Montgomery County OHR Events
Juneteenth 2023 at BlackRock Center for the Arts
June 17, 2023
The Office of Human Rights providing opportunities to explore, celebrate and engage in the arts, is pleased to host the Annual Juneteenth Journey to Freedom Celebration, June 17, 2023, from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the BlackRock Center for the Arts located at 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown, MD 20874.
Headlining this year’s event is The Chuck Brown Band. “The Godfather of Go-go,” Chuck Brown is the undisputed sole founder and creator of Go-go music, a hypnotically danceable genre deeply rooted in funk and soul that he developed in the early 70’s, and the only form of expressive culture to originate in D.C.. Chuck recorded with artists as diverse as Thievery Corporation, Brian Culbertson, Jeff Majors, and Kindred the Family Soul. A street in Washington D.C. was renamed “Chuck Brown Way.” In September 2010, Brown released an ambitious three-disc set, “We Got This,” which includes the Grammy nominated song LOVE featuring Jill Scott with Marcus Miller. Chuck Brown & His Band have appeared on the Jimmy Fallon Show with The Roots, the Mo’Nique show, NPR’s Tiny Desk Unit, and NPR’s World Café. The National Symphony Orchestra paid tribute to Chuck Brown in September 2011 with 2 commissioned works of orchestral arrangements and a performance on the West Lawn of the US Capitol.
The event will feature traditional events like the award recognition ceremony and Juneteenth inspired food. This year’s “Journey to Freedom,” we Acknowledge, Educate, and Celebrate while tracing the African American struggle for freedom through education, art, dance, music and honoring our elders. New this year, the festivities will include Trail of Knowledge educational passport activities, experiential-based educational activities to learn about the Civil Rights Movement, a historical journey of African American Music and artistic entertainment, and food trucks, all designed for the whole family. Activities will take place both inside and on the lawn of the arts center and the Germantown Town Center Urban Park. On June 16th we will again present Montgomery County’s African American Living Legends Awards.
The Montgomery County Office of Human Rights and the County Executive’s African American Advisory Group are coordinating the program in partnership with the BlackRock Center for the Arts to commemorate the 158th anniversary of the events of June 19, 1865. On that day, Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to take possession of the state and enforce the emancipation of its enslaved persons. The event today is known as Juneteenth and is celebrated widely across the United States.
January 2020
County Executive Marc Elrich Signs First Racial Equity and Social Justice Act. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich signed the Racial Equity and Social Justice Act on Tuesday, Dec. 3. Montgomery County is the first jurisdiction in Maryland to sign racial equity legislation, which ensures all residents are welcome, treated with respect and have opportunities to succeed. Elrich was joined by newly elected County Council President Sidney Katz and Vice President Tom Hucker, councilmembers and community leaders.County Council recently approved the act, which aims to establish the formal process to address racial equity and social justice issues in the County. The legislation requires the County to establish an Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice in the Executive Branch; establishes a racial equity and social justice action plan for the County; requires each Department and Office to develop a racial equity and social justice action plan; requires the Office of Legislative Oversight to submit a racial equity and social justice impact statement to the Council for each bill; establishes a Racial Equity and Social Justice Committee and sets forth the composition and duties of the committee; and requires the Planning Board to consider the racial equity and social justice impact impact when preparing a Master Plan. Read more here.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Tributes, Celebrations and Services . Join us for a full day of Celebration. Celebrations and tribute include the MLK Memorial Scholarship Breakfast, MLK Day in Rockville, MLK Day of Service and the 25 th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Musical Celebration and Tribute. Presented by The Office of the County Executive, The City of Rockville and the Montgomery County Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. See Flyer for details.
Children of the Dream: 2020 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Tribute VIP Reception. Join us January 20, 2020 for this special event to be held at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852. Pre-show Reception Begins at 3:00 p.m. For more information contact Britney Green at [email protected]. See Flyer for details.
November 2019
Human Rights Diversity Camp, November 15-17, 2019. The Montgomery County Office of Human Rights facilitates a “Human Rights Camp." The purpose of the camp is to alleviate hate that is fueled by fear and ignorance by interaction and education. The program is designed to bring together students from diverse racial, cultural religious, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds for a weekend experience in interracial and intercultural understanding. This is also an introduction to civil and human rights subjects to include fairhousing, fair employment, public accommodations, voter's rights and bullying prevention. Students will aslo participate in a fairhousing poster contest. The winner will receive a cash award and public recognition. See Photos from the 2019 Human Rights Diversity Camp Here . Click here for more information.
September 2019
Thank you for Joining Us for the 7 th Annual Montgomery County Friendship Picnic. Bringing Together Communities with Diverse Cultures and Faith, Sunday, September 22 from 12pm – 5:00 pm at the Wheaton Regional Park , 2000 Shorefield Road, Wheaton, MD 20902. Particpants enjoyed an afternoon of food and fun! Everything Free! Lunch of Your Choice included Traditional, Kosher, Halal and Vegetarian. Free Satellite Parking and Shuttle Service to and From the Wheaton Ice Rink/Athletic Fields. Sign language interpreters and other auxiliary aids/services upon request, We hope you enjoyed the event. See you next year!See flyer for details.
August 2019
Film Screening and Community Town Hall. Remembering the Past To Protect the Future was held Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 6:45 p.m. at the Silver Spring Civic Center , 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The films included “This Little Light of Mine” The Legacy of Fannie Lou Hamer; “An Outrage”, Lynching in the American South; and “Lynching in America” Confronting the legacy of racial terror. There was also a community panel discussion on understanding our history. This event was brought to you by the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights, Human Rights Commission, Commission for Women, Department of Police, and the Committee Against Hate Violence. See flyer for details .For more information please call 240-777-8450.
June 2019
Montgomery County to Hosted it's 23rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration with Music and Theatrical Performances, Movie, Barbecue Dinner and African American Living Legend Awards. Montgomery County’s 23rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration was held at the BlackRock Center for the Arts located at 12901 Town Commons Drive in Germantown on Saturday June 15 .The event featured the traditional events, which include the award recognition ceremony and Juneteenth barbecue dinner . New this year, the festivities included an uplifting line-up of musical and theatrical entertainment, for the whole family, in both inside and on the lawn of the arts center.
The Montgomery County Office of Human Rights and the County Executive’s African American Advisory Group coordinated the program with special sponsorship from BlackRock Center for the Arts which commemorates the 154th anniversary of the events of June 19, 1865. On that day, Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to take possession of the state and enforce the emancipation of its enslaved persons. The event today is known as Juneteenth and is celebrated widely across the United States. This year’s theme Sing of the Harmony of Liberty recollects the African American struggle with a voice of praise and hope of freedom for all. See News Release for is event . See Event Flye r here. Please join us again next year!
One Stop Employment Law and Informational Workshop, June 6, 2019, 9:00 am – 2:30 pm at the Silver Spring Civic Building, 1 Veterans Place (8525 Fenton Street), Silver Spring , Maryland. Come and learn what you need to know about Age Discrimination, Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, Minimum Wage Requirements, Pay Equity Issues & State and Federal Legal Updates! Complimentary Coffee Breaks and Box Lunch will be served. See Flyer here.
April 2019
Montgomery County OneStop Fair Housing Shop: A Fair Housing Educational Forum . The "One Stop Fair Housing Shop".was held Tuesday, April 30, 2019 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. Free Lunch was provided and Certificate of Training awarded. This event is designed to educate housing industry professionals, realtors, property managers, housing advocates, landlords, human services housing providers, condo and home owners associations, and citizens in four areas, Source of Income, Disability, Arrest Record, and Service Animal and Assist Animals. This educational seminar is a free event. Be sure to join us next year for this event. See Flyer for Details. February 2019
70th Republic Day of India Banquet & Cultural Program . Republic Day is an important holiday in India, with celebrations and Festivals in February which celebrates Independence Day (August 15) and Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday (October 2). See photos from this event here.
January 2019
2019 MC Commission for Women’s 39 th annual Legislative Briefing. Advancing Women’s Rights in Montgomery County Since 1872. Held January 27 th , The Women’s Legislative Briefing (WLB) is the premier and longest-standing women’s legislative event in the state of Maryland. It is coordinated by the Montgomery County Commission for Women and brings together advocates, policy makers, and emerging leaders to empower, engage, and mobilize Marylanders around issues affecting women and girls throughout the state. Speakers included James L. Stowe, Director, Montgomery County Office of Human Rights. Find out more here. 
2019 Martin Luther King Jr., Day Tribute, January 21, at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will be hosted it's 2019 Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Tribute and Celebration. This tribute at the Music Center at Strathmore celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King’s life through dramatic readings, musical and dance performances. A Visual Arts exhibit prepared by Montgomery County students interpreting “Women of the Dream” will be displayed at the celebration. Free Tickets Event! No Advance Ticket Required! This family-friendly event was free to attend at the Music Center at Strathmore.For more information, go to http://bit.ly/MLKEventStrathmore . See Flyer for details .
December 2018
2018 Hall of Fame Human Rights Induction Ceremony. Six residents, who have made great personal sacrifices in contributing to human and civil rights in Montgomery County, were inducted into the 2018 Montgomery County Human Rights Hall of Fame on Thursday, Nov. 29. The County’s Office of Human Rights hosted the ceremony at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. The Human Rights Hall of Fame mission is to honor individuals who have made great personal sacrifices in contributing to human and civil rights in Montgomery County, either as trailblazers of the past or as current light bearers in the struggle. The theme for this year’s event was DIVERSITY Is Working For Our County. This is the 10th year for this biennial event. See photos from this event. See biographies of recipients here .
June 2018
Open Housing Law. Council President Hans Riemer presented a proclamation recognizing the 50th anniversary of Montgomery County passing the Open Housing Law, which prohibits discriminatory practices against people seeking to buy or rent homes. The presentation honored the hard work in the face of adversity of the community leaders and organizations present, and the challenges that remain in ensuring equal access to housing for all. The Council was joined by representatives of the Human Rights Commission, the Office of Human Rights, the NAACP, the Interagency Fair Housing Coordinating Group, the Housing Opportunities Commission, and the community of fair housing advocates. Back row, pictured left to right: Esther Delaplaine, Patrice Cheatham, Myrian Torrico, Alejandro Becerra, James Stowe, Vernon Ricks, Loretta Garcia, Pat Fenn; front row, left to right: Jackie Simon, Tina Clarke, Judge William England, Louise Kauffmann, Dr. Suresh K. Gupta, Janice Freeman, Cuvator Armstong. Watch the proclamation. May 2018
Montgomery County Employment Laws Updates & Information. Women in the Work Place. Come and learn what you need to know about new and emerging Employment Laws and Regulations. This event was held Thursday, May 31, 2018, 8:00 – 12:00 Noon, Silver Spring Civic Building, 1 Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 . Complimentary Continental Breakfast provided. Sign language interpreters and other auxiliary aids or services are available upon request. See flyer for details .April 2018
A FILM TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN POLICE AND THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY! The Film Screening and Panel Discussion of “Walking While Black, L.O.V.E. Is the Answer”, was held on Sunday April 22, 2018. This event was Free to the Public. Participants viewed this powerful documentary featuring Chief Melvin Russell, Baltimore City Police Dept. and other notable community leaders. A panel discussion with community leaders followed. See Flyer here .
Montgomery County One Stop Fair Housing Shop: A Fair Housing Educational Form, held Monday, April 30, 2018, 11:30 AM – 4:00 PM. FREE lunch provided and Certificate of Training awarded. County Exhibitors will display informational materials. Please note – late arrivals will not receive award. This event is designed to educate professionals, citizens, advocates and property managers in the housing industry about, Section 8 HUD voucher as Source of Income, disability and reasonable accommodation provisions, common ownership community requirements, Respect Space-parking for handicap, Landlord-Tenant issues, population demography in the county, current regulations, legal updates and compliance. This educational seminar is a free event and will be held at the Silver Spring Civic Center, One Veteran Plaza (8525 Fenton Street), Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. 
Maryland Civil Rights Educational Freedom Experience, April 7 - 15. Partcipants embarked on an inspiration-filled educational experience travelling south to explore the birth place of the Civil Rights Movement. Retracing the Freedom Trail and learning about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, the Mongomery Bus Boycott, the Greensboro Sit-ins, Voting Rights and other significant events of the American Civil Rights Movement. Other sites visited included the Lorraine Motel, Central High School, the home of Medgar Evers and the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. Traveling on a state-of-the-art bus equipped with WiFi. The Maryland Civil Rights Educational Experience was modeled from the idea of the Civil Rights Heritage Tour initated from the work of the Raleigh North Carolina Dr. martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee and Bruce Lightner the committee Founder. See event itinerary here .JAN 2018
Montgomery County Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Tribute and Celebration - Concert Hall January 15, 2018. Montgomery County celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King’s life through dramatic readings, music, and dance performances. This will be the first time in many years the holiday falls on his actual birthday, making this program particularly significant, with very special entertainment including a choral performance by the civil rights iconic Carlton Reese Memorial Unity Choir from Birmingham, Alabama. A visual art display from students interpreting what their dreams are for the future were also be presented. See Flyer Here. Free tickets were required for this event, and distributed onsite the day of the performance (Monday, January 15) starting at 2:30pm. All patrons must be in line to receive tickets, and one ticket will be distributed per person. The line will form in the Music Center foyer, starting near the café. Patrons may enter on the 3rd floor near the skybridge.
Tickets are for general admission seating, which will begin at 3pm, The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, 20852-3385. This concert is not presented by Strathmore.
DEC. 2017
Montgomery County Employment Laws & Information Breakfast, Thursday, December 7 th from 8:30 a.m. – Noon, at the Rockville Memorial Library, 2 nd floor conference room. Employers come and learn what you need to know about Age Discrimination, Sexual Harassment in the workplace and updates on local laws Earn Sick and Safe Leave, Tipped Employee Reporting Requirements, Ban the Box and Minimum Wage.Presentations by the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights, Montgomery County Human Rights Commission, Montgomery County Council Legislative Attorney Office, AARP, The Law Firm of Whiteford, Taylor and Preston, and the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulations, Employment Standard Service. See photos from this event here.
NOV. 2017
Honoring Sue Shoenberg. The Office of Human Rights Mediation Center and Conference Room is officially renamed the Sue Shoenberg Human Rights Mediation Center and Conference Room to honor the late Sue Shoenberg. Mrs. Shoenberg served as a commissioner on the Human Rights Commission for 11 years. She was a lifelong advocate for justice and equality who worked tirelessly to eliminate bigotry, hatred, and violence. Pictured (l to r): Human Rights Vice Chairman William England, County Executive Ike Leggett, Dana Shoenberg, Halley Shoenberg, Bob Shoenberg and Office of Human Rights Director James Stowe.T 
HANKSGIVING PARADE MARCHES IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON
Saturday, November 19 at 10am, the 19th Annual Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade route goes from Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street in downtown Silver Spring, south on Georgia Avenue to Silver Spring Avenue.
Emcee ABC7/WJLA Meteorologist Brian Van De Graaff, announced the parade and introduced the “Annie” performances by Bravo Productions and MTC Adventure Theater, as well as Maryland Youth Ballet’s Nutcracker Suite performance. Parade units will consist of eight marching bands; glittering Thanksgiving and Christmas floats; a 12-foot inflatable turkey and penguin; the Montgomery County Recreation “T-Recs” 12-foot dinosaur; beauty queens; fire engines; and performing dog and rescue animal groups. As always, the Parade will culminate with Santa’s float playing holiday music and featuring the smiling, rosy-cheeked elf, sharing his candy canes.
HANKSGIVING PARADE MARCHES IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON Saturday, November 19 at 10am, the 19th Annual Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade route goes from Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street in downtown Silver Spring, south on Georgia Avenue to Silver Spring Avenue.
Emcee ABC7/WJLA Meteorologist Brian Van De Graaff, announced the parade and introduced the “Annie” performances by Bravo Productions and MTC Adventure Theater, as well as Maryland Youth Ballet’s Nutcracker Suite performance. Parade units will consist of eight marching bands; glittering Thanksgiving and Christmas floats; a 12-foot inflatable turkey and penguin; the Montgomery County Recreation “T-Recs” 12-foot dinosaur; beauty queens; fire engines; and performing dog and rescue animal groups. As always, the Parade will culminate with Santa’s float playing holiday music and featuring the smiling, rosy-cheeked elf, sharing his candy canes.
Oct. 2017
The World of Montgomery Festival celebrates the many cultures of the DC area with traditional arts, multicultural music, food, dance, and hands-on activities. This event was held at the Montgomery College Rockville on Sunday, October 15th, 2017, from noon to 4:00pm.The festival promotes cross-cultural understanding by highlighting the cultural diversity of the DC area through immersive activities and performances. Festival attendees participated in a wide variety of traditional arts — like berimbau instrument-making demoed by the Brazilian Espaço Cultural Samba Trovão, or Kolam painting (using rice flour or powdered rock) by apprentices of master artist Shanthi Chandra Sekar. Other traditional arts on display included material arts, performance, ritual, or ceremony. This year’s festival theme was “harvest.” Read More Here.
June 2017
The Juneteenth Celebration was held Friday, June 16, 2017 at the BlackRock Center for the Arts. This event celebrated the commemoration of the events of June 19-1865 – the day Union Major General Gordon Granger officially declared that the institution of slavery was dead. His announcement came after the official issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln. April 2017
2017 MARYLAND CIVIL RIGHTS EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM EXPERIENCE. 2017 Maryland Civil Rights Educational Freedom Experience held April 8 - 16. The participants of this hour will embark on an inspiration-filled educational experience travelling south to explore the birth place of the Civil Rights Movement. We will retrace the Freedom Trail and learn about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Greensboro Sit-Ins, Voting Rights and other significant events of the American Civil Rights Movement. Among other numerous sites, we will visit the Lorraine Motel, Central High School, the home of Medgar Evers and Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.
One-Stop Fair Housing Shop , A Fair Housing Educational Forum, held Thursday, April 20, 2017, 8;30 am – 1:00 pm, Silver Spring Civic Building. Participants learned about disability and reasonable accommodation provisions, common ownership community requirements, current regulations and legal updates.JAN. 2017
County Executive Isiah Leggett and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Committee held it's Annual Birthday Tribute and Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on Monday, January, 16, 2017, 3:30 p.m. This year’s tribute and celebration focused on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s relentless pursuit for justice. We were excited to showcase a diverse group of talented performers who continued King’s legacy of justice through music, word and dance.This event was held at The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Maryland 20852
See photos from this event here.
Dec. 2016
Civil Rights Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. On Sunday, December 4, 2016 the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights hosted its ninth biennial Human Rights Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown, Maryland. The Human Rights Hall of Fame mission is to honor individuals who have made great personal sacrifices in contributing to human and civil rights in Montgomery County, either as a trailblazerof the past or as current light bearers in the struggle.See Photos From This Event here.
B
lack History Month. Students from the fourth grade class of teacher Melinda Nwoye at Stedwick Elementary School in Gaithersburg helped the Montgomery County Council on Dec. 13, 2016 recognize the annual celebration of Human Rights Day by showing the video they created called “The Lie.” The video features students of various races and nationalities stressing that people of all nationalities should respect each other and that they are not different just because of their heritage. Councilmembers Roger Berliner and Craig Rice led the ceremonies in Rockville, which were also joined by James Stowe, the director of the County’s Office of Human Rights, and Stedwick Principal Margaret Pastor. The video of the Council Proclamation Presentaion can be viewed at https://youtu.be/Ew1iRhY35T8
See archive of other events here.