Councilmember Allison M. Pickard

On behalf of the DMV African Cultural Fashion Heritage & Award Night 4.0, it is with great honor and appreciation that we extend our heartfelt congratulations on your nomination for the Indigenous Unity & Impact Award. This prestigious recognition is a reflection of your unwavering dedication to supporting African businesses, empowering our communities, and preserving African cultures and traditions in Anne Arundel County and beyond.

Meet Allison

Councilwoman Allison Pickard has been leading and improving Anne Arundel County for over a decade. From building new schools to improving infrastructure, investing in first responders, and tackling environmental challenges, Allison has delivered results for our neighbors and families.

Allison Pickard was raised to value public service. Her father served in the Army, retiring from active duty as a Lieutenant Colonel, and her mom was a nurse. After college, Allison served in AmeriCorps — leading a team of volunteers on a variety of projects that tackled community issues such as outdoor trail creation, immunization drives, and community emergency preparedness. One special project in rural Georgia focused on connecting seniors in rural communities to resources, local support, and healthcare. Serving with AmeriCorps proved to be a transformative experience for Allison, fostering a strong sense of civic responsibility, and her commitment to public service continued to grow from there.

Inspired by her time in AmeriCorps, Allison accumulated over a decade of professional experience in the field of senior housing and senior services. This experience spans all sectors, including public, private, and non-profit, and culminated in her serving as the Director of Community Programs with Iona Senior Services in Northwest Washington. She was responsible for planning and developing new programs, diversifying revenue sources, and raising community awareness for services.

Prior to being elected to the Anne Arundel County Council, Allison, like so many moms, began volunteering at her children’s school, Oakwood Elementary in Glen Burnie. She was given the Anne Arundel County Public Schools Volunteer of Year Award in 2013 for her work there. Allison was then appointed to the Anne Arundel County Board of Education, representing Legislative District 33, in June of 2015. While serving on the board of education, she was the chair of the Policy Committee and the Legislative Committee of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education. Allison also served as president of the Anne Arundel County Council of PTAs and vice chair of the School Board Appointment Commission.

In 2018, Allison was elected to the Anne Arundel County Council to continue her service and do more for our community. She has taken a pragmatic approach to her work with community stakeholders. Allison has focused on economic development that creates opportunities for small businesses and improves the lives of all residents because she knows our community needs results. Now Allison is running for County Executive to continue to build on the progress made here in Anne Arundel County.

Allison calls the Millersville area home, and lives there with her husband, Joe, and their children, Georgia, Henry, and Jamie.