What's Happening MoCo?

What's Happening With MoCoRec's Dir and a Look Back at Juneteenth

• Derrick Kenny • Season 13 • Episode 122

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In this episode we talk with Montgomery County Department of Recreation Director Gabe Albornoz about summer fun offerings from Montgomery County Recreation including what's new at recreation centers and aquatic centers. He also shares why he returned to lead the recreation department.

Then the energy shifts to a look back to the Juneteenth Celebration at BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown, Maryland. We spoke with a bassist that performed on the main stage, as well as, residents who shared what they like about the celebration and the importance of Juneteenth. 

Transcript

Welcome To What’s Happening Moco

Derrick Kenny

It's head outside, gives them some education, and there's plenty of things to do in Montgomery County, Maryland. Up next, we talk to Montgomery County Department of Recreation Director, Gabe Albernaz.

Announcer

Good day, and welcome to What's Happening Moco, an authentic, unscripted podcast from your Montgomery County government. Now, here's your host, Derek Kenney.

Why Gabe Returns To Recreation

Derrick Kenny

Good day, and welcome to What's Happening Moco. In today's episode, we talk to Director of the Department of Recreation, Gabe Albernaz. Gabe is a lifelong resident of Montgomery County, Maryland. He's a former council member, and most importantly, his most important role, he's a dad.

unknown

Yes.

Derrick Kenny

So welcome, Gabe. Can we call you Gabe? Yes, of course. It's a pleasure to be on. I could call him Gabe. You guys call him Director Albanaz. So last year, after seven years in the council, you decided to transition from being council member to director Albanaz, something very familiar to you. Why'd you change over from being a council member to director of recreation?

SPEAKER_01

Well, I appreciate that question. So it was a tough decision because when I decided I was not going to run for re-election, I looked out there and tried to see what other opportunities may become available. And around that same time, uh former director of recreation Robin Riley announced a retirement. Oh, wow. And sort of I had an epiphany when I heard that noise. And as I reflected upon it, the 12 years I served as director of the rec department in the legged administration was really the best job I've ever had. I love the work, I love the people, and it's so near and dear to my heart. And I knew that I wanted to stay in the public service space, even though I wasn't going to move forward as an elected official. And so it just checked all the most important boxes. And uh I'm thrilled to be back. Uh, it's been a lot of fun, and it's just a great place to work in a wonderful department.

Derrick Kenny

Well, it was great having you back uh as director. You were actually one, I think the youngest director when you first served.

SPEAKER_01

I was. I was 29 when I was initially. 29 to the job in 2007. Okay. And uh served in the legged administration all 12 years, all three terms, and went through a lot. Uh, we had, of course, all of the challenges with the budgets and uh a lot of other challenges that arose, but uh, we built a lot of fantastic programs and were able to build a number of facilities on the county executive's watch at the time. So it was a great experience all the way around.

Derrick Kenny

Well, a round of applause for you in your first term, and of course, a round of applause for Robin Riley. She did such a great job as director as well. And now that you're back, let's have some fun.

SPEAKER_01

Yes.

Pools And Aquatic Center Highlights

Derrick Kenny

All right. Um, it's hot, it's the summertime. Kids are looking for things to do, families are looking for things to do. Um, so let's talk about a few things. I'm gonna name a thing, and then you take a moment and talk about that item. Great. Why is it great for families or kids or individuals in the county, and how do people sign up? Love it. All right, aquatic centers.

SPEAKER_01

Yes. So we have uh five indoor pools and seven outdoor pools uh just spread out throughout the entire county. And our outdoor pools are now open seven days a week. And uh it is a fantastic and affordable way for families to be able to recreate, to have fun, to engage, uh, and to make lasting memories. And of course, our indoor facilities are open year-round, and they are extraordinary and wonderful amenities for communities as well. We offer classes within each of our outdoor and indoor pools. We also offer swim instruction, or we offer just time to come in and have unstructured play. Uh many of our outdoor pools have water features like slides that are a lot of fun for the kids. All right. And uh a number of our indoor pools have slides as well. And we have some of the most fantastic aquatic facilities really across the entire country. We've received national recognition. And some of the most competitive swimmers, look at Katie DeLedecki, uh, have come from Montgomery County. K Ladecki, who's that? Yes. So our aquatics uh history here in the county is very rich. And we have these fantastic facilities, and we hope families take advantage of them.

Derrick Kenny

All right. And of course, Kayla Deckey, Olympic medalist, gold medalist. Yes, very famous Montgomery County, Maryland ride. All

Rec Centers And Free Fitness Rooms

Derrick Kenny

right.

SPEAKER_01

Uh, how about recreation centers? So we have a total of 43 recreation facilities across the county, which include 27 recreation centers. And those facilities also range in size and scope. All of them have gymnasiums, all of them have weight and exercise rooms, all of them offer drop-in activities that people can participate in. Some of them have game rooms, and these are great opportunities for people to come together as a community. Um, many of our community centers often host community meetings. Okay. And so our rec centers are fabulous. And uh, some of them are combined with other amenities. So our Wheaton Recreation Center is combined with the Wheaton Library. So it's a one-stop shop, a fantastic place. And our newest recreation center was open in downtown Silver Spring, which has both a senior center, a rec center, and an aquatic center all under one roof. Oh, wow. Okay. And so uh and our weight and exercise rooms, it's important to note, are free. All you have to do is sign up, fill out a form, you get a yearly pass. Oh my gosh. And it's there's no excuses. Uh for people that want to be able to exercise and recreate. We've got plenty of facilities for you to choose from.

Derrick Kenny

You've said my favorite word on this program, free. That's right. That's right. Free resources for residents of the county. Yes. Let's say that again. Yes. The weight and fitness centers are they are free.

SPEAKER_01

They are free to county residents. All they have to do is fill out a form. All right. Um, what about summer

Summer Camps And Financial Assistance

SPEAKER_01

camps? So our summer camps are in full swing. We started them this past week. And while many of them are full at this point, we do have some specialty camps that are available. Um, really, it's really remarkable. Our our our summer camp options begin in January. Oh, wow. And by the end of February, most of them are full. Okay. So uh we do encourage families to track mocorec.com to find out what programs and services are available for families. Uh, we do also offer financial assistance for those families that need it. And we try to keep our prices, although they're not free, I'd love for them to be free. We try to keep them very competitive. Right. Um, and so that we have as many affordable options for families to be able to choose from because we know um finding different programs and activities, particularly in the summer months, is challenging for families, but we want to offer as many options as we can. Fantastic. What about fitness classes?

Fitness Classes And Senior Connection

SPEAKER_01

So our fitness classes are very popular, particularly targeted to our senior community. Uh, we have a program in partnership with Holy Cross Hospital called Bone Builders. Okay. And that program has waiting lists. Uh it's also free. I should know. All right, cool. Yeah. Um, but these are great ways for not just for you to be able to take advantage and um take care of yourself, but there's also a social aspect of these programs. You get to know people in the classes, they forge friendships. And one of the biggest issues that we're having in the senior community right now is social isolation. Oh, wow. Um, people that, especially coming out of COVID, um, people are just uh not interacting or connecting in ways that they have in the past. And so when we can create a time and space for people to take advantage of programs like our fitness classes, it creates that time and space. And so it's uh also great opportunity for residents to participate in programs.

Derrick Kenny

That's fantastic. And they're there are low-cost classes that people can take advantage of. Uh uh, oftentimes they're at the recreation centers or the aquatic centers or summer camps or whatever. Yes. All right, fantastic. And uh number five, um sports

Youth Sports Pressures And A Sports Complex

Derrick Kenny

facilities. What types of sports facilities are there for parents or kids or families to take advantage of?

SPEAKER_01

So all of our recreation centers have gymnasiums. Um are middle school sized gyms, but most of them are high school sized gyms. And so we do offer uh a variety of programs. Um we can transform our gyms for other functions. So we also do volleyball, we also do badminton, um, we uh have um pickleball indoors now, which has become tremendously popular. Um so we have lots of different sports-based programs, both drop-in, but also league play that we offer through the Department of Recreation. And of course, uh we partner with our colleagues in the Department of Parks and Montgomery County Public Schools to take advantage of their field and court amenities as well. And so we often run a lot of leagues, um, but that are uh held in sister county agency fields or courts. Um but you know, the the long range need is we absolutely do need a larger sports complex in the county. And there's some efforts to have that underway and and for us to actually be able to build a sports complex here in the county. Um, but those that's a few years away.

Derrick Kenny

So that's a nice, that's a nice set, nice segue um um between uh now um as opposed to before. But let's talk about what is a sports complex and uh how will that benefit residents um now that you're pushing for us to kind of have a new one.

SPEAKER_01

So I gotta say, I have to widen the lens a little a little bit because when you talk about sports and in particular youth sports, it is a very difficult world to navigate right now. Right. Um there are, and I'm not making this up, venture capitalists that have entered into this space that have privatized a lot of the sports leagues across the country, even here in Maryland. And so uh I have four kids, uh, as you mentioned earlier. Oh, four. And uh all of them have played sports, two in particular very competitively. And finding leagues and for for all kids to be able to play in is becoming increasingly difficult. And there's uh a real pressure through the youth sports world right now to have families and kids specialize in sports at very early ages, do travel programs at very early ages that are very expensive and not accessible to families. So uh what we need to do is to try and level the playing field. Uh we have a program, for example, through Montgomery County Recreation called uh RMSC. It's the Rockville Montgomery Swim Club. It is a public club that we run through our own recreation facilities. Um that, but it is competitive. But what's important to note about it, it offers two tracks for swimmers. Okay. There's the track for highly competitive that potentially want to swim in college or beyond. But then there's another track that's also competitive, but not quite as intense. And we need more options like that for families. And having a sports complex that is run by the county, not privatized, uh gives you a fighting chance to be able to offer programs that are more reasonably priced and that are more accessible for more kids.

Derrick Kenny

Fantastic. That's awesome. Um now you we spoke about the aquatic centers, the recreation centers, summer camps, even the existing and future sports complexes.

How To Register With Active Montgomery

Derrick Kenny

Um how do you register with the um Department of Recreation? Is the process simple? Uh, how do they get started?

SPEAKER_01

So you go through our website, mocorec.com, and that will link you to um a website called Active Montgomery. And Active Montgomery is a software that is shared through Montgomery Parks, but also the Community Use Republic Facilities. Oh, wow. So if you want to book a space and not do a program through parks or recreation, but you want to do it on your own and you just need access to a gym or a field, you would book that through the community use republic facilities. And um Active Montgomery is um it's it's a great resource. It's a one-stop shop. Um, and but we also offer customer service as well. And so if you have a hard time registering for any reason, um we have a front customer service center desk uh where we have folks that are bilingual that can answer questions in real time. Not a bot, an actual person. A real person, a real person who can who can answer your questions if you have an issue with registration. Um and that's something that we pride ourselves on. Uh customer service is very important to us.

Derrick Kenny

Fantastic. And it's important to the county as well. We want the best of everything for residents, but especially the best experience when accessing county resources.

Therapeutic Recreation And Companion Support

Derrick Kenny

Um, we mentioned a lot of activities earlier and talked about being um able-body activities and activities for seniors. What activities do you have for people that um have special needs or maybe um have special uh different levels of physical ability?

SPEAKER_01

I'm so glad you asked that question. So uh we have a fantastic therapeutic recreation team in the Department of Recreation that offers um both direct services for people with differing abilities, but also a companion program so that um we have programs for uh that that are available to people of all different abilities, but sometimes folks need a little bit need a little bit of extra extra assistance to be able to participate in those programs. And we do offer those companion programs and support programs. So uh we we also partner with a number of nonprofit organizations out in the community, CSAC and others, um, so that uh we can make sure that we're casting as wide a net as possible. Because one of the things I've observed in doing this for as long as I have is um particularly for youth that age out of the school system after the age of 20, there are just not as many programs or support services available to those families and those individuals. Right. And so that's a hole that we need to continue to try and fill and meet. Um and uh it's important not just for the participants themselves, but oftentimes um it provides some respite and some support for their families and their caretakers. Awesome.

Contact Options Website 311 Drop In

Derrick Kenny

Now, before we get too far along, um how do people connect with the Department of Recreation and you uh via social media, via the website, or even a phone number?

SPEAKER_01

So the best thing to do is to contact or to go through moco rec.com. Okay. Um just directly go through. So easy. Mocorec. MoCorec.com. Yep. And actually, uh if you contact 311, that will connect you also to the Montgomery County Department of Recreation. Awesome. Okay. Um, and that's where our staff will be able to take over and provide assistance and support. And so those are the best ways to get in touch with us. We also uh we offer drop-in hours at our headquarters on 2425 Reedy Drive in Wheaton. Uh, we have um open drop-in hours uh Monday through Friday, um regular business hours.

Derrick Kenny

So that's another way you can access people can visit the website mocrorec.com.org. Yep. Uh dot com. Dot com. And moorec dot com. They can call 311 if they're in Montgomery County, Maryland, or they could drop in. Meaning physically, they could just stop by the uh Reedy Drive, which is what again?

SPEAKER_01

Uh 2425 Reedy Drive, right in downtown Wheaton.

Derrick Kenny

And they can just drop by and get information.

SPEAKER_01

Actually, it gets even better. So if you drop into any one of our recreation centers, um, our frontline staff is trained uh and will be able to provide some assistance and put you in the right direction as well.

Derrick Kenny

That's wonderful. That is even better. So if you want to make a phone call, you want to visit online, you want to visit in person, there are options there for you, your family members, your kids, or whomever. Nailed it. Oh, fantastic. And of course, um, if you want to participate or register for things, active Montgomery. Yes. And you can access that via the website mocorec.gov.com. Mochorec.com. I'll get it straight. Mochorec.com. There will be.

SPEAKER_01

By the way, you're hired. You can come work for us anytime. All right, so much.

Derrick Kenny

And I can I can flee a little pickleball. I may fall a little bit, but I'll just put a little pickleball.

How Gabe’s Family Uses Rec Programs

Derrick Kenny

All right. Um, so when you're not working, um, you seem like you're very fit and active, you're a dad, um, you have um four children, and you mentioned uh what do you like to do in Montgomery County, Maryland? What uh activities in the recreation department uh do you and your family take advantage of?

SPEAKER_01

Absolutely. So I love to walk our trails all across the county. We have a dog. Okay. Uh, and that's something that is very important for us and to go around and enjoy our parks and the natural environment. And within Montgomery County Recreation, our family are big fans of our aquatic facilities and try to visit our pools as much as possible. And um, we by by extension, my parents take advantage of our weight and exercise rooms that we have here in the county as well. And so we we have we we try to provide as a as wide a variety of programs as we can because we know there are lots of different interests here in the county for from lots of different folks. And we don't have a one size fits all. Uh, every center, every location uh has a different set of programs available to them. And so we do encourage people to visit mochorec.com. Um but it is a fabulous county, and when you combine our parks and recreation departments together, uh we consistently come out on top as one of the best uh multi-agencies in the country. And the other interesting fact is when the county does a residence survey every two years.

Derrick Kenny

Okay.

SPEAKER_01

And um, for the last 23 years, um the Department of Recreation, the Department of Parks have come out among the top three county agencies that county residents most appreciate. Oh, wow. So we've consistently done well and we've been here for the community and we love being here for the community.

Derrick Kenny

Fantastic. Um, so uh any last words you'd like to share with uh the county?

SPEAKER_01

Just uh it's gonna be uh a great summer and a great fall. And we, of course, are gonna have a transition in leadership. Uh we're gonna have a new county executive and some new members of the council in November. Um, but what will stay consistent is our direct commitment to the community. And I know that our future leaders really appreciate what we do, and we look forward to carrying it on for many years to

Juneteenth Celebration At BlackRock

SPEAKER_01

come.

Derrick Kenny

Thanks to Montgomery County Department of Recreation Director, Gabe Albanaz, for that wonderful interview and sharing all the great resources and things that are going on with the Department of Recreation for you and your family. Well, let's take a look back at Juneteenth. We spent a little bit of time at the Black Rock Center for the Arts, uh, along with the Office of Human Rights and a bunch of great businesses and people that we had a chance to talk to. Check out these clips.

Meet The Bassist And Her Message

Derrick Kenny

We are here live at the Juneteenth celebration in Germantown, Maryland, at the Black Rock Center. And one of the great things happening today is music, live music. And a performer just walked off stage. She's beautiful, she's elegant, she's multi-talented, she's the bassist known as Renda Victoria. Brenda Victoria, and I was told that it is Rinda without the baby, without the B. So it's Rinda Victoria.

SPEAKER_05

If you are familiar with Tupac, Brenda's got a baby. I don't have any children as of yet. So Rinda, yes.

Derrick Kenny

Alright, fantastic, fantastic. But you have the gift of music, and you give the gift of music, and you give birth to all those beautiful notes all the time, correct?

SPEAKER_05

That's cool.

Derrick Kenny

Um now today, who were you performing with and what was it like performing on the stage of Black Rock Center?

SPEAKER_05

Uh yeah, so today, um, most of you would have found me with uh the group called Black History, uh, that is uh owned by or ran by Sean McGee. And uh yeah, so I'm I'm the bass player, the lady basses, and what we did was perform majority of his original music. I know a lot of people are accustomed to cover songs, but he really wanted to uh you know portray his original.

Derrick Kenny

That's wonderful. So, what type of music would you describe his genre as?

SPEAKER_05

Uh it's a fusion. Um as you heard today, you heard a little bit of rock. We had some uh some definitely some fusion going on, especially with the horn section. Okay. So some Latin everything. Pretty much all the numbers of the MX.

Derrick Kenny

No, now what is it like being the bassist? Like, what's what's what's different about the bass that's different from the lead guitar or the rhythm guitar or from a keyboardist to a horn player? What's because basses are usually the coolest person on the stage. Yeah. Describe what it's like being a bassist.

SPEAKER_05

Well, I can just tell you, uh, hence my my social media handles is the bottom line. I am the foundation. I am pretty much the bloodline of of the body of music. Uh you have your drummer who's the heartbeat, but I'm the bloodline.

Derrick Kenny

Right, all right. Now, now what do you in terms of support, you know, as you are out there as an artist, what do you want people to, how do you want people to support you? Is there a way they can find you online in public activity or absolutely.

SPEAKER_05

So, yes, you all may find me on uh Instagram and at the bottom underscore underscore. There's two of them. Line, so that's the bottom line, and then on TikTok, the bottom line, bajo, Spanish for bass. Um supporting me. I'm definitely a session musician. I'm taking the um opportunities of being on cruise lines, um, I've done musical theater, I also do recording sessions, and most recently, and I am currently working on my personal project. So when that comes out, that's all the ass is you about to just pump that. And you can find me on YouTube under Renda Victoria's.

Derrick Kenny

All right, Renda Victoria, Rinda Victoria's. Now, we always sometimes we have young people listening and watching, and they are always watching adults, the people that are doing what they aspire to do. What advice do you have for a young and aspiring musician, maybe first learning their first chords on the bass, or maybe even on a cello or on a distal bass? What are your what's your advice for them?

SPEAKER_05

My advice to all students is stay true to what is important to you.

SPEAKER_04

Oh wow, always stay.

SPEAKER_05

True to what is important to you. So even if you know you find yourself picking up an instrument, you know, much later in life, do what you like to do. Pick a song that that that's truthful to you. Start there and you'll be surprised where where the music takes you.

Derrick Kenny

Oh, right, all right. And today's Juneteenth. Yes. Um what what is significant about Juneteenth or that you believe people should uh embrace about Juneteenth? Now qualifying this as I don't believe you're a historian or anything of that nature, but I'm asking you as a as an individual. Okay.

SPEAKER_05

Um well I actually I I think I should just take it, you know, from a personal standpoint. Yeah. Honestly, I did not even discover Juneteenth until I was in the military. So I was in the military, uh the United Air Force.

Derrick Kenny

We're recording right now, sir.

SPEAKER_05

Yes. Uh so I was actually in the United States Air Force, and one of the uh activities that they had uh there was um Juneteenth. And I was like, I never heard of it before. And from from that moment, that's when I I understood the importance because it was in the military. And we know custom and and and codes of honor is taken seriously. So that was the the beginning of me knowing of Juneteenth. That was about 13 years ago.

Derrick Kenny

Well, thank you for your service, thank you for your great performance today. Um, where can we see you next?

SPEAKER_05

Well, you can actually see me next with Black History on August 16th, or excuse me, August 13th. We're actually gonna be performing uh in PG County, and then like I said, uh I just finished performing in Texas and I did LA Blue Note, so I will definitely keep you all updated on my Instagram.

Derrick Kenny

All right, that's what's happening, Moco. Uh Brenda without the baby, Brenda Victoria. That's right, our favorite, our new favorite bassist.

SPEAKER_04

Thank you, y'all.

Youth Showcase And Local Vendors

Derrick Kenny

All right, thank you for your time. We're still here live at the Juneteenth event in Germantown, Maryland at the Black Rock Center. We're joined by two wonderful young ladies. Uh young your name is Cassandra Tufly. Cassandra Tufly and Allie. Allie, and they're here enjoying the festivities here at the Black Rock Center. What have you guys enjoyed so far at the Juneteenth event? Uh so yeah, there's there's live shows happening on the main stage outside. There's some shows happening on the inside. What about you, Cassandra?

SPEAKER_04

Um, I've enjoyed the youth stage of the NAACP Axo, the um scientific, technical, uh Olympics of the mind. I don't remember.

Derrick Kenny

That's right. NAACP has the AXO program, which I don't remember the formal name of it, but it celebrates uh science, technical skills, and all these things in a competitive fashion, fine arts, where if you're a poet or you're uh a writer, you're doing something with STEAM or STEM, whatever it's called, you are able to submit your entries and compete with others from across the country in a Frost County. And the people that we see in there today at the Black Rock Center will be competing nationally or yep, they'll go on to nationals, which is I think we said uh Chicago this year. All right, Chicago. Well, good luck to those guys, and of course, we have the best NWC Excel program in the county, of course, and of course, maybe the state of Maryland. Maybe. My opinion, my opinion, what's happening Muckwell Podcast. What else are you looking forward to seeing today?

SPEAKER_04

Um, I think the vendors uh supporting our locally owned businesses that came out today.

Derrick Kenny

All right, fantastic, and there's some great businesses here. Um, there's pickle popcorn and other types of flavors. There's a Silvers uh Silvers Branch Brewing Company. I see Dashikis and other um African jewelry and art and designs, all types of great things. And I even see some West African food over there to my left. So get on out here. Um, if you missed it, you're hearing all about it right now. There's the great flavors of the continent, the great talent of the county, and all the wonderful people of Montgomery County, Maryland, here all in one place, celebrating Juneteenth.

What Juneteenth Means And Why Vote

Derrick Kenny

Good day. Welcome to What's Happening Moco? We are still live at the Juneteenth celebration. Germantown, Maryland, and we are joined by Gail and Christina from Clarksburg, Maryland.

unknown

Hey!

Derrick Kenny

They made the long trek all the way down from Clarksburg. It took them almost how much time?

SPEAKER_07

Oh, three minutes, five minutes. Five minutes.

Derrick Kenny

And that was the voice of Christina and Gail, and we were just talking, and I was like, we have to record this because they were saying something about this year's event. What were you saying about this year's event as opposed to the past?

SPEAKER_07

Well, Gail was saying that last year it was just very, very minimal people because of the booths was just very minimal. This year somebody blew it up, and hopefully, every year after this year, it gets even better because I'm looking out here and I'm so wonderful. It's so wonderful to see so many people coming to celebrate Juneteenth.

Derrick Kenny

Yeah, and it's early in the day now, guys. It's only about three o'clock. So it's not towards party time where you have like junkyard band or the traditional popular bands at night where you get a lot more people. This is the educational time. This is a time where we celebrate the culture, uh, we honor people, and then we celebrate and support small businesses from across the county, Fredericksburg, and whomever and wherever. You get pickle popcorn, you get uh shikis.

SPEAKER_07

You know what's so great about Juneteenth is that it's actually a holiday now. And it, you know, it took almost 20 years to get Mark Ricky King for Christina MLK to be a holiday. And it didn't take that long for this one only because it was so needed. And the thing is, uh the history behind it, where, you know, in Galveston, Texas, and the lower end of Texas didn't understand that they were free for two years. That's such a tragedy. But we're supporting that and we're doing what we need to do to make things happen in our community.

Derrick Kenny

Yeah, a lot of people didn't know that for a couple of years there were um enslaved peoples in America that did not know that they were emancipated already.

SPEAKER_07

And so the But yet that's got to be the worst thing that somebody came up on you and say, hey, you know you really are free. You go, when? Two years ago, two years ago.

Derrick Kenny

And everybody else knew it except for you.

SPEAKER_07

You know, that's how terrible things were.

SPEAKER_06

I lived in Houston, Texas, and I was was was there when they were talking about my earphones on. You don't have to, but okay. Okay, so I was there celebrating Juneteenth when the other parts of the country were not. So this is huge. I mean, Houston has a big celebration every year because of that.

Derrick Kenny

What what wow, this is a great opportunity for people to learn more about Juneteenth from a perspective of the area of the country that was directly affected. What was what was the celebrations like before the entire country in Braestwood?

SPEAKER_06

It was it's huge. It's huge. It's all over Houston, Texas, from the parks to the waters. They do sky tours or planes are flying in the sky talking about Juneteenth. I have families are celebrating. I mean, it is a very huge market. It is like our 4th of July. It's like our 4th of July for them. Yes, it's like a 4th of July for them.

SPEAKER_07

And I'm actually born on the 4th of July, so I kind of know that through it. But you know what? I look at Juneteenth and I think, you know, with the younger people, especially this generation that's born, was it Generation X who is born from 2000 and now has been dealing with so many other difficulties or racism, things being taken out of school, that this is really something that as we go further, they should truly embrace. We look forward to June 19th. They should really do because and it's not that far if they don't right now because they're still learning it. The more they learn it, the more they'll understand that, oh my God, you know, this is so impossible, so you know this is so pitiful for us.

SPEAKER_06

It really is.

Derrick Kenny

Now, for people that haven't been able to make it out to the Juneteenth event, and they'll probably hear this podcast a week after it happened. Yeah, what what things here would you say next year come for these things? What what what items, what events, what experiences would you like them to look forward to?

SPEAKER_07

Well, I you know, we haven't been around to everybody because we kind of stopped at the beginning here and started here. And I will say um the beautiful garments peep are bacon, the the homemade individual uh businesses that people have. It's just so wonderful because you're seeing the love and care that's been put into earrings and jewelry and and and clothes and especially just celebrating us. Celebrating us.

Derrick Kenny

African Americans are free.

SPEAKER_06

We are free, you know.

Derrick Kenny

Fantastic.

SPEAKER_06

Yeah. We're gonna remain free.

Derrick Kenny

That's right, that's right. We're gonna remain free. And that and it's and it's I'm not gonna say it's sad that you have to say that with earnesty.

SPEAKER_07

But we live in a time where things are seeming like they're going backwards, and it's terrible because so many people paid the price for us.

SPEAKER_06

Right. I know, Derek. People need to vote. Please vote.

SPEAKER_07

Please go in. Please vote.

SPEAKER_06

Please vote. Okay, that's a huge day.

SPEAKER_07

June 23rd, and vote the candidate that you think is the best for you. There are some who are really, really good. Uh, I won't give names because I'm not in, you know.

Derrick Kenny

But we cannot, we cannot, and we do not endorse any candidates. But we do know. But there's a pool of very qualified and intelligent people that are running. So we're blessed in Montgomery County Union.

SPEAKER_07

They're all very qualified, they're very experienced, and you just have to vote for what does you believe. But I just like she said, just get out and vote because the less the more we get out and vote, the more our voices are heard.

Derrick Kenny

Indeed.

SPEAKER_07

Lift every voice and vote.

Derrick Kenny

That's right. Lift every voice and vote. That's right. Lift every voice and vote.

SPEAKER_06

Tiller than heaven. We're there.

Derrick Kenny

That's our end. Yes, indeed. And that's what's happening, Moco. Thank you, Christina and Gail for being here today.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you for having me.

Derrick Kenny

Yes, yes. Gail's gonna label what's one last thought.

SPEAKER_06

Gail, give us some word of wisdom as we the word of wisdom is I think that people should believe in our celebrations and go forward and make us more prominent and make us stronger as a race and a team.

Derrick Kenny

All right, thank you for the show.

SPEAKER_06

One team, one dream.

Derrick Kenny

All right, there you go. One team, one dream. You're the first. What's happening, Moco?

Joy Food Music And Closing Thoughts

SPEAKER_07

Thank you.

Derrick Kenny

All right, we're still here live with the Juneteenth event at the Black Rock Center, Germantown, Maryland, and we're gonna be here with Sean Joseph from Gaitersburg. Sean, how are you today, sir? I feel good. All right, all right. So you've been here, the event today. How uh what's your impression of the Juneteenth event thus far?

SPEAKER_02

Man, it's been amazing. There's something here for everybody. I mean, we went inside and they had Zumba dancing, went upstairs, got my blood pressure checked. Oh, wow. Got some curry chicken and some some curry shrimp. I'm a happy man.

Derrick Kenny

Alright, my question is did you get the curry chicken and curry shrimp before your blood pressure was checked or after your blood pressure was checked?

SPEAKER_02

I did it after. I want to know.

Derrick Kenny

Good man. Good man, good man. Um, what is it about the June TV event that brought you um here today? Um, and and uh how did you enjoy that part of uh and today is a day of remembrance, right?

SPEAKER_02

Is it's our people coming out and recognizing that we're liberated and it's it's a it's a celebration, it's a joyous occasion, and it's something that I'm glad that we're celebrating here in Montgomery County. Fantastic, fantastic.

Derrick Kenny

Now, for people, this will probably come out after the event is over. Um, for people that want to attend this next year, uh, what would you tell them to um help encourage them to attend the next year's event?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, if you're looking for a moment to just release, carefree, listen to some good music, have some good food, and be around people who just want to have a day of joy, then there's no better place uh than being here for the Juneteenth celebration at BlackRock. Alright, fantastic, fantastic.

Derrick Kenny

Now, uh before we before we close this out, um, what is it about Juneteenth uh that you believe um is significant that people should be aware of?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, I think people should uh remember uh this country's history, uh remember the challenges that we've had to overcome and be active in the voting process uh to make sure we continue to move forward, not backwards.

Derrick Kenny

Oh, fantastic, fantastic. And that's what's happening, Moco. Thanks to Sean Joseph for stopping by and thanks for attending this year's Juneteenth uh celebration. Thank you. Thank you. And that's it for this edition of What's Happening Moco. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share.

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