POLICY & ADVOCACY (A Fresh & Experienced Voice!)

Lorna Phillips Forde is a long-time activist and community leader who has been recognized for her commitment and dedication to supporting the needs of her community. She successfully leverages professional and advocacy relationships to effectively lead, manage and inspire habits of excellence while making a difference in the lives of all residents. 

Phillips Forde is a Moms Demand Action Gunsense Candidate and an active volunteer. She wants to keep our families safe. That’s why she fights for policies that are proven to reduce gun violence, protect children, and make our communities safer. She successfully advocated for Ghost Gun legislation sponsored by Senator Susan Lee & Delegate Lesley Lopez to prohibit ghost guns in Maryland.

Phillips Forde is an active member of the Germantown Gaithersburg Chamber of Commerce. Her company has curated group tours throughout the Domestic US and to 6 of the 7 continents. Phillips Forde's local and global perspective allows her to understand the needs of diverse populations and people of all walks of life.

Phillips Forde is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a Past President of Montgomery County Alumnae Chapter and Immediate Past Maryland Social Action Coordinator. As the State Social Action Coordinator, Lorna planned and coordinated local, state, and national legislative events, and successfully advocated for the elimination of the sale of flavored tobacco products that negatively impact the health and well-being of youth.

Phillips Forde serves on the Board of Directors for Manna Food Center, a non-profit organization whose mission is to end hunger in Montgomery County MD. She is the former Chair of the Advocacy Task Force and was instrumental in identifying opportunities and strategies to advocate for legislation and policies that improve the quality of and access to food for vulnerable residents.  She joined other board members in Annapolis to advocate for extended SNAP benefits which were crucial during the COVID pandemic.

Phillips Forde served as 2nd VP of the Montgomery County Women’s Democratic Club (WDC), an organization committed to identifying, tracking, and advocating for specific legislation that ensures equity in the areas of Affordable Housing, Aging, Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Education, Climate Change, Gun Violence Protection and access to Healthcare. She also served as the Community Education Chair and is the former Chair of the Affordable Housing Advocacy Committee and advocated vigorously for the enactment of "Just Cause" eviction legislation.

Phillips Forde is a member of the Silver Spring (MD) Chapter of The Links, Inc. and serves as the Legislative Chair and is also the chapter liaison on the Maryland Links Advocacy Group. 

Phillips Forde is an active member of The People’s Community Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD – Rev. Haywood A. Robinson, Pastor – where she supports numerous ministries. Lorna currently serves as Chair, Social Action Committee and Vice Chair of the 501(c)3 nonprofit, The People’s Foundation. During the Pandemic, she worked vigorously to address disparities impacting Seniors and their access to COVID-19 tests & vaccines.

Phillips Forde is committed to advocating for the rights and privileges of women and girls in Montgomery County. She is the former Chair & Vice-Chair of the Montgomery County Commission for Women where she also served as Chair of the annual Women’s Legislative Briefing, an annual event that is designed to bring together advocates, the public and elected officials to discuss legislation, education, advocacy and policy. As President, Lorna presented oral and written testimony before the Senate & House Committees in the Maryland General Assembly. She spoke at rallies advocating for paid leave, led focus groups at the Clarksburg Correctional Facility for women preparing for reentry and conducted county-wide listening tours to understand concerns related to social justice and violence against women.

Phillips Forde is a former gubernatorial appointee to the Maryland Commission for Women, where she advocated for legislation and policy impacting women and girls across the state. In addition to supporting the Commission’s initiatives, she also served as Co-Chair of the annual Women of Tomorrow Awards Ceremony which recognized young women for achieving academic excellence, extraordinary community service and outstanding leadership. 

Phillips Forde is Life Member of the National Council of Negro Women-Potomac Valley Section where she serves as Chair of Legislative Affairs and is affiliated with the following organizations:

 Jewish Council for the Aging; Montgomery County Sister Cities; Montgomery County African American Advisory Group; Leadership Montgomery; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; Montgomery County Board of Election. 

Phillips Forde is the mother of adult twin daughters, who attended Montgomery County public schools and are now college-educated career women.