Montgomery Moving Forward is focused on transforming systems to promote greater economic opportunity and a thriving community for all.

Montgomery Moving Forward (MMF) is Montgomery County’s collective impact initiative. Founded over a decade ago, MMF unites leaders from education, government, business, philanthropy, and the nonprofit sector in collectively tackling some of the most difficult challenges facing the County today.

See our Leadership Group.

Issue areas

Since its founding MMF has been influential in shaping how the County addresses Workforce Development and Early Care and Education (ECE), two key elements in the economic well-being of the county and its residents. Through advocacy, convenings, and cross-sector problem solving and collaboration, MMF was a key player in the creation of WorkSource Montgomery, the County’s leading workforce development service provider.

MMF’s approach to ECE is grounded in the understanding that ECE is a key for closing skills gaps for the future, while also ensuring today’s workers can sustain their employment – both central to a thriving economy. MMF’s 2018 Call to Action for ECE outlined ways to advance high quality, widely available ECE that would offer children a strong foundation and support economic stability for ECE providers. This work led to the development of the Children’s Opportunity Alliance and successful advocacy for policies and legislation to support ECE providers during the pandemic.

Moving forward

In 2023 and early 2024, MMF convened a series of listening sessions to explore how best to continue to support the ECE workforce. Based on these conversations MMF has focused on influencing the landmark Blueprint for Maryland’s Future to ensure our community has a qualified, culturally responsive, and adequately compensated ECE workforce providing care that is financially accessible for all families. The result of this work is a set of recommendations for ECE providers, policy makers, and other stakeholders that was released in fall 2024. Visit the ECE Workforce page to learn more.

Collective Impact Institute

During the past year, an exciting next step for collective impact in Montgomery County has emerged. Councilmember Gabe Albornoz has proposed an independent Collective Impact Institute to be located under the auspices of Montgomery College, which would operate in accordance with collective impact principles and establish a permanent presence for collective impact in the County. As one of the anchor institutions for the County, Montgomery College would offer a fertile environment and a solid base for implementing a collective impact approach to strengthen the County and ensure that all its residents thrive.