The Claude C. Thornton Foundation October eNews
- CCTF Board
- Sep 29
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 9
Greetings Friends,
October is here, and while it's usually the peak month for Maryland's beautiful fall foliage, climate change is causing our autumn colors to fade later each year. Fall foliage is the term to describe the brilliance of fall coloring in the trees. This shift powerfully reminds us what is at stake and why our work matters.
This upcoming Tuesday is our Parent Check-in webinar, followed by the $1,000 Clarinet Scholarship virtual award ceremony on Thursday, October 16th. We hope you'll join us to celebrate our scholarship awardees.
We're less than a month away from the Second Annual Greater Baltimore Climate Summit on November 3rd! We're looking for passionate volunteers to help us the day before and the day of! Whether you can give an hour or a whole day, your support makes an impact.
In December, we'll gather for our 4th Annual Blossom Blooming Brunch to honor community mentors and celebrate inspiring women who have paved the way for other women.
With love and gratitude,
The CCTF Team
Highlights
Parent Advocacy in Action: CCTF at The Nu You Conference 2025
Our co-founder, Autrese Thornton, proudly represented us at The Nu You Conference, where they shared resources and parent advocacy tips emphasizing how important it is for parents to speak up for their children’s needs, ultimately helping their children thrive in school and beyond.
Alongside tabling, Cari Harris led a powerful session titled “Surviving to Thriving: Family and Finances,” joined by the amazing Erika Dorsey, a certified financial coach who paid off $92,400 in debt within 36 months, and Lisa Summers, a content creator with over 230,000 followers on instagram. Together, they created a warm and informative conversation about building financial stability, supporting families, and shifting from simply surviving to truly thriving.
The Nu You Conference continues to be a safe and inspiring space for moms across the DMV, and we’re truly honored to have been part of such a meaningful experience for the third year in a row.
Celebrating Bright Futures and Scholarship
Great news is in the air! We’re proud to announce that CCTF has awarded three incredible sophomores a total of $2,000 in scholarships. Each of these students embodies true perseverance, hard work, and dedication shining examples of what it means to stay focused and keep striving toward success. We hope you'll join us to celebrate our Clarinet Scholarship awardees at the virtual award ceremony on Thursday, October 10th at 6PM.
Upcoming Events
Parent Check-In: Tips to support your child this school year
The Claude C. Thornton Foundation is excited to invite you to our Parent Check-In on Tuesday, October 14th from 6–7 PM.
This is a safe and supportive space created just for you to connect with other parents, share your experiences, and pick up helpful strategies to help your child shine this school year.
Here are some tips we’ll cover together:
✅ Routine – Children do best when they know what to expect. Set consistent times for dinner, homework, and bedtime.
✅ Conversation – Ask your child about what they’re learning, how they feel in class, and how their peers and teachers treat them. These conversations make children feel heard and supported.
✅ School Involvement – Encourage your child to explore activities they enjoy—sports, music, art, robotics, dance, or after-school programs. Being involved builds confidence, friendships, and life skills.
✅ Advocacy – If your child has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Student Support Team (SST) plan, check that it’s being followed from day one. Reach out to teachers and support staff with questions.
Together, we can strengthen our children’s success. Your voice, your story, and your presence truly matter. We can’t wait to see you there!
Join us on November 3, 2025 for the Greater Baltimore Climate Summit!
In less than 25 days, the we will host a dynamic gathering of climate leaders, sustainability innovators, and community changemakers for the annual Greater Baltimore Climate Summit. This year’s theme, “Resilience, Community, and Action in the Face of Uncertainty,” calls on us all to share solutions and inspire action.
This one-day event will feature engaging panels, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities focused on resilience, community, and action in the face of uncertainty. Hosted by a coalition of partners, the summit fosters collaboration across government, academia, the private sector, and local communities.
Plenary Speakers
Secretary Rebecca Flora, AICP, Maryland Department of Planning
Ava Richardson, Director, Office of Sustainability, City of Baltimore
Aneca Atkinson, Assistant Secretary for Environmental Justice, Maryland Department of the Environment
Adam Ortiz, Deputy Secretary, Maryland Department of the Environment
See our full speaker list on our website!
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with leaders, advocates, and innovators working toward a more sustainable Greater Baltimore. Register today!
Resources
Blossoms Blooming Mentorship Program
This video is just a glimpse into our annual Blossoms Brunch award ceremony, where we collectively honor community mentors who have poured into our professional, personal, and emotional growth. 💓
The Blossoms Blooming Mentorship Program empowers young women to reach their full potential through academic and professional mentorship and etiquette training. Last year we launched our group mentoring experience, grounded in discussion topics such as mindset, relationships and partnerships, career mobility, professional opportunities, femininity and more.
We have our annual brunch coming up at the end of the year so stay tuned for updates : ) If you would like to learn more about this mentorship program, please click this link to inquire. To keep up to date with Blossoms Blooming follow us on Instagram and/or contact us via email at cari@thecctfoundation.org for any questions or concerns.
Did you know we offer parent coaching?
Parents play an important role in helping their children succeed in school. Parent advocacy means speaking up for your child’s needs and rights. This school year, commit to staying involved and supporting your child every step of the way. In addition to building routine, education planning and prioritizing extracurriculars:
Celebrate Small Accomplishments
Let your child know when they are doing a good job. Whether it’s completing homework, helping at home, learning something new, or showing kindness, praise helps children feel proud and motivated to keep trying.
Listen with Care and Patience
Children are still learning how to express their feelings and make decisions. Sometimes they won’t get things right. When they talk, listen with an open heart and calm voice. Try not to interrupt, yell, or get upset. Let them know they can come to you for help, even when things are hard to talk about.
Wishing everyone a positive, peaceful, and productive start to the school year. You’ve got this! If you would like to schedule a free coaching session with us, please use this link to schedule a session.
Parents, We’re Here for YOU!
From navigating the school system to supporting your child’s mental health and behavior, parenting comes with a lot of challenges and you don’t have to do it alone.
Led by Autrese Thornton, a multi-decade special educator, school administrator, and nonprofit manager, The Claude C. Thornton Foundation’s Parent Advocacy & Coaching Program is here to listen, guide, and empower you with the tools and resources you need.
Tell us: What areas of education, mental health, or behavior do you need the most support with?
Email us at athornton@thecctfoundation.org
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer at the Greater Baltimore Climate Summit!
We are excited to announce that the CCT Foundation is hosting the 2nd Annual Greater Baltimore Climate Summit in downtown Baltimore on November 3rd, 2025!
This event will bring together community leaders, climate advocates, and environmental experts to discuss critical environmental issues affecting our region.
As a valued supporter, we invite you to volunteer at the summit. Your support is essential in helping us make this event a success. Volunteer hours and roles are available throughout the day, ensuring each area of the event is supported.
Join the Shared Harvest Community Garden at Mt. Olive!
We’re seeking enthusiastic volunteers to help us grow fresh vegetables and support local families through the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just curious to learn, our garden has a place for you!
Volunteer tasks include watering, weeding, planting, fertilizing, checking for pests, and harvesting. This is also a great opportunity to connect with neighbors and make a difference in our community.
Location: 5115 Old Court Rd, Randallstown, MD 21117
Email: office.mtoliveumc@gmail.com
Phone: (410) 922-2853 | Call Cynthia at (443) 272-1398
Let’s build together: one plant, one neighbor, one meal at a time!
Get Involved
We Want To Celebrate You: Share Your Success Stories
We don’t just love celebrating our team, we love celebrating our community! You are the heart of everything we do, and we know this community is filled with incredible people making bold moves, chasing dreams, and creating real impact. Whether it’s a personal win, a career milestone, or a passion project changing lives, we want to hear about it! Every victory big or small deserves to be honored.
Share your accomplishments with us at board@thecctfoundation.org so we can lift you, cheer you on, and shine a light on your fantastic work!
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