By J.J. McQueen,
Special to the AFRO
Many people often wonder what sparks the ideas for the introduction of new legislative bills. In some cases, there could be community needs, in others good news to be shared about a particular subject that needs additional support, educational needs that need to be enhanced, or increased protective measures for society to live comfortably.
In the case of Senate Bill SB0852, it checks all of the boxes of protection for Maryland’s young people. It’s also a specialty bill, one with a narrow focus. Unlike other wide view bills, this one is geared towards school age children.
Why? In May of 2010 UVA student-athlete Yeardley Love was killed by her then boyfriend, George Wesley Huguely V. Love was a standout athlete with a bright future when her life was cut short by Huguely. The ugly acts of the event drew nationwide attention, so much so that people began to work to find solutions for the old unresolved problem of domestic violence.
Birth out of the tragedy was the One Love Foundation. The organization focuses on teaching young men and women about the importance of building healthy relationships, and how to properly manage conflict resolution in productive ways. Led by the organization’s first Black female is Executive Director Ojeda Hall, bills like SB0852 have now become signature topics and matters for leaders like Maryland Senator Jill Carter.
In working to create ways to enhance education and instruction, Delegate Maggie McIntosh is also a supporter of the pioneering work being done by Hall, and the One Love staff and student volunteers.
The bill will address securing qualified professionals to teach health education, collect data, and provide reports to the State Department of Education about the progress of the Maryland students. By designating an educator in a proactive fashion, the bill is set to address building a foundation for healthy mindsets for Maryland’s school age students.
For more information on how you can support the One Love Foundation click here.
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