MoCo Government

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Council unanimously passed a resolution in support of the transgender community. The resolution, led by Councilmembers Sayles, Stewart, Mink, and President Glass, and co-sponsored by Councilmembers Albornoz, Balcombe, Fani-González, Jawando, Katz, Luedtke and Vice President Friedson, affirms Montgomery County as a place that is inclusive of the transgender, nonbinary, gender non-conforming, and wider LGBTQIA+ community, and to condemn all anti-LGBTQIA+ acts.

Recently, hate groups nationwide have targeted transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people as well as events and organizations centering on or supporting those communities. In Montgomery County, hate groups have attempted to disrupt Drag Story Hour at Brookside Gardens, Loyalty Bookstores and more. In February, Bells Mill Elementary School shifted an in-person PTA meeting to virtual after receiving threats following a social media post about a teacher reading a book about a transgender child.

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, April 11 at 9 a.m. and the meeting will begin with two proclamation presentations. The first proclamation recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month will be presented by Councilmember Sidney Katz. The second, presented by Councilmember Gabe Albornoz, will recognize National Public Health Week. The afternoon session will begin at 1:15 p.m. with a proclamation presentation recognizing Black Maternal Health Week, led by Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles. More detail on each agenda item is provided below.

FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program Status Update

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County’s Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI), one of three minority health initiatives that are part of the County’s Department of Health and Human Services, has awarded 10 local organizations a total of $71,000 as part of AAHI’s Asian American Center of Excellence (AACE) micro-grants funding opportunity.

The AACE was launched in January to support Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)-serving community-organizations in developing and increasing their capacity to successfully provide health, wellness and social support programs and services. Through AACE, AAHI offered micro-grants to improve the capacity, sustainability, and infrastructure of smaller AAPI community-based organizations, faith-based institutions, and non-profits.

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County’s Interagency Coalition on Homelessness (ICH) has recommitted to ending homelessness for all groups by the end of 2025. The “Zero for All” campaign will be co-chaired by Bethesda Cares, a community nonprofit organization and member of the ICH.

In 2015, Montgomery County was one of the first four communities in the U.S. to reach functional zero for veterans’ homelessness. Through the Inside (not Outside) campaign, more than 450 adults experiencing chronic homelessness were housed. Between 2013 and 2022, there has been a 41 percent decrease in the number of people experiencing homelessness, including a 50 percent reduction in homelessness for households with children under age 18.

This article has been updated to reflect that homeowners that have already filled out the one-time application will not need to reapply.  Per Montgomery County: A recent Maryland law requires […]

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County will hold a career fair for job seekers 18-and-over from 3-7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3, at the Silver Spring Civic Building. The County is searching for candidates to fill more than 30 types of available positions across a variety of industries. The Silver Spring Civic Building is located at 1 Veterans Place in Silver Spring. Registration is not required to attend, but attendees are encouraged to register in advance at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/JOBFAIR.

The following County departments will be onsite at the event to discuss available opportunities and conduct same-day interviews for select positions, make on-the-spot offers or extend offers within 30 days after the event:

Per Montgomery County: In recognition of March as Women’s History Month, the Montgomery County Commission for Women, Montgomery County Public Libraries and Friends of the Library Montgomery County, Inc. is holding its Sixth Annual “Girl Power Contest.” County residents, ages 5 and up, are encouraged to submit a short story, poem, drawing or entry in the medium of their choice that addresses this year’s theme. The deadline for entries is midnight on Friday, March 31.

In 2022, the Montgomery County Council made history as voters in November elected the County’s first female-majority Council. In honor of this milestone, the following question is the theme for this year’s Girl Power Contest: We now have six women on the Montgomery County Council. What advice would you give them to make sure our community is a place where women and girls can feel safe and encouraged?