The Montgomery County Commission on Remembrance and Reconciliation will host a community town hall program at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center, Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus. The Cultural Arts Center is located at 7995 Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring. 

The program will include a panel discussion with experts on reconciliation efforts at the local, national, and international levels, followed by breakout sessions where attendees can help shape what reconciliation looks like in Montgomery County—through policy, education, the arts, memorials, community dialogue, and more. 

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“Reconciliation takes honesty, time, and work,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “We have a painful history in Montgomery County and facing it directly is the only way to build a fairer future. This town hall is an opportunity to listen, learn, and chart a path for action. I appreciate the Commission on Remembrance and Reconciliation for leading this effort, and I encourage residents to join us and help shape and guide our policies, education and engagement efforts, memorials, and everyday conversations.” 

 Panelists will include: 

• Dr. Karsonya Whitehead, associate professor, Communication and African and African American Studies, Loyola University Maryland and founding executive director, The Emilie Frances Davis Center for Education and Research
• Rev. Timothy B. Warner, pastor, Emory Grove United Methodist Church
• Del. Charlotte Crutchfield, MD state delegate and Rockville community member 
• Prof. Diane Orentlicher, American University, Washington College of Law, expert on international reconciliation efforts 

Residents can register for the event at http://bit.ly/48VNxrp  

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Prior to the event, the Commission encourages residents to participate in a public survey at https://forms.gle/ocLgqn2vEUJKaLvF8 to share their ideas about what reconciliation means to them. Survey responses will be reviewed and summarized at the Nov. 22 event and will help inform the Commission’s future work. 

Montgomery County is at a pivotal moment in its racial history. Across the County, individuals, organizations, and communities are taking courageous steps to confront the past, heal old wounds, and build bridges toward unity. This work is happening in quiet conversations, community collaborations, classrooms, and now, through this public forum. 

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The Montgomery County Commission on Remembrance and Reconciliation is supported by the County’s Office of Human Rights. 

For more information, email [email protected]. 

The Commission meets monthly. Meetings are open to the public, and the time and dates of each meeting are published on the Office of Human Rights calendar and on the County calendar.   

The Montgomery County Commission on Remembrance and Reconciliation publicly highlights often-overlooked historical events that have had a critical impact on Montgomery County’s African American residents and that continue to shape the County today. This includes the Commission’s recognition of three men who were victims of racial terror lynchings in the late 19th century. The Commission also encourages and facilitates initiatives that, inspired by this difficult history, seek to understand its legacy and build bridges of reconciliation among many segments of the community. 

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