United Way of the National Capital Area’s Women United Mentors, Build Connections for 50 Area High School Students to Honor Women’s History Month
By CYNDI SUTTON
United Way National Capital Area
WASHINGTON (March 26, 2026)—On Wednesday, March 25, 50 high school juniors and seniors gathered for a day of mentorship and connection building in honor of Women’s History Month. Hosted by United Way of the National Capital Area’s Women United and sponsored by Washington, D.C.-based public affairs firm Beekeeper Group, the event welcomed student participants from H.D. Woodson High School in Washington, D.C., High Point High School in Beltsville, Maryland, and Potomac High School in Oxon Hill, Maryland.
Women’s History Month Event: Pathways to Success featured a Career Pathways Exhibition focused on exploration and networking, and an interactive panel discussion offering real advice and candid insights. The event also included a series of roundtable sessions where student participants and 20 women leaders from a diverse range of backgrounds, organizations, and professional pathways talked about their experiences, career choices, and lessons learned along the way. The day ended with participants packing menstrual hygiene kits to be distributed to their home schools.
Dr. Nicole Cooper, Chief External Affairs and Transformation Officer, United Way of the National Capital Area, said:
“Our hope is that the 50 students spending time with us yesterday left with the belief that success is whatever they define it to be, and that showing up for every opportunity to learn, grow, and network with others is the first step toward that success. Every student leaned into their potential and curiosity to plant seeds that they’ll grow—whether it’s in college, through entrepreneurship, by earning specialized certifications, or through corporate leadership, as they contribute to nonprofit missions they believe in, or all of the above. On behalf of your United Way of the National Capital Area, we’re excited to see what the future holds for each of them and honored to play a small part in it.”
United Way of the National Capital Area’s Women United is a powerful network of philanthropists and civic-minded women committed to fostering a community in which women can thrive. The Women United Leadership Council members are:
• Kelly Burks—President, Management Solutions Consulting Group, Inc.
• Stacy Richardson Burnette—Senior Director, Government and External Affairs, Comcast Corporation
• Marie Caputo—Principal, CliftonLarsonAllen
• Cathy Jerome—Chief of Staff, BECA and Adjunct Professor, Sports Marketing, Howard University
• Mary Johnson—Manager, Deloitte
• Sonia B. McCormick—Senior Vice President, PNC Bank
• Elise Schutzer—Vice President, Public Affairs, PhRMA
• Kelly Waldron—Director, Business Optimization - AARP
For more photos and video from the 2026 Women United event, please contact Cyndi Sutton at cyndi@jrcommunications.com.
For nearly 100 years, United Way of the National Capital Area has worked to mobilize communities to action so all can thrive. Guided by our mission, we are committed to creating measurable impact in the areas of Healthy Communities, Youth Opportunity, and Financial Security for every person in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax/Falls Church, Loudoun County, Prince William County, Rappahannock County, Culpeper County and Fauquier County in Virginia; Calvert County, Charles County, St. Mary’s County, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County, in Maryland; and the District of Columbia. In 2020, United Way NCA was among 384 organizations across the United States to receive a generous transformational investment from novelist and venture philanthropist, MacKenzie Scott. For more information, visit UnitedWayNCA.org.
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Maryland Lawmakers Aim to Make Removing Ice From Cars More Than a ‘Common Courtesy’
It may be warm outside, but Maryland lawmakers are pushing bipartisan legislation aimed at addressing the problem of dangerous icy projectiles saying it could improve safety on the roads. “Some may say that this is legislating common courtesy,’’ Del. Marc Korman, D-Montgomery, said. “But really what we’re trying to do is not only have government accountability… but also having personal accountability.”
By IAN FERRIS
Capital News Service
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (March 25, 2026)—It was still dark that January morning when Anne Arundel County Deputy Sheriff Robert Werner drove down Route 97 and saw the sheet of ice hurtling toward his windshield from two cars ahead.
“I saw it coming, so I braced for it,’’ Werner recalled.
He gripped the wheel, steering the car to safety on the right side of the highway, then carefully drove two miles to the police department.
Werner and some Maryland lawmakers support a measure aimed at addressing the problem of dangerous icy projectiles saying it could improve safety on the roads. The bipartisan “Clear Before You Drive Act” would require people to clear snow and ice off their vehicles before operating or towing them.
“We should and we must have legislation that addresses visibility and hazards of ice and snow on moving vehicles,” said Del. Edith Patterson, D-Charles, the lead sponsor of the bill.
The House and Senate unanimously passed the bill earlier this month.
Under the measure, people would be required to clear their vehicle’s hood, trunk, windshield, windows and roof of snow and ice. If not, they could be fined $25 to $200 for a noncommercial vehicle based on the number of offenses. They could be fined up to $1,000 if ice or snow contributes to property damage or serious bodily injury.
The fines are steeper for commercial vehicles.
“It would not allow law enforcement to just pull people over willy-nilly, only a secondary offense unless your failure to do so caused a crash,” said Del. Marc Korman, D-Montgomery, chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee.
Korman said the measure may encourage people to be more mindful.
“Some may say that this is legislating common courtesy,’’ he said. “But really what we’re trying to do is not only have government accountability… but also having personal accountability. That’s what this bill does.”
Werner called the bill a step in the right direction.
“I just want to see people safe out here and this is one way we can do it,” he said.
Werner suffered facial injuries. He also had cuts on his hands and arms, and a bruise on his shoulder. He said without his police training he believes the injuries could have been worse.
“Had it been an inexperienced driver they probably would have crashed,” said Werner.
Patterson pointed to the major snowstorm in late January as another reason for the bill.
“It became crystal clear what can happen when you have ice and snow and people are driving,” she said.
Patterson said the legislation is modeled after “Christine’s Law’’ in Pennsylvania. The law authorizes local police to fine drivers if they don’t make “reasonable efforts” to clear snow and ice from their vehicle within 24 hours of a snowstorm before operating it.
The Pennsylvania law is named after Christine Lambert, who was struck and killed by an icy projectile that fell off a tractor-trailer on Christmas Day 2005. The projectile smashed through her windshield and struck Lambert in the head.
There are similar laws in other states, including New Hampshire and New Jersey, according to the American Trucking Association.
The Maryland Motor Truck Association had concerns about language in the state bill.
“We do agree that this does create a dangerous situation for all vehicles with failure to remove snow and ice,” said Louis Campion, the association president. “The challenge that we have for our industry is the extreme difficulty of removing snow and ice from vehicles.”
Campion cited a 2008 report from the American Transportation Research Institute outlining the danger truckers face from slips and falls if they climb on top of their trucks to remove ice and snow. There are no established technologies for clearing the tops of trucks, according to Campion.
Campion said he worked with Patterson to add amendments to the bill, including making a reasonable effort to clear the ice and allowing for some exceptions for vehicles that are hard to clear. Another amendment would allow exceptions for people who would be in danger clearing their vehicle or violate workplace safety rules. They also added an amendment to ensure that the same vehicle cannot be cited more than once in a 24-hour period.
Patterson said she reached out to lobbyists and associations like Campions to work together on amendments.
“This is a safety issue and everyone knows that it is needed,” she said.
CNS news reporter Rhiannon Evans contributed to this story.
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Prince George’s County Board of Education Adopts New Policy Limiting Immigration Enforcement in Local Schools
New policy establishes protections for students, and sets clear limits on immigration enforcement in Prince George’s County schools
By JOSE D. CEBALLOS
CASA
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (March 27, 2026)—In a move to protect local student safety and immigrant families, the Prince George’s County Board of Education approved a new policy that establishes clear guidance for school staff regarding interactions with immigration enforcement agents. The policy, which reflects the Board’s commitment to student privacy protections and compliance with the Maryland Values Act, comes after months of advocacy from We Are CASA members and students.
“Our families deserve the peace of mind that comes from knowing that our school system is committed to doing everything possible to put the safety of our students first. Our schools are safe zones for every child, regardless of background, race or immigration status, and they have a right to learn in a secure and welcoming environment,” said We Are CASA Organizer Austen Asaahtong. “Our school leaders have a responsibility to ensure that every campus is an environment of trust and protection. When students feel safe, attendance improves, engagement increases, and families become more involved. This new policy will deliver on that goal, strengthening not only our schools but our entire community.”
The newly adopted policy establishes comprehensive protocols designed to safeguard students and limit cooperation with immigration enforcement. Key provisions include:
• Defining School Facilities as Private Spaces: All PGCPS facilities and spaces are considered “private spaces,” meaning immigration agents cannot enter without a judicial warrant. Student records are also designated as private and cannot be accessed without a judicial warrant.
• Designating a Point of Contact: PGCPS will designate a specific staff member to be responsible for all communications and interactions with immigration agents, ensuring a centralized and controlled response.
• Improving Communication and Family Notification: The district will develop a communication plan to inform families when immigration agents are present at a school. Additionally, PGCPS will immediately notify a student’s emergency contact if they believe the student has been detained by immigration agents.
• Enhancing Safety Protocols: To ensure physical safety, schools will initiate a “shelter in place”—moving everyone inside and locking all external doors while class continues—if immigration agents are within 1,000 feet of school property. This applies to all school property, including buildings, athletic fields, playgrounds, parking lots, walkways, and school buses.
• Providing Training and Resources: PGCPS will provide training to all staff to ensure they understand the new policy. The district will also provide students and families with information about their rights within the public school system, along with information about community resources, including free and low-cost legal services. Furthermore, families will receive information about Standby Guardianship, allowing a trusted adult to be legally responsible for a student if their parent or guardian is detained.
“This policy represents months of careful design created in consultation with those most deeply impacted by the aggressive, racially motivated deportation machine,” said We Are CASA’s Director of Education, Shannon Wilk. “It was designed in recognition that our children cannot fully participate in their school community and their own academic growth while battling chronic fear and anxiety. It represents an authentic desire to protect all students, particularly our Black and brown students, in a practical and culturally responsive manner.”
“As a father and interim superintendent, I know that a child cannot learn if they
are living in fear. Our mission in Prince George’s County isn’t just to hand out diplomas; it is to nurture the soul of this community,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph. “When we talk about these policies, we aren’t just talking about legal protocols or administrative boundaries—we are talking about a sacred trust.”
This policy prioritizes student safety, dignity and access to education. At a time of uncertainty for immigrant families, Prince George’s County Public Schools has set clear rules that keep schools focused on learning, not enforcement. It offers a model for how districts can protect students while complying with state law.
With over 190,000 lifetime members across 46 U.S. states, CASA is a national powerhouse organization that builds power and improves the quality of life in working-class Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendant, Indigenous, and immigrant communities. CASA creates change through its power-building model, which blends human services, community organizing, and advocacy to serve the full spectrum of its members’ needs, dreams, and aspirations.
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