Housed within the University of Maryland's National Center for Smart Growth, the Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability Program (PALS) pairs faculty expertise with student ingenuity to tackle sustainability issues facing Maryland communities. Partnering with local, county, and statewide Maryland agencies, PALS creates customized coursework to target specific economic, environmental and social sustainability challenges identified by the partner community. The collaborative university-community partnership delivers recommendations, strategies and tools to address a community’s most pressing challenges, providing a road map for creating sustainable, thriving places to live, work and play. Since its inception in 2014, PALS has directed over 400 customized courses toward site-specific projects across the state, addressing issues of capacity building, economic and community development, environmental sustainability, health and wellness, and social resilience, engaging over 800 students along the way.

On May 8, PALS students from the Fall 25 and Spring 26 semesters will present their projects in a poster showcase and will be available to discuss their work and experiences. Not only is attending the showcase an important way to support UMD students and learn more about their work in the community, but it is also a great opportunity to learn more about how participating in the PALS program can benefit your community or organization.

Deadline extended to March 5. The National Civic League invites tribes, towns, cities, counties, and regions to apply for the 2026 All-America City Award, the nation’s most prestigious community recognition. For 77 years, the award has honored communities that embody the spirit of democracy through collaboration, innovation, and civic engagement. 

2026 Theme

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The Maryland Municipal League's educational partners at the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy published a new article on Social Equity in Public Budgeting in the Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting and Financial Management.  John Ronquillo, Director of the University's Institute for Public Leadership, and Assistant Professor Juan Pablo Martinez Guzman's paper looks at how consideration of social equity is incorporated into developing public budgets, including how social equity considerations vary across different governments.

In observance of America’s 250th anniversary, The Maryland Two Fifty Commission is looking back at our state’s contributions to American history through the eyes and experiences of fellow Marylanders. This commemoration is for every one of us, from the Chesapeake Bay to the mountain peaks in the west. Counties and municipalities are eligible to apply for any of the 3 grant programs, and geographic spread of grantees is a priority:

• Citizen academy grants of $500 for county and municipal citizen academies for short term programs to educate and engage citizens
• MD Two Fifty Fellows paid internship grants with mentor stipend for up to $7,500
• Inclusive History grants for programs, projects, events, or research, up to $4,000

Details and applications can be found on the MD 250 website. Virtual information sessions are scheduled for Thursday, September 26, at 1:00 pm, for the MD Two Fifty Fellows grant program, and on Friday, September 27 at 11:00 am, for the MD Two Fifty Citizen Academy grant program. The virtual information sessions for the Inclusive History grant program will take place in late October.  All information will be posted on the MD 250 website and social media. 

(August 1, 2024) Annapolis, Md. – The Maryland Municipal League (MML) held its 2nd Annual Summer Symposium Thursday, August 1, at the Crowne Plaza in Annapolis. The second in a series of deep dives into emerging municipal issues, speakers discussed Maryland’s housing crisis, the Governor’s recent housing legislation, and how to combat NIMBYism. Maryland Secretary of Housing & Community Development and MML Past President Jake Day gave the keynote speech to over 150 municipal officials and housing organization representatives.