County’s Commission for Women Inducts Ervin and Forehand

Valerie Ervin

At the closing ceremonies of the 2014 Women’s Legislative Briefing held last month, the County’s Commission for Women (CFW) inducted former Council member Valerie Ervin and State Senator Jennie Forehand into its Montgomery County Women’s History Archives. The archives was created in 2002 to recognize the contributions of women of historical significance to the County.

Ervin was elected to the Montgomery County Board of Education in 2004 where she served as chairperson of the Research and Evaluation Committee.  She was NAACP Parents’ Council representative and a founding member of Blacks United for Excellence in Education.  In 2006, she became the first African American woman to be elected to the Montgomery County Council.  Five years later she was elected Council president. Her legislative agenda included making changes that promote the interests of working families.

Jennie Forehand

Forehand served in the Maryland House of Delegates between 1978 and 1994 and, in the Senate from 1995 to the present.  She will retire effective January 2015. During her 35 years in elected office, she has been an ardent supporter of women and of legislation that supports women and families.  Early in Forehand’s legislative career, she took the lead on such issues as domestic violence, day care access, family leave, child support, reproductive freedom and greater representation of women in the judiciary.

The biographies and photographs of Ervin and Forehand are featured on the CFW’s website.

The Montgomery County Commission for Women is a 15-member advisory board established by County law in 1972.  The commissioners are appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Council.  The CFW is charged with the responsibility of advising the County Executive, County Council, the public and the agencies of the County, State and Federal governments on issues of concern to women.

For more information on the Commission for Women, call 240-777-8333 or visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/cfw.

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