The Claude C. Thornton Foundation January eNews
- CCTF Board
- Jan 5
- 6 min read
Updated: Jan 7
Happy New Year CCTF Family,
We are so excited to welcome a new year with you, filled with growth, connections, and more possibilities to enact change. As you know, CCTF believes "social capital is king, "and will be sure to support the expansion of your networks in 2026!
For those of you who have been waiting for us to announce the upcoming Blossoms Blooming Brunch the wait is over! Mark your calendars for February 22 nd. For the first time ever, we'll be celebrating in in DC, and can't wait to toast with you. See below for more details.
This month is also MLK Day, a national day of service. We encourage you to honor Dr. King’s legacy by giving back in any way you can, whether through volunteering, community cleanups, or acts of service. Check out Maryland Food Bank for endless volunteer opportunities this month.
Thank you for always being a part of the CCTF community. Your support, engagement, and belief in our mission is what makes our work possible. We are excited to grow, serve, and blossom together this year.
With love and gratitude,
The CCTF Team
Upcoming Events
Maryland League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, in partnership with GBCS, will provide an overview of how Environmental Justice and funding for climate solutions will be part of the state-level legislative landscape during the upcoming 2026 Maryland General Assembly session (1/14/2026 through 4/13/2026).
Join us for a virtual webinar to get an in-depth understanding of the state legislative process and to decompose current environmental justice and climate finance bills.
Kick Off the New Year with Nu Momish!
Nu Momish Meetups bring moms together, and their Vision Brunch is the perfect way to start 2026. For three years, this gathering has inspired moms through meaningful conversations about health, finances, and community.
Enjoy brunch, hear from an inspiring speaker, and connect with other moms ready to make 2026 intentional and connected. Motherhood doesn’t have to be done alone Nu Momish helps you do it together!
First Day of Legislative Session Rally for Solar Energy
Join us for a rally at the Annapolis Statehouse to show our support and commitment to advancing solar energy in the state of Maryland!
Hear from Delegate Lorig Charkoudian, our fearless House sponsor for this year’s very important bill that will reform our state’s solar program for maximum build out of solar energy and enable households to start using balcony solar in the state.
We will hear from other legislators and advocates at the rally as well.
When: Wednesday, January 14, 10:00 AM ET
Where: Lawyers Mall, in front of the Maryland State House - Annapolis, MD
CCAN's Polar Bear Plunge
Chesapeake Climate Action Network is hosting their 21st annual fundraiser called the Polar Bear Plunge. It is a great time where advocates come together to plunge into the Potomac to keep winter cold, socialize, and raise money for ambitious climate advocacy.
Join Climate Crossroads for a milestone event: Climate Conversations: D.C. Crossroads
Climate Crossroads is marking a major milestone with its 50th Climate Conversation, celebrating the occasion with a special hybrid event at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. on the evening of February 10, 2026.
The event, “Climate Conversations: D.C. Crossroads” will feature two panels, one on healthy information ecosystems and the other on local action around DMV climate issues, followed by a reception.
This conversation is one you won’t want to miss.
Save the Date!
You don’t want to miss this. Our Blossom Blooming Brunch returns on February 22nd, and this year we’re bringing the experience to the DC area.
This exclusive, highly anticipated tradition is a space for reflection, fellowship, and real connection designed to spark personal and professional growth, empower mentees, and honor the community mentors who pour into others without ever asking for the spotlight.
This event will be intimate inspiring and impactful.
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 on February 22 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.
Our Blossoms Blooming Mentee
Meet Akiva’ Rooks, a creative communications specialist, leadership coach, and founder of I’ll Keep Her a women-centered brand grounded in self-care, self-love, and self-awareness.
A first-generation college graduate, Akiva’ has transformed her journey into purpose-driven work that mentors students and uplifts women holistically. Through creativity, intentional leadership, and community-centered impact, she continues to inspire growth and confidence in others.
We are proud to celebrate Akiva’ as a Blossom and changemaker, embodying purpose, creativity, and leadership in motion.
Follow her journey: @rebellefleeur
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
The Children's Environmental Health Network announces new state profiles for all 50 states.
The state profiles are a compilation of nation-wide information that allows state-by-state comparisons of uniformly defined data about environmental hazards, environmental exposures, and relevant children’s health outcomes. While select states have previously been released, this is the first time we've unveiled updated profiles across the country.
Decisions made at the state and local levels have a significant impact on environmental health protections and equity that our children need. For decision-makers to address children’s environmental health concerns in an informed way they must first understand the current state of issues in their jurisdiction.
The CEHN state profiles are an answer to an existing gap in this process: there have historically been very few accessible sources of robust, regularly updated, and uniformly-defined state-level children’s environmental health indicators. CEHN is collecting and sharing the best available of these in our new resources. Check them out here or copy and paste this link in your browser: http://cehn.org/states/
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer with the Maryland Food Bank
Volunteering with the Maryland Food Bank is a meaningful way to show up for your neighbors and make a real difference. By giving a few hours of your time whether sorting food, packing boxes, or helping with distribution you help ensure families have access to the nourishment they need. Every act of service matters, and your kindness helps strengthen our community, one meal at a time.
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