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“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” 
― Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches

December 21st was the longest night of the year. Every day from here on out will bring a little more light. This year illuminated the shared hope for economic inclusion as well as the fear and pain of those living in poverty.

MCRC was able to make great strides in 2016 to develop research, provide financial support, educate consumers, and advocate for state policies that led to greater economic inclusion and wealth for working families throughout the state.

Our work creates meaningful change in the lives of working families. In 2016, MCRC’s...

• policy work benefited 205,000 Marylanders – saving many between $500-$1000 this year;

• SOAR (Securing Older Adult Resources) events connected 600 older adults with education, resources, and financial assistance;

• consumer education campaign for the Homeowners' Tax Credit led at least 200 individuals to apply for the HOTC in Baltimore City, leading to at least $200,000 in tax credits for low-income homeowners; and,

• research resulted in policies that protected students and veterans attending for-profit schools and created new programs to help low-income drivers save on auto insurance.

But we need YOUR help in 2017 to illuminate challenges faced by working families in our cities and rural towns; to pass policies on the state level that will make auto insurance more affordable; protect student loan borrowers; help struggling homeowners and those burdened by unmanageable debt. We will promote policies that work for Marylanders throughout the state and promote financial inclusion.

At the same time, MCRC will be leading efforts to defend the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and make sure it continues its mission to promote and protect consumer rights nationally; working with advocates across the country to create strong community benefits agreements with Maryland banks; and launching several exciting consumer education and financial counseling programs.

To do ALL of this, we need YOUR help. We have created a Rapid Response Fund that will allow us to move nimbly as we fight for Marylanders' needs at the federal, state, and local level. Please donate $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000 – whatever amount – to this fund. Every donation helps.

If you can’t donate money, please consider donating your time and skills. Please review our Wish List and if you can work with us, your in-kind donation will be tax-deductible.

And if you are reading this letter, what we need most of all is your voice. At the federal level, MCRC will be defending programs that help consumers. But at the state level, we can win important new protections and initiate programs that help you and your neighbors build wealth and protect assets and bring greater economic inclusion to the state. Read our alerts and call, email, or visit your legislators to help bring the change that we need to Maryland.

Alone, we are a light – together we are a beacon of hope.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!