About
The Board to Promote Self-Sufficiency (BPSS) was created in 2008 to act as a planning and coordinating body for initiatives that promote the economic stability of individuals and families and reduce the incidence of poverty in Howard County. The Board supports the vision of Department of Community Resources and Services (DCRS) "A community where everyone has the opportunity to grow, thrive, and live with dignity."
The board generally meets at DCRS 9830 Patuxent Woods Drive Columbia, MD 21046. Since the pandemic, the board has also started meeting virtually. Please contact Camille Banta if you would like to attend the BPSS meeting: cbanta@howardcountymd.gov.
Board members include key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors. Current Community and Ex-Officio Board Members are listed below.
Board to Promote Self-Sufficiency Annual Report
This is an update on the work of the Board to Promote Self-Sufficiency where our goal is to create connected systems that offer individuals the opportunity to progress on their own terms. By creating a mix of public and private systems, social networks, and comprehensive resources, we can make considerable progress toward achieving the vision of a connected, resilient, and thriving Howard County community.
New Online Board Application Process
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has launched an innovative online application that transforms the way constituents apply to become members of County boards and commissions. Read the press release.
Board Information
Stephen Liggett-Creel, (Board Chair), Community Advocate
Brooke Abercrombie, Howard Community College
Jennifer Blondo, Key Process Partners
Tracy Broccolino, Community Action Council Howard County
Jennifer Broderick, Bridges to Housing Stability
Keshava Dasarathy, Finvizia LLC
Amma Felix, Collegiate Directions
Theresa Forget, Howard County General Hospital
Bruce Fulton, Neighbor Ride
Michael Garzon, BGE
James Hollywood III, Hollywood Enterprise & Associates, LLC
Mariana Izraelson, Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center
Lois Mikkila, Association of Community Services
Amanda Rodriguez, TurnAround
David Woodruff, APL Federal Credit Union
Stephanie Adibe, Administrator, Howard County Office of Workforce Development
William Barnes, Superintendent, Howard County Public School System (Represented by James LeMon, Coordinator, Community Engagement, HCPSS)
Kelly Cimino, Director, Department of Housing and Community Development (Represented by Rose Burton (Board Co-Chair), Deputy Director of DHCD)
Margaret Chippendale, Director, Department of Corrections
Gregory Der, Chief of Police, Howard County Police Department
Peter Engel, Executive Director, Howard County Housing Commission
Tracy Rezvani, Administrator, Howard County Office of Consumer Protection (Represented by Lesley MacDonald, Outreach & Engagement Manager, Howard County Financial Empowerment Center)
Geneva Rieu, Director, Department of Social Services for Howard County (Represented by Sherry Banks, Administrator, DSS for Howard County)
Maura Rossman, Health Officer, Howard County Health Department (Represented by Antigone Vickery, Deputy Health Officer, HCHD)
Jacqueline Scott, Director, Howard County Department of Community Resources & Services
Daria Willis, President, Howard Community College (Represented by Minah Woo, Vice President of Workforce, Innovation, and Strategic Partnerships, HCC)