Not by Chance, But by Choice
Posted by Anne Sheridan on Thursday, February 11, 2010
Last week Governor Martin O’Malley observed a long tradition of delivering the “State of the State” address to the people of Maryland.
In outward appearances the event was typical: a solemn tone and setting, a packed gallery of elected officials and leaders, an attentive press corps, and “real” people tuned in outside the Capitol.
A traditional State of the State speech starts out by setting the scene, firmly rooting the listener as an actor in a very particular time and place. And Governor O’Malley did this, reminding us of our lost and fallen, of the dual pressures of war and a fragile economy, and of our need for the state to be fiscally responsible, create jobs and provide education.
However, also contained within the address were elements that were very atypical, and of huge importance to Share Our Strength and our friends and partners.
First, there was the consistent and principled theme of caring for our children:
“We are here because we care about people, all people…and to safeguard our children’s future.”
Second, Governor O’Malley specifically recognized the threat and persistence of childhood hunger:
Wall Street has been stabilized but Main Street still suffers. Every Maryland family has been hit in some way: neighbors who still can’t find work; fellow citizens tossing and turning all night, worried about how they’ll afford this month’s heating bill or last month’s mortgage or rent; children who go to bed hungry, wake up hungry, and go to school hungry.
And last, and most importantly, was the Governor’s specific reaffirmation of his commitment to end childhood hunger. Describing progress as something that “does not happen by itself, it is the product of choices” he delivered a call to action:
“to make the tough but critically important choices that will expand opportunity and strengthen families…The choices that make it possible for Maryland to eradicate childhood hunger.”
It was known prior to the speech that Governor O’Malley was the first governor in the country to commit to ending childhood hunger by 2015, but it should be equally well understood that he cannot do this on his own. That’s why Share Our Strength is a leader in the Maryland Partnership to End Childhood Hunger, a strong and growing coalition of organizations and agencies on the local, state and national levels, working to implement a comprehensive, five-year plan to link children to the food they need to lead healthy active lives.
I am excited to have joined the staff of Share Our Strength in the newly created role of Maryland Director of the No Kid Hungry Campaign. I look forward to helping expand the impact of the Partnership to reach the nearly 207,000 children and youth in Maryland who do not have ready or reliable access to food, and to building the grassroots support necessary to make progress on this issue.
To have our goals mentioned in the State of the State is a timely and helpful boost, even though there is much more to be done. But as the Governor also said in his speech, “God loves even the partial victories.”
February 11, 2010 | 3 comment(s) | Tags: childhood hunger, maryland, No Kid Hungry, state partnerships
Comments
3 reader comments so far.
Congratulations on joining this worthwhile effort. Well organized, thoughtful comments. If/when it would be helpful, I can put you in touch with our effort here. Kids deserve all the help we can give them. Good luck !
Posted by Janet S. Welch on February 11, 2010
they are lucky to have you--we all are lucky to know you and call you friend-and the children are the luckiest!!
Posted by connie on February 11, 2010
I am fully confident that needs of the children of Maryland will be greatly benefited and enriched by your contribution as the Director of the No Kid Hungry Campaign. As you are an experienced campaign leader with competence and tenacity and an international regard for your integrity I am certain you will suceed in reaching your goals.
Posted by Jill Ryan on February 15, 2010
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