Governor Wes Moore Appoints Jaelon Terrele Moaney to Maryland Commission

Governor Wes Moore has appointed Jaelon Terrele Moaney as a commissioner on the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture. A Cambridge resident and 2019 graduate of Williams College, Moaney's term on the commission will extend until 2027.Show more

According to the Commission’s official website, its primary mission is "to identify and preserve buildings, communities, and sites of historical and cultural importance to the African American experience in Maryland." This program, supported by an annual appropriation from the Maryland General Assembly, provides funding through a joint partnership of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture and The Maryland Historical Trust.

Moaney, operating within the commission, actively participates in awarding the annual $5 million grants, seeking candidates who contribute significantly to the architectural or cultural preservation of Black history and identity.

In Moaney's words, "It is the first ever ethnic commission in the United States. It is something that our colleagues across the country look to as an example. I feel humble to join the group as the youngest."

As part of its broader mandate, the commission documents and collects African American heritage across the state. Moaney, a resident of Talbot County, has been covering Delmarva for the commission since 2023.

Moaney, a former high school football player in Talbot County, resides in Cambridge with his wife. He expresses his vision to invigorate the commission by expanding notions of Blackness to encompass joy, freedom, and agency while emphasizing overlooked elements of Black culture on the Eastern Shore.

His goal is to "reinforce accurate portrayals of Black life as well as ones that normalize our culture." Moaney takes a historical perspective on the challenges faced by Black people in America, recognizing the ongoing process of healing and reconciliation.

In terms of the commission's activities, Moaney plans to bring the commission to Chestertown for a public meeting in April, hosted at the Bethel AME Church, a site where the Freedom Riders stayed in 1962.

Additionally, Moaney serves on two committees, including the African American Heritage Preservation Program, which recently saw an increase in funding from $1 million to $5 million. This program, in collaboration with the Maryland Historical Trust, supports projects related to African American heritage.

He shares details of grants awarded by the commission for fiscal year 2024, including allocations such as $250,000 for the American Legion Mannie Scott Post 193 Building in Denton and $138,000 to Alpha Genesis Community Development Corporation in Cambridge.

Outside of his commission work, Moaney is the founder of Needle's Eye Academy, a program created to enhance literacy among students of color. Additionally, he has been appointed to the Maryland Commission on African American History & Culture's inaugural statewide book drive, accepting donations of unused books aligning with the Commission's mission through February 2024. Moaney finds the oral histories particularly enriching and considers it a privilege to be involved in this endeavor.