Good morning and welcome to the Civil Rights Conference! We are excited that you are here and even more excited about what today has in store! We have an engaging day planned—filled with opportunities to learn, connect, collaborate, share ideas, and strengthen the work we do together. Today, we ask you to come with an expectation—not simply to attend, but to participate. Come ready to engage. Come ready to share. Come ready to listen and learn from one another. Come ready to make a new connection. And most importantly, come ready to work together. Civil and human rights work cannot happen in silos. Every Commissioner, investigator, outreach professional, agency leader, staff member, and community partner brings something valuable to the table. So today, change your seat. Meet someone new. Ask a question. Share a resource. Exchange contact information. Learn what another agency is doing and discover where your work may intersect. We recognize that this work is being done during challenging and changing times. That is exactly why opportunities like today matter. This conference is our opportunity to remind ourselves that while we may represent different agencies, jurisdictions, communities, and roles, we share a common purpose: protecting rights, strengthening communities, and ensuring that every person is treated with dignity and respect. So bring your ideas, your experiences, your questions—and your energy! We have an exciting day ahead. Welcome. We're glad you're here. Now, let's learn, connect, and get to work—TOGETHER! Welcome! Maryland Associaion of Human Rights Agencies

To our Commissioners, agency staff, leaders, presenters, partners, and friends— thank you for being with us today. We recognize that taking time away from your offices, communities, and daily responsibilities is an investment. We hope that today provided more than information. We hope you gained a new skill, discovered a resource, exchanged an idea, or made a connection that will strengthen you as you continue the important work of advancing and protecting civil and human rights. To our Commissioners, thank you for investing in your own education and leadership so that you can continue to effectively support, guide, and advocate for the human and civil rights agencies you serve. To our staff members, thank you for the work you do every day—often behind the scenes and without recognition—to serve individuals, investigate concerns, educate communities, build partnerships, and ensure that people know their rights and have access to the agencies created to protect them. To our agency heads and leaders, thank you for working tirelessly behind the scenes and, most importantly, for continuing to support one another. Leadership during challenging times requires courage, collaboration, flexibility, and a commitment to remain focused on the people and communities who depend upon us. We know these are difficult and turbulent times for civil and human rights work. That makes our connection to one another even more important. Remain strong together. Work together. Share resources. Check in on one another. And remember that none of us has to do this work alone. A special thank you to MAHRA President Cleveland L. Horton II for his continued leadership and commitment to strengthening Maryland's human and civil rights agencies, and to MAHRA Liaison Ra’Mona Brown Carter for helping coordinate and connect the people, resources, and opportunities that make gatherings like this possible. Thank You!

We also extend our sincere appreciation to Candice Crenshaw of the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights for her support, assistance, and dedication to making today's conference a meaningful experience. TO OUR FACILITATORS A very special thank you to each of our facilitators and presenters who have given their time, expertise, experience, and energy to today's conference. You did more than agree to lead a session. You prepared to create spaces where colleagues can think critically, ask questions, exchange ideas, challenge perspectives, and develop skills that can be taken back to their agencies and communities. We appreciate your willingness to pour into the people who do this work every day. Your knowledge and leadership are an important part of making today's experience meaningful. To every facilitator joining us today—thank you for helping us learn from one another and grow stronger together. And to Howard Community College, thank you for once again opening your doors and providing a welcoming space where we can learn, connect, collaborate, and grow together. As you leave today, we encourage you not to let the conversations end here. Reach out to the person you met. Share what you learned with your team. Apply something from a workshop. Strengthen the connection between your agencies. Because when those committed to civil and human rights remain connected, informed, and united, our communities are stronger because of it. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for your commitment. We are stronger together—and the work continues. Thank You!