ABOUT US
ABOUT US
Oakland Mills United is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in Columbia, Maryland.
Oakland Mills United is run by an entirely volunteer staff. Our staff consists of current and
former Oakland Mills cluster students who strive towards creating a more equitable tomorrow
for our community today. We are an organization led by youth, students, and young adults and
are supported by professionals with expertise in both the nonprofit world and in education.
Oakland Mills United is governed by our volunteer Board of Directors, which are responsible for
providing governance and oversight of our organization and maintains our financial assets. In
addition, our Board provides support for our staff to ensure that Oakland Mills United is
effectively serving our community.
OUR MISSION
Supporting and empowering students, schools, and communities through education, enrichment, and student well-being.
OUR STRUCTURE
As a youth run organization, Oakland Mills United stays true its mission of empowering students to become strong leaders.
Oakland Mills United is based on an Emerging Leaders Model, where our organizational staff are all current students ranging from middle school to higher education. All operations are run by our youth staff, who consist of current OM cluster students, OM alumni, and individuals outside of OM who believe in our mission.
We are supported by professional expertise through our Advisory Board, which consists of individuals from Oakland Mills, Howard County, and across the United States. Our Advisory Board supports our staff through providing assistance, mentorship, and specialized expertise in our organization's operations.
Our Board of Directors is responsible for the governance of the organization and also works directly with our staff to support operations.
OUR HISTORY
"Remember our history, celebrate our culture, and leave our legacy". This was the mission and vision of the Oakland Mills High School Class of 2020. Oakland Mills United is the living legacy of the Oakland Mills High School Class of 2020.
Initially founded by Samuel Hahn, Oakland Mills United was created in March 2020 with the idea to create a strong network of students, parents, and community members to effectively mobilize on education issues impacting the Oakland Mills cluster schools. Kiana Macharia, a member in the organizations early planning stage, joined as a co-founder in May 2020.
Oakland Mills United officially launched in May 2020 with the initial purpose was to create a strong advocacy network and platform to represent and fight for equity for Oakland Mills schools and students, mainly working with youth, parents/guardians, staff, and students, to educate and empower them so we could demand real change to the Board of Education to provide the overdue and critically needed funding.
In July 2020, Oakland Mills United transitioned into also creating services that directly impact our community today through establishing our Leadership in Action, Student Enrichment, and Road to College initiatives. Today, Oakland Mills United maintains these initiatives to benefit and impact the students and schools in Oakland Mills.
In February 2021, we created our Board of Directors in hopes of beginning to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to allow us to better serve and impact the community. Between February 2021 to March 2022, we thank Oakland Mills Online for acting as our fiscal sponsor. In March of 2022, Oakland Mills United submitted its application to become 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Today, Oakland Mills United is a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Columbia, Maryland. We have a Board of Directors that governs the organization along with a volunteer staff that maintains the organizations day to day operations, and an Advisory Board. We are also a certified organization to award our volunteers the President's Volunteer Service Award.