Verna L. Jones


Verna L. Jones-Rodwell is an American politician who represented the 44th legislative district in the Maryland State Senate. Senator Jones-Rodwell was also the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland from 2007 to 2008.

Background

Jones-Rodwell was born in Baltimore, Maryland on November 27, 1955. She graduated from the University of Maryland College Park, B.A., 1978; Baruch College, City University of New York, M.P.A., 1987.

In the legislature

Jones-Rodwell became a member of Senate on January 8, 2003. She was assigned to the Senate's Budget and Taxation Committee in 2003. ; Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, 2003-; Joint Committee on Federal Relations, 2003-; Special Committee on Substance Abuse, 2003-. Chair, Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds, 2007-. Member, Special Joint Committee on Pensions, 2003. Jones-Rodwell is a former chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland and the current chair of the Baltimore City Senate Delegation.
On April 20, 2014, Jones-Rodwell announced that she had decided to retire and would not compete in the upcoming June 2014 democratic primary.

Awards and designations

As a politician and active social life, she served on various key posts, and achieved a number of awards:Special Assistant to City Manager, Berkeley, California, 1986-87. Director of Local and Regional Programs, Coordinator of Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Communities Initiative and Director of Market Development, Development Training Institute, 1987-97. Founder and president, Collaborative Solutions, 1998Director, Baltimore Main Streets. Chair, Maryland Public Policy Committee, National Black Women's Health Project, 1990-96. Board of Directors, Druid Heights Community Development Corporation, 1993-2000. President, Women Behind the Community, Inc., 1994-96. Board of Directors, Flemming Fellowship Center for Policy Alternatives, 1999.Westside Renaissance, Inc., 1999.Alzheimer's Association of Greater Maryland, 2001-09.Baltimore Heritage, Inc., 2001-. President and Founder, Community Building Network, 2002Board of Directors, Martha's Place, 2004Board of Directors, Alzheimer's Association. Delegate, Democratic Party National Convention, 2008. Member, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.Adjunct faculty, Goucher College. Verda F. Welcome Award, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., 2001. Henry Toll Fellowship, Council of State Governments, 2003. Award of Excellence, Maryland Women for Responsible Government, 2003. Living Women History Makers' Award.National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc., 2004.Maryland's Top 100 Women, Daily Record, 2005, 2008, 2011.Dedicated Service Award, Woman Power, Inc., 2006.Helen S. Schulze Award for the Advancement of Alzheimer's Research, Alzheimer's Association, 2007.Certificate of Appreciation, Maryland Municipal League, 2008.

Attribution

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