County Officials Kick Off African Heritage Month (VIDEO)
Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett kicked off African Heritage Month on Monday, Sept. 8, at the Silver Spring Civic Building during a reception hosted by members of Montgomery County’s African Affairs Advisory Group.
Leggett presented a proclamation in honor of African Heritage Month, and honored leaders for their contributions to the African Diaspora.
Montgomery County was the first jurisdiction in the nation to proclaim the month of September as African Heritage Month.
“We have been working on the last few years for the broader diverse community for job creation, preparation, and of course making sure that people are trained for jobs in the future,” Leggett said adding that there is still work to be done.
Communication between advisory groups and the executive should be continuum, he said, to make sure “the community is well involved and engaged and continue that over a period of time.”
The special event featured a dance presentation from the Sierra Leone Fly Girls, and African cuisine while celebrating the heritage, culture and the contributions of the African community to the County.
“Since 2008 we’ve been celebrating African Heritage Month here in Montgomery County. … It’s been a great community engagement tool from the office of community of partnerships,” said Daniel Koroma, community liaison to the African and Caribbean communities.
Councilmember Cherri Branson, Elis Woldu, the new chair of the African Affairs Advisory Group, and Solomon Ayele, outgoing chair of AAAG were also present at the event.
Branson said she was raised to remember to always know where she came from.
“It’s about being rooted and grounded,” Branson said.
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