County Cable Montgomery
Comcast/RCN 6 HD 996/1056 Verizon 30

Somos Montgomery #6
'Somos Montgomery’, an initiative from Montgomery County Council Local TV, connects Hispanic people to opportunities
'Somos Montgomery' has reached 6 months on air!
Last February 26, County Cable Montgomery (CCM) launched this TV magazine in Spanish as part of the Montgomery County Council multimedia initiative. The idea of this multiyear multimedia project was born at Councilmember Nancy Navarro's office as a way to inform and engage the Latino community about the local civic processes in the County. The 15-minute program is featured at numerous times on CCM, on channels 6 on Comcast/RCN and 30 on Verizon.
'Somos Montgomery' viewing times include Tuesdays at 9:45 am and 10:15 pm, Wednesdays at 2:30 pm, Fridays at 12:45 pm, Saturdays at 3 pm and 9:45 pm, and Sundays at 1:30 pm. On education, Somos explores topics such as the importance of connecting with at-risk youth to ensure their academic success, ways to help closing the achievement gap, and how to make sure our children are ready for Kindergarten. About civic participation, the program highlights people and organizations making good use of their voices.
One of the clips highlighted the work of Impact Silver Spring and the Grand View Circle of Neighbors. This circle has visited the Council on more than one occasion to express their views about urban development affecting their communities. On youth, we learned how they are helping each other 'choose respect' and avoid teen dating violence.
Small businesses are a big business for Montgomery, and Hispanic entrepreneurs are the fastest growing segment of entrepreneurs in the United States. 'Somos Montgomery' features stories of Latino business owners in the County, who have benefited from different local government programs. They are now examples of success and inspiration for the community. Martin Mayorga, owner of Cafe Mayorga with headquarters in Rockville, Juan Carlos Castillo owner of Tierra Floral Design in Bethesda, and Nhora Barrera Murphy owner of TMN Corp, a communications company in Silver Spring, are great role models for other entrepreneurs.
This TV magazine has other sections, like the most recently added –‘Did you know?’- that shares little known information about Montgomery, such as the Red Shirts' work in Downtown Silver Spring. Another segment -'En Sintonia in brief' presents the most important topics of the last Council's Spanish radio shows on Radio America 1540 AM.
Though Somos Montgomery is produced in Spanish, captions are also available in English on the program's page: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/CCM/somosmontgomery.html
The show's individual segments also can be viewed on the Council Youtube Spanish web site at:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvk-7RcdeRpSJuTk124fpOgr_LthIJ3UG
Soon during the Hispanic Heritage Month, 'Somos Montgomery' will highlight Latino leaders who are creating a positive impact in Montgomery County in a variety of fields.