June 2021 Volume 44 Issue 1 - The Wingspan
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1 June 2021 Volume 44 Issue 1
The Wingspan Enters a New Era with
Advidor Lauren Mancini
After forty-three years as a easier than it would have been
otherwise, both for her and the
dependent on the students, them-
selves.
publication, the Centennial Wing-
span welcomed its tenth advisor at students involved. While the first “I like anything where I feel like the
the beginning of the 2020-21 school few weeks were somewhat of a students are empowered to be creative
year. English teacher Lauren Mancini learning period, Mancini and the and do things they are passionate
stepped up to fill the role after former team eventually learned how one about,” stated Mancini. “[I wanted to
advisor Rus VanWestervelt decided another worked and fell into an give] them more opportunities to do
to step away after nine years with the easy routine. that.”
Wingspan. The fluidity was due, in part, to Letting the staff have freedom has
Mancini has been a teacher for Mancini already having a vision of always been vital in how the Wing-
thirteen years, and has been at Cen- what the Wingspan could become span operated, and Mancini was able
tennial for six of them, but this is her when she stepped in as advisor. to build on that tradition while still
first time teaching a class other than being a strong figure for the students
English at CHS. to lean on and learn from.
After being with the publication for “I trust [this team] to take care of
so long, VanWestervelt was confident stuff, and that might not be true every
that Mancini was the right person to year. We might not always have a staff
take over. where I feel that way; where I might
“I was so excited about Ms. Manci- need to be a little more hands-on,”
ni coming in because she is much explained Mancini. “I think what has
younger than I am,” he expressed. worked well is that [they] do what
“She has a better pulse on the technol- [they] need to do and trust each other
ogy; on how news is distributed and to get it done. And that way I am truly
shared in this twenty-first century. I just an advisor and [they] are running
thought she was a brilliant choice.” the paper.”
Even prior to being offered the po- With the adversity faced due to
sition as advisor, Mancini avidly fol- the COVID-19 pandemic, having
lowed the Wingspan. “I thought it was someone to look to was important
well-run and the students involved in navigating what being a journal-
with it cared a lot about it, which I ist meant in a time when hands-on
think is important ,” she stated. investigation was difficult. In a regular
Though it was her first year ad- Photo contributed by: Lauren Mancini environment, Journalism is a very
vising for Journalism, Mancini does interactive class, but it is hard to
have experience in the field. “I have truly depend on each other through
The first piece of that vision was
done publication advising for a good a computer screen. With Mancini’s
brought to life when, in just the
chunk of my career, at least ten years, leadership, the Wingspan staff was
first few weeks, she changed the
but usually for literary magazines,” able to overcome that obstacle and
online platform used to upload
Mancini explained. “I attended the work together despite the physical
articles. Rather than using Word-
Columbia Scholastic Press Associa- separation.
press, the staff adapted to using
tion’s annual High School Publication According to Mancini, class ac-
Sno. Sno’s layout is more suitable
Conference a number of times, [go- tivities would have been much more
for a publication and is easier for
ing] to various sessions about doing dependent on that interactivity had
viewers to navigate, as everything
the newspaper or yearbook.” she taught a full year in an actual
is categorized by writer and article
This interest in journalism and classroom. “We would be doing more
genre.
other publications has made stepping team building, we would be in the
Other plans were put into action
into VanWestervelt’s role much room together, we would be talking
as well, most of which were more
things out, we would be going and sp-
2
eaking to sources more directly,” be done to get the story.
she said. “Those are things that we “I want [my students] as
just haven’t been able to do.”
Despite the hardships faced,
reporters to be a little bit
braver and go out on some
the
Mancini gives credit to her team,
and the effort they put in all year.
limbs. We don’t rock the
boat much, and we probably
Wingspan
“I think [Delanie has] done a great should be rocking the boat
job just being a leader in a hard more just because part of
time,” she stated. Although there journalism is making sure
Delanie Tucker, Editor-In-Chief
were limited events to cover, ar- we are helping to question
ticles were written and published things,” Mancini expressed. Sasha Allen, Managing Editor
frequently, and photographers “Be brave. Look at those Alexandra Valerio, Online Editor
worked to take photos where they things that people might
could. find controversial and that
Adithi Soogoor, Photo Editor
Mancini is not the only one are tough subjects and dig Emily Hollwedel, Copy Editor
with good things to say about the through some of those.” Jeramy Stavlas, Sports Editor
Wingspan’s work this past year. For future journalists at
“I think [the Wingspan has] Centennial, Mancini has a Maggie Ju, Staff Writer
has done a tremendous job. I bit of advice: “Remember L. Mancini, Advisor
am seeing a lot more presence that you are really never
on social media, announcing alone in Journalism. It really
the articles that are being pub- only works if you work as a
lished,” Vanwestervelt praised. “I collective.” Cover Photo:
think [Mancini] is handling this
Nour Eloseily at the senior
pandemic incredibly, and she is
shepherding [the rest of the team] carnival.
along in the process, so I could Taken By: Adithi Soogoor
not be more happy with the future
of Journalism at Centennial under
Ms. Mancini.” - Delanie Tucker
Her team had similar things to
say.
“I think teaching such an Centennial High School
interactive class in a virtual setting 4300 Centennial Lane
is a really difficult hurdle, and yet Ellicott City, MD 21042
Mrs. Mancini was able to step into
the role as if she had been teach- 410-313-2856
ing [Journalism] for years,” said www.chs.hcpss.org
Jeramy Stavlas, the Wingspan’s
Follow us on Twitter:
Sports Editor. “The way she was
able to help us overcome certain @CHSwingspan
challenges was extremely impres-
sive.”
Looking forward, Mancini
hopes to implement any changes
that she was unable to this year
because of the pandemic. These
changes include “getting out more All opinions expressed within the
issues, playing with things like Wingspan are those of the individual
format, [and] bringing in more writers and do not necessarily re-
digital media.”
Furthermore, she hopes to flect the views of the staff and its
teach her students a thing or two entirety , its advisor, or the school.
about pushing to do what needs to
3
Meet the
Delanie Tucker
Editor-In-Chief
Sasha Allen
Managing Editor
"I really don't think I could have
asked for a better four years, or for
a better team to end things with. "It's hard to pick just one favorite "I have been working on the Wing-
The best part about journalism is thing from Wingspan, but if I had span for the past three years, and I
the people. Everyone always gets to, I would say the environment and love the community we have built
along really well, which is why space created there. We are so free to together. It's so rewarding to see our
it's easy to collaborate and work share our ideas and personalities and team grow and work together, and I've
together on different things." I think that's really awesome." had such a great experience writing
for our school and community!"
Emily Hollwedel
Copy Editor
4
Wingspan!
"My favorite part about the Wing-
span is the inclusivity among the
members and how coherent the
publication flows."
Jeramy Stavlas
Sports Editor
"My favorite part of the Wingspan was
wearing clay masks and pore strips in
class."
Adithi Soogoor
Photo Editor
"My favorite part about the Wingspan
is that I have made long lasting friend-
ships and I was able to learn from
skilled journalists."
Alexandra Valerio
Online Editor
"My favorite thing about the Wing-
span is how collaborative it is! The
writers, editors, and photographers
work together to produce the best
journalism possible."
Maggie Ju
Staff Writer
5
Seniors Soaring to New
Kevin McCoy. "[He] just said to run it
like a workout and that was the day I
Heights
managed to get under twelve.”
Weaver happily shared her plans
to take her athletics to the next level.
Centennial’s Class of 2021 faced “I’m planning on running track next
a huge hurdle this year: tackling the year at Mount St. Mary’s, so I’m look-
pandemic while also attending school ing forward to that.”
and deciding their futures. However, In addition to athletics and music,
despite the unprecedented challenges, seniors have thrived in academics.
three Seniors, Jordan Waters, Mi- One such student is Philip Wang, a
chelle Weaver and Philip Wang, went Photo contributed by: Jordan dedicated student with interdisci-
above and beyond in their interests in Waters plinary interests who worked hard to
music, sports and STEM during their Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus. foster his passion for STEM through-
time at Centennial and will pursue Waters has paved a strong path out high school. Wang noted, “I am
their interests at a professional level. towards her career as an artist and grateful to Centennial for providing
From a young age, Jordan Waters producer, and she plans to continue advanced classes in both STEM
had a passion for music inspired by this in college by studying business. and in the Humanities. I think my
those around her. Immersed in a “Music is my passion and has strongest aptitude is the ability to
family full of expierenced singers, always been since I was little,” stated draw connections between different
producers and other musicians, “My Waters. “Within art, I feel music has disciplines.”
mom taught me and my sister how to the most influence over people. It Throughout Wang’s four years at
harmonize, and we would go around takes you to the past. It’s an amazing Centennial, physics and history were
singing to everybody whenever we gift.” particularly of interest. “When I took
got the chance,” Waters noted. Like Waters, Michelle Weaver, physics, I was fascinated by Newton’s
“When I was around ten, I start- a track and field athlete and cross Laws of Motion,” he stated. “I dis-
ed working on my own music and country runner at Centennial, has covered the discipline of the History
thinking about my future as an artist,” also mapped future plans for herself. of Science, eventually leading to my
she continued. “I had to do a lot of Weaver's track journey started research project on Newton.”
research, but I also had friends and in elementary school, where in the Due to this interest Wang “con-
family that had experience and could second grade she ran for the Striders ducted research on Isaac Newton
answer most of my questions. With- Club. Ten years later, she still carries under the guidance of a Professor of
out their help, I wouldn’t be doing a passion for the sport. History, which revealed that alchemy
what I'm doing.” During three of her four years at and theology heavily influenced New-
At eleven, Waters' learned to play Centennial, she ran on the varsi- ton’s optics and mechanics.”
her first instrument, the piano. As ty track and cross country teams. Wang’s hard work in research
she grew, she added the bass, guitar According to Weaver, her biggest studies did not go unrecognized: his
and the drums to her repertoire. Even sports accomplishment in high paper on Newton’s studies of alchemy
now, she looks to expand musical school was when she “qualified for and theology was recently published
range by learning to play the violin. states and placed well.” in Harvard University’s Synthesis, an
To kick start her own career, She is similarly proud of when undergraduate journal on the history
Waters researched how to perform she ran under twelve minutes for of science. Starting in the fall, Wang
and create some of her own music. “I the two mile in her sophomore year. will pursue a history major at Prince-
watched a lot of guitar tutorials and She attributed this achievement to a ton University.
read books. I listened to old music piece of advice from her coach, Our seniors have worked hard to
and the artist’s techniques. I mim- foster their learning and passions
icked what my favorite artist did to throughout their time at Centennial,
learn the skill and then incorporated whether it be in the arts, athletics, or
it into other things I did.” academics. They have paved their way
During her years at Centennial, for excellence and success in their
Waters played at the White House, futures beyond high school.
and in 2018, performed live at the
March for Our Lives rally, where she - Alexandra Valerio and Adithi
sang with the likes of Demi Lovato, Photo contributed by: Soogoor
Phillip Wang
6
Centennial's Future Collegiate Athletes
In 2020, athletes worldwide, peted with club teams.
including young competitors, faced Kwon knew from early on that
an unusual dilemma presented by the she wanted to compete at a higher
COVID-19 pandemic: how seriously level, but mentioned “[she] didn’t
did they want to take their athletic know it would be this serious until
pursuits? Safety precautions were [she] started receiving D1 offers
the clear priority, with leagues and during [her] junior year.”
practices shut down not only on a Going forward, Kwon has high
professional level, but also for ameat- expectations for her collegiate Photo contributed by: Fernando Duraes
uer athletes of all sports. As some lost career. “I would love to win some accolades."
motivation, others had to make the conference meets for my college,” Finally, Fernando Duraes is a Cen-
decision to stay strong and continue she stated. “I am very excited to tennial track and field/cross country
to push towards improvement, using feel the camaraderie between all runner who committed to Washing-
the challenges presented by COVID the teammates and to just grow as ton University in St. Louis in Novem-
to help them grow. a team together. I alsoust want to ber of 2020.
In the midst of all this, Centennial have fun with it.” Duraes was originally a soccer
High School has seen no shortage Another star athlete, Paul Rus- player who never intended to take his
of collegiate athletic commitments sell, committed to George Mason athletics this seriously. “I actually only
among their student body, which University to play volleyball in ran track to stay in shape for soccer at
perennially produces star athletes. December of 2020 after making the the start,” mentioned Duraes. Three
Fernando Duraes, Anna Kwon, and most of his opportunities with club years later, Duraes said he would
Paul Russell are three Centennial ath- and AAU teams. Russell has not describe his high school running
letes who have exhibited the necessary been able to compete with Centen- experience as “life changing.”
effort needed to further their athletic nial since the school doesn’t offer One issue faced by many of this
interests beyond high school despite a boys’ volleyball program, but year’s seniors, including Duraes, was
the challenges of the last year. Russell did spend three years on the difficulty of online college recruit-
Anna Kwon, a county-renowned the Eagles’ soccer team. ing. “While in recruitment, I couldn’t
swimmer, committed to the Uni- “Although I couldn’t play volley- visit schools or coaches,” he explained,
versity of Massachusetts Amherst in ball here, I loved playing soccer for stressing the difficulty of gaging a
September of 2020. Howard County Centennial,” Russell remarked. “My school’s environment when he was
schools do not offer a swimming teammates, coaches, and fans made not actually present.
program, but there is an annual each day of training or playing so Despite the uncertainty he faced
county-wide meet in which Kwon was special.” during his recruitment process,
the captain twice. Many swimmers, Russell began to take volley- Duraes is entering the next chapter of
including Kwon, also routinely com- ball seriously at a very young age. his life with a positive mindset. “I’m
“It was certainly my goal to play excited to see how it is to live with
Division 1. My dad and two oldest your teammates and go train with
brothers played at Penn State, so them everyday,” he said. “I want to
I knew I had the ability to do it as win nationals as a team sometime in
well.” His brother, Aaron Russell, my four years for both track and cross
won a bronze medal in the 2016 country.”
Olympic Games with team USA. Remarkable talent, effort, and
Looking ahead to college, Rus- achievement have gotten these stu-
sell is more focused on prospering dents to where they are today and will
as a team than on his personal suc- continue to help them grow as they
cess. “The biggest thing I want to make their way through college.
do is win a national championship,”
he revealed. “[That] is much more
Photo contributed by: Paul Russel important to me than individual - Jeramy Stavlas
7
A Conversation With Centennial’s
From one of the most adamant- ools worldwide have experienced, nity -- for other people to see you
ly chaotic school years of our time he noted there’s a touch of irony to and say ‘who you are is allowed and
springs the Class of 2021. Despite the subject. “In the twenty years I’ve accepted,’” he reflected. “Our default
the abnormalities, little has stopped been here, this year I’ve felt least ef- is to make assumptions, to discrim-
them from making the most of their fective at my job. But I’m not alone, inate in the way we see the world.
final year of high school. This includes around the country, it’s a strug- But I sincerely believe that you could
the annual tradition of voting for the gle… It’s my only time being voted learn to assume that you don’t know
Teacher of the Year, an honor held by teacher of the year where it’s been a everything. That could be the default.
one staff member who then speaks struggle.” Here he began to chuckle. That’s my daily workout- to curb my
to the entire class at graduation. This “It’s debilitatingly humbling.” assumptions.”
year, after weeks of calculating votes, When I asked him what had At the end of our interview, I
the Class of 2021 selected English stuck with him through all these inquired if Mr. O’Brien had any words
teacher Corey O’Brien. I had the years (lessons from students? from of advice for the 2021 graduating
pleasure of discussing this award with fellow staff? general memories?) class, especially after such abrupt
O’Brien on April 20. Mr. O’Brien took a long pause. changes in their expectations; seniors
O’Brien has been teaching at The room seemed enveloped in had to curb their own assumptions
Centennial his entire career, starting his thoughts, the other students in about their final year of high school
in the English Language Arts Depart- the room eagerly anticipating his due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ment in 2001. Currently, he remains response. This, coupled with various forms of
in that department, also teaching At first, he developed a small discrimination finally thrust into the
extensions of the subject such as Hu- tangent. “I went into this for selfish spotlight, sometimes became under-
manities and Advanced Composition. reasons, because I never wanted standably overwhelming. With so
It was the latter class in which I had to stop learning- I figured, if that much uncertainty in this world, their
the opportunity to talk with him. As I was the case, then I’ll never leave a newly nominated Teacher of the Year
sat down with him, he was as cheerful classroom. I am not here to teach as had only one simple sentence to say
and kind as ever, cracking jokes by much as I am here to learn. I learn on the matter.
comparing the English department from you all every day. Multiply “There will be a time to dance,”
to the Chicago Bulls dynasty in the that by 180 school days, times he said. “And when that opportunity
1990s-- just slightly off from the tar- twenty [years]... It’s a lot.” presents itself, dance.”
get audience, but still well received by Eventually, after a minute or so
those in the room. of signature exasperated noises in
He followed this banter by reflect- choosing, he answered.
ing on the past twenty years, in order “One of the strongest things that
to put life and teaching into perspec- I’ve learned is that all anyone is
tive. “For as little as you know about really looking for is recognition and
life, that’s as little as I know about dignity, and to be treated with dig-
- Emily Hollwedel
teaching,” he joked.
After the fact, he shared his
thoughts on the original nomination.
“It’s always an honor to be nomi-
nated,” he began. “A former teacher “For as little as you know
named Bruce Smith said: ‘We’re more
like farmers who only get to plant about life, that’s as little as
seeds, and we never get to harvest the I know about teaching.”
seeds that we plant.’ It’s moments like
being nominated where you get a bit
of the bloom of the flowers.”
But, given the turbulent year sch-
8
2021 Teacher of the Year
Mr. O'Brien receiving his TOTY award.
Photo taken by: Delanie Tucker Photo contributed by: Lauren Mancini
O'Brien with 2020 TOTY, Thomas Wheeler Photo contributed be: Cate Beckner
9
A Season Stripped Away
What our Winter Athletes are Doing Next
Bryson Baker
Howard University
Boys’ Basketball
“My favorite HS memo-
ry would be scoring 25
points against Marriotts
in the playoffs.” Liam Lovering
Lehigh University
Boys’ Basketball
“My favorite basketball
Tim Woerner memory was my first
UMD varsity game against
Boys’ Basketball Hebron at home.”
“My favorite HS mem-
ory comes from soccer
and scoring the game
tying goal against He-
bron with one minute
left.”
John Sedor
Virginia Tech
Wrestling
“My favorite HS memo-
ry is Mr. Whitakers AP
World class.”
Andrew Hockersmith
Virginia Tech
Boys’ Basketball
“My favorite HS mem-
ory would be yearbook
misunderstanding our
lacrosse motto of FSG.”
Chris Lee
HCC
Shane Taylor Wrestling
Florida Gulf Coast “Best memory would be
Boys’ Basketball getting my hand raised
“My favorite HS mem- for the county champi-
ory is playing in the onship.”
Hebron games, beating
Marriotts in the play-
offs, and just playing
in front of the student
section in general.”
10Matt Harris
USC
Wrestling
“I remember all the
helpful animal metaphors
Coach John would use
to help us get the correct Briana Fant
technique. Light and fast Towson University
like a cat.” Girls’ Basketball
“My favorite memory
is definitely sophomore
basketball season.”
Charlie Schmitt
Allegheny College
Wrestling
“Favorite memory: Beat-
ing Long Reach in the
last minute this year in
our last football game.”
Tori Pearson
Howard University
Girls’ Basketball
“My favorite HS memory
is every team dinner and
post-game dinner. It was
always the highlight of
every season.”
Ibaad Shaikh
HCC
Wrestling
“Favorite HS memory:
chilling with my friends
and teammates on the
bleachers before wres-
tling matches.”
Ale Urquiaga
UMD
Girls' Basketball
"My favorite HS memory
is beating my personal
record in cross country
by five minutes."
Nour Eloseily
UMD
Girls’ Basketball
“My favorite HS meory
is hanging out with my
friends and taking naps
in Madame Doff ’s room
during lunch.”
11Class of ‘21
Senior Playlist
A small playlist commemorating the graduating Class of 2021, in-
cluding songs from both the past and present, in hopes of celebrat-
ing the future.
“Prom” by SZA
“Heat Waves” by Glass Animals
“Classic” by MKTO
“The Adults are Talking” by The Strokes
“Basket Case” by Green Day (clean)
“Cigarette Daydreams” by Cage the Elephant
“How Far We’ve Come” by Matchbox Twenty
“Replay” by Iyaz
“Kids” by MGMT
“Die Young” by Kesha
“Crazy, Classic, Life” by Janelle Monae (clean)
“I Know the End” by Phoebe Bridgers
“Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman
“Ribs” by Lorde
“Midnight City" by M83
“Telephone” by Lady Gaga and Beyonce
“I Did it All” by Vince Meyers
“Don’t Stop the Music” by Rihanna
“Dreamland” by Glass Animals
“Night Changes” by One Direction
12Music Through a Screen:
Resilience Despite a Difficult Year
Due to the confines of a Google “Singing by myself was not
Meet, students in Centennial’s region- fun at all, but that made me enjoy
ally and nationally recognized music hearing all of our voices compiled
programs were relegated to small in Soundtrap even more,” remarked
rectangles. Where the room would freshman Joanna Blackman. She
once burst with rich sounds, students is a member of Bella Voce, Cen-
now played or sang on their own. tennial’s women’s choir, and will
Teachers required cameras on while be rising to Chamber Choir next Marching band performance on April 30, 2021
performing, but due to an audio delay, school year. Photo contributed by: Yearbook
microphones needed to be muted. Directors worked diligently to virtual service opportunities. Where
The solitude sapped the heart of ensure students understood the they once ushered concerts and sort-
making music together. “Ensemble new collaborative resources when ed music, Tri-M now records nursing
music is a very collaborative activity,” creating their final projects. The home performances and instruction-
said band director James Kranz. “It choir program recorded both de- al videos. “It’s really exciting to see
was difficult to translate that into an partment-wide and ensemble piec- members continue to offer so much
online format where we couldn't hear es. Orchestra students formed small support for our community in the
our students and they couldn't hear groups and presented a Soundtrap virtual setting,” remarked Tri-M presi-
one another.” recording of a self-selected piece, dent Cissy Wang.
That changed with the hybrid ranging from “Toxic” by Brit- With many students and staff
model, when a handful of students ney Spears to the Howl’s Moving already vaccinated, there is hope on
returned to the building masked, Castle soundtrack. In addition to the horizon for next year’s students
well-distanced, and ready to perform. the band's virtual productions, to fully return to classrooms. “The
Morale brightened considerably, even the marching band, which had focus is almost 100% on the in-person
for virtual students, who could now resumed in-person rehearsals in kids,” said sophomore Michelle Bank,
hear fellow musicians through the March, performed at the Centenni- a percussionist. She looks forward
teachers’ Google Meets. al stadium at the end of April. to performing with the entire Wind
Managing two formats at the An entire year without live recit- Ensemble again.
same time was a new experience, but als was an extreme change for most Centennial’s musicians have
instructors handled it well. “This year seniors. From seasonal concerts missed the unique community that
has been a lesson in flexibility, grace, and musicals to the annual Pops comes with face-to-face instruction,
and resilience,” said choir director Concert, to special performances and they eagerly anticipate socializing
Rebecca Vanover. As a self-described like the spring trip, most oppor- with students in the fall.
perfectionist, she is working on tunities to showcase Centennial’s “I hope we can come back togeth-
maintaining a work-life balance while musical talent were stripped away. er and make more music soon,” said
adapting her classes as the situation Even with a wildly different final Vanover. “I'm ready.”
calls. year, seniors still expressed their
“The pandemic has challenged appreciation for their teachers.
music educators to find new strate- Senior Noah Herren has played
gies and methods,” orchestra director the viola for all four years of high
Allen Leung explained. Most music school. “Mr. Leung has put in so
classes utilized a software called much care and effort to make the
Soundtrap to enhance the virtual best of our situation,” he said. - Maggie Ju
experience. Similar to GarageBand, Centennial’s music community
Soundtrap lets students upload re- has adjusted more than just its cur-
cordings into individual tracks, and riculum. The Tri-M Music Honor
the combined result closely mimics an Society, which comprises over one
in-person group performance. hundred members, sought creative
1326 Years of
really cool and really moving to see
those different groups coalescing
around the same issue. When I saw
that, I felt like it was time. Well, it was
Immigrant Customs
really past time, but it couldn't wait
any longer.”
The Bill that was sponsored by
Enforcement in
Councilmember Walsh passed 3-2,
but Howard County Executive Calvin
Ball vetoed the vote. This meant that,
Howard County Comes to
despite the vote from the council
members, the HCDC would continue
to function.
an End Local advocacy group Howard
County Coalition for Immigrant
Justice, or HCCIJ, with ties to Cen-
For the last 26 years, Howard failed to provide detainees with
tennial through the Young Socialist
County has been benefiting from two hot meals per day, as required.
Movement, expressed their disap-
their contract with ICE, or US Immi- For those in segregation, HCDC
pointment with the decision. The
grations and Customs Enforcement, did not consistently document
HCCIJ is composed of around twenty
receiving roughly $2.8 million a year that detainees received three meals
different advocacy groups and named
from the majority privatized impris- a day and daily medical visits.
ending the ICE Contract in their mis-
onment system. According to their Further, HCDC did not properly
sion statement. They have not let the
website, ICE’s mission is to “protect document the handling of detainee
decision on CB51 interfere with their
America from the cross-border crime medical grievances.” Despite these
work, however.
and illegal immigration that threaten numerous violations, it wasn’t until
national security and public safety.” March 22, over a year later, that the
However, many of the ICE detainees contract was ended with ICE.
are mistreated and develop health Before March 22, there had been
problems as a result of their imprison- other attempts by legislators to
ment, according to reports from the end the contract or at least make “Working with the com-
significant changes. In September
Department of Homeland Security.
of 2020, Calvin Ball announced
munity has always been
Since 2003, there have been at least
185 deaths nationwide, many the that the detention centers would first and foremost."
result of medical neglect. only house detainees convicted
ICE detention centers have been of violent crimes as opposed to
known to use inhumane practices general crimes, which had been the
on their detainees, and immigrant rule before. Violent crimes include
advocacy groups in Howard County murder, rape, manslaughter, and
have been fighting for years to end robbery. However, this change “I was very emotional when I
the government's contract with ICE. came after Howard County Coun- heard that he vetoed it, especially
In October of 2020, a Homeland cilmember Liz Walsh introduced a because I was a fan of Calvin Ball in
Security report was released detailing bill, CB51in September of 2020 by the past, but we stayed the course,”
numerous human rights violations by which aimed to formally end the recognized Thaí Moreira, a member
the Howard County Detention Center ICE contract. of the HCCIJ. “[But] we understood
(HCDC), specifically. “The final push [to propose that it would not be a smooth sail, and
CB51] was the advocacy we saw we expected bumps in the road. We
“We determined HCDC exces-
over the summer, and that there [kept the focus] on our messaging and
sively strip-searched ICE detain-
seemed to be momentum growing on why we were doing this.”
ees leaving their housing unit to locally in support of ending the Despite the veto, the HCCIJ con-
attend activities within the facility, contract,” said Walsh. “The Hoco tinued advocating to put pressure on
in violation of ICE detention stan- for Justice group came out and the Howard County Council.
dards and the facility’s own search marched with the same immigra- “We did a lot of grassroots mobi-
policy,” stated the Homeland Secu- tion advocates that had been work- lization,” said Moreira. “We also had
rity Report. “In addition, HCDC ing on this for years, and it was the big events prior to the pandemic;
14we had a lot of town hall meetings County legislature, and just days certain point, they could have done
in which we invited people who had later, on March 22, Howard County everything they possibly could have
been personally affected by the ICE passed a bill that formally ended done, and I thought it was my turn to
Detention Center [to talk]. I think the ICE contract. do what needed to be done.”
that was very impactful to hear what The legislation, once ending the The HCCIJ and Councilmember
the detention center or being detained contract, required a 60 day noti- Walsh are currently working to in-
did to the family.” fication period, so the detainees form voters about a referendum aim-
Ying Matties, another member of were allowed to be held until May ing to overturn a sanctuary law. For
the HCCIJ, agreed that they worked 18. After May 18, Howard County more information on the HCCIJ, visit
to put the affected community at the removed all ICE detainees from their Twitter (@HC_Immigrants) and
forefront of the issue. their facilities, fully shutting down Instagram (@hcimmigrantjustice).
“We really try to center the voice the program.
and the experience of the people who The HCCIJ was thrilled with
have been impacted. Many of the coa- the outcome, as it was the result
lition members work with people who of years of hard work from all of
have been detained,” said Matties. the groups included.
“Working with the community has “It was [the] sheer persistence
always been first and foremost.” of those advocates, they are very - Sasha Allen
In March of 2021, the Maryland persistent [and] they are highly or-
state legislature passed the Digni- ganized,” recognized Walsh. “They
ty not Detention Act, which aimed wanted that contract canceled
towards preventing the state from and they hounded it. They started
entering into any agreements with showing up at press releases and
private groups facilitating immigrant conferences [with] their signs, and
detention. The passing of this act put people don't like when you do that,
even more pressure on the Howard but it sure makes a point. At a
15Photos taken by: Adithi Soogoor
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