ACT’s People’s Agenda for Anne Arundel County

Developed through listening sessions with over 400 people in Anne Arundel County in 2025

We believe Anne Arundel County should be the best place for all, where everyone can live with dignity, safety, and opportunity, regardless of race, income, or immigration status.

Across our county, families are struggling with rising housing costs, barriers to healthcare, economic insecurity, and historic inequities. Through conversations in congregations, neighborhoods, schools, and community spaces, residents have shared a clear vision for a more affordable, inclusive, and accountable county.

Our Vision:

• Families can afford to stay in Anne Arundel County.

• Young people can thrive.

• Immigrant communities feel safe and supported.

• Historic harms are acknowledged and repaired.

This People’s Agenda reflects the priorities of our communities, developed through listening sessions with over 400 people in Anne Arundel County in 2025.

Housing for Working Families

Housing costs are pushing families, workers, and longtime residents out of the communities they help sustain.

• Working people should be able to afford to live in the county they serve.

• Housing policy should address historic racial inequities.

We will work with elected leadership to:

• Expand affordable housing at the scale our county needs: 2,000 units at a variety of price points every year.

• Protect and strengthen existing affordable housing tools, including the Housing Attainability Act.

• Support more housing options like duplexes, triplexes, affordable dwelling units (ADUs), and smaller homes.

• Fix delays and inconsistencies in the permitting and development review process.

• Fast-track projects with dedicated affordable housing.

• Support African American Descendant communities navigating development processes.

• Allow housing on faith-owned land by right.

• Create long-term funding for deeply affordable and mixed-income housing.

Crownsville: Healing and Opportunity

The redevelopment of Crownsville should honor its history while creating opportunity for future generations.

• Redevelopment should center healing, equity, and community benefit.

• Public investment should create good jobs and pathways into skilled trades.

We will work with elected leadership to:

• Support a Project Labor Agreement for the entire redevelopment.

• Prioritize county residents, living-wage jobs, apprenticeships, and minority-owned businesses.

• Ensure impacted communities benefit from the future of Crownsville.

Immigrant Families Belong Here

Immigrant families are essential to the strength of our county and deserve dignity, safety, and opportunity.

• Families should not live in fear of separation.

• All children deserve support and opportunity in school.

We will work with elected leadership to:

• Maintain and expand support programs for immigrant families including: the Family Protection Initiative, REACH, and the Hispanic Health and Community Resources Festival.

• Respond to the impacts of federal immigration enforcement on families and communities.

• Work with public schools to address disparities affecting Latino and multilingual students.

Accountable and Relational Leadership

Strong communities require leaders who listen, collaborate, and stay accountable to the people they serve.

• Communities should help shape decisions from the beginning.

• Accountability requires ongoing relationships, not just election-year promises.

We will work with elected leadership to:

• Include community organizations early in policymaking.

• Meet regularly with community leaders and residents.

• Lead with humility, transparency, and a willingness to learn.