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Dear Friends,
I want to thank Chief Administrative Officer Rich Madaleno for filling in for me on this week’s media briefing and video as I was away. He and our guests highlighted Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the efforts we make at the local level to help victims.
One goal to “make Montgomery County purple” this month is to help increase awareness, education, and community engagement about domestic violence.
Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior used by one partner to maintain power and control over another in a current or former intimate relationship. It is not only physical. It can be threats, isolation, stalking, financial control, and psychological abuse.
You can’t tell what’s going on inside a home strictly from outward appearances. What may look like a stable or successful family from the outside can mask fear, control, and harm behind closed doors. That is part of what makes it so hard for people to come forward, and so easy for the warning signs to be missed or dismissed.
Here are some national statistics to consider:
- More than one in three women in the United States have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime.
- More than one in six men have as well.
- Nearly one in three women, and more than one in five men, have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner.
These statistics do not only deal with strangers. They are present in every community. That is why awareness matters. It is why early intervention matters.
In Montgomery County, we have worked to build a system that meets people where they are and provides a path to help. The Domestic Violence Coordinating Council works across agencies and with community partners to strengthen prevention, improve responses, and make sure victims are not navigating this alone.
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The Family Justice Center (240-773-0444) brings legal assistance, counseling, safety planning, and other critical services together in one location, so that a survivor does not have to retell their story at one door after another. The Crisis Center (240-777-4000) is open 24 hours a day. Trauma Services provides care for people dealing with the impact of violence, including a 24/7 crisis line (240-777-4673). If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, the first call should be 911.
We cannot prevent every tragedy. But we can make it easier for people to get help before a situation escalates. That means continuing to invest in these services, continuing to talk about this openly, and continuing to let people know that help is available.
Victims deserve these resources and our help. Learn some of the telltale signs of abuse, like a friend who becomes withdrawn or cut off from the people they love. A partner who is too controlling or makes someone afraid to speak freely. Small changes can be signals.
If something concerns you, take it seriously. Check in privately and without judgment. You do not need the perfect words. You need to listen, to believe, and to say, “I am here, and help is available.”
Share those contact numbers for the Family Justice Center, and the Crisis Center at work, at church, and at school—places where victims and advocates will see them. Save them on your phone so they’re easier to share when you need them.
Silence protects the person causing harm. Every time we talk about this openly, we make it a little easier for someone to ask for help. If you need help, ask for it. There are people here who will respond.
You can also listen to the discussion on the media briefing.
Focus on Pedestrian Safety
This week in Silver Spring, we celebrated Walk and Roll to School Day at Glenallen Elementary (photos and video) and 30 other schools across Maryland. The goal was to highlight safe routes to school. I want to thank the County Councilmembers, the Department of Transportation (MCDOT), the Fire and Rescue Service, and the Department of Police leaders who attended the event.
Specifically, I want to thank MCDOT for its outreach efforts this week and throughout the year. They do a great job of getting into our schools, visiting neighborhood grocery stores, and showing up during community events to provide information that can save lives. You can request a visit to your school, church, or organization through the MCDOT website.
Parents should find out how to get their schools to participate in the Safe Routes to School program. You can check whether a walkability audit is planned for your neighborhood school or view the results of those already completed.
We’ve made it a priority to add sidewalks in areas that will make it safer to get to Cabin John Middle School, Martin Luther King Middle School, Northwood High School, Roscoe Nix Elementary, and Travilah Elementary. That’s nearly 5.5 miles of new sidewalks since mid-July 2025. You can see an example of a safety assessment report done ahead of improvements here.
The hope is that all these efforts give families and students the confidence to bike, scooter, and walk more. It’s not just about getting to school but encouraging more of our youth to get outside and be active.
Powerful Women Recognized
I want to mention the inclusion of several women with ties to Montgomery County on the Washingtonian magazine’s recent list of Most Powerful Women in Washington.
The first is Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller. She’s the 10th Lieutenant Governor and the first woman of color and immigrant elected to statewide office in Maryland. She is a former County employee who worked as a civil and transportation engineer with our Department of Transportation before serving two terms as a Maryland delegate representing District 15.
Aruna has lived in Montgomery County for 30 years. Like many of our residents, she was born outside the U.S. and moved from Andhra Pradesh, India, when she was seven years old. I can’t think of a better person to represent Montgomery County in Annapolis or on this list of distinguished women of Washington. Here are the other businesswomen, philanthropists, and political leaders on the list.
- Monica Jeffries Hazangeles, President and CEO, Strathmore
- Michele Jawando, CEO, Omidyar Network
- Emily Wei Rales, Cofounder and Director, Glenstone
- LeighAnn Sidone, President and Chief Operating Officer, Suburban Hospital
- Debara Tucci, Director, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health
- Nora D. Volkow, Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health
Rep. April McClain Delaney, who represents portions of Montgomery County, and Senator Angela Alsobrooks, who represents our entire state as the junior senator for Maryland, were also on the list. Everyone who was recognized deserves our respect and thanks for serving our community.
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VITA Volunteers Needed
There is a need for volunteers to help with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides tax preparation assistance to families earning $71,000 or less annually.
Last year, volunteers in Montgomery County gave 3,418 hours to help nearly 2,500 local households. The work delivered nearly $8.9 million back into our community. That effort helps more people achieve financial stability, alleviating the burden of other obligations such as bills, food, and medicine.
Too many working families pay for tax preparation they can’t afford or miss out on critical credits because the tax system is confusing. VITA provides free tax preparation to residents who are getting by on far less than the average family in our area.
The call for volunteers begins now, with a need for IRS-certified tax preparers, quality reviewers, intake screeners, and interpreters, especially Spanish-fluent volunteers.
All volunteers receive free training, with flexible hours across sites in Rockville, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, and Wheaton. High school students can earn Student Service Learning hours by volunteering through VITA. You can find our volunteer interest form here.
Make plans to learn more through a virtual information session about VITA and how you can help on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 11 a.m. or 6 p.m. Call 240-777-1123 or visit the VITA website to sign up today.
Active Aging Week
I want to celebrate an incredible Active Aging Week in Montgomery County. This week, we saw more than 50 programs, events, and activities designed for adults ages 55 and older. The goal was to promote the benefits of physical, mental, and intellectual activity as people age.
Aging with dignity is a priority for County government. Montgomery County is proud to be an AARP Age-Friendly Community—one of only six jurisdictions in Maryland, and by far the largest, to earn that designation. Recognized as a 2022 Achievement Award winner by the National Association of Counties, our Active Aging Week agenda reflects our core values of inclusion, dignity, and community support.
This week, the County shared results from a community needs assessment conducted using a countywide survey released earlier this year. The company behind the survey determined that Montgomery County is one of the strongest places in the nation to grow older. It also found that, despite now accounting for just 24% of the population, residents 60 or older are projected to grow nearly four times as fast.
The celebration kicked off on Monday with the “Go, Grow, and Get Active” event at the Nancy H. Dacek North Potomac Community Recreation Center, giving participants a way to be creative, exercise, and form new connections. The event also allowed us to provide guidance and health screenings for bone density and blood pressure, as well as mental health resources. I want to thank our Departments of Environmental Protection, Health and Human Services, Public Libraries, and Recreation—alongside the City of Gaithersburg, local hospitals, and community nonprofits for making this week meaningful.
Staying active and connected is vital at every stage of life. If you’re interested in putting your talents to work for our community, I encourage you to join the 50+ Volunteer Network. It focuses on leveraging the professional and personal skills of our older adults and using those resources within our nonprofits and government agencies. You can learn more about this and other opportunities at montgomeryserves.org.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
County Executive
Read the original article at mcgov
