Welcome to the Office of Community Initiatives

Message from Israel C. “Izzy” Patoka, Executive Director

Thank you for visiting our website!  The Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives (GOCI) coordinates outreach to ethnic, cultural, and faith-based communities as well as to local government organizations across Maryland.  GOCI is home to the Governor's Commission on African Affairs, the Governor's Commission on African American History and Culture, the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs, and the Governor's Commission on Hispanic Affairs, Middle Eastern Affairs and the Governor's Commission on Asian American Affairs. The activities and programs of the Banneker-Douglass Museum in Annapolis are also coordinated through the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives.

GOCI coordinates community and volunteer activities statewide and advises the Governor on policies to enhance and improve community programs. Our office also includes the work of the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism, Volunteer Maryland, and the Governor’s Intergovernmental Affairs Office.

In 2008, Governor Martin O’Malley signed into law HB782, which received unanimous support in the Maryland House of Delegates and the Maryland State Senate. This action solidified the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives into statute. Placing the ethnic and cultural commissions within the Governor’s Office is a statement of the O’Malley-Brown administration’s commitment to improving our understanding of ourselves, our history and the common future we all share.