More Collaborations

Conservation Corps

The Montgomery County Conservation Corps provides opportunities for young people ages 17 to 24 to gain hands-on experience in the environmental sector by working on conservation projects in the field.

Corps members work on projects in county, state, and National Parks, as well as working with the nonprofit environmental community, while also pursuing their GEDs. The Collaboration Council administers this program in partnership with the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection and Latin American Youth Center / Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers (LAYC/MMYC).

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In April 2025, Conservation Corps held an Earth Day cleanup event at Hillandale Local Park

Fiscal Year 2025 Outcomes:

There were 27 Conservation Corps members, with 23 completing at least one full cohort
Corps members participated in field projects conducted across 37 sites
7 Corps members earned their high school diploma
8 passed between 1 to 3 sections of the GED exam, for a collective 30 GED subject tests passed
21 Corps members attained one or more certifications in the areas of OSHA-10, Traffic Safety, and CPR/First Aid, for a total of 48 certifications

My Brother’s Keeper

President Obama launched the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) initiative to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential.

In 2015, Montgomery County accepted the President’s MBK community challenge and formed the MBK committee, comprising public and private agency members as well as community and student leaders. The Collaboration Council is proud to serve as coordinator for this body.

Background
In January 2015, County Executive Isiah Leggett accepted the President’s “MBK Community Challenge.” Leggett called for citizens across various sectors to work with community partners, youth, and young adults in Montgomery County to design and implement an action plan to help youth of color. The Collaboration Council answered that call and spearheaded the movement by taking the lead for the local MBK initiative. The Collaboration Council’s Social Justice Director convened a committee of citizens from multiple sectors, both public and private.

Convening Partners
The committee boasts representation and participation from public agencies such as the County Executive’s office, the Department of Health and Human Services, Montgomery County Police Department, Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery County Recreation Department, the Public Information Office, and the Office of Community Partnerships. Many youth-serving, community-based organizations are represented as well, including YMCA Youth and Family Services, Identity, the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC), Pride Youth Services, and Lead4Life.

My Brother's Keeper: Outcomes

In April 2016, the MBK committee hosted a “Day of Action” at Clifton Park Baptist Church in Silver Spring. Speakers included MCCC member Nancy Navarro and Michael Smith, former Senior Advisor to President Obama. They spoke about the importance of uplifting communities and youth of color while ensuring their pathways to success are unencumbered by policies or practices within the systems with which they interact as they reach adulthood. More than 100 people attended the conference, participating in sessions covering topics such as the interaction of youth and law enforcement, student engagement, disparities for LGBTQ+ youth of color, and youth alternatives to violence.

The MBK has developed four affinity groups: student engagement, LGBTQ+ youth, youth and law enforcement, and parent engagement committees. These groups have met numerous times to craft and hone their action steps and advocacy efforts. This past October, the high school-age chairs of two of these sub-committees debriefed MCCC’s Health and Human Services and Education committees on their efforts and work to date.

The student engagement committee has facilitated student-focused and -led conversations at local high schools on issues of racism, sexism, and the need for safe spaces for students of color.
The MCPD chair of the youth and law enforcement committee has facilitated ongoing dialogues between youth and MCPD law enforcement officers, as well as MCPD-sponsored flag football games and ongoing activities wit students at two local high schools.