LEONARDTOWN, Md. – Feb. 13, 2024: The Leadership Southern Maryland (LSM) Executive Program Class of 2024 convened on Feb. 1 to study the tri-county area’s critical housing and human services challenges. They explored the needs and concerns of children, low-income families, residents dealing with mental and behavioral health issues related to economic challenges, and the unhoused.

Center for Children, Inc. Executive Director and LSM founding sponsor Cathy Meyers introduced the executives to the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Assessment. ACE Assessments raise awareness of how childhood experiences of domestic violence, parental behavioral health issues, and economic insecurity can affect one’s ability to thrive in adulthood.

“The ACE survey session was very eye opening as to effects of early trauma on brain development,” Mag Aerospace Program Manager Colleen O’Hare observed.

Participants spoke with panels of human services, behavioral health, and housing specialists about challenges Southern Marylanders face in accessing the many community resources available to support them, securing affordable housing, and having reliable transportation.

Associate Judge of the Circuit Court of St. Mary’s County, the Hon. Amy Lorenzini, provided a judicial education brief and described special initiatives of the court. The class learned about the Family Law Court Help Clinic, which provides free legal assistance with family law matters; the Family Recovery Court Program that offers assistance to parents with substance abuse or mental health issues; and a number of other support initiatives.

“Some of these conversations are so multi-faceted, that they almost beg for an economic development lens, workforce development lens, political, charitable/philanthropic, and many more,” said G.S. Proctor & Associates Vice President Trey Proctor. “Each issue is more involved than just the matter at hand. LSM is helping us have those broader conversations instead of allowing our first blush reactions to become our sole perspective and reality.”

Leadership Southern Maryland’s flagship Executive Program is an interactive and life-enriching nine-month, tuition-based “behind-the-scenes” experience designed to enhance the collaborative abilities of our region’s top senior professionals. LSM is now accepting applications for the Executive Program Class of 2025. We welcome mid- to senior-level executives representing diverse geographic locations, industries, professions, ethnicities, genders, and other backgrounds who are committed to addressing the community needs of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties. For more information, visit www.leadershipsomd.org.