Events, Upcoming

Community Town Hall: What Does Reconciliation Mean to You?

Anna White


It was wonderful to have three representatives of the Montgomery County Commission on Remembrance and Reconciliation, including Montgomery County’s Office of Human Rights Director James Stowe, join us for the 8th Talbot Avenue Bridge Lantern Walk earlier this month.

At the event, Commission member Jeff Weintraub circulated flyers and made an announcement about a local community event that the Commission is hosting this weekend and that Talbot Avenue Bridge community members may be interested in attending. In case you missed, here are the details:

Community Town Hall and Discussion: What does reconciliation mean to you?

When:     2 pm, Saturday, November 22
Where:     Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center
7995 Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring
Register: http://bit.ly/48VNxrp

Participate in a pre-event public survey: https://forms.gle/ocLgqn2vEUJKaLvF8

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. 

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 

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. 

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

For more information about the event: Click here, or email Human-RightsAdministration@montgomerycountymd.gov. 

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.