Gilchrist Center Changes Name on 15th Anniversary

The Charles W Gilchrist Center, the County’s immigrant resource center, celebrated its 15^th anniversary at the World of Montgomery Festival on Oct. 16 at the Rockville Campus of Montgomery College, according to a news release from the center.

As part of the anniversary celebration, in order to better reflect the center’s work over the last 15 years, the Center changed its name to the Charles W. Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center.

“In order to better reflect the Center’s work, we decided to change the name,” said Kaori Hirakawa, program manager for the Charles W. Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center. “When we were created 15 years ago, the vision was slightly different.”

The Gilchrist Center first opened its doors on September 8, 2001 as the Charles W. Gilchrist Center for Cultural Diversity in Wheaton. The Center was established by former County Executive Doug Duncan and named in honor of Montgomery’s second County Executive whose welcoming spirit is carried on by the Center’s work to support immigrant residents.

The Gilchrist Center is a resource for County immigrants where they can obtain information and referrals to programs and services offered by government agencies and community organizations. Center sites are located in Wheaton, Gaithersburg, Germantown and East County.

Click here for more information about the center and resources they offer.

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