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What's Happening MoCo?
An authentic, unscripted update from County Cable Montgomery highlighting items that help residents of Montgomery County. This program will feature interviews with elected officials, employees, public servants, and residents. This program is produced by the Office of Community Engagement from the Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Services. Interviews are recorded live and presented with very few edits to ensure the integrity and authenticity of the conversations.
What's Happening MoCo?
Celebrating Juneteenth - What's Happening MoCo
As the nation and County celebrates Juneteenth, the What's Happening MoCo podcast interviewed VIPs live from the BlackRock Center for the Arts during Montgomery County's Juneteenth Celebration. Interviewees include Sidney Katz, County Councilmember, Laurie Anne Sayles, County Councilmember, Katie Hecklinger, Black Rock CEO, and Barry Jackson, Rockville Councilmember.
Good day and welcome to what's Happening, moco, a podcast from your award-winning government television station County, cable Montgomery. Now here's your host, derek Kenney. Good day, what's Happening, moco. We are live at the Juneteenth festivities at the Black Rock Center. Here Is this, gaithersburg.
Speaker 2:It is. It is not in Gaithersburg.
Speaker 3:It's Germantown, germantown.
Speaker 2:A good friend and a good neighbor.
Speaker 1:When you're with the mayor for life, then you make assumptions. I'm here with Councilmember Sidney Katz. Councilmember Katz. What does the June scene festivities mean for Montgomery?
Speaker 2:County. Well, it's certainly a day of remembrance that what unfortunately people went through and thank goodness that did change. But if we don't do events like this, if the world unfortunately forgets what has happened and you know, there's parts of the United States where we don't have a proud history, there's parts that we do and we certainly need to remember what we have gone through and to never repeat anything like what had happened again.
Speaker 1:And this is a pretty big event. There's things happening on stages on the inside, stages on the outside. We're right here on the outside of the Black Rock Center. Yes, what type of amenity do you consider the Black Rock Center? Just right here in Montgomery County, but it has so much to offer. Well, it truly is.
Speaker 2:We have, thank goodness we have many. I see my colleagues, council Member Balcombe and Council Member Lukey. I'm waving to you know, it's truly. We have many, many great jewels in Montgomery County. We really do, but Black Rock is certainly one of those great jewels and I don't live too far from here. I mean, as you say, I'm from Gaithersburg and we're probably about four miles from my home to the spot that I'm sitting right now, and we get to come up fairly often not as often as we like, but to hear some of the great sounds that come out of this area.
Speaker 1:Wow, Now Council's been quite busy this past year. We just finished wrapping up the budget. Yes, what can you say, I guess, for residents that don't totally understand the budget process, or some of the decision-making that goes into crafting the budget, or even some of the things you want people to know about this year's budget? That's important for residents to know.
Speaker 2:Well, you know, a budget is the hope, the belief that you're getting the numbers right, and of course it's a long year. Things happen, emergencies take place. We've had pandemics not this year, thank goodness, but we've had that after a budget's been passed. So you try your best to come up with what the right numbers are. But I've often said this year's budget is about $7.3 billion or whatever the exact numbers are, and that sounds like a lot of money until you start to spend it and we have so many needs.
Speaker 2:I like to point out that Montgomery County, population-wise, is larger than six states. Wow, population-wise Six, six states. And my district is the third district. Six states, and my district is the third district which encompasses Gaithersburg, rockville and Washington Grove, but Gaithersburg and Rockville individually are larger than one-third of the counties in Maryland, oh my goodness. So when you stop and think of the public, the people that we need to make certain have the services that they require, that they need, that they desire, and of course, that money gets spent in a hurry and therefore we have a lot of discussions to get us to the right place and of course, all of that, the schools get about half of their entire budget. So I mean they need it. I mean, you know, but it doesn't take long to spend it, right, right, and I see the sheriff is here.
Speaker 1:Max Wee as well. Speaking of the sheriff and the budget. You're the chair of the Public Safety Committee. Yes, public safety is always one of the key issues, not only in Montgomery County but across America. What are some of the things that the county has been doing to sure up public safety and ensure that we continue to be one of the safer counties in Maryland and maybe the whole region?
Speaker 2:Well, there again, we're very, very fortunate to have and when we talk about public safety, it's it's the police, it's fire and rescue, it's corrections, it's it's all of the, all of the things that are so necessary that, literally, the puzzle has to fit together in order to keep us safe. Literally, the puzzle has to fit together in order to keep us safe. And right now, in general, we're having difficulty across the United States. It's my understanding, but we're having difficulty getting people to want to be a police officer or a firefighter, for that matter too, but especially police officers, and so we've started to do various programs, we've started to hire people to recruit for us. We're doing them better, but it's always been a tough job. It's gotten to be tougher said that they would like to be a police officer or a firefighter in Montgomery County, but we need to redouble our efforts to make certain that the and it's not only young people, but it's just mostly young people to get into this position, these positions, and they have to have the.
Speaker 2:They have to have the right training, they have to have the right equipment, they have to have everything that is necessary that when someone calls 911, and we hope it doesn't happen, but it happens, when someone calls 911, the person that shows up at their doorstep will save their lives.
Speaker 1:That's wonderful. That's wonderful and growing up, the heroes that a lot of us had as kids firefighters, police officers, astronauts and these are attainable careers. They're careers that are well compensated, great benefits, but they're also careers with a lot of esteem associated with them, and so I encourage you, if you're out there, go to the Montgomery County government website, MontgomeryCountyMDgov. Go to HR, search the job listings. There's quite a few jobs out there for people that want careers not just jobs, but careers in law enforcement and other types of things as well, and there's been also a change recently with the fire and rescue or the fire department.
Speaker 2:We have a new leader. Well, we were getting a new fire chief. He's going to be interviewed, I guess, next week, and then we're also getting a new police chief in Montgomery County. Okay, so we have plenty of excitement and I can tell you, the people who are, thank goodness, stepping up to do these jobs really do. I've gotten to meet with them and they really do have the right attitude and the right ability and all of that that is so necessary to do a job that, in many cases, all of us take for granted.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, we take it for granted, we don't think about it until we need it. And then those three numbers become the most important numbers in the world. At that moment, and that conversation you have becomes the most important conversation you have in recent memory. And those few moments that it takes for the response to get there Because in many cases we're only thinking about a few minutes, but those minutes seem like oh so long. It seems like a month.
Speaker 2:Every second's a month. Every second's a month, I mean in some cases it's the worst thing that has ever happened to someone in their life, and obviously you, you know your loved one is in trouble, and so therefore, every second seems like a month. But when they get there and they get there as quickly as they can. But when they get there, they get there as quickly as they can. But when they get there, they are trained and then they know what to do.
Speaker 1:Well, we're thankful for all of the people that serve and protect Absolutely we find Montgomery County residents and we're thankful for you, for your wisdom, of course, and the committee making sure that the decisions are made to not only protect the residents but make sure that the budgets and all the other things that support our police department and fire and rescue are well funded and supplied with technology that's needed, like the new drones. I guess that's been introduced right.
Speaker 2:We're going to get two new drones. We have two now one in downtown Silver Spring, one in downtown Wheaton. We're going to have drones in the Gaithersburg, germantown, montgomery Village area as one drone, and then we're going to have another drone in Bethesda. All right, but they truly, the technology has helped us so that we can make certain that our public remains safe.
Speaker 1:Indeed, indeed. Now we have a few more moments of your time. What is it that you might want to let residents know? That's on your mind right now that residents should be aware of, or, heading into summer and even into the fall, that you'd like them to know from you, your office.
Speaker 2:Well, you know, first off, I think we always need to be reminded to thank the people who are you're talking about public safety to thank the people who do that work. We've gotten in the mode that whenever and we should have whenever we see someone in the armed forces, we thank them for their service, and, from the youngest child to a person who's my age, when they see someone in uniform, we thank them for their service and appreciate them. But we don't always do that for people who are in public safety. Oh wow, we should, we should, we should and that's one thing that I hope that all of us do to take that extra minute and to say to that person thank you for your service, because it is so necessary.
Speaker 1:Well and I think that's a great way for us to say that's what's happening. Moco, absolutely. Thank you for your service. All the people that secure Montgomery County, thank you for your public safety service and thank you for your leadership. Councilmember Katz Also the Mayor for Life, of course, I gave him the name. Put that on me. Put that on me. So thank you for stopping by today. We look forward to talking to you again in the near future. If people want to reach out to you, how can they reach you?
Speaker 1:Well, the best way, I guess, is to email my office councilmemberkatz K-A-T-Z at montgomerycountymdgov All right, we'll make sure we put that out there, and he's also very active on social media. I think his office is.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's my office.
Speaker 1:Instagram, facebook, twitter all of those you can get good information from his office and also engage with his office as well on social media or via the email again Sydney Katz at Montgomery.
Speaker 2:County, md. Yeah, yeah, all right, fantastic. Thank you so much, sir. Take care, you too. Bye, bye.
Speaker 1:Thanks Once again. We are live Germantown, maryland, black Rock Center for the Arts. Juneteenth is a celebration. There's food, there's music, there's kids, there's families, there's moms, there's dads, there's grandparents, there's council members. You're privileged enough to have council member Lori Ansel here with us to share her thoughts on Juneteenth, and let's hear also about why you, in particular, are here today supporting the Juneteenth activities of Black Lives Matter.
Speaker 3:Well, I am so glad that the Biden administration is finally recognizing the importance and the significance of Juneteenth, and that Montgomery County is following suit. We are home to four of the most diverse cities in the nation, and so it's important for us to not only celebrate the significance of June's being the signing of the American Emancipation Proclamation, but also ensuring that we create spaces in Montgomery County for our Black community to celebrate Black joy, black excellence and freedom. We are free, and we should remember this every single year, and the moment should not be lost upon us to celebrate the significant impact that the black community has made on building this country and the important contributions we continue to make every day in this county. And the important contributions we continue to make every day in this county.
Speaker 1:Wow. Now, speaking of important contributions, you just wrapped up another almost a full fiscal year for the county, yes, yes, where we start from July 1st and we end June 30th. Yes, what are some of the things that you want to share with residents that you are particularly proud of this past year that had an impact?
Speaker 3:particularly proud of this past year. That has an impact. Okay, well, I am a member of the Healthy Human Services Committee and the Economic Development Committee. It's our largest committee, the first of its kind and, because our economy is so important, it undergirds all of the social action programs that are so important. I'm proud of the $20 million investment. We are creating jobs, and not just any kind of jobs, but we are focusing on six-figure jobs in the STEM industry. We're also focusing on helping our small and minority-owned businesses with capital.
Speaker 3:Access to capital for small and minority-owned businesses is so important to their longevity and just their presence in Montgomery County alone, and so I was so excited to support the $20 million jobs initiative, and we're going to see a significant return on the investment in our community, and that is good that you mentioned jobs.
Speaker 1:You are the same split between jobs literally jobs where a lot of the focus is on. Sometimes the focus is on minimum wage, but you're talking about career-focused, family-supporting jobs.
Speaker 3:Yes, definitely.
Speaker 1:And so you're not only working with initiatives that impact people and later changes of their lives. You also have a program that I find particularly interesting because it impacts young people earlier in their lives. What's the name of that program, and how do kids or parents get their kids?
Speaker 3:involved. Yeah, so I started the Smart Youth Advisory Council. It's one of my first initiatives. We're recruiting young people from 8th, from grade 7, all the way to 12th grade to expose them to for at least two more terms. So I want to strengthen the workforce pipeline for the people who will serve this incredible county. It's an incredible resource a seven and a half billion dollar budget, immense resources that supports an incredible community, and we want the best of the best to come back after they've been educated and continue to serve. So I want them to know that, even though they can't vote, they have a place at the best to come back after they've been educated and continue to serve. So I want them to know that, even though they can't vote, they have a place at the table to make a significant impact on the policy decisions we make every day.
Speaker 1:That's amazing that you're thinking that far forward to Tennessee now, definitely, so that in 12 years from now or longer, there are people that are qualified and ready and civic-minded yes, able to pick up the mantle and move the county forward Definitely.
Speaker 3:That's awesome.
Speaker 1:Now we're here today and it's a little bit of a more lighthearted atmosphere. What are you looking forward to today, during Juneteenth, Some of the celebrations not only today, but tomorrow and later in the week. What type of things are you looking forward to in?
Speaker 3:celebrating Juneteenth. You know, in thinking about Juneteenth and Freedom Day, you know, a few days ago I participated in a press conference and we all closed our eyes and just thought back to the moment. Our people were brought here against their will. Our people started not with being enslaved, but they started as kings and queens, innovators. And our history was interrupted when we were brought to the shores of the United States of America. And so to think that the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in January and most people didn't find out until June.
Speaker 3:Just thinking about the immense joy, the confusion, but the clarity of hope and optimism. And I'm glad we're starting it this weekend and not on Juneteenth, because it's a build up to an incredible moment that we should not take lightly. And I want us to fully embrace the fullness and the complexities that come with all that we have contributed to making this nation so great, and it cannot be lost in the significance that we have contributed. So I want people to feel immense joy and pride in this day and celebrate like their life depends on it, because our ancestors didn't get the opportunity thank you so much for those workers.
Speaker 1:That's that's. I don't know how better to end a podcast episode than with that or an interview, but it would be an advantage of me to not give people the opportunity to find out how to contact you and reach you and need your support or your leadership. What are the best ways?
Speaker 3:for people to connect Well. This summer, I am launching the Sales Summer Conversation Series because now it is time for us to come to the table. I am working with our five regional service centers across the county to host conversations, again focused on our young people's workforce pipeline in summer, and we know that there are opportunities for our young people to get distracted from their goals, and I want them to know the resources that are available to them through our Office of Workforce Development, through our Regional Services Center, public Safety, the healthcare industry. We have so many opportunities. I want our young people to come out their families.
Speaker 3:It's a free event. We're going to tell you what's in store for you, what opportunities we have in store for you, and then you can tell us what you need, what's missing, what we need to see in the community. We're at the start of a new fiscal year and so we can't do the work alone, and so reach out to Laurieann Sales at MontgomeryCountyMDgov if you have any questions, if you want to participate. We're looking for resource tables who want to come and share their information with our young people and their families. If you have a job opportunity, you want to learn more about working with the government. I want this to be an opportunity for us to share information and also be a recipient of commentary from the community about how we can better serve you.
Speaker 1:Wonderful, wonderful. Thank you so much and let us know how we can support you as you continue to reach out and lift up our young people in the county and serve the residents of Montgomery County, maryland. That's what's happening in MoCo. Lori Ann Sales, council member. Our survey is all sold as well, thank you. Thank you so much, hey, what we was having in MoCo. We are still live at the Black Rock Center, germantown, maryland, juneteenth, june 15thth. And speaking of the Black Rock Center, wouldn't it be great to talk to the CEO of the Black Rock Center, miss Katie Hecklinger? That's me. You did it, did I get it right? Cool points for me. Today I was negative cool points of tripping and dropping things. Now I have positive, cool points and this is something that's not new for the Black Rock Center. How many years has the Black Rock Center been supporting this event and what does it mean for the venue to continue to host this event?
Speaker 7:Yes, for as many years as I have been here, this has been home to the Montgomery County duty celebration so 2021. And prior to that we had this big thing in the pandemic, sort of in between all of our celebrations. So it is a total honor to make this home for Juneteenth in MoCo.
Speaker 1:And what do you have going on today for Juneteenth? How many different stages or areas of the Black Rock Center are being used today.
Speaker 7:Yeah, so this is Black Rock's happy space. Okay, you know when we can get this entire town center to celebrate through the lens of arts and culture and people and shared experiences. So we've got an outdoor stage with live music and DJs all day long. Inside we have a gallery exhibition featuring Juneteenth content. We have our main stage is going to be a revolving door of films and documentaries on the topic, and then in our black box we've got everything from jazz to dance, and then we've closed all the surrounding streets in the Germantown Town Center to open them up to community activists. You know people that know that we are still a work in progress, what the holiday is all about. We've got a lot more work to do before we can actually say freedom and justice, and so we've got a lot of community groups out there doing good work and local artisans. Food trucks't have a festival.
Speaker 1:I can smell the food.
Speaker 7:I'm so tempted to go around and tour, yeah and then we have a kids village where kids can learn a little bit of the history of the holiday, uh, and learn about the civil rights movement. And then you gotta have bouncy house. So education mixed with, you know, jumping up and down all right.
Speaker 1:So bring the kids out, bring the mom and dad out, bring up grandma, bring out everyone, everybody friends and family is very family friendly. Yes, uh, no matter who you are or what you like, it's going to be great out here today and it's a beautiful day.
Speaker 7:It's not too hot, it is absolutely perfect. You never know in washington dc like it could be so hot out here right now. It's perfect for a festival.
Speaker 1:I want to say that I felt very supported when I got here today by your team. That makes me happy. Kudos to you, as the boss. Thank you, as the boss. What do you do as CEO? What are some of the things that you make happen to ensure that the Black Rock Center remains a resource for not only Germantown, but for the entire Montgomery County, for the region?
Speaker 7:Yeah, so I'm passionate about Germantown, I'm passionate about the arts and culture and I'm passionate about the up county, so what's sort of not sort of cool? The awesome thing about this space is that Germantown is the largest area in terms of population in montgomery county and we're not incorporated, so there is yes, okay.
Speaker 7:So what is at the center of this huge, hugely populated, diverse space? An art center. So my job is to make sure that people can come together to celebrate, to breathe, to reflect, to experience life. That's what arts and culture is. It's our expression of the human, the human experience and the journey. So, and as a CEO, same thing with my team is to make sure that we can work together to fulfill that mission, and it's hard work, you know. We are open to the public, um, and we sit in the center of this beautiful community, so so it's not just the large, large events.
Speaker 1:You can also host smaller events as well, and it's open to the public. Are the public, is the public able to secure facilities and host their own events, or, and how does that work?
Speaker 7:yes, so it goes down to one-on-one. My son takes private guitar lessons in the space. Oh wow, and you could walk in off the street on a Tuesday and walk into our gallery and experience the art. You could come in and just enjoy the space and cool off. You could come in and use our water fountain, so we are a public community space. You can come in and use our water fountain, so we are a public community space. What makes us super happy is when we align with other community organizations to host their events. So last night the office of human rights hosted their living legends. Yeah, yeah, I mean, how cool to have those people on our stage. And so we have alignment like that, where folks can come out and rent the space, and then sometimes it's all showbiz. We have Rare Essence coming out next season in December.
Speaker 7:All right, celtic fans, we're going to bring Oktoberfest back to this space in partnership with the Gaithersburg Germantown Chamber of Commerce. So everything from one-on-one intimate experiences to 5,000. Oh, wow.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, where everything is working in tandem, everything's working together. Residents are able to have food, education and, of course, festivities. They're able to enjoy themselves, and that's just a big part of that as well Alternative cultural activity. We're here with the CEO of the Black Rock Center, the lady that makes it all happen, that leads this great organization. Bill, then tell us a bit about the type of staff you have. I noticed that we're next to the volunteer coordinator. You also have staff, professional staff. What does it take to bring something like this together? How many people are you bringing together for this and what's happening?
Speaker 7:Well, this is an undertaking. We can't do this level of event without the county's support. So the Office of Human Rights is critical in making sure that this happens. In terms of the holiday, and then sponsors, we have folks like Wegmans down the street that make sure that, you know, all of our volunteers are fed today. But our team is super eclectic because, if you think about how vast arts and culture what is that? I have an artistic director that really curated all of the films and the live music curated all of the films and the live music. I have a gallery director who made sure that the work you know with Fidelity is reflective of the Juneteenth holiday. I'm an education manager. I have an operations assistant. We've got bartenders. We've got tech and production. You have an army.
Speaker 1:It looks like you have a team or a family you have an army.
Speaker 7:It does not have an army of people bringing it together.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you for your leadership. Take someone, a general.
Speaker 7:I guess you're a commander, I don't know which I like to think of myself, as maybe like a leader. You know I believe in transformational leadership, like empower others. There you are, it's not about me.
Speaker 1:Servant leadership. So humble, but great results, great results.
Speaker 7:And we have a really amazing team.
Speaker 1:Well, fantastic. Thank you for being here today. Thank you for the opportunity Now. If you want to learn more about the Black Rock Center, where should they look? Their online presence, social media.
Speaker 7:Yeah, so follow us in all the things. Okay, we've got facebook, we've got twitter, we've got um. Go to eventbrite. We're putting a ball of our um work on eventbrite and then our website, www3w. Blackrockcenterorg, and you can see all of our events. You can sign up for camp, you can learn more about our gallery exhibitions, so, and then sign up our newsletter Every week. We're sharing just the diversity and the amazing things that are happening here throughout the week.
Speaker 1:Awesome, awesome. So that's what's happening. Moco, the Black Rock Center. It doesn't run itself. It's run by the CEO, by the hosts, a host of troopers, a family of an army of people, including sponsors in the county, to help put large things together, but also small things as well for you and your family. Be sure to check her out at wwwblackboxcenterorg. Is it org? Org, orgorg? Check her out soon, katie.
Speaker 7:Thank you. You did it at the beginning and the end. Amazing. I had to be married for like five years before I got married. There you are Well. Thank you so much for being here today. Thank you, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1:Thank you, hey, and we're back. We're back at the Black Rock Center. What's Happening? Moco podcast live at the Black Rock Center for the Arts, celebrating Juneteenth. Talking to some of the VIPs here supporting the Juneteenth activities here in Germantown, maryland. And who better to talk to than Barry Jackson, a council member for the city of Rockville? Barry, how are you today, sir? I'm good, thank you. How about you? I'm pretty good. I'm pretty good. It's been a beautiful day Not too sunny, not too hot, no rain.
Speaker 5:No, no, no rain Last night surprised me. I was walking home and got caught in the downpour, but yeah.
Speaker 1:I've given up on my app. My app does not predict these sudden downpours that happen now and again, and I've just come to realize it's going to happen. It's okay, but today's been beautiful. Today's been beautiful, and let's talk about beautiful days. We're talking about Juneteenth, a day that means a lot for a lot of people, specifically for people of African-American heritage here in the United States of America, a day where the United States started enforcing the emancipation of enslaved peoples, and Rockville's here celebrating and supporting the event. Why are you here, as a council member, to support the event?
Speaker 5:Well, you know, I was elected back in November, so it's kind of a new experience for me. I was aware of Juneteenth before that and the history behind it and I like celebrating freedom whatever it is. But it means a lot to me now because I'm on the mayor and council, so I've learned about collaborating with the county and about the effort it takes to put on a celebration like this. And you know, I didn't know this before, but I was doing some research about Juneteenth and Rockville and actually our mayor and council voted in 2020 or 2019 to make it the. We were the first city to make Juneteenth a holiday and be a paid holiday for city employees.
Speaker 1:oh wow incredible, incredible round of applause for the city of Rockville, the city of Rockville, the city of Rockville wonderful, All right.
Speaker 5:I had no idea until I looked it up and I was so proud.
Speaker 1:So, speaking of Rockville, what are some of the things that you want people?
Speaker 5:to know across the county about what's happening in the city of Rockville. You know we have so many things going on. It's hard to list them all. You know. Go to our website and look it up. Look up the events we have Definitely in Town Center, red Gate and others. We just finished up Hometown Holidays, which was a big success. Big fans, nationally known, I think Everclear was the headliner and it was a fantastic Memorial Day experience. We had a Memorial Day celebration and a lot of other things going on. But this Saturday, just in a few hours, we have a Suds and Souls. Suds and Souls it's a run around Town Center in the neighborhood and then it finishes up in Town Center with a band and some beer.
Speaker 1:That's the greatest thing. Latest in anything Exactly A run, a day at work, a return home, suds and music. It sounds great. What brought about that type of event? That's something that brought people to be more of types of events where people can come and fellowship and socialize, and I think it feels like people are still getting out of their shells from COVID.
Speaker 5:Yeah, you know, we have actually ramped up our events. You're right. I mean, since the COVID pandemic, people were reticent to get out and just be around others and slowly I think it's more comfortable now. So we had a pride celebration, we had a land impressible. I mean, rockville is really great about not just talking the talk about diversity, inclusion, but actually walking the walk. Yeah, and that's one thing that I want people to know about Rockville is that we embrace diversity and inclusion and we do everything we can to make sure that everybody feels accepted, welcomed, and we will fight for the right for them to be themselves Awesome.
Speaker 1:All, right now. I'm going to give you a chance now to share whatever you'd like to share with the people of Rockville, the people of Montgomery County or anyone that listens to this podcast that they should be aware of about some of the things you're working on as a council member for Rockville, or some of the things that Rockville might be working on in the near future that you might want people to rally around.
Speaker 5:You know, I think I just want people to know that we're focused on safety, we're focused on economic development and we're focused on housing. We recognize that housing is a big crisis, and so we actually have a meeting coming up where we're going to actually talk about and learn from staff what we can do to ease the housing crisis in Rockville and Montgomery.
Speaker 1:County. Awesome, awesome. Housing is an incredible issue. It continues to be. Thank you for all your good work in leading the way to make it easier for people to have homes in Rockville and, of course, across Montgomery County, Maryland. Again, if people want to reach out to you or you want social media, it's going to email you. What are some of the ways people can reach out to you in your office?
Speaker 5:Yeah, no, so I'm available on Facebook. They can look me up, barry Jackson. Council member Rockville, I'm on Twitter, I'm on Instagram and I'm on threads, actually On threads. All right, yeah, I know I'm covering the gamut, actually All threads all right. Yeah, I know I'm covering the gamut, but also you can reach me. Just email me at bjackson at rockvillemdgov. To bjackson at rockvillemdgov.
Speaker 1:Excellent, excellent. Thank you for being here. Thank you for sharing your time. I really appreciate it. My pleasure, all right, all right. Pleasure, all right, all right. We're back to your live at the black rock center for the arts. We're here with william england. He's with the human rights commission from maguma, county maryland. William, can I call you william? Yes, bill, bill's fine, okay, bill england, what's significant about jill team and why are we um, why is the human rights convention here to support it?
Speaker 8:Well, as some of you may know, and many of you may not know, that the origin of the Jiltith celebration was in the Civil War. Toward the end of the Civil War, the slaves in Texas did not get word of the Emancipation Proclamation until almost a couple of years after the president at that time, abraham Lincoln, actually signed the Emancipation Proclamation, and it wasn't until the Union troops came into Texas and were able to notify the slaves that hey, you're emancipated, you're free. So that's the origin of the Jim Teeth celebration and it has been a celebration in black communities over the years since that time, and it's only been recently, within the past couple of years, that President Biden I think by executive order, made it a national holiday.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so it's a national holiday. But even before the government started recognizing Juneteenth, african-american families and communities and churches have been celebrating Juneteenth. What do you describe as the importance of the celebration aspect of the Juneteenth?
Speaker 8:Well, the importance is, in my view, is that it is an entirely African American celebration in terms of culture. You know this is our celebration. This comes from the excitement, the recognition of being freed from slavery and nobody authorized a Juneteenth celebration for African-American communities. We did it ourselves. Over the years, you know, sometimes it fits and starts, but it's been a continuous increase in the number of communities in African-America, throughout the United States who have come to recognize and understand the importance and significance of the Juneteenth celebration and that's why I've made so much of it.
Speaker 1:Now, this is also a good opportunity for us and everyone. We're live at the Juneteenth celebration, so you will hear some celebrations in the background. Absolutely, this is a great time for us all to learn about the Human Rights Commission and what it is that the Human Rights Commission of Montgomery County does.
Speaker 8:Well. Montgomery County law protects the human rights of the citizens of Montgomery County. Our law guarantees equal opportunity for all employment, public accommodations, real estate, housing and delivery of county services. If you're a job seeker, a prospective renter, a homeowner, a customer, a resident a hotel or someone simply seeking county services and assistance, it is illegal in Montgomery County to discriminate against another person based on their age, race, color, religion, genetic status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, sex, ancestry, marital status, national origin, gender identity or family responsibilities, and it is also illegal to discriminate in houses and real estate based on source of income and presence of children, that Montgomery County law is broader than the federal anti-discrimination law.
Speaker 8:No, I don't think there's any municipality or state or any jurisdiction in the United States that has a human rights law that protects such a large number of categories of people. Wow.
Speaker 1:And what does that mean for the average resident? How do they benefit from the commission? Are they able to reach out to the commission when they have issues, when there's challenges? How do you want them to support the commission? See if they have issues. If there's challenges, how do you want them to support the?
Speaker 8:commission. Well, actually the commission is there to support them. I mean, when you feel that you've been discriminated against in any of those areas you know, whether it be employment or housing, public accommodations, delivery of county services, you can come to the Office of Human Rights and file a complaint. Oh, okay, and the Office of Human Rights, which is headed up by the director of the Office of Human Rights, james Stowe, who is an outstanding public servant, outstanding, outstanding, for Montgomery County. In fact, we're fortunate to have him in Montgomery County as the director of the Office of Human Rights.
Speaker 8:So the Commission on Public Rights I'm sorry, commission on Human Rights, we serve as the overall citizens policymakers for the human rights effort. We actually adjudicate many of the complaints that are made. Once the complaint is filed, it will be investigated by an investigator from the Office of Human Rights, by an investigator from the Office of Human Rights, and the Office of Human Rights will determine, you know, if there's no facts on the case to warrant a discrimination complaint, then the officers will contact the alleged discriminator, whether it be an employer, a real estate officer, whatever to try to get the matter resolved. And if they won't resolve it, then there will be a formal process to file a complaint and it will be evaluated by the commissioner. All right, and we'll issue a decision. And if we determine that there's not a basis for this commission complaint, the complainant still has the right to go to the federal Equal Employment Officer Commission to file a complaint.
Speaker 1:Okay, Now you guys are active all year long, not just June 6th, not just other holidays that recognize the diversity of Montgomery County, maryland. What are some of the upcoming things that the Human Rights Commission would like residents to be aware of in the coming?
Speaker 8:months, right?
Speaker 8:Well, we just last night had the Living Legend Awards, which is an annual event we have coming up in I think it's September, october our annual diversity picnic, which is grown by leaps and bounds from when it was first initiated several years ago. I think the first diversity picnic we had, with maybe 300 people attended. The last one we had, which was not last year because it was a year before that, I think, there were 2,000 people out from all of the various ethnic communities in Montgomery County. It's a huge event, very, very popular event, very successful event. So look out for that. That will be coming and the pass has been in September, maybe a little bit later, but it will be in the fall months.
Speaker 1:Now, what do you want people? How do you want people to reach out to you? There's people that have questions about the Office of Human Rights or about the Human Rights Commission. What's the best way for them to get in touch with you?
Speaker 8:Just, go to the Office of Human Rights. I think you can probably go on the website for the Office of Human Rights and there will be detailed instructions on where to go and how to file a complaint or how to just seek information and guidance from the Office of Human Rights. The record shows has a stamp of investigators that actually investigated the complaints and we process usually around a thousand complaints a year.
Speaker 1:All right.
Speaker 8:Wow, all right.
Speaker 1:Wow, all right. Well, thank you so much for all that you do, thank you for being here today and thank you for helping us understand more about the celebration of Juneteenth.
Speaker 8:All right, thank you for the opportunity. Everyone here, come on out and have a good time. That's right. This is Happily MoCo. Thank you, sir.
Speaker 1:All right, good day, good day. What's happening? Moco? We're still live here at the Black Rock Center and we're talking to Jenny Clark with the Women who Care Ministries, and she has a very important mission. But before we get to that, what are you looking forward to in today's festivities? There's a lot of bands going to perform, there's some dancing, there's all types of cultural activities. There's information being shared. What are you looking forward to here today?
Speaker 6:Yes, thank you for asking and thank you for having me. As always, I'm looking forward to continued inspiration. I'm looking forward to seeing folks that I know that I haven't seen in a while and reconnecting, making commitments to reconnect, to do this journey called life together. But I'm also looking forward to the new friends that I would see as of yourself and forging new friendships. I believe there's no such thing as strangers, only friends we've never met, and so I try to live by that creed in my daily living.
Speaker 1:And what does it mean for you as an African-American in the country? As we celebrate Juneteenth, what does that day hold for you, or what does this day's festivities hold for you?
Speaker 6:It's very significant, and the same way as in Black History Month, that something that should go beyond that month. This is a time, this is a season, where we recognize our heritage, where we're proud of our heritage, where we pass the word to the younger folk that this is something that we need to embrace, this is something we need to be proud of. Recognize theize, the significance of FLEX, our journey from Africa to the present Very significant Wow.
Speaker 1:And you seem to be a woman of several gifts. Yes, and you're using those gifts to help certain people. Yes, tell us more about your ministry. Yes, oh, your ministries and how people can connect and get benefits and resources.
Speaker 6:So again I'm Judy Clark and I am the CEO and founder of Women who Care Ministries. This June we celebrate 23 years of being of service to the community. We primarily fight child and family hunger meaning kids that are going to bed hungry, families that are going to bed hungry. Meaning kids that are going to bed hungry, families that are going to bed hungry. They come to our facility and we provide them with perishable and non-perishable goodies to make sure that, even though they have a food insecure household, that they have enough food to eat. And we also connect with several schools to make sure that these ends are met as well.
Speaker 6:But we also offer preventative and restorative services to women primarily, who have been battered and who are victims of domestic violence. So each year we hold our annual Restore, the Joy Empowerment Conference, which will be November 2024 of this year, sponsored by the city of Rockville and the city of Gaithersburg supports as well. So in addition to that we are very, very fond of, what's near and dear to our heart is helping people overcome substance abuse. You know, opiate addiction, drug addiction, is at an all-time high. So we work with other organizations to help fight substance abuse, one day at a time, letting people know you don't have to live this way. It doesn't matter how you start. All that matters is how you finish.
Speaker 1:Now, if people want to benefit from the services that your ministries provide, how do they reach out to you or how do they contact your staff?
Speaker 6:So we can be reached several ways. We can be reached on our website site at wwwwomenwhocareministriesorg, and they can also call us directly 301-828-6850. This is the number to call to say, hey, I need food for me and my family. I've got a friend, we need food. We will set up an appointment for them to immediately come into our facility and receive our bounty of perishable and non-perishable goodies. They can also call and say, hey, I need counseling or can you refer me? We also refer Anything outside of our services. We're so linked in the county that we'll refer them to other places. We'll refer them to the crisis center.
Speaker 6:We'll refer them to the Department of Housing, just to make sure that every need that they have is met. And that's Women who Care housing just to make sure that every need that they have is met, and that's Women. Who Care Women? Who Care Ministries, ministriesorg, yep, womenwhocareministriesorg.
Speaker 1:Yes, thank you so much for stopping by today.
Speaker 6:Thank you.
Speaker 1:And thank you for all the good work you do all year long. Yes, not just on Juneteenth. Yes but every day, every day, all year long.
Speaker 6:And you can find more information on that on our website as we get closer to November 16. But I want to thank you for doing what you're doing shining the light on the organizations of the people in this county that are committed to making a difference. Women who Care Ministries subtitle is Glorifying God Through Service to others. That's what we do and that's what we're going to do for as long as we are here. Thank you.
Speaker 1:Thank you, all right. Okay, we're still here at the Black Rock Center in Germantown, maryland, and we're here with the Reverend Dr Jace Bates. All right, all right Pleasure to be here and I had to pull him to the side to talk to him because he has the anointing about him, of course, but then he also has the African-centered wardrobe here today. What can you tell us about the garbage you have on today? Okay, what's that significant to you?
Speaker 4:Well, I was blessed by God and the ancestors to return to my ancestral home in Africa, where I met my ancestral family in my ancestral kingdom. It's called the Kingdom of Alada in. Benin, west Africa, and what you see me wearing today was made by my family, the women in my family, the artisans in my family, in my kingdom and in my village, and they represent a royal lineage. This is a banner.
Speaker 4:And the hat, of course, I'm sorry. The crown, of course, has my family symbol on it, as does my banner For people that can't see, because it's a podcast.
Speaker 1:it's a very nice black, purple and silver. It's a kofi kind of a hat.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's really a crown and then there's a what do you want to call that? They call it a sash and it's embroidered with. Is that a panther? It's a panther, it's a diamond eye prince the panther is the symbol of our kingdom. The black panther hold on there's actually a kingdom in Africa, all right, and the panther is a symbol of our kingdom. The Black Panther, hold on. There's actually a kingdom in Africa which the Black Panther is the symbol, wow.
Speaker 4:The women, the kingdom. In that movie, the Woman King is actually my family. Okay, there were three kingdoms. One was Aladai, where I'm from. The other two brothers founded another kingdom called Porta Nova, and then Daome. So I am Daome, okay, wow.
Speaker 1:Incredible, incredible. Now you're in touch with your roots, you're very in touch with your roots, yes, and we're here. You're a resident of Montgomery County, maryland. What does it mean for you, as a pastor, but also as a resident that has connections directly with Africa, to celebrate Juneteenth, which is part of the diaspora of, of course, african-americans, of black people from America?
Speaker 4:Juneteenth, to me, is the culmination of the trials, tribulations and struggles of our ancestors, who came over on the Middle Passage and were able to survive and then thrive and pass on a legacy and lineage and, of course, life to us. So Juneteenth celebrates all of that. It's a day of victory for all African Americans and all people of African descent around the world, because it's a day of victory and celebration in overcoming the hardest of trials and tribulations Slavery, Jim Crow, the Middle Passage, colonialization in Africa and just the general oppression that people of African descent suffer around the world.
Speaker 1:Incredible, incredible. What today are you looking forward to, as someone just attending these festivities here at Germantown?
Speaker 4:Just to feel kinship and love. All right, that's it. That's what this is about.
Speaker 1:Well, I'm hoping much kinship and much love to you today, sir, and all the best to you, reverend Dr Starks. Spates, spates, spates. There we are. Reverend Dr Spates, did you want to share your church home to others if they?
Speaker 4:want to come visit. I'm the director of a new seminary. It's the oldest interfaith seminary in the country. It's operated in New York and Florida.
Speaker 1:Oh wonderful. Thank you, sir, we graduated 4,000 ministers. Oh wow, Congratulations.
Speaker 4:Well, thank you for your service Thank you, sir, all right. Have a great day.
Speaker 1:All right, thanks for listening and please subscribe.