Montgomery County Celebrates African Heritage Month in September

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett will kick off African Heritage Month on September 2nd with a special celebration from 6 – 9 p.m. at the Silver Spring Civic Building at One Veterans Place.

Did you know that Montgomery County is the first in the nation to proclaim the month of September as African Heritage Month?

The annual kickoff event will feature Her Excellency, Ambassador Amina S. Ali, African Union Ambassador to the United States. Ambassador Ali is expected to discuss President Obama’s historic visit to Kenya and Ethiopia and the African Diaspora engagement strategy with local, state and federal government entities.

A reception will be hosted by the Montgomery County African Affairs Advisory Group to honor Ambassador Ali as she bids farewell to the community. She is the first African Union Ambassador to the United States.

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett is scheduled to also present a proclamation at 7:30 p.m. in honor of African Heritage Month.

Information will be provided at the celebration on other events taking place during September commemorating African Heritage Month.

The events include, but are not limited to:

• Saturday, September 6, 10 p.m. — Miss Guinea North America 2015 – The Fillmore Silver Spring;
• Thursday, September 10, 7 p.m. — Healthy Montgomery Community Discussion with the African American, Caribbean and African Affairs Advisory Groups at the Silver Spring Civic Building;
• Tuesday, September 15 and Wednesday, September 16, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. — ADM III African Business Expo and Awards sponsored by USAID and Western Union at the Silver Spring Civic Building;
• Saturday, September 19, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Teaching African Day. Get resources to read, learn and teach about African life;
• Sunday, September 20, 1 p.m. — Montgomery County Friendship Picnic sponsored by the Office of Human Rights and Office of Community Partnerships at Wheaton Regional Park;
• Friday, September 25, 7 to 9 p.m. — African Poetry Night presented by Tayitu Cultural Center at the Silver Spring Civic Building; and
• Saturday, September 26, noon to 10 p.m. — Pan African Cultural Festival at the Silver Spring Civic Plaza, One Veterans Place.

For more information about these events, contact Daniel Koroma at the Office of Community Partnerships at 240.777.2584.

About Sonya Burke

Sonya Burke is the Multimedia Manager at Montgomery Community Media (MCM). You can email story ideas at sburke@mymcmedia.org or reach her on Twitter @SonyaNBurke.

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