Minority Communities Present Legislative Priorities to Government Officials (VIDEO)

A list of fifteen legislative priorities was presented to government officials during the 14th Annual Minority Legislative Breakfast on Dec. 9 in Bethesda at the Marriott Hotel.

The event was sponsored by the Asian American Political Alliance, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County, and African American Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County.

Together, these communities presented a common agenda that included priorities to enhance economic development for minority business owners, reduction of the achievement gap, and programs to eliminate language barriers.

Ginny Gong, vice president of Asian American Political Alliance, said the meeting was about making sure Montgomery County is a better place for all.

“It’s about communities that represent a significant percent of Montgomery County’s population that come together to put forward a common agenda and to ask our elected officials to deal with these issues,” Gong said.

During the meeting, Montgomery County Council President George Leventhal said the County Council wants “a county that works,” and they are planning to put in place two task forces to develop strategies for the growth of minority owned businesses in the community.

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett said the county has implemented changes to help local small businesses, but there is work to be done.

“I think we’ve made a lot of progress in changing a lot of our rules, regulations, and procedures. We still have a lot of ways to go,”

Montgomery County Board of Education officials were also at the event. Philip Kauffman, Board of Education President reinforced the need to have funds for school construction.

“We need resources to build additional capacity,” Kauffman said.

Janice Freeman, president of the Montgomery County African American Chamber of Commerce, believes economic sustainability is the key to minority businesses success.

“I’m looking forward for the task force that the county council is putting in place,” she said.

Click here to find out more information about the communities’ 2014 legislative priorities.

About Aline Barros

Aline Barros is a multimedia reporter and community engagement specialist with Montgomery Community Media. She can be reached at Abarros@mymcmedia.org and on Twitter at @AlineBarros2.

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