcome!!! We are so pleased that you've taken time out of your busy schedule to visit our new website. This website was designed to be a conduit of information that will empower and inform the public about The Concerned Black Women of Calvert County, Inc. (CBW) and upcoming events and programs that affect the community. CBW is a non-profit organization created to address issues to improve the quality of life for African American Women and their families. We are a diverse group of women with various expertise who are called to be advocates in the community.

The theme for the 2008 - 2009 calendar year is Reaching Up, Reaching Out, and Reaching Back. We will Reach Up for strength and empowerment, Reach Out to build bridges with local organizations, schools, and businesses to meet the needs of our community, and Reach Back to the youth and young adults to ensure the people of Calvert County will always have a voice. In order to assist us with accomplishing our task, CBW will be sponsoring individual and corporate membership drives called “Tea & Talks”. The Tea & Talks are designed to inform individuals and organizations about CBW, our initiatives, and the needs within the community. We are confident that the Tea & Talks will inspire those in attendance to become members. CBW would love for you to partner with us by completing an individual membership form or Corporate Sponsorship form if you are a business or corporation.

I’m also excited about our upcoming programs and events scheduled for the remainder of 2008 - 2009. As a continuum of CBW’s and Calvert County’s 1st Annual Youth Summit in 2005 we will sponsor workshops for students and parents such as “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About College”. The workshops will be developed to inform parents and students about how to search for the perfect college, financial aid, what to expect and how to prepare for the first year and much more…Secondly, keep your eyes and ears open for upcoming events/workshops hosted by the Minority Business Committee that will assist you in expanding and/or starting your business. By completing the first Minority Business Directory in Calvert County’s history, CBW was able to co-sponsor these workshops with the Calvert County Department of Economic Development!! Finally, CBW will also host our 1st Annual Black Tie gala to honor leaders and students in our community. You do not want to miss this event. It will be the highlight of the year. Please visit our calendar and pencil in these upcoming events. Other planned events include an African American Health Symposium and a Covenant with Black America Book discussion to be held at the new Calvert County Library.

Once again, thank you for visiting our site. Please take an opportunity to review the entire site. There is a wealth of information at your fingertips that can be used to empower you and your family. I encourage you to visit the Contact Us page and the Minority Business on-line directory. On the Contact US page, you may include your email address to receive notification of upcoming events and contact us with your comments or questions. Next, click on our on-line Minority Business Directory. Use it as your personal business-to-business phone book. Last but not least, please consider joining CBW and fulfill your desire to help and meet the needs of your community. We need you.

In the words of A. Philip Randolph:

At the banquet table of life, there are no reserved seats. You get what you can take and keep what you can hold. If you cannot take anything, you won’t get anything. And if you cannot hold anything, you won’t keep anything. And you cannot take anything without organization.

Kimberly L. Mackall
President , The Concerned Black Women of Calvert County, Inc.

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Mission

Our mission is to address issues in the community that include education, health, economic well-being, and improving the quality of life for African American women and their families.

CBW is a problem solving group by using programmatic action, dissemination of information, networking to connect people in need with resources and services, cultural influence by sharing our heritage and it’s impact on today’s society, training and personal development. These services include, but are not limited to, information technology, establishment of scholarship programs, public leadership development and participation in the governmental decision making process.

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History

The Concerned Black Women of Calvert County Incorporated, also known as CBW, held its first organizing meeting in June 2004. The organization was incorporated, in July, in the state of Maryland.

Organization founders are Doris J. Spencer and Annette J. Funn, two community active citizens who asked themselves the question, “Who is speaking on a variety of issues from the African American perspective?” They realized a need and the rest is history.

The mission of CBW is to address issues concerning education, health, economic empowerment and overall well-being of African American women and families within the county. This mission includes our vision to improve the quality of life for African American families.

We envision ourselves as an advocacy group that uses pro-active, programmatic action, dissemination of information, networking with other community organizations, connecting with people in need of resources and services, cultural influence by sharing our heritage and its impact on today’s society, training and personal empowerment. These services include, but are not limited to, adult and youth mentoring programs, information technology training and access to decrease the Digital Divide, identification of Health needs and issues, identification of Special Education issues, establishment of scholarship programs, development of youth and young adult leaders, and participation in the Local and State government decision making process.

The organization is not part of another group and to CBW’s knowledge it is the only one of its kind, which is organized in the nation with this name and a broad based, issue focused agenda. CBW is non-partisan and its membership is open to those who support CBW initiatives. CBW does not support or oppose political candidates.

Doris J. Cammack Spencer states that there is no easy solution to closing the education gap of achievement. Involvement by all the community can make a difference in providing support to young people during their growing years and that includes providing them with a supportive environment and positive experiences to obtain an excellent education. Solving the educational gap in achievement requires everyone to get involved – the school, the parent(s), the community and the church. Too much tax money is spent on educating students to produce results that are not productive for all of our school children and for society. You got to “show up.”

The Founding Members of CBW include: Ernestine Brooks, Charlotte Clark, Barbara Fetterhoff, Annette Funn, Sharon Gray, Bridgette Hird, Doris Holland, Diane Hollaway-Lockamy, Tess Jones-Smith, Glossie Leake, Evelyn Long, Pamela Mackall, Sonia Hinds, Sylvia Parker, Kim Mackall, Barbara Reid, Shirley Smith, Doris J. Cammack Spencer, Dawn Tucker, Kirsti Uunila, and Elena Whipple.

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Accomplishments

CBW Achievements from June 2007 to Present

• Met with the Deputy Superintendent of Schools to discuss the CBW position paper on No Child Left Behind and High Stakes Testing on July 10, 2007.
• Prepared and submitted written testimony for a Hearing given by the Maryland State Board of Education on September 18, 2007.
• Updating Calvert County Minority Business Directory Online
• Participated in the Business Appreciation Week Minority Business Reception
• Conducted the 2nd Annual Scholarship Luncheon on Saturday, June 7,2008
• Completed the Scholarship process and Awarded 4 scholarships to Calvert County high school seniors for 2008 school year
• Prepared paperwork and submitted to the IRS for exemption from Federal income tax—501 c 3 approval received January 15, 2008
• Women's Day Out 2008 collaboration with Hippy Program.
• CBW and NAACP Creation of MOA with Sheriff's Department.
• Covenant Initiative-Tri-County Sponsor of Symposium on Race, Justice, and Citizenship with Dr. Charles Ogletree
• 2007 African American Heritage Day at Jefferson Patterson Park
• CBW Response to the NRC for nuclear reactor in Calvert Cliffs
• Hosted Calvert County Jena Six Rally
• Sponsored Nikki Giovanni and Black History Month Program with Calvert County Library
• Wallville School Grant Endorsement
• CBW is a Recipient of $2500 Scholarship from Dr. Charles Ogletree and Kaiser Foundation
• Created CBW's first Newsletter and posted on website.

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Officers and Committee Chairs

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