Contact: Angela Sullivan, 240-777-8456
For Immediate Release: November 15, 2001

County's Office of Human Rights
To Hold Community Dialogue

The Montgomery County Commission on Human Rights is inviting residents to participate in a community dialogue to discuss the quality of human relations in our area. The dialogue will be held on Thursday, December 13 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the National Institutes of Health Natcher Auditorium, 45 Center Drive, Bethesda.

The daylong program is being co-sponsored by the Montgomery County Committee on Hate/Violence and the National Institutes of Health, and will feature an opening status report of human relations in the County, reviewing progress that has been achieved since earlier conferences were held by the Commission on Human Rights. Beginning plenary presentations will address the major demographic shifts in the County in recent years, and the implications of these shifts for resident relationships. A panel will follow that will highlight extraordinary efforts by members of the community to advance human relations within the County.

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan, County Council President Blair Ewing and Office of Human Rights Executive Director Odessa Shannon will make opening remarks.

Registration for the program is $5 and lunch will be provided. Registration forms are available from the Office of Human Rights, 110 North Washington Street, Rockville. The registration deadline is December 7.

For more information or to request a registration form, call the office at 240-777-8450.