For Immediate Release: Friday, September 24, 2021
On Tuesday, Sept. 28 at 9 a.m., special virtual celebration will highlight the resiliency of African business owners
ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 24, 2021—The Montgomery County Council will hold its inaugural African Heritage Month commemoration hosted by Councilmember Will Jawando and Council President Tom Hucker on Tuesday, Sept. 28 at 9 a.m. The theme of this year’s commemoration, which includes a video segment and proclamation presentation, is the "Resiliency of African Businesses during the COVID-19 Pandemic."
The Council will honor the work and tenacity of African business owners from different sectors in Montgomery County. The video segment highlights their businesses, explains how they navigated the pandemic and showcases opportunities for future growth.
“Montgomery County is the first in the nation to proclaim the month of September as African Heritage Month and is home to more than 54,000 Africans, who make up 15 percent of the overall immigrant population,” said Councilmember Jawando. “African businesses are a fast-growing segment of our local economy and each one has fought hard to survive the devastation of the pandemic. As we celebrate African Heritage month, we salute our African businesses and thank them for their many contributions to Montgomery County.”
"African Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate the unique and diverse culture and heritage within the African diaspora," said Council President Hucker. "This year, we are highlighting the contributions of our County's African businesses -- which have faced dire and unprecedented challenges this past year -- and honoring their resiliency throughout the pandemic. Continuing to promote and uplift these businesses is critical as our County recovers from the impacts of the pandemic."
The commemoration will be held on the online communications platform Zoom at the beginning of Tuesday’s Council meeting. It will be streaming live on the Council’s Facebook page, YouTube channel and Council website. Residents also will be able to watch live on television on Comcast/RCN channels 996/1056 Verizon channel 30.
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Release ID: 21-373