Contact: Bonnie Ayers or David Weaver, 240-777-6530;
Alexandra Teaff, 301-529-9804
For Immediate Release: September 8, 2001

County Opens
Center for Cultural Diversity
To Serve Growing Ethnic Population

Responding to needs of a rapidly changing population that has seen the number of minority and immigrant residents double in the past decade, Montgomery County officials today celebrated the grand opening of the Charles W. Gilchrist Center for Cultural Diversity.

The center is located in Wheaton, one of the most diverse communities in Montgomery County, at 11319 Elkin Street, in a building that formerly housed the Phantasmagoria record store and nightclub. The County renovated the building at a cost of approximately $535,000. A total of just over $313,000 is allocated in the County’s FY ’02 budget to operate the facility for the coming year.

The center was named in memory of the late former County Executive who left a career in public service for the Episcopal priesthood. During his term as County Executive, Gilchrist appointed the County’s first African-American and Hispanic staff advisors, created the County’s Minority Business Procurement Program and established the Commission on Ethnic affairs.

“This center is about inclusion and about strengthening our community by recognizing, embracing and building on our differences,” said County Executive Douglas M. Duncan. “Montgomery County is now home to the largest ethnic population in the State. This center was created in response to the needs of our diverse citizenry, one that is helping to define the current and future character of our community.”

In the past decade, the county’s minority and immigrant population has doubled, from 19 percent in 1990 to 38.2 percent in 2000. In addition to English, the most frequently used languages are Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Portuguese, French and Russian.

First proposed in 1999 by Duncan for his FY 2000 budget, the center is designed to provide services not available elsewhere in local government.

The center will include and offer:

• A New Americans Welcome Area that will focus on the needs of new immigrants and newcomers to the County. Among the programs provided will be classes in English as a Second Language and Citizenship and Civics, in addition to basic legal assistance and an information and referral system;

• Cultural Programs such as dance, musical and theatrical performances; educational programs highlighting culture, cultural competence, diversity and inter-cultural relations; as well as social events and special activities;

• Small Business Development classes, seminars and workshops that will provide information on how to start, run and expand a small business, with a focus on minority entrepreneurs; and

• Cultural Ambassadors, volunteers who will work with and encourage individuals and corporate sponsors supporting the center and its efforts to reach out to the community.

Participating in the ceremonies, which included the unveiling of the building plaque, presentation of a miniature plaque to Mrs. Gilchrist and a ribbon cutting, were the Fabulous Flying Fingers, a group of former fifth graders from Barnsley Elementary School in Rockville that incorporates sign language with their musical presentations.

Among the speakers were representatives of four ethnic groups who spoke about the center and its impact on the community. Mojoyin Onijala of Nigeria; Uma Saini, Asian Indian; Luis Barahona, Peru; and Jenny Tong, China.

Also performing as part of the Celebration of Cultures that followed the official ceremonies were the East West Dance Theater, Prendergast School of Irish Dance, Young Steppers from Africa, Kim Mihee Traditional Dance School, Persian Dance group, and the Bolivian Artistic and Cultural Fraternity.

Staff and volunteers from the Center provided tours of the new facility.

The center, which will be open Tuesdays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m., is accessible by auto, bus and Metro. To contact the center, call 240-777-4940.