Local Residents Honored At Dr. King Birthday Celebration

mh/mlkaward.Pr 98-22 Contact: Sula Tyler, 301-564-1504 or
Kenneth Nelson, 301-279-5257 or
Christine Clarke, 301-217-2500

LOCAL RESIDENTS HONORED
AT DR. KING BIRTHDAY
CELEBRATION For Immediate Release: January 19, 1998

Four local residents were honored today at Montgomery County's annual Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration. Reverend Phyllis W. Brown of Gaithersburg, Corletha
Carry of Silver Spring, Jelani K. Perry of Bethesda, and Ralph B. Brown of Aspen Hill
received awards for their individual deeds and activities judged to perpetuate the goals and
ideals of the late Dr. King.
The awards were presented at ceremonies held in the Montgomery College Performing
Arts Center in Rockville. U.S. Congresswoman Constance A. Morella provided the keynote
address.
The Humanitarian Award was presented to Reverend Phyllis Brown for her efforts to
help female inmates at the Montgomery County Detention Center, in their transition back to
the community upon release, as well as her efforts to provide food and clothing for needy
families in the county. Reverend Brown is the pastor of the House of Prayer Non-
Denominational Church.
Carry and Perry received the Children of the Dream Award. Carry is a senior at
Walter Johnson High School and has been an active member of the OPTIONS program,
-more-

MLK AWARDS 2-2-2-2

a group of students and businesses which works to help minority students in Montgomery
County Public Schools achieve their full academic potential. Carry, who has also been
honored for academic excellence, is also active in a local program to collect food for families
in need as well. Perry is a senior at Walter Johnson High School and has been working as an
assistant teacher for pre-school children and has helped tutor older students. An honor student
since his freshman year, Perry has received numerous academic achievement awards and is
active in the school's varsity basketball, cross-country and football teams.
The Montgomery County Human Relations Commission honored Ralph Brown with its
second annual Human Relations Award. A former commissioner, Brown has dedicated
considerable time and energy to improving the community by encouraging cultural diversity.
Brown was instrumental in organizing a "Round Table on Integration" in Montgomery
County and the Montgomery County Task Force on Mentoring. He was recently named Chair
of International Affairs for the local chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
The Montgomery County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration is
sponsored by the Montgomery County government and the cities of Gaithersburg and Takoma
Park. The program is coordinated by the Montgomery County Martin Luther King, Jr.
Commemorative Committee, chaired by Dr. Thomas W. Percy.
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