JEDI

JEDI Committee - DSC Volunteers, Partners & Residents

The mission of the Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) Committee is to promote intercultural understanding and acceptance among DSC Staff, volunteers, and community members by educating, empowering, and creating self-awareness in the context of a global society. DSC will foster an environment of inclusion and equality with fairness, appreciation for individual differences, and respect for all.

In addition to empowering volunteer groups to use their personal skills and knowledge to positively impact their community by fulfilling the DSC’s mission, the DSC plans on developing a community service award program that will acknowledge extraordinary volunteers and help recruit new volunteers or engage community partners.

Project List

Coordinate and host DEI events such as Pride, Juneteenth, cultural programs, etc.
Coordinate themed window paintings and other Main Street adornments celebrating diverse cultures and heritage.
Improve relevance and consistency of DEI social media campaigns.
Continue improving the management of its volunteers, its volunteer application system, and its volunteer training and reward program using Maestro.
Extend volunteer outreach, the DSC proposes to host mixer(s) that will bring the volunteers together to learn about the organization and create an opportunity to enjoy quality time with other DSC volunteers and their families.
Continue hosting the Happy-thon.
Create merchandise.
Organize Pride Day, Juneteenth, and Diwali and improvise Fall Fest to become a cultural festival.
Sponsor other partners’ activities.
Coordinate Board/Committees' diversity training.

Trans Lifeline’s Hotline

Trans Lifeline is a peer support hotline dedicated to transgender and questioning individuals, operated entirely by trans people. In the United States, you can reach them at (877) 565-8860. For Spanish-speaking support, press 2 after calling. Their operating hours are Monday through Friday, 1 PM to 9 PM Eastern Time. Trans Lifeline

Another resource is The Trevor Project, which offers crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBTQ youth. You can call them at (866) 488-7386 or text "START" to 678-678 to connect with a counselor. National Association of Social Workers

Please note that while Trans Lifeline does not engage in non-consensual active rescue (meaning they won't call emergency services without your consent), other hotlines like The Trevor Project may have different policies regarding emergency interventions.

2024 Diwali Celebration

The event was hosted at St Paul United Methodist Church and the delicious food was donated by Kinara.

2024 Black History Month Window painting

Beautiful window painting by CreativLei at 7524 W Main St #101.

2024 Inclusive Fashion Show

The Couture Kaleidoscope fashion show was the first of its kind. I was hosted at Acts Fairhaven.

Previous Achievements

2024 Achievements

- Hosted monthly committee meetings and grew the committee in size and diversity.

- First Indian Culture Celebration in collaboration with St Paul UMC.

- First Black History Month Window painting program.

- First Inclusive Fashion Show at Acts Fairhaven.

- Planning and coordination of the Sykesville Pride event.

- Planning and coordination of Juneteenth in Sykesville.

- Raised over $15,000 for the 2024 Happy-Thon and served 28 families.

Other Achievements
– Creation of a sponsorship program to cast a wider net for volunteer recruitment.
- Hosted a variety of DEI events.
- Hosted a complimentary DEI video camp in 2023
– Hosted a volunteer appreciation event with the Town of Sykesville and long-time Sykesville volunteer Fred Gossage.
– Coordinated a board training with BS Corbett in 2022.
– Coordinated a DEI- board training with the World Woman LLC in 2023.
– Coordinated the yearly downtown Sykesville Pink Fling window painting.
– Participation in the Patapsco Greenway project.
– Dedicated a bench for Donna Box.
– Growth of the Board of Directors to 13 members.
– Created a quarterly e-Newsletter (see website home page).
– Partnered with FDCA, Senator Fry Hester, and Commissioner Rothstein to co-found the Community Organization Active in Disaster (COAD).
– Created Emergency Food pantries in 2020.
– Completed Main Street and grants’ quarterly and final reports.
– Created new partnerships with volunteer groups (e.g. Project Linus).
– Hosted the yearly Happy-thon.
– Recruit event and committee volunteers.
– Purchase and add content to the Maestro software.

Grants and Awards:

– Kahlert Foundation grant of $1,000.
– OAG-MIP grant of $16,000 towards a small business relief mini-grant program.
– OAG-MIP grant of $5,000 for diversity programs in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
– OAG-TAG grant of $4,000 for a branding and marketing study with Platinum PR.
– Walmart Community grant of $3,000 in 2020 and $1,000 in 2024.
- Impaq International Inc. grant of $1,500 for the 2020 Happy-thon.
- Nori grant of $25,000 for operations support.
- MD-SERI grant of $146,000, granted $73,294.2.
- SHARP grant of $10,000 for operations support in 2021.
- SHINE grant of $10,000 for operations support in 2022 and 2025.