About > Maryland NOW State Officers

Sandy Bell, Legislative Committe Chair and Legislative Director

 

Sandy was born in North Carolina before Brown v. Board of Education. She was exposed to the ugliness of racism at an early age and knew instinctively that it was very wrong. She didn’t know it would lead to a life of activism.

Becoming a mother at 16 before Roe v. Wade and being a single mom for 10 years put her in situations that helped her understand the need not only for better treatment of women, but for more access to support for struggling families. Working for the betterment of women and their families, including her own, has been her great passion for over 35 years.

Sandy worked in the newspaper business for 9 years, her last being that of an advertising salesperson for The Washington Post. After remarrying, she graduated from Prince George’s Community College with a degree in Arts and Sciences with Highest Honors in 1994 while raising a family of 5 teenagers.

Sandy’s first position in NOW was as treasurer for her local chapter. She began working as Maryland NOW’s Action Vice-President and held that position for many years. She worked tirelessly with legislators from all over the state on a host of NOW issues, and served as Maryland NOW’s liaison to other progressive organizations. She has been a Progressive Maryland Board Member for over 10 years. She is active in her local Democratic Women’s Club in Calvert County, and participates as a member of organizations working on environmental issues. Sandy is chair of the Maryland NOW PAC, and as President became active nationally in the NOW State Presidents’ Caucus, working with leaders across the country on NOW’s core issues. Her current work as NOW’s Executive Vice President enables her to use her considerable talent working in NOW’s coalitions and with legislators on issue work in Annapolis.

In her limited spare time, Sandy likes to work out, she loves to sing, and looks forward to summer when she spends time at her family’s condo in Ocean City. Special guests are her grandchildren — the joy of her life.