Shore Legal Access (formerly Mid-Shore Pro Bono) has named the Fall 2023 recipients of its Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship. Cody Pfieffer, of Centreville, Maryland, will work with Shore Legal Access staff at the organization’s Easton office, assisting residents of the Mid-Shore with their civil legal issues. Amirah Rice, of Baltimore, Maryland, will work at the Salisbury office, which serves the Lower Shore. 

Amirah Rice

The Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship, created in honor of former long-time Shore Legal Access executive director Sandy Brown, offers a stipend to undergraduate and law students as they gain invaluable experience in the field of public interest law at a respected non-profit organization. The program is supported by the Campbell Foundation, with the goal of expanding the pool of diverse, qualified, and committed candidates for career positions in public interest work on the Eastern Shore. As Shore Legal Access continues to grow to meet the civil legal needs of the region, it has added several former recipients of the Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship to its staff.  

 “We are thrilled to have these outstanding young people learning about public interest careers and supporting our community,” says Meredith Lathbury Girard, executive director of Shore Legal Access. “Our interns play an integral role assisting people with limited financial means to access legal representation while gaining real-world experience with the justice system and nonprofits.”

Cody Pfeiffer recently graduated from Bates College in Maine with a Bachelor of Arts degree, double-majoring in history and Spanish. Pfeiffer describes himself as passionate about community service. In the past, he volunteered for several years at the Maryland Food Bank, tutored students online, and helped prepare taxes for those needing assistance. Pfeiffer soon plans to enter law school, where he will focus on public interest law.

“The Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship,” Pfeiffer says, “is an invaluable opportunity to be able to contribute to local communities through Shore Legal Access’s mission of assisting under-resourced members of these communities in a variety of civil legal matters.” 

Amirah Rice is currently studying for her Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice at University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne. Rice, too, is highly motivated to serve her community, having volunteered as a Youth Mentor at Bmore United, a Baltimore-based organization that empowers women and girls of color, and at Chase A Legacy, which teaches Baltimore youth important life skills. Rice applied for the Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship to see up close the positive impact civil legal representation can have on individuals, families, and communities. 

Rice says she is, “looking forward to gaining hands-on experience and the knowledge I need to strengthen my skills in my future endeavors as a criminal justice professional.” After graduation, Rice intends to pursue a PhD in psychology and hopes to work for Child Protective Services.

For more information about the Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship and to donate to the fund, visit shorelegal.org/internships.

Last Tuesday, the City of Cambridge send a letter to the Cambridge Waterfront Development, Inc (CDWI) expressing concerns about the direction of the non-profit development group after reviewing their most current report.

The City of Cambridge has recently raised concerns about the CDWI’s Cambridge Harbor’s ambitious plans. In a letter sent to CDWI on October 24, the city expressed its apprehensions about the governance of the CDWI board and the specifics of the plan.

In a Spy/ WHCP Community Radio interview, Cambridge town manager Tom Carroll, outlines those concerns, which revolve around four key points:

First, the city believes that involving a private developer with experience in handling projects of this magnitude and complexity is essential. While the development team may have the desire to undertake the project independently, the city emphasizes the need for external expertise with a proven track record. Developing a project of this scale is multifaceted and prone to costly mistakes, even for skilled developers.

Secondly, the city contends that the proposal presented in the development team’s mid-year report does not generate sufficient economic value. It falls short of meeting the community’s needs for a substantial change in its tax base. Implementing the presented plan would demand an unacceptably large public sector subsidy, which the city and county cannot afford.

The third point of concern is related to the Tax Increment Finance District, a public sector mechanism aimed at making growth financially self-sustaining. The city deems it unacceptably large and ineffective in achieving the necessary public funding for a plan that lacks economic viability.

Lastly, the city calls for increased transparency, information, and accountability in the governance of the CDWI board. As the entity responsible for setting up the organization, the city believes they should have full insight into CDWI’s actions, which they feel has been lacking.

This video is approximately four minutes in length.

The keynote speaker for “Pathways to Prosperity” is Becky McCray

A challenging economy, lack of good living wage jobs and access to affordable housing and health care may seem like a laundry list of today’s challenges in most, if not all communities across the United States. However, these issues are nothing new for small towns and rural communities who practically wrote the book on how to weather bad times whether it be a particularly bad harvest, an economic downturn, or even a pandemic.

On Tuesday, November 14, the Rural Maryland Council will host its biennial Rural Summit, a one-day conference to bring together community leaders, legislators and stakeholders who will share their stories of rural innovation, resilience, and sustainability. In addition to gleaning information that they can take to their own communities, attendees will have an opportunity to network with possible future collaborators. 

The Summit, titled “Pathways to Prosperity”, will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Crown Plaza, 173 Jennifer Road, Annapolis. Registration is $60 per attendee. Meals are included.

“What makes our Summit different from other conferences is that RMC starts from the perspective that our experts are also our attendees,” says RMC Chair Susan O’Neill. “Attendees will get great information from the presenters and panelists during our breakout sessions and plenaries, but that stranger seated next to them may be a future collaborator on a grant project or program that they’ve been tying to get off the ground,” she says.

The keynote speaker for “Pathways to Prosperity” is Becky McCray, international speaker and award-winning author of Small Biz Survival. McCray will share her insights on resilience as a lifelong small-town entrepreneur, business owner and cattle rancher. 

The Summit will kick off with an optional forestry focused bus tour on Monday, November 13, from1 to 5 p.m. to Garman Brothers, Inc., a family owned and operated sawmill in Crownsville and the Home Innovations Lab in Upper Marlboro, where research into improving the moisture performance of wood-framed balconies and decks is taking place.
In addition to the keynote address, the Summit will include a preview of the upcoming legislative sessions from Maryland legislators as well as breakout sessions on Agriculture, Community Development, Economic Development and Health Care. The networking luncheon will feature remarks by Maryland Department of Agriculture Kevin Atticks. 

Founded in 1994, the Rural Maryland Council operates under the direction of a 40-member executive board in a nonpartisan and nondiscriminatory manner. RMC is committed to creating real change by going to go directly to the rural stakeholders who understand their community’s challenges. The organization provides grants and opportunities to connect stakeholders with legislators and like-minded people in the state who can create policy and help create real impact.

To register for the Summit, visit rural.maryland.gov or contact RMC at (410) 841-5772 or [email protected]. For updates on all RMC events and activities connect with the Rural Maryland Council at facebook.com/RuralMaryland or on Twitter @RuralMaryland. 

On Tuesday, November 28th, Mid-Shore Community Foundation will host Mid-Shore Gives 2023, the 24-hour fundraising event to benefit local nonprofits.

“Mid-Shore Gives is a way for us to support our nonprofits, while engaging the community,” said Buck Duncan, President of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation. “Last year’s event was a success, with 443 donors and 70 participating organizations, the inaugural event raised $62,869 for local nonprofits! We hope to make an even greater impact this year.”

Nonprofit organizations, including those under fiscal sponsorship, serving Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot Counties, are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.  Participants will be provided with the tools and resources needed to have a successful charitable campaign, including best-in-class fundraising technology, and there is no cost to participate.

Businesses are invited to join with the Mid-Shore Community Foundation in sponsoring this year’s event.  Thanks to generous sponsors, prize money and incentives will be awarded throughout the day. This year’s sponsors include Easton Utilities, Mason Investment Advisory Services and Envision Wealth Planning.

The giving begins on Tuesday, November 28th at midnight! Donations will be accepted online at midshoregives.org.  Donors can use the shopping cart feature to select the nonprofits they want to support and how much they wish to donate to each, then check out with just one credit card transaction. 100% of all gifts will go to the designated nonprofits, less any credit card fees, unless the donor selects to cover the fees. The minimum donation is $10.00, and all donations are tax-deductible.

This year, a feature has been added to allow both businesses and individuals to participate in fundraising.  Businesses and individuals may host an event or create a fundraising profile to invite friends, family, and colleagues to join them in giving back.  This is a great opportunity for those looking to engage with the community, while putting your brand at the forefront of this local philanthropic event.

Registration closes on October 31st.  For additional information or to get involved, visit midshoregives.org or contact Heather Pickens at (410) 820-8175 x 102 or [email protected]. 

Jaime Windon, president and founder of the Windon Distilling Company and maker of LYON RUM in Saint Michaels, Maryland, was recently named to the National Small Business Association (NSBA) Leadership Council. NSBA is the nation’s oldest small-business advocacy organization, and operates on a staunchly nonpartisan basis. Windon, a recognized leader in the small-business community, joins the NSBA Leadership Council alongside other small-business advocates from across the country as they work to promote the interests of small business to policymakers in Washington, D.C.

“As a small-business owner, I know the importance of being involved and active when it comes to laws and regulation,” stated Windon. “Joining NSBA’s Leadership Council will enable me to take our collective small-business message to the people that truly need to hear it: our legislators in Congress.”

Since 2012, Windon has focused on developing and growing her distillery, while promoting the industry across the state and advocating for craft distillers nationwide. As a founding member of the Maryland Distillers Guild, she served as the inaugural president, and continues to chair the Government Affairs Committee. This year she was elected to the American Craft Spirits Association Board and also appointed chair of the Advisory Commission on Maryland Alcohol Manufacturing.

Windon joined the NSBA Leadership Council as part of her broader efforts to continue to identify and tackle the many critical issues facing small businesses. The NSBA Leadership Council is focused on providing valuable networking between small-business advocates from across the country while ensuring small business a seat at the table as Congress and regulators take up key small-business proposals.

“I am proud to have Jaime Windon as part of our Leadership Council,” stated NSBA President and CEO Todd McCracken. “She came to us highly recommended and I look forward our coordinated efforts for years to come.”

For more on the NSBA Leadership Council, please visit www.nsba.biz

The Windon Distilling Company opened in 2013 and continues to lead the industry both locally and nationally, by crafting award-winning American Rum, supporting community organizations, and advocating for small-scale manufacturers. www.lyonrum.com

Grants & Awards Luncheon on April 24th at the Tidewater Inn.

The Women & Girls Fund of the Mid-Shore, a component fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, is now accepting grant proposals from IRS-designated non-profit organizations for programs addressing the needs of local women and girls.  Completed applications must be received by Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Grant recipients will be announced in April 2024. 

“Beginning this year, all applications will be submitted online,” said Allie Prell, Women & Girls Fund board members and Grants Committee chair.  “We were pleased with our test of the new system last year, which streamlined and improved the application process for applicants and reviewers.”  

Since 2002, grants totaling $839,523 have been awarded to 110 non-profit organizations in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties.  In 2023, 17 grants totaling $57,221 were given for a wide variety of programs, including Benedictine School for Exceptional Children “Accessibility Upgrades for the Adult Services Residential Program”, Imagination Library of Talbot County “Early Literacy Lifts”, Kent Attainable Housing “Future Homeowners Program”, Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence “Food Pantry Program, and New Beginnings Youth and Family Services “Who Am I”. 

“Programs offered by our grant recipients have made a huge and long-lasting impact on the populace of the Mid Shore. The variety of programs address many aspects of life, from mental and emotional health, to food insecurity, to shelter, to literacy, to life skills, and to all forms of education for all ages,” said Karen M. Kaludis. Board President.  “We encourage applications for innovative programs that target critical needs facing women and girls.  No organization should be reluctant to apply.”

Grant guidelines and applications are available at www.womenandgirlsfund.org.  For further information, call 410-770-8347 or e-mail [email protected].  

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Sherize Urquhart has joined the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum as Director of Marketing & Communications.

In this senior leadership position, Urquhart is responsible for overseeing and executing comprehensive communications strategies to advance CBMM’s mission.

A St. Michaels resident, Urquhart brings a demonstrated history of excellence as a marketing and communications professional and entrepreneur within the travel and tourism industry. She is the founder and Chief Experience Officer of Queens of Virtue, an award-winning travel brand specializing in luxury experiences for affluent women.

Through the firm, Urquhart has created a network to help brands, professionals, and influencers connect with an emphasis on putting diversity, equity, and inclusion at the forefront of these relationships.

In her new position, Urquhart is excited about finding opportunities to strengthen CBMM’s connections within the local community that she calls home while cultivating new partnerships within the state, region, and beyond.

“After leaving the corporate world in 2021 to pursue entrepreneurship full-time, I had no desire to work for anyone. But there was something about the call to leadership at CBMM that resonated with me. I saw it as an opportunity to make a difference, an impact, and be a part of the culture and community of the Eastern Shore, all at once,” Urquhart said.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Urquhart holds degrees from Florida International University (Journalism & Photography) and Long Island University (Communications & Media Arts) as well as industry certifications from NYU, Florida Atlantic, Delaware, and The Travel Institute.

She has deep experience in content creation, public relations, marketing, and event management serving a variety of clients through the years, including Wanderful, a global lifestyle brand that helps women connect through travel.

Locally, Urquhart has worked in mental health and healthcare marketing and event management in Easton, Cambridge, and Annapolis.

Urquhart relocated to the Eastern Shore with her son Ayden in 2019, after her oldest daughter, Kayla, graduated from the University of Delaware, and moved to Ireland to study law, and her second daughter, Krysta, stayed in Delaware to complete her degree at Wilmington University.

Drawn by the sweet “Hallmark Town” appeal, Urquhart felt that St. Michaels would be the perfect quaint hometown to raise her son and start over. Always down for an adventure, she has enjoyed exploring CBMM’s campus and experiencing its annual events this summer, and she is passionate about sharing both with new audiences moving forward.

In a short time, Urquhart has already made a difference at CBMM with her energy and innovation.

“We are delighted to welcome Sherize as the newest addition to CBMM’s Senior Leadership Team,” CBMM President & CEO Kristen Greenaway said. “Her remarkable background and valuable insights will play a pivotal role in driving us closer to our strategic goals.”