What's Happening MoCo?
An authentic, unscripted update from County Cable Montgomery highlighting items that help residents of Montgomery County. This program features interviews with elected officials, employees, public servants, and residents. It 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?
What's Happening with Friendship at the Friendship Picnic?
As communities across America grapple with tension and uncertainty, Montgomery County's 11th annual Friendship Picnic offers a powerful antidote to division. Nestled under the canopy of trees at Wheaton Regional Park, residents from all walks of life gather to celebrate what connects us rather than what separates us.
"Whatever happens around us here in Montgomery County, we're going to make it work across our various diverse lines, across cultural lines, across religious lines," declares Jim Stowe, Director of the Office of Human Rights and driving force behind the event. His vision of Dr. King's "beloved community" isn't just rhetoric—it's being lived out through food, music, and genuine human connection.
The magic of the picnic lies in its simplicity: "Zero drama, 100% fun, 100% food, 100% music." Children form instant friendships at the reptile petting zoo while adults sample unfamiliar cuisines and engage in conversations that go beyond superficial greetings. County Council members, public safety officials, and department representatives mingle with residents, breaking down barriers between government and the people it serves.
When asked why friendship matters, responses range from the profound to the practical. "Friendship is the family we choose for ourselves," reflects a visitor from New York. "We learn together and we grow together." A young boy offers the simplest truth: "Without friendship we would all be lonely."
In these divided times, the Friendship Picnic stands as a testament to what's possible when we focus on our shared humanity. As County Councilmember Andrew Friedson puts it, the event shows "hope at a time of despair" and demonstrates "what belonging and community really looks like."
Join us next September for this annual tradition that reminds us all: in Montgomery County, we're making community work, one friendship at a time.
I am so glad to see everyone here today. It was more important this year than maybe in any year that we've had thus far.
Speaker 1:Our community is so like every community across this country right now very tense on edge, just really uncertain about tomorrow their safety, just really uncertain about tomorrow, their safety, all those things that have a way of somehow or another dividing our community and making people feel less involved and less included in the well-being of this community. So this year was really important and so I'm so pleased that all of our departments within county government are why this is taking place this year, departments within county government, of why this is taking place this year. They helped pull together the resources, helped to also support financially this important event. And I'm just so, so pleased to be working with the kind of people who are directors of the various departments within county government in Montgomery County and our leader, mark Elridge, and also, obviously, our president of county council, kate Stewart. All their support because it's just critically important that people understand that whatever happens around us here in Montgomery County, we're going to make it work. We're going to make it work across our various diverse lines, across cultural lines, across religious lines. We are going to make this work.
Speaker 1:This thing called again multi-community, multi-cultural community and living in what Dr King said a long time ago was the beloved community. It's not just a myth, it's not just a dream. It can be a reality if we all begin to pull ourselves in ways that have us work together on the problem to in fact confront us. Our differences will always be there. Let's focus on what makes us the community that we are.
Speaker 5:You just heard from the Director of the Office of Human Rights, Jim Stowe, sharing the true meaning of why it's so important to have days like the Friendship Picnic here in Wheaton, Maryland. What to have days like the friendship picnic here in Wheaton, Maryland.
Speaker 6:What Good day and welcome to what's Happening MoCo, an authentic unscripted podcast from your Montgomery County government. Now here's your host, derrick Kenney.
Speaker 5:Jim, tell us a little bit about how long you've been doing the Fincher Picnic and where it's located.
Speaker 1:This is our 11th year We've been here in Wheaton Regional Park, a wonderful park, the Montgomery Park System, who are one of our partners as a matter of fact, our biggest partner is Montgomery Parks and they've been just so helpful in making this happen. And then we've got all of the other partners around who make this thing happen, so helpful in making this happen, and then we got all of the other partners around who make this thing happen, Our recreation department as well, big Big, again a friend of this event as well, and so and could not do any of this, obviously, unless we had in place folks with our OMB Office of Management and Budget, shared Services to make this all happen, and so we're very thankful for all those folks.
Speaker 1:But we're in this park, and the park provides a unique opportunity for all of us to see the beauty of what is and what exists here in our county the beautiful trees and those around to celebrate. But more importantly, I think what it does for us is gives us the kind of canopy to be able to see all this in one place. Yeah, yeah and so no drama, no drama.
Speaker 5:No drama Zero, drama Zero drama 100% fun, 100% food, 100% music, zero drama activities, all kinds of things going on.
Speaker 1:We've got a number of different kinds of foods that people have and take advantage of. We've got cabal food, we have kosher food, We've got again traditional food here as well.
Speaker 1:And so the idea is that try a little bit of that, try things that you are not familiar with, find somebody to have a conversation with and maybe be in a position then to have that person then share something with people maybe you don't know and, by the way, also share with them. And so this is what this is all about Again rides for the children, all that kind of activities for them as well.
Speaker 11:We've got a petting zoo.
Speaker 1:We have a petting zoo that allows them to get up and close in person with animals and so forth, and particularly this petting zoo is a reptile petting zoo. And so folks get a chance to see another side of that as well, and so, again, we're excited to be here, and so I hope folks who have never been here before know that in September we'll always do this event, hopefully going forward, but you need to be here and celebrate with us.
Speaker 5:All right, and it's 12 pm to 5 pm in September every year. That is correct, all right, fantastic, and Jim, we're asking all people here today why is friendship important here today.
Speaker 1:Why is friendship important? For the very reason. I don't know about you, but you may have what? Maybe two or three friends your entire life, yeah, and you have a lot of acquaintances and people that you know and so forth and so on. But friends, when you have a friend, that means that that person is there for you up and down, in and out, good times and bad. And not only is that the case, but you also have a chance to be able to be yourself. With him or her you can truly be who you are because that's your friend. And so the whole concept of the friendship people want to bring that concept to this kind of setting so you can develop the kinds of relationships that allow you to move beyond just a casual hello and a casual goodbye. But remember what happens in between the discussion and the conversation around so many things that affect you and him and her that need to be just talked about and talked about freely. And so friendship means a chance to have that kind of intimate conversation, up close and personal, in safe spaces.
Speaker 5:All right, and that's the friend of Montgomery County, maryland Director Jim Stowe, officer of Human Rights, the key organizer of the Friendship Picnic in Montgomery County, maryland. Thanks, jim, good day. Hope you're having mocha. We're still live at the Montgomery County Friendship Picnic here in Wheaton, maryland, and we were joined by Council Member Will Jawando. Council Vice President Will Jawando. How are you today, sir? I'm doing great. It's good to be out, here We've got great weather.
Speaker 5:It's fantastic weather, and that's not the subject today. The subject today, the question I want to ask you, is why is this Friendship Picnic significant? The question I want to ask you is.
Speaker 12:Why is this friendship picnic significant? Well, right now more than ever and this is obviously an annual tradition for us here we need to be highlighting what binds us together, not what pulls us apart, and there's so much division right now. You know, I just came from church service with my family and one of the reminders was that when you peel back our skin and everything else, we're all the same and we're called whatever your faith tradition where you have none at all to take care of one another and to be in connection with one another, and that starts with friendship. That's the basis of any relationship and we need to remind ourselves about that, especially when there's people at all levels of government and across our country who are trying to pull us apart. Friendship is really kind of the base building block caring about your neighbor and trying to help them achieve what they want to achieve in their lives.
Speaker 5:Wonderful, wonderful. What are some of the things that you find the most compelling about today's activities?
Speaker 12:Well, I love, I love the kids, I love all the kids that are out here. You know you can, you can literally, if you look over there, like you can see these kids being friends or making friends or becoming friends fast friends, yeah, you know, and uh, that's one of the beautiful things about children is that they you know they'll meet someone first time.
Speaker 12:They're like my best friend, you know, yeah I have a six-year-old and we need to remember that and uh, so I I love. And then, obviously, the resources. Part of friendship, too, is like caring for people. So you've got all these community resources, including government resources, to make sure we help our friends with what they need, and a lot of people are struggling right now, and that's an important part of friendship too.
Speaker 5:All right, wonderful. Is there anything else you like to leave with the people that may be listening, any type of resources or URLs that people might be able to connect directly with you?
Speaker 12:Absolutely. Yeah, I'm an at-large council member. I'd like to help everybody. You can go to Montgomery County MD dot gov and then click on County Council and Will Jawando, or you can just Google Will Jawando, j-a-w-a-n-d-o and all my information and emails will come up. Happy to be of assistance to folks. And happy friendship day.
Speaker 5:All right, and thanks for stopping by today. And that's what's happening in MoCo. All right, thanks, man. All right, thank you, all right, good day. Good day, welcome to what's happening in MoCo. We're still live at the Montgomery County Friendship Picnic in Wheaton, maryland, and we are joined by Councilmember Andrew Friedson. How are you today, sir?
Speaker 2:I am doing great.
Speaker 5:All right, all right. We've been talking quite a bit today with residents and officials and others about the importance of the Friendship Picnic. Why do you find it important that we have events like the Friendship Picnic?
Speaker 2:Well, I don't think there is a better example of how our community comes together, how we celebrate the breadth of our diversity in Montgomery County, than the Friendship Picnic. It is always an amazing opportunity for all of our community-based partners to come together, for our community to come together to be a light at a time of darkness, to show hope at a time of despair, to make sure that we have a place to channel what belonging and what community really looks like and can be. That's who we are in Montgomery County, and we need to provide venues and opportunities to do that, now more than ever all right, and one question, one last question for you.
Speaker 5:We've been asking all the residents and all the guests today why is friendship important. Why is friendship important?
Speaker 2:Well, friendship is about coming together. It's about understanding differences, appreciating one another for who you are, for who we are, and friendship is really at the heart of what community is. Community is really hard to define, but you know it when you see it, you can feel it when you're in it, and that's really what friendship is about as well. We don't have to be each other, but we need to understand each other, we need to become friends with one another, and that's what the friendship picnic, to me, is all about.
Speaker 5:Hey, well, thank you so much, Councilman McRee, for being here today. We look forward to great things as this council continues to gear up for this next fiscal year.
Speaker 2:Take care Absolutely. Let's celebrate who we are in Montgomery County and live our values out loud. Thanks so much.
Speaker 5:All right, thank you. Good day, welcome to what's Happening in MoCo. We're still here live at the Montgomery County Friendship Picnic, and we are joined by none other than Council Member Sidney Katz, who's also the chair of the Public Safety Committee. And why is it, first of all, how?
Speaker 14:are you today, sir? We're doing fine and, thank goodness, the weather is fine and it looks like everybody who's here is doing just fine, thank goodness, Indeed indeed.
Speaker 5:What is significant about today's event? What's significant about the Friendship Picnic for Montgomery County?
Speaker 14:You know I was just talking to. I saw some friends just now and we were chatting about the same topic Montgomery County. You know I was just talking to. I saw some friends just now and we were chatting about the same topic. Montgomery County is so very, very fortunate in so many ways. We are truly blessed and friendship is an important part of that. I've always said that a community is a family and we need to make certain that our family and at times, families have discussions, but we always have to remain friends.
Speaker 14:We always have to appreciate each other's viewpoints and to and to discuss things in a in a, in a, in a right manner. And, of course, this country is going through some terrible times. We need to make certain that friendship is the most important thing that we do.
Speaker 5:Wonderful, wonderful. I think you really hit the nail on the head there and I know you don't have a lot of time left, but it's very important to people in Montgomery County want to know what is Council Member Katz having for lunch today.
Speaker 14:What am I having for lunch today? Well, I haven't even thought about that, and of course, my wife, if she's listening. I'm having nothing but healthy things. I'm not going to have any ice cream, but for those of you who might know me know that that might not be correct.
Speaker 5:There you are. Well, thank you, sir, for stopping by today. A great piece of stuff, thanks, it's always good seeing you. All right, thank you, take care, good day, welcome to what's Up, mimoco, we are still live at the Montgomery County Friendship Picnic. We are talking to County Public Safety Fire Rescue Chief Smedley. How are you today, sir?
Speaker 10:I'm doing well. Thank you for asking.
Speaker 5:All right, Thank you for being here. And one thing I'm asking our officials, you included why is this friendship picnic important for the residents of the county or the county as a whole?
Speaker 10:Well, you know, anytime you can get into the community and build a bond and a relationship with the community before the community resources are needed. It's imperative. It's imperative. We want to know them and we want them to know us, so that we can understand what their needs are and make sure that we're meeting those needs based off our mission.
Speaker 5:Wonderful, wonderful. And one thing I've been asking well before. I ask that I want to make sure that everyone knows if they listen to the podcast, they know you, of course, already of what you represent or who you command as fire and rescue chief and what some of the things are that you provide services for residents of county?
Speaker 10:yeah, thank you for asking that. So your montgomery county fire and rescue service is one of the largest combination system fire systems in in the united states. We are consisted of not only our paid firefighters and paramedics, but also volunteer firefighters and paramedics, along with a support staff of civilians, so we're just under 3,000 strong. We have 37 fire stations community-based fire stations and we have 19 local fire and rescue departments embedded into that department. So a lot of what we do is traditional to the fire service. We respond to emergency calls. That could be anything from accidents on the roadway to fires, rescues, and the majority of what we do is emergency medical services response. What we do is emergency medical services response.
Speaker 5:And one thing I'm asking everyone today our residents, children, our moms, dads, public officials why is friendship important?
Speaker 10:Yeah, so you know, we in Montgomery County have a very diverse community Just shy of 1.1 million people, and we all come with different needs, desires and wants and we just really want to. Friendship is one of those diverse communities, very diverse, and we want to make sure that we are understanding the culture and, again, just making sure that we're able to have a conversation with them and build a relationship so we can help each other and keep them safe in their living space.
Speaker 5:Fantastic. Well, thank you for talking about today. Hope you have a chance to actually get out and enjoy the diverse food and music and activities here for family and friends alike. Thank you for having me All right. Thank you All right, good day. Welcome to what's Happening, moco. We are still here live at the Montgomery County Friendship Picnic, and we are with none other than Jodi Finkelstein of the Montgomery County Commission for Women. How are you today, ma'am?
Speaker 16:So happy to be here at the 11th Annual Friendship Picnic.
Speaker 5:All right, all right. Thanks for having you. Thanks for being here today and for some people that are as familiar with the Montgomery County Commission for Women, what is the Montgomery County Commission for Women and why is it important for our residents to be aware?
Speaker 16:Great question. Thank you so much. The Montgomery County Commission for Women was formed by charter in Montgomery County in 1972 in order to ensure equal rights for women and girls on the local, state and national level and of support their families. Of course, we support women and their families through three ways information and referral, advocacy, and a lot of education and outreach.
Speaker 5:Fantastic, fantastic. And since we're here at the Friendship Picnic today, why is the Friendship Picnic important and why the Friendship Picnic important and why is friendship?
Speaker 16:important. Oh, what a great question. Friendship is so important on so many levels and in particular now in this environment that we have In America. There seems to be so much polarization based on what you believe or how you look, and I think that the Office of Human Rights and the Committee on Hate Violence tries to bring people together.
Speaker 16:And that's why this friendship is so important, because it brings people together from a variety of different backgrounds, ages, races, religions, and that's what community is all about it's being able to get to somebody that you don't know, to not only build a friendship, but help bring together differences.
Speaker 5:Wonderful, wonderful. Thank you so much for stopping by today. And what are you looking forward to today in terms of food? There are all these nice food places to have. Have you even thought about it?
Speaker 16:Well, now that you said that I am smelling everything from barbecue to vegetarian items, I'm looking forward to everything. Sometimes, my eyes are bigger than my stomach.
Speaker 5:Right, Same here. Same here, except my stomach is way bigger than my eyes. And that's what's happening, MoCo. Thank you, Jodi.
Speaker 16:Thank you.
Speaker 5:Good day and welcome to what's HappeningCo. We are still here live from the Montgomery County Friendship Picnic in Wheaton, Maryland, and we have the sheriff, the county sheriff.
Speaker 11:That's correct.
Speaker 5:Maxwell Wee. That's correct, maxwell Wee. How are you today, sir? I'm doing well, thank you, all right, what can you tell us about being county sheriff that you'd like most residents to know?
Speaker 11:Oh, absolutely Well. First off, thanks for the question, Thanks for being out here today. It's beautiful weather, so many of our residents don't exactly know what the sheriff's office does, but we're actually the oldest law enforcement agency in Montgomery County and today we're the law enforcement arm of the court system. So everything we do has some connection to the court system ensuring that our court staff and our circuit court is safe. We actually also help run our Family Justice Center.
Speaker 5:Oh, wow, okay, All right, now you're here at the Friendship Picnic. Why is the Friendship Picnic and other community gatherings like this important?
Speaker 11:So it's incredibly important. You know, over the years we're five plus years outside the pandemic there was a lot that occurred with police accountability and it's very important for me as our sheriff to ensure we're connecting with our community, we're letting folks know that we're here to serve them, especially in some of our confusing times we're seeing today.
Speaker 5:Wow, thank you. And I'm asking everyone I talk to today why is friendship important?
Speaker 11:Well, by definition, we're all in this. Together we're a community yeah and I will tell you. Um, I've been working for the sheriff's office. I'm in my 32nd year and I've been a huge supporter of this event, in particular over the last several years, and I really want all of our residents to know we're all part of a greater community wonderful, wonderful.
Speaker 5:Thank you for the service of yourself and your fellow officers of the Serve and Protect the County. One last thing before you go what are some of the numbers that you'd like people to use in the county when it's not an emergency? We know about 911, but there's other ways to reach out to the Sheriff's Office when you need help, but it's not as urgent as an emergency emergency.
Speaker 11:That's correct. That's correct. So again, as you stated, most people know 9-1-1, but the non-emergency line to our county police partners is 301-279-8000. So if they have a police matter that's not critical or an emergency, that's the best number to call. If they have any questions for the Sheriff's Office, they can always call 240-777-7000 and they'll be able to reach one of our team members.
Speaker 5:Hey, well, thank you, Sheriff Wee, for being here today and thank you for serving our county.
Speaker 9:Absolutely have a great day down.
Speaker 5:You as well. Okay, thank you, good day and welcome back to what's Happening. Moco, we're still recording live at Montgomery County's Friendship Picnic and we're joined by Bishop Paul Walker, who is the chair of the Police Accountability Board. Welcome to the podcast and welcome to this great event today. It's a beautiful day.
Speaker 18:Awesome. It is such a beautiful day, so much excitement in the air and love and camaraderie I mean it's exciting out here right All the good food.
Speaker 5:Right, right, yeah, and one of the things I always like to try to help people do is understand what some of the resources in the county or some of the actions or activities that are happening behind the scenes to help benefit residents. So let's talk about the Police Accountability Board and what's its function and why residents should be aware of it.
Speaker 18:One of the main functions, of course, with the Police Accountability Board. Of course it's a group of citizens that sit on the board and basically we have been mandated by the state and through the county to work in partnership and camaraderie with all of the LEAs here in Montgomery County to an effort where we are pushing toward, of course, better communications and understanding between the police department and the citizens of Montgomery County. One of the things that we do is we hear complaints, unfortunately, of misconduct with the police and we take those cases and we move those complaints and we move them up to the Administrative Charging Committee. That committee then, of course, reviews the cases that have been searched by the Internal Affairs Department. They do all of the investigations.
Speaker 18:They review those cases, recommend whether or not how we move forward with any type of administration charge. So the Police Accountability Board is a board that reaches out to the community. That's about having the community know and understand that there is a place that they can come and that there is a place that is can come and that there is a place that is set up to be a voice for the community in reference to policing. Now, it's not all the time negative issues. Sometimes there's a lot of celebratory issues.
Speaker 18:There's a lot of good things going on in the police department in the outreach community, and they call it the engagement community department. We reach out with them, as well as some of the other people that you see here, even set up with the table that we reach out to and communicate with Wonderful, wonderful.
Speaker 5:Thank you for sharing that information. And now let's share a little bit of good other information as well about this picnic. What do you like the most about this friendship picnic? That is an annual picnic.
Speaker 18:that's happened every year for the last 13 years or so, except for the year of COVID and one other year. Listen, you know we I have a nonprofit organization outside of the PAB. My nonprofit organization focuses on food insecurity, clothing and healthcare. So we've actually been, and my wife was the former president of the Friends who's out there crowd waving us wife was the former president of the Friends. She was the former president of the Friends group, which is a part of the Human Rights Department, so we've been here, for the last, I say, five years.
Speaker 18:We usually have a tent set up and so we come here. The energy is always high. The work that is done here, with just the camaraderie again and the love that you feel here, is exciting. Of course. Director Jim Stowe and his team do a great job with putting this together.
Speaker 5:All right, Hashtag power couple for the bishop and his wife. What can I ask you in terms of friendship? Why is friendship important? I'm asking everyone here today. Why is friendship important? I'm asking everyone here today. Why is friendship here?
Speaker 18:important. You know you can't have fellowship without friendship and I know you asked me earlier behind the scene not to give you the semi-circle I mean not in terms of quality but in terms of length so I give you the short version of it Okay. But you know you can't have fellowship and partnership with good friendship, right? I think friendship opens you up to honesty, purity, transparency and organicness.
Speaker 18:And if we're going to be friends. I think it sets a tone and an atmosphere that says there's an element of trust, atmosphere that says there's an element of trust and if that element of trust is there, then there's nothing we can't do together as a team. You know, because we do know that there's a writing that says two is always better than one.
Speaker 5:Oh yeah, all right. Well, thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your wisdom with us today. Appreciate it, sir. Thank you, sir. Thanks, Bishop. Good day, welcome to what's Happening, moco, we are still live at the Montgomery County Friendship Picnic, and it wouldn't be a friendship picnic without your good friends from the Office of Consumer Protection, michelle Escobar. Michelle Escobar, michelle Escobar, and she's the host of a podcast called Consumer Connection. All right, all right, tell us a little bit about your podcast and where can people hear it.
Speaker 20:So our podcast is on every other month. We have one coming up in October and people can hear it on our website. People can get connected on Spotify, just where you hear your different podcasts. It's about consumer. We want to educate, inform and empower people to take action when they have a consumer issue and we want to just get important information out there for them.
Speaker 5:And this is an era of scams, and this is an era of scams. It's significant because scams have now become an option for some of the ill doers of society, as terms of bad jobs, to do. How are you guys empowering people? What are some of the topics that you've covered? That helps people prepare for scams?
Speaker 20:Yeah, so we're always giving tips. We have done shows on the bar scam scams Bitcoins, I'm sorry, gold bar scams.
Speaker 5:Gold bar scams okay.
Speaker 20:Bitcoins, financial. Be wise with your finances.
Speaker 3:Be wise with your finances.
Speaker 20:So that is important for us, because scams are so out there. Now with the technology, people are getting texts. Don't click on any of those links that are being sent to you. Be, careful what information you're giving out. So we've done a variety of shows but those tips are very important for everyone. And we're talking about friendship today. We're talking about keeping each other, holding each other up and helping each other out, because sometimes people, when they're being scammed, they're in a vulnerable state and they feel cheated, and so we want to hold our people up and say our county up and say hey, you have help.
Speaker 20:We want you to have this information, and if you have information, then you feel empowered to take action.
Speaker 5:Right, fantastic, fantastic. And now we're asking everyone today, not only our good friends from Consumer Protection, but every resident we talk to today, why is friendship important?
Speaker 20:friendship important. Yeah, it's important because, because we're a community and and community we count on each other for information, we count on each other for support, and that's one thing that we, as consumer protection, as the office of consumer protection, we want to be out here for the community, for our friends. We want people to know that they have someone they can trust to come in and talk to and say, hey, something's going on with me, because that's what friends are for. Something's going on with me and I need help. Can you help me?
Speaker 5:Wow, that's what friends are for. That's right, all right, so you heard it live here from the Friendship Picnic. Thank you, chelle, so much for stopping by. Thank you for all that you do, and could you drop, uh, what is your um your website address and what's your handle on social?
Speaker 20:britney at mcg ocp.
Speaker 5:There you go mcg at mcg ocp. Find them on instagram. They have a great instagram account and facebook and all those things. Thank you for all that you're doing to help protect us from scams and other ill-doers out there trying to take advantage of the residents, the fine residents of Montgomery County, maryland. Yes, thank you so much. All right, take care. All right, all right, good day, welcome to what's Happening. Moco, we are here at the Friendship Picnic in Wheaton, maryland, and we are talking to none other than the.
Speaker 4:Lantisha Colvin.
Speaker 5:With the Office of Human Rights.
Speaker 4:Yes.
Speaker 5:And what is it that you do with the Office of Human Rights?
Speaker 4:I'm a human rights investigator.
Speaker 5:All right, and you guys are one of the key organizers of this event today. What?
Speaker 4:is important about friendship or this friendship picnic. What's important to me about friendship? I think it's just love and loyalty having someone to depend on and be there for you when you need them.
Speaker 5:Wonderful, wonderful and, from the perspective of the Office of Human Rights, why are you guys hosting this picnic this year and I guess, in the past years?
Speaker 4:To bring the community together and let them know that you know we're here for each other and if they need something, we have them.
Speaker 5:Fantastic. And lastly, if someone has a human rights concern, how do they get in touch with you guys?
Speaker 4:They can come into our office. We're located at 21 Merlin Avenue, rockville, merlin, 20850, suite 330. We're right above the Rockville Library.
Speaker 5:Fantastic. Thank you for taking time to talk to me today all right, all right you too. Thank you, good day and welcome to what's happening, moco. We are here at the Montgomery County Friendship Picnic, wheaton, maryland, and we are sitting with Chris from 311, a part of the county's technology enterprise business solutions department. Chris, how are you today, sir? I'm doing well. Thank you, derek. All right, what is 311? What is MC311?
Speaker 19:Sure, to make it very simple for everyone, 311 is a simple, easy, accessible way for persons here in Montgomery County to get access to Montgomery County government services. All right.
Speaker 5:All right. And why is it important that you are here today at the Friendship Picnic?
Speaker 19:To help fulfill that mission that I just stated, and to do it in person so people can understand.
Speaker 5:not only is 311 something you can reach via the phone, online, but also in person All right and what are some of the best practices that you want residents to be aware of when they call 311?
Speaker 19:First is for everyone to understand that our agents are friendly, professional and are here to help you, and so when you call 311, they're going to guide you through those services, they're going to help you understand what it is the county can provide for you and also they're going to help you meet your expectations.
Speaker 5:All right, all right. And now one last thing, specific to this friendship picnic. What is important about friendship? That we have this friendship picnic, what is important about friendship?
Speaker 19:The main thing I would say that is important about friendship is building trust. It's people understanding that friendship and their services that they're being offered by the county. It's all about trust. Persons have to know that they can trust that the county is hearing them and we're here to help them meet their needs.
Speaker 5:All right, chris. Well, thank you for being here today. Look forward to talking to you more in the near future. Thank you, Derek, appreciate it All right. All right, all right, now forward to talking to you more in the near future. Thank you, derek, appreciate it All right. All right, now we are talking to. What's your name, young man? Abraham, abraham. Abraham, do you know what a friend is? Yeah, yeah, why is it important? Why are friends important? Because, it's okay.
Speaker 13:Because friends can help you. That's right, because friends can help you.
Speaker 5:That's right, friends can help you. That's a great answer, abraham. And what else can friends do?
Speaker 13:Play with you.
Speaker 5:That's right, friends can play with you. Thank you so much. Alright, good day. Welcome to Los Angeles, mimoco. We're still here in Wheaton, maryland, at the Friendship Picnic and we're talking to Stephanie, who is from Wheaton, maryland. Stephanie, how are you today? Good Doing good so far. All right, Stephanie. We're here at the Friendship Picnic and we're asking residents one question why is friendship important?
Speaker 7:I feel like the most important aspect is just being there for each other and having those moments of fun, but then also being able to, like, share the sad moments. You're not always by yourself.
Speaker 5:Yeah, all right, all right. And what do you think about the picnic? You having a good time. What do you like most about the picnic this year?
Speaker 7:Honestly, the weather, like the weather, feels really good right now. And then there's a lot like I'm talking new people and doing this is kind of like a little bit of a push, so I like it.
Speaker 5:All right, fantastic. Well, thank you for talking to us today and have a great day, thank you. All right, thanks, good day. Welcome to what's Happening, moco. We are here at the Friendship Picnic and we're talking to Patricia Arnold from Only Maryland. How are you? Patricia, I'm very good, thank you, I'm glad to be here, thank you, thank you, all right, all right, it's a beautiful day here today, and what are you looking forward to at the Friendship Picnic?
Speaker 15:To get to meet some of the community. You know the people, their culture, you know just to get involved more with the community and, you know, maybe somehow assist them in a way.
Speaker 5:Wow, wonderful, wonderful. And we're asking all residents today one question, and that question is why is friendship important?
Speaker 15:Because you can be of assistance to the people, you can make more friends, you can look out for the community, help you know, input your ideas on it to make it better, that sort of thing.
Speaker 5:Wonderful, wonderful Well. Thank you for stopping by and talking to me today. Greatly appreciate it. Thank you, all right, good day. We're back with Liz from Silver Spring. Wonderful Well, thank you for stopping by and talking to me today. Greatly appreciate it. Thank you All right, good day. We're back with Liz from.
Speaker 21:Silver Spring, maryland. Liz, how are you today? I'm doing really great, all right, All right.
Speaker 5:Move up just a little bit to the microphone. All right, sure, thank you so much. Don't be afraid of it, it will not bite you. I've already gave it a hard talking to when it knows better. All right, how do you enjoy the picnic today? Thus far, Really wonderful.
Speaker 22:I talked to someone from the Office of Human Rights and some of the initiatives they do Really vibes with what I'm all about All right, Very cool, Cool.
Speaker 5:We say that's what you're all about. What are some of the things that you're?
Speaker 22:you know that you find Making sure that everyone has a safe space to be themselves, and celebrating differences as opposed to seeing it as something that divides us.
Speaker 5:Yeah, fantastic, yeah, all right, and one question we're asking all residents today is one question.
Speaker 22:Why is friendship important? Especially nowadays where, in my opinion, this is the most polarized we've been as a nation, it's so important to have a great network and community of support, have a great network and community of support. So friendship is so important in terms of making sure that we're all safe to share our ideas, our feelings, our thoughts, even in our darkest spaces, unapologetically.
Speaker 22:There's so much pressure to be this way or do this something by you know, whatever age you are, or even pressures that we internalize in terms of what you look like what gender you are you know what sexual orientation you are, that you need to be a certain way. So friends, true friends, are the ones who show up for you and can not only actively listen, but empathize and put themselves in your shoes to even just be there, you know, not just when you need the most, but to be that, um, that sounding board Right.
Speaker 5:Wonderful. Well, thank you so much for your time. Let's stop by the what's Happening? Moco podcast.
Speaker 23:Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 5:Good day. Welcome to what's Happening, moco. We're still here at the Montgomery County Friendship Picnic and we're here with another of our young friends, adrian from Germantown, maryland.
Speaker 13:Friendship is important because you can trust people and the people who you trust, you can really get along with them.
Speaker 5:All right, thank you, adrian from Germantown, maryland. He just told us why friendship is important. Live at the Montgomery County Friendship Picnic High five, buddy. All right, thank you. Good job, good job, good day. Welcome to what's Happening, moco. We're still here live at the Friendship Picnic. We're here with our good friend, ashley from Clarksburg, maryland, and she's with ReadyCare. How are you today, ashley? I'm good, and you? I'm pretty good. I'm pretty good. What do you like so far? What's the thing you like the most about ReadyCare?
Speaker 21:So what I like the most about ReadyCare is that we're able to come out to events like these and provide free vaccinations. Today, we're offering free flu shots.
Speaker 5:Oh wow, Free flu shots.
Speaker 21:Get yours if you haven't got it.
Speaker 5:I want to say for the record people that listen to the podcast we love free, we love free resources, we love free 99 without the 99. So that's great. Yeah, it's just free. No 99, all right, no 99, okay. And that is that only for the friendship picnic or there are other times and opportunities that people can get a free vaccination for the flu shot so we work in partnership with black physicians and health care network.
Speaker 21:We're independent business, but with them we come to a lot of free events that they host.
Speaker 5:Okay.
Speaker 21:They offer different clinics around the county where they do vision screenings, hearing screenings, they give glasses and at those events we do COVID and flu vaccinations and sometimes blood pressure checks.
Speaker 5:Oh wow, all for free, all for free. That's wonderful. That's wonderful that you're here today. So you're here today supporting, in partnership with the Black Physicians and Healthcare Network and providing free, free, free, free resources to county residents. And I've seen that table being quite busy, so people are getting. How have you been doing over there?
Speaker 21:Yeah, I think we're up to about 50 flu shots today 50 free flu shots today, wow. Okay, six months and older.
Speaker 5:All right, that's wonderful, wonderful, all right. So my my next question is this have you had an opportunity to have any fun here at the Franchard Picnic?
Speaker 21:I got some good food.
Speaker 5:All right, what'd you have?
Speaker 21:Jersey, mike's.
Speaker 5:Jersey Mike's. Congrats to Jersey Mike's for being here today as a vendor. I had a nice tuna fish sandwich from Jersey Mike's. It was delicious Me too. Oh, you did, okay, great, all right. All right, it was pretty good, all right. Now there's one question I've been asking everyone today okay, without a doubt, everyone. Why is friendship important?
Speaker 21:friendship is vital to your health and well-being. Right we all need friends, yeah friends can make life great, sometimes not so great, but those aren't friends, right. But I think friends and the meaning of this picnic and friendship is fellowship, love and finding common ground to enjoy each other.
Speaker 5:Fantastic. Thank you, what a wonderful answer, and thank you to you and ReadyCare and the Black Physicians and Healthcare Network for being here and supporting us today. Thank you.
Speaker 21:Thanks for having us.
Speaker 5:All right. Take care. Wonderful Uh-oh. Good day, welcome. Uh-oh, what is this? That is Good day. Welcome to what's Happening, moco, we are still here, live at Montgomery County Friendship Pickpick in Wheaton, maryland, wheaton Regional Park, and we're here with my good friend, tony from Rockville, maryland. He's with the Committee Against Hate and Violence. Tony, how are you today, sir Good? You today, sir, good, good. All right, tony told you your name's not just tony, you have a longer name. You want to?
Speaker 9:share your official title and your name with the organization? Yeah, absolutely love to. Um. My name is tony chia. I'm with the committee against hate and violence. I'm one of the voting members. I'm in this committee. We are mostly volunteers and we work together to advise the county on different hate crime related tasks. We obviously have this wonderful friendship picnic, which is our flagship event, but thank you for being here and supporting all right and thank well.
Speaker 5:It's been a pleasure being here today and we've had so much fun engaging with different people residents, officials, elected officials and people that serve the residents of the county. But also we had a chance to have a great sandwich, you know, for free. We had opportunity, we were offered free vaccination, so there's a lot of resources and fun here to be had for everyone everyone today and thank you for all the good work that you've done in the Office of Human Rights to make sure that we had the day this year, and this's the 11th annual Friendship Picnic. Why is it important that we have this Friendship Picnic today?
Speaker 9:Well, aside from the food that you know, obviously, we all love food, that's right and it was really important for us to have it this year, because it's been a year of turbulence, a lot of things happening throughout the US and in the county and we just want to get people together enjoy good food. Obviously, we have a lot of different partners coming here to provide different services. Like you mentioned, you can get a flu shot here. You can meet people, different people from the county, from the police, from the health department, from everywhere.
Speaker 5:That's wonderful.
Speaker 9:Yeah, that's why we're here.
Speaker 5:All right, and there's one question I've been asking everyone today, regardless of what they do or how they're affiliated with the picnic why is friendship important?
Speaker 9:Tough question. I mean, it's important because we live in a community together and, at the end of the day, we are part of the neighborhood, we are part of this community and friendship is what brings us together. So that's why we have this picnic.
Speaker 5:Wonderful. Well, tony, thank you for being here today and thank you for all you did to help make this picnic happen. Have a great day, thank you, all right, all right, good day and welcome to what's Happening, moco. We are back live from the Montgomery County Friendship Picnic and we're talking to Trina from Burtonsville and we're asking her the one question, the only question that matters today why is friendship important?
Speaker 24:Friendship is important because it builds trust and loyalty, and it's always good knowing that you have someone in your corner through thick and thin. That's why friendship is important.
Speaker 5:Fantastic. Thank you so much for your time. Really appreciate you being here today. Trina, trina, trina, 3, 2, 1, good day. We're back with what's Happening, moco, and we're here talking to Young Angel from Silver Spring, maryland, and we're asking him the same question we're asking everyone today why is friendship important?
Speaker 13:Friendship is important because without friendship we would all be lonely, and it's something good to have friends and friendship is very nice and we all need friendship Fantastic, fantastic.
Speaker 5:And why are friends important?
Speaker 13:Friends are important because they help you not be lonely, and they always help you.
Speaker 5:Fantastic. Thank you for your time today. Really appreciate it. All right, good day and we're still live. We're still recording live at the Friendship Picnic in Wheaton, maryland, and we have the pleasure of sitting with Valerie Moore from Bethesda, maryland, and she's going to answer our question of the day, which is why is friendship important?
Speaker 13:Because it shows love and respect and kindness.
Speaker 23:As everyone can hear, I have cohorts here, I have a team here. Hi Hi Hi. Mom, this is David. I speak to my, but they're actually three friends. They're almost like they're brother friends, but they really exemplify why ship is important. It gives us opportunity to show the importance of love and kindness. Right, we get to celebrate the ways in which we're all more alike than we are different, and we get to practice why our differences are also important to helping us grow, learn and evolve as people.
Speaker 5:Fantastic, great answer. Thank you so much. Are you guys having fun at the picnic today?
Speaker 23:We are having an amazing time and it's great. We're excited. We came last year. We were excited to see they were doing it again this year. As you can hear behind me, the kiddos are chomping at the bit. They've already planned what they're gonna do today. We're already looking for the ice cream tickets. So, yeah, we're excited.
Speaker 5:Thank you so much for stopping by today.
Speaker 23:Thank you, take care, good day.
Speaker 5:Welcome to what's Happening, MoCo. And today we are asking residents at the Montgomery County Friendship Picnic one question, one question only. Well, in some cases an additional question why is friendship important? Why is friendship important?
Speaker 3:Friendship is important to me because sometimes friends become, get in a bind and when they're in a bind they need people around them to support them and to lift them. Some people don't have that and some people don't have family to do that for them either. But sometimes friendships there are friendships that are not that great for you. They will bring you down because some people are miserable and miserable people love company. So you got to be careful with friendship. But when you do find someone who is really close to you, who lifts you, keep that friendship. Those are the ones that are good for you fantastic, okay.
Speaker 5:Well, thank you so much for your time. Appreciate you all, right. Jasmine from wheaton, mary. Well, thank you so much for your time. Appreciate you All, right. Jasmine from Wheaton Maryland. Thank you All right. Good day, welcome to Something Loco, and today we are asking residents one question, and we're here with Jose from Silver Spring, maryland. Jose, how are you today, sir?
Speaker 17:I'm doing well. Thank you very much for asking.
Speaker 5:All right, Jose. Why is friendship important?
Speaker 17:All right, Jose. Why is friendship important? Friendship is important because it helps people stay united and also, the more friends we have, the more protected we have in the event of any things going on going wrong, and we always have somebody to help us. Always be in groups and less bad things can happen to you when you're in a group with your friends.
Speaker 5:Fantastic. Thank you so much for your time, sir. Thank you Actually. I want to ask you one more question what do you think about the picnic this year? What's your favorite thing about the picnic this year?
Speaker 17:Meeting the protection officers, meeting the people around you, getting a chance to talk to them and see their personal views and everything.
Speaker 5:All right, fantastic. Well, thank you for talking about sir. I appreciate it. Thank you, that's Quotation, wheaton. Thank you, all right, good day. Welcome to what's Happening, moco. This is Derek Kinney. Here live at the Montgomery County Friendship Picnic in Wheaton, maryland, and we're talking to Daniel. Daniel's visiting us from New York City. New York City. How do you like Montgomery County so far, sir?
Speaker 8:It's beautiful. I went for a walk this morning. It's a gorgeous place, wonderful community. I'm really happy to be here.
Speaker 5:All right, all right, and so I have one question for you, one question only why is friendship important?
Speaker 8:Friendship is everything. Friendship is the family we choose for ourselves. Friendship is a key way we express and learn in the world. We learn together and we grow together, and friendship is the link that allows us to do that.
Speaker 5:Wonderful Well, thank you so much for stopping by today, and we greatly appreciate your answer. My pleasure, have a great day. Thanks for listening to. What's.
Speaker 6:Happening MoCo. Please greatly appreciate your answer. My pleasure. Have a great day.