Governor O'Malley Swears In, Announces Members of the Maryland Council for New Americans
ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 13, 2009) – Governor Martin O’Malley today swore in members for the newly established Maryland Council for New Americans. Last December, Governor O’Malley signed Executive Order 01.01.2008.18 creating the Council for New Americans to assist the Governor and State agencies in maximizing immigrant integration into Maryland. Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation Secretary Tom Perez were named as Co-Chairs to the statewide Council.
“Given today’s economic climate, it is vital that we integrate New American families into Maryland’s workforce and civic life,” said Governor O’Malley. “This new Council will ensure that Maryland is addressing chronic labor shortages in a number of critical industries, as immigrants living and working in Maryland are a vital component of Maryland’s economic engine, Maryland’s tax base, and Maryland’s social and cultural fabric. Together, under the leadership of County Executive Leggett and Secretary Perez as Co-Chairs, I am confident that the Council will be instrumental in creating a proactive policy for New Americans in Maryland within a fair and legal framework to ensure that workers get the protection they deserve, while increasing Maryland’s economic competitiveness.”
“Maryland’s immigrant community has a wealth of knowledge and experience that can help our state grow and prosper. It is our duty to ensure New Americans living in our State are given the opportunities to use that knowledge to realize their highest potential, and to participate fully in our workforce, our economy and our communities,” said Secretary Perez. “I applaud Governor O’Malley for creating the Council for New Americans, and I look forward to working with the Council to ensure immigrants to Maryland can become part of our vibrant cultural fabric.”
The Council for new Americans will consist of a partnership between public, private and civic sectors in Maryland and is charged with reviewing and recommending new policies and practices to expedite immigrant integration into the economic and civic life of the State and will prepare a comprehensive report with recommendations for the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, due nine months from the signing of the Executive Order.
The members of the Maryland Council for New Americans include:
One Maryland County Executive
The Honorable Isiah Leggett is Chair of the Council and is the current County Executive of Montgomery County. County Executive Leggett holds four higher education degrees: Bachelor of Arts from Southern University, a Master of Arts degree and a Juris Doctorate degree from Howard University, and a Master of Laws from George Washington University. He is the first African American County Executive for Montgomery County and was elected in 2006.
One Additional Representative from County government
David Gray is the Vice President of the Board of County Commissioners for Frederick County. He received his Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering in 1963, is a tax consultant and a former engineer.
One Representative from Municipal Government
Renee Samuels is the Director for the Mayor’s Office of International and Immigrant Affairs in Baltimore City. She was designated by Baltimore City Mayor Sheila Dixon.
Three Representatives from Nonprofit Social Service Organizations
Barbara L. Gradet is the Executive Director of Jewish Community Services, is a member of the Baltimore County Commission on Aging and is a Board member for the International Association of Jewish Vocational Services. She is a resident of Baltimore County.
Michael C. Lin, Ph.D. is the former National Executive Director and National President of the Organizations of Chinese Americans, he is the Vice Chair of the Montgomery College Board of Trustees, and is President of the Asian American Political Alliance. He is a resident of Montgomery County.
Gustavo Torres is the Executive Director of CASA of Maryland, is a Board member for the National Coalition for Immigration Comprehension, and is a Board member for Washington Adventist Hospital. He is a resident of Montgomery County.
Three Representatives from Private Sector Employers
Jimmie Walton Paschall is the Global Diversity Officer and Senior Vice President of External Affairs for Marriott International. She is a member of Patton Boggs’ Diversity Advisory Board and a member of the Georgetown University Chief Diversity Officers Consortium.
Pamela Paulk is the Vice President of Human Resources for the Johns Hopkins Hospital, a member of the Baltimore Workforce Investment Board, and is the founder of the Baltimore Alliance for Careers in Healthcare.
Jere Stocks is the President of the Washington Adventist Hospital and is a board member of the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce.
Eleven Representatives from faith-based organizations and the clergy
Earl Al-Amin is the Imam at the Muslim Community Cultural Center in Baltimore City. He is a Baltimore City resident.
Rev. Jamal Bryant is the Pastor at the African Methodist Episcopal Empowerment Temple. He is a resident of Baltimore County.
Reverend Kerry Hill is the Pastor of the New Chapel Baptist Church. He is a resident of Prince George’s County.
John K. Jenkins, Sr. is the Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Landover, MD. He is Chairman of Project Bridges and a Trustee for Bethel University. He is a resident of Prince George’s County.
Pastor Jamila Woods-Jones is the Vice Chair for the African American Leadership Committee, is President of the Partnership for Renewal for Southern and Central Maryland and sits on the Charles County Juvenile Drug Court. She is a pastor in Charles County and a resident of Prince George’s County.
Walter Lee is the Pastor of Bethel Korean Presbyterian Church in Ellicott City. He recently served on Howard County Public School System’s Equity Council. He is a resident of Howard County.
Rev. Joseph L. Muth, Jr. is a Pastor at St. Matthew’s Church and is the founder and a Board Member of the Immigration Outreach Service Center at St. Matthew’s Church. He is a resident of Baltimore City.
Pastor John Odukoya is the Board Chairman for Well of Restoration, is the Outreach Coordinator of The Fountain of Life Church, and is a member of World Vision. He is a resident of Prince George’s County.
Pastor Ghandi Olaoye is the Pastor of the Jesus House, and is the Coordinator-in-charge of Conventions and Special Projects for The Redeemed Christian Church of God RCCG, North America. He is a resident of Montgomery County.
Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt is the Rabbi at B’nai Tzedek. He is a resident of Montgomery County.
Reverend Harlie Wilson is the Pastor at Israel Baptist Church and is a resident of Baltimore City.
One Representative from Higher Education
Lenneal J. Henderson, Jr., Ph.D. is a distinguished Professor at the School of Public Affairs at the University of Baltimore, is a Senior Research Associate at the Schaefer Center for Public Policy, and a Senior Fellow at the Hoffberger Center for Professional Ethics. She is a resident of Howard County.
One Representative with Expertise in Adult Education and Language Acquisition
Young-Chan Han is a Family Involvement Specialist for the Maryland State Department of Education and is a Board Member of the Foreign Born Information and Referral Network (FIRN). He is a resident of Howard County.
One Representative from the Banking and Financial Services Sector
William Couper is the Mid-Atlantic President of Bank of America.
One Representative from the Healthcare Sector
Vinod Shah, M.D. is a physician with Shah & Associates, is the incoming President of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, and he is a former Board Member of St. Mary's College. He is a resident of St. Mary’s County.
One Representative from Organized Labor
Jaime Contreras is the District Chair and Supervisor for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 32BJ for District 82.
One Representative from Small Business
Margaret Kim is the President and Chief Operating Officer of AllCare of Maryland, LLC. She is an advisory Board Member for the Asian Student Achievement Program and is a Board of Trustees Member for the Howard County General Hospital Foundation. She is a resident of Howard County.
One Representative from a National Organization with Expertise in Demographic Trends and Public Policy
Michael Fix is the Senior Vice President and Director of Studies for the Migration Policy Institute.
One Representative from the Philanthropic Sector
Irene Lee is the Senior Programmer for the Annie E. Casey Foundation, is the Finance Committee Chair of the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers, and is a member of the Task Force on Remittances for the Inter-American Dialogue Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees. She is a resident of Montgomery County.
The following representatives will be ex-officio members on the Council and were in attendance:
- Secretary Tom Perez (Co-Chair of the Council), Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
- Deputy Secretary Clarence Bishop, Department of Business and Economic Development
- Deputy Secretary Matt Power, Department of Planning; Secretary Rich Hall will be in attendance
- Deputy Secretary Stacy Rodgers, Department of Human Resources
- Secretary Ray Skinner, Department of Housing and Community Development
- Executive Director Eric M. Seleznow, Governor’s Workforce Investment Board
- Executive Director Izzy Patoka, Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives
- Special Secretary Luwanda Jenkins, Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs
- Chair Mary Scott, Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture
- Chair Maria Welch, Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs
- Chair Jane Nishida, Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs
- Chair Auriel Fenwick, Governor’s Commission on Indian Affairs
- Chair Anwer Hasan, Governor’s Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs
In addition, Senate President Miller has appointed two members, Senator Richard Madaleno and Senator Joan Carter Conway, and Speaker of the House Michael Busch appointed two members, Delegate Susan Lee and Delegate Nicholaus Kipke, to sit on the Council.
