About Us
Oakland Mills Online, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
OMO, formerly and formally known as Oakland Mills Online, is a community organization founded to serve neighbors near and far by providing a multi-generational social learning environment with workshops led by community volunteers.
In 2020, after schools in our county shut down because of the Covid-19 Pandemic, we worked to give the community a virtual place to meet and learn together continues. Using Zoom, we gave space for children, families, and adults a chance to come together digitally for fun workshops, book discussions, and more, bringing subject matter experts, speakers, and artists together to offer lessons and chats about a variety of topics.
When pandemic restrictions lessened, OMO pivoted and started having some workshops in-person, but we found that lots of people enjoyed the Zoom environment because it gave them a chance to enjoy a book or community discussion while they ate dinner or commuted home.
Now that the world is "normal" we have pivoted to a much smaller presence. Our main focus is still on building and maintaining Community, but now we use our time mainly for the Scorpion Speaker Series and Community Book Giveaways.
Created by Amy Brooks and Jessica Mahajan to support their close-knit community of Oakland Mills in Howard County, Maryland, at the start of quarantine in March 2020 and expanded to anyone with an interest in learning together, OMO aims to make the most of our great people resources to keep learning happening and our connection to community growing during this time of social distancing. With support provided by Jessie Patterson, Rachel Berman, and Hannah Vogel, as well as our dedicated volunteer presenters, we're excited to offer a range of engaging sessions.
View our 501(c)(3) information and learn more about our organization on our Financial Transparency page.
OMO, formerly and formally known as Oakland Mills Online, is a community organization founded to serve neighbors near and far by providing a multi-generational social learning environment with workshops led by community volunteers.
In 2020, after schools in our county shut down because of the Covid-19 Pandemic, we worked to give the community a virtual place to meet and learn together continues. Using Zoom, we gave space for children, families, and adults a chance to come together digitally for fun workshops, book discussions, and more, bringing subject matter experts, speakers, and artists together to offer lessons and chats about a variety of topics.
When pandemic restrictions lessened, OMO pivoted and started having some workshops in-person, but we found that lots of people enjoyed the Zoom environment because it gave them a chance to enjoy a book or community discussion while they ate dinner or commuted home.
Now that the world is "normal" we have pivoted to a much smaller presence. Our main focus is still on building and maintaining Community, but now we use our time mainly for the Scorpion Speaker Series and Community Book Giveaways.
Created by Amy Brooks and Jessica Mahajan to support their close-knit community of Oakland Mills in Howard County, Maryland, at the start of quarantine in March 2020 and expanded to anyone with an interest in learning together, OMO aims to make the most of our great people resources to keep learning happening and our connection to community growing during this time of social distancing. With support provided by Jessie Patterson, Rachel Berman, and Hannah Vogel, as well as our dedicated volunteer presenters, we're excited to offer a range of engaging sessions.
View our 501(c)(3) information and learn more about our organization on our Financial Transparency page.
OMO is proud to announce that we are recipients of grants from:
Thank you to the Stevens Forest Elementary School PTA for acting in the beginning as our financial sponsors in 2020 while we waited for our non-profit status to be granted.
- Horizon Foundation 2020 Mental Health Protective Factors Grant
- Howard County Rise to the Challenge Initiative
Thank you to the Stevens Forest Elementary School PTA for acting in the beginning as our financial sponsors in 2020 while we waited for our non-profit status to be granted.
News
OMO Book Giveaway featured in The Baltimore Sun
OMO joined in the first annual Oakland Mills High School Winter Parade Festivities. After collecting hundreds of books and puzzles from community members, OMO set up seven tables full of books for attendees to choose from. Families and individuals could choose as many books as they wanted to take home for themselves or as gifts. View the photos and article. OMO has given away books many times this year, including the OMHS Homecoming and the Stevens Forest Elementary School 50th Anniversary Celebration.
OMO joined in the first annual Oakland Mills High School Winter Parade Festivities. After collecting hundreds of books and puzzles from community members, OMO set up seven tables full of books for attendees to choose from. Families and individuals could choose as many books as they wanted to take home for themselves or as gifts. View the photos and article. OMO has given away books many times this year, including the OMHS Homecoming and the Stevens Forest Elementary School 50th Anniversary Celebration.
OMO Selected as a 2021 Howard County Changemaker Challenge Finalist
The Horizon Foundation, United Way of Central Maryland, the Community Foundation of Howard County and the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County are thrilled to announce the finalists for the 2021 Changemaker Challenge! These 10 finalists will compete for the chance win up to $35,000 to bring their big ideas to life! Get your FREE ticket today to watch them Nov. 9 at the Changemaker Challenge live virtual event. Learn more
The Horizon Foundation, United Way of Central Maryland, the Community Foundation of Howard County and the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County are thrilled to announce the finalists for the 2021 Changemaker Challenge! These 10 finalists will compete for the chance win up to $35,000 to bring their big ideas to life! Get your FREE ticket today to watch them Nov. 9 at the Changemaker Challenge live virtual event. Learn more
OMO receives grant funding through the HoCo Rise to the Challenge initiative
Howard County distributes $1.5 million in federal CARES Act funding to 40 local nonprofits
Howard County distributes $1.5 million in federal CARES Act funding to 40 local nonprofits
Check out Amy and Jessica in the Baltimore Sun talking about OMO (and see some cool drone footage of Oakland Mills!) |
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Podcasts
Learn more about the origins of OMO on Episode 93 of Elevate Maryland "New Connections with the Same People"
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Appreciation Station
Thank you to all of our presenters, moderators, and attendees who make this community feel like hOMe! The list of helpers, new and old friends, and advocates could make a whole website, so we simply say Thank You to everyone who has shared their knowledge with us since March. Thank you for being such amazing community members and community builders!
