Cheered on by half a dozen young green-shirted Earth Squad volunteers waving CHEARS signs, Maggie Cahalan was recognized as Greenbelt’s 49th Outstanding Citizen.
As a co-founder of CHEARS (Chesapeake Education, Arts and Research Society, chears.org), Cahalan promotes environmental stewardship projects protecting the health of all life in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. One prominent project of CHEARS has been the establishment of Three Sisters Gardens in three locations around Greenbelt: in Schrom Hills Park, near
Springhill Lake Recreation Center and near the Community Center. Cahalan has contributed to the Green ACES advisory committee and Greenbelt Climate Action Network. She also helped found the annual Green Man Festival, which has been held every year on Mother’s Day Weekend since May 2005, combining music, arts, environmental education and strong Greenbelt community spirit.
Describing Cahalan, Selection Committee Chair Bob Zugby stated, “The awardee could be someone who is committed to peace, justice and inclusion; or it could be an individual committed to preserving the environment; or it might be someone involved in educating the public about matters of concern to all; or it might be a community organizer who brings all members of the community together to cooperate on a project. Does one of these criteria apply to our Outstanding Citizen of 2022? No. All of them do.”
On the Festival stage, Cahalan received a certificate of special recognition from U.S. Senator Ben Cardin. From the Maryland General Assembly, Prince George’s County District 22 legislative team, Cahalan received a certificate in recognition of her “unwavering commitment to the Greenbelt Community,” presented by State Senator Paul Pinsky and State Delegate Nicole Williams (with Delegates Anne Healey and Alonzo Washington in absentia). Pinsky noted that with the support of Cahalan and activists like her, Maryland has adopted the Climate Solutions Now Act. Pinsky said, “Maggie has worked diligently, knocking on doors to get people organized and engaged. It’s every town like Greenbelt that gives [legislative] colleagues the backbone to think of the future and take on these challenges.” County Councilmember Todd Turner also noted the adoption of a climate action plan for Prince George’s County, acknowledging Cahalan’s tireless efforts in education and advocacy.
Cahalan expressed overwhelming gratitude to her family and friends. She began by acknowledging that Greenbelt occupies the traditional territory of the Nacotchtank (Anacostan) and Piscataway Conoy nations. Cahalan spoke eloquently about the need to work together: “We’re all kind of in the same boat, interconnected, working together on a spiral quilt. Some put little bright squares and circles, some have to go back and fix what’s broken and some recognize those who labor in any way to try to make things better.”
At a reception in the City Council Chamber, with council members in attendance, Mayor Emmett Jordan presented Cahalan with a beautiful replica of
Roosevelt Center’s Mother and Child statue. Jordan noted that this award is “all about community service – not just a requirement to graduate from high school, but a way of life – and this is so true of so many people in the room.” Outstanding Citizens present at the reception included: Shaymar Higgs, Paul Downs, Sylvia Lewis, Rick Ransom, Larry Hilliard, John Henry Jones, Konrad Herling, Lore Rosenthal, Michael Hartman, Sandra Lange, Maggie Cahalan and Leta Mach.
The Outstanding Citizen award is supported by the Greenbelt Rotary, Greenbelt Federal Credit Union and Fieldstone Properties, proprietors of Franklin Park. Cahalan received a gift basket including gift certificates from Cedars of Lebanon, East Pearl Bistro, Generous Joe’s, Greenbelt Barber and Stylist, Marathon Deli, Mission BBQ, New Deal Café, Old Greenbelt Theatre, Shiatsu Massage Therapy, Silver Diner, Three Brothers and Wood’s Flowers and Gifts. Greenbelt Nursery School contributed its official Greenbelt Is Great T-shirt.
Cahalan and husband Bob moved to Greenbelt in 1979, and their sons Joel and Gabe were raised here. Cahalan thanked her husband for being her “severest critic and most steadfast supporter.” He can often be seen along with her at CHEARS and related events.
Maggie and Bob both went to Thomas More College in Kentucky, and then to University of Illinois where Maggie earned a PhD in sociology. Bob was lab chief for the Climate and Radiation Lab at Goddard Space Flight Center. Maggie has worked for over 40 years doing research on demographic trends, primarily related to equity issues in higher education. She is a senior fellow at the Council for Opportunity in Education, Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education, an organization dedicated to increasing access and success for low-income and potentially first-generation college students.
Cahalan has long engaged in civil disobedience. “I was first arrested back in the 1970s in graduate school in the anti-war movement. Recently, on my birthday, I was arrested with the Fireday Friday initiative on the steps of the Capitol. I think that the climate crisis is an existential threat and one that will hit those who are least responsible the hardest both globally and locally. I felt it was important for me personally to commit a small act of civil disobedience in that setting on my 75th birthday.”
Cahalan said, “John Henry said we need love, that’s what we need and that’s true. Greenbelt used to have a sign that said we’re building the inclusive community. We’re building, working, laboring. We’re not there yet, but we’ll get there.”
