Listening Campaign Results

How We Listened:

As part of our 2025 listening campaign, ACT listened to over 400 people in 10 institutions—including congregations, schools, and an apartment complex. ACT facilitators asked participants, “What is keeping you and your family from thriving?” They noted the issues raised and potential new leaders who could engage in our work.

We base our work in the real concerns of everyday people. In August, we trained leaders on how to facilitate deep listening with an equity lens. In September, we kicked off our statewide listening campaign with our sister organizations in the Maryland Just Power Alliance. Together, we listened to more than 3,000 people statewide.

We engaged with new institutions, including Annapolis public high schools and tenants. As we move from listening to action in 2026, we’re re-orienting our focus and re-organizing teams around leaders who are directly affected by the issues we seek to address.

What We Heard:

These were the top themes that emerged from our listening sessions:

  • Affordability and economic issues

    • Lack of high-paying jobs and high cost of living, including housing, food, healthcare, and childcare

  • Housing

    • Need for more affordable housing and tenants’ rights

  • Education

    • Need for more school resources and activities to improve students’ opportunities and sense of belonging

  • Immigration

    • Concerns about unjust immigration enforcement, violations of civil rights and rule of law

Next Steps:

Now that we’ve expanded our relational power and identified top issues through listening, we’re organizing to take action on our priorities!

We’re working on campaigns at the county and state levels that align with the issues we heard in our listening sessions.

Countywide Campaigns
Statewide Campaigns

In 2026, there will also be many important elections at the county and state levels, including competitive races for Anne Arundel County Executive and Anne Arundel County Council seats.

We’ll host an assembly on May 21st (to be confirmed) with candidates for County Council and County Executive, asking them to commit to supporting our priorities ahead of the primary elections.

In the second half of the year, we’ll turn our focus to the statewide elections and take action with candidates for Governor and state legislators to ask them to commit to our agenda.

Get Involved:

  • Save the date for our ACT Candidate Forum on Thursday, May 21st at 7 pm (to be confirmed).

  • Sign up for our email and/or text updates here.

  • Connect with one of our organizers by reaching out to us at info@actaaco.org.