March 01, 2020

March 2020 Newsletter

Building Coalition on Important Issues

Last month, I joined fellow members of the Maryland Black Caucus in a meeting with Governor Larry Hogan to discuss several issues of significance to District 44 and communities throughout the state. Education, public safety, and transportation are just a few of the topics we broached, but they are all part of a continuing conversation of how the state can work with constituents and elected officials to improve quality of life for all Marylanders. 

The Caucus has been hard at work on several signature matters of local and national importance. Here in Maryland, we are supporting a measure to protect the health of our youth through the banning of flavored tobacco.

We are continuing the fight to support the state's four public historically black institutions through the legislative remedying of a decades-long lawsuit to resolve inequity between the HBI's and predominantly white institutions. And on the subject of real and perceived racial justice, we are in serious conversations about the best ways Maryland can address its complicated history of slavery through reparations. 

We are also searching for every opportunity to boost minority entrepreneurship in emerging industries throughout the state. From medical marijuana to sports betting, Maryland's leadership as an innovator in the industry must be complemented by just dealings in the awarding of contracts and licenses.
I'm proud of the work of the caucus and its continuing advocacy on behalf of all citizens. 

In the News

I was recently featured in a Pew Charitable Trusts Stateline article on the use of genetic genealogy in criminal investigations. The article features my recent bill on regulating searches in DNA collections, one of several you'll find below in the upcoming legislative calendar. 

Legislative Calendar

Read below for a partial list of the upcoming hearings for bills I am either sponsoring or co-sponsoring.

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Small Business Spotlight

Want to have your small business spotlighted in our monthly newsletter? Submit an email with your business name, address, service provided, number of years in business, and the best thing about working in your neighborhood and you could be featured in our small business spotlight!

This month’s featured entrepreneur is restaurateur Deepak Shrestha.

Describe your business and how your work helps to impact communities throughout District 44.

My brother and I own the IHOP Restaurant in Catonsville, MD which we opened brand new in March of 2018.  When we opened the restaurant, we hired 120 people from the communities in District 44 and trained them for two weeks so that they could learn the necessary skills for the job. 

Now we are settled with 60 employees from the communities, so our business created a significant number of jobs and has helped to boost the economy in the district.  We own and operate six IHOP Restaurants, two Dairy Queen Grill and Chills, and two other restaurants in Baltimore and DC market giving employment to about 450 local people.  

What is the biggest benefit of living and working as an entrepreneur in our district?

Senator Sydnor is eager to bring more new businesses in the district and willing to listen and help the entrepreneurs.  The Chamber of Commerce of Catonsville is also very active to help the new entrepreneurs and make the businesses successful in the Catonsville area.   

What is one of the most important lessons you’ve learned about business ownership in your career?

Make your customers happy.  Hire the right people, train and empower them to do the job right.  

For neighbors who would like to follow in your footsteps, what is one piece of advice you would give to help them get started?

Do not be afraid to take a risk to start a new business but do your due diligence to minimize the risk.

Career Opportunities With BCPS

Job openings with schools within or serving students from District 44 include:

In the Community

 

Last month, we unanimously resolved to recognize leaders from the African Methodist Episcopal Church and their mission of supporting the social, spiritual and physical development of all people. 

 

High Honors from the University of Maryland

Last month, I was honored to receive the 'Graduate of the Year award from the University of Maryland and its Francis King Carey School of Law's Black Law Students Association (BLSA).

I was joined by many family and friends, my esteemed law professors and my friend and current Baltimore County Attorney, James Benjamin, who was honored as its Practitioner of the Year!

2020 Charles Sydnor III Senatorial Scholarship - Click HERE to Apply

Eligible applicants must: Be current high school senior, or full-time or part-time, degree-seeking undergraduate, or graduate student;

1. be a current resident of Maryland Legislative District 44;

2. file an application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) no later than March 1, 2020;

3. apply for admission to a Maryland college, university or other MHEC accredited postsecondary educational program as a full-time or part-time student taking at least 6 credits. You may use this scholarship at an out-of-state school if your major is not available at any Maryland institution; and

4. enroll at a two-year or four-year Maryland college or university as a fulltime (12+ credits per semester) or parttime (6-11 credits per semester), degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate student, or attend certain private career schools.

Your scholarship application packet must contain the following items and must be sent to me by U.S. mail and postmarked by, April 10, 2020 (no faxes or emails will be accepted). Your application package will be graded and not all applicants will be awarded.

A. a Senator Sydnor Scholarship Application (completed);

B. a personal narrative of at least 600 words (not more than 1,000) discussing the following topic: If you were to share your thoughts about your community, what would you describe as its best quality? What would you describe as the aspect most in need of change? Finally, what are you doing to help facilitate the change that is needed?

C. Three letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, job supervisors or mentors (no family members or personal friends). The individuals must have personally interacted with you through supervision, instruction, guidance, and/or some important aspect of your life. Each reference should be able to vouch for your character, abilities, and/or activities. Each reference should include their contact information including best telephone number, if it is not indicated in the letterhead. At least one recommendation must be from an academic official such as a school leader, teacher, advisor, or counselors;

D. an official transcript (SEALED) from your former or current school, to include your most recent grades, or an official copy of your GED certificate;

E. a copy of your SAT scores if you plan to enroll as a college freshman, or if your transcript shows fewer than 24 college credits;

F. a document that shows you have applied for FAFSA by March 1st; and

G. (if relevant to you) a copy of your Application for Unique Majors if your major is not available at any Maryland institution and you plan to use this scholarship at an out-of-state school.

Mobile Hotspots Available at Baltimore County Public Library

 

Legislative Resources

Check out several of the digital and social media resources you can use to find out more about the work of the Maryland Legislature, regular meetings, and policy positions. 

calendar.png Upcoming Events | Click here to see upcoming events (Courtesy of Visit Baltimore)

Cadet Information Night
Wednesday, Mar. 4
6:00 p.m.
Randallstown High School
4000 Offutt Rd. Randallstown, Md

Black Business Seminar & Expo 
Saturday, Mar. 7
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Morningstar Baptist Church Star Conference Center
6665 Security Blvd. Baltimore, Md

 

District 44 Evening in Annapolis
Tuesday, Mar. 10
6:00-8:00 p.m.
11 Bladen St. Annapolis, Md