MML’s Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a city/town elected or staff official with a strong record of service to MML and the cities and towns of Maryland. Criteria considered include:

• Participation on MML committees
• Participation on the MML Board of Directors
• Active involvement with the local League chapter
• Demonstration of outstanding service to Maryland municipal government

 The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at MML’s summer conference in Ocean City, June 22-25.  Nominees can be current or former municipal officials. The deadline to nominate is April 15.

This year’s fourth grade "If I Were Mayor I Would..." essay contest winners captivated the volunteer readers and finalist judges’ attention with their compelling essays. 

Thank you to our volunteer readers, who were so impressed with the essays that they sometimes overlooked the fact that the ideas came from fourth graders!

MML’s longest running ambassador program, the If I Were Mayor, I Would…essay contest deadline is fast approaching. There’s still time for fourth-grade teachers to enter their students in our 25-year contest before the March 7 deadline.

The essay contest is open to all Maryland fourth graders, including home schooled students. Please have your fourth grade teachers visit our website for the essay contest information and submission form.

MML’s annual “If I Were Mayor, I Would…" essay contest is the League's oldest ambassador program. The 25-year-old contest educates fourth graders (and teachers) about municipal government and the role of the mayor. 

There’s still time to visit your local schools to encourage fourth-grade teachers to enter their students in our contest before the March 7 deadline.

The Maryland Municipal League’s Hall of Fame honors current or former municipal officials (living or deceased) that have served 20 years or more as a municipal elected official. Submissions are now open for those eligible elected officials to join the 272 municipal Hall of Famers.

Eligible officials are inducted into the Hall of Fame and honored among your colleagues at MML's 2025 summer conference in Ocean City. 

The League's longest running ambassador program, "If I were Mayor...I Would..." essay contest is celebrating 25 years. The program is designed to help Maryland's fourth graders develop an understanding of municipal government and the role of a mayor. Each year, nearly 3,000 essays are submitted by students, describing how they would make their town/city/community a better place to live.

Join the Engagement and Outreach Committee during our virtual reading session on March 13. The essays are short, fun and insightful. Witness the great minds of Maryland's future community leaders during the virtual reading session by volunteering.

The National Civic League is thrilled to announce that applications are open for the 2025 All-America City Award. Since 1949, this prestigious award has celebrated communities that harness civic engagement, collaboration, inclusivity, and innovation to address local challenges.

This year’s theme, "Strengthening Environmental Sustainability through Inclusive Community Engagement," highlights communities committed to environmental sustainability. The League is looking for communities that actively involve residents, businesses, and government stakeholders in efforts to combat climate change and enhance community well-being.

MML's oldest ambassador program, the annual If I Were Mayor, I Would...essay contest is celebrating its 25^th anniversary. The 25-year-old contest educates fourth graders (and teachers) about municipal government and the role of the mayor.

Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle School #76 fourth grade teacher, Ms. Gauthier, shares tips on how she encourages students to enter the contest. Ms. Gauthier not only had a winning student in MML's 2024 essay contest, it was also her first time entering the contest.

MML’s annual “If I Were Mayor, I Would…" essay contest is the League's oldest ambassador program and is celebrating its 25^th anniversary. The 25-year-old contest educates fourth graders (and teachers) about municipal government and the role of the mayor. A postcard announcing the 2025 essay contest was mailed to schools and municipalities in early January. Materials are now live on our website.

Essay contest deadline is March 7

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The National Civic League is now accepting applications for the 2025 All-America City Award. The theme for 2025 is “Strengthening Environmental Sustainability through Inclusive Community Engagement.” The League is seeking communities that actively engage residents, businesses, and government stakeholders in initiatives to promote environmental sustainability and strengthen community resilience.

Apply to join the nine communities from Maryland that have won the All-America City Award! You can view the full list of past recipients here. 

Nominations are now open for the 2025 Maryland Sustainable Growth Awards. The Maryland Department of Planning and the Sustainable Growth Subcabinet invite all nominations for individuals, businesses, organizations, and local governments throughout Maryland that advance sustainable growth policies and practices. Nominations are considered for applications that support a balanced approach to land use and planning across at least three of the #SustainableGrowth Policy and Planning Principles: Land, Transportation, Housing, Economy, Equity, Resilience, Place, and Ecology.

The online nomination form and details can be found here.

Explore and search through MML's Hall of Fame Inductees, now featured on the MML website! Browse through a rich history spanning from 1997 to 2024, celebrating the remarkable contributions of municipal officials

We honor and celebrate over 150 elected officials who honored their community through municipal service. Thank you!

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. 

Today’s young people are the leaders, innovators, and thinkers who will shape the next 250 years — and it’s important their voices are heard as we commemorate this historic milestone.

America’s Field Trip is a contest that invites students across the country in grades 3–12 to be part of America’s 250th anniversary by sharing their perspectives on what America means to them — with the opportunity to earn an unforgettable field trip experience at some of the nation’s most iconic historic and cultural landmarks.

Students are asked to submit writing or original artwork in response to the contest’s prompt: “What does America mean to you?”

America250 America's Field Trip round 2 launched September 16, 2024. Earlier this year in round 1, of 150 national winners, 9 were Maryland students. Maryland winners celebrated at a recognition ceremony at the Maryland State Fair.

Has your municipality created a program, policy or service that has positively impacted your community? Do you believe your city/town has implemented an innovative best practice or policy?  Then consider submitting it for an MML Municipal Achievement Award. Only one week remains to submit your entry!

The Municipal Achievement Awards are awarded annually to cities and towns that have successfully implemented policies and programs that advance good governance and the well-being of our communities.  Submissions will be accepted through September 25 at 12 noon. Recipients will be honored during the Excellence in Leadership Fall Conference, taking place November 6-8 in Cambridge.

Nominations are now open for NLC's Centennial Under 40 Impact Awards

Municipal Staff-Focused Workshops 

• Showcase Solutions 
• Cabinet Secretaries Roundtables
  
• Population Forums 
• Additional Academy Core and Electives 
• A.M. Keynote session featuring Brandon P. Fleming, renowned speaker, nationally acclaimed educator, and author of MISEDUCATED

Staff lunches