May 18, 2010
May 4, 2010
Considering Diverse Cultures – and How to Reach Them – at Next ReThink Montgomery Speaker Series
THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION
MEDIA ADVISORY
For immediate release:
May 3, 2010
For more information, contact:
Valerie Berton
Communications Manager
Montgomery County Planning Department
(301) 495-4600
Considering Diverse Cultures – and How to Reach Them – at Next ReThink Montgomery Speaker Series
SILVER SPRING, MD – Montgomery County is home to many diverse cultures. This week, the Planning Department’s Rethink Montgomery http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/rethink> Speaker Series will explore how members of cultural communities communicate and connect – both outside and within their communities.
On Thursday, Reemberto Rodriguez, director of the Silver Spring Regional Services Center, Megan Moriarty of IMPACT Silver Spring, Rassa Davoodpour, a leader in the Persian community, and Tebabu Assefa, an Ethiopian community leader and activist, will participate in a panel discussion on the communication norms within groups bound by a common culture.
At the fifth discussion of the ReThink Montgomery series, panelists will be asked to reflect about how people within their cultural circle think about community connections and county planning.
In his county-appointed position at the regional services center, Rodriguez oversees policy development and the delivery of public services for the Silver Spring area. Previously, he worked as a training manager for a community building program and coordinated curriculum for the Community Leadership Institutes, a group of residents, volunteers, and partners of NeighborWorks Network member organizations. His background includes community organizing, leadership development, civic participation, community design, urban planning, and teaching at the graduate level.
Moriarty of IMPACT leads a team of staff, residents and community partners responsible for building a network in the Wheaton area and supporting residents along a continuum of leadership development and community action. Prior to her job with IMPACT, she worked for the Montgomery County Community Foundation and at the Inter-American Foundation managing grassroots development projects in Central America.
Davoodpour is a manager with the Office of Special Projects in the county’s Department of General Services who focuses on moving and expanding existing uses to different sites from a macro perspective to provide long-term solutions for public facility needs.
Actively involved in Persian communities since her arrival in the U.S. in 1979, Davoodpour served on the board for the Iran Cultural and Educational Center, which preserves and promotes Iranian culture.
Ethiopian native Tebabu Assefa works in the fine arts and communication, including development of a marketing strategy to bridge 130,000 small coffee growers of Ethiopia, organized under a cooperative union, with the global fair trade market. He also supports enterprise in the local African-American and Caribbean markets with projects such as Africa Unbound, the Ethiopian Cultural Museum of Chicago, and Greener Ethiopia, a community based tree planting program. In 2008, Assefa was awarded the community activist award by the Takoma Foundation, where he now serves as a board member and is Governor O’Malley appointee to the Governor's Commission on African Affairs.
Continuing education credits (AICP certification maintenance credits) are pending for planning professionals. Learn more at www.montgomeryplanning.org/rethink
Who:
Reemberto Rodriguez, director, Silver Spring Regional Services Center
Megan Moriarty, community organizer, IMPACT Silver Spring
Rassa Davoodpour, a leader in the Iranian community
Tebabu Assefa, an Ethiopian community leader and activist
What:
ReThink Montgomery Speaker Series – Culture
When:
7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 6
Where:
Park and Planning Headquarters auditorium
8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring
April 29, 2010
Community Alert!!
The 3rd District Station wants to alert community members that since Friday, April 16th there have been ten residential burglaries to apartments in the Briggs Chaney Area. Most burglaries are occurring during the daytime hours, involve forced entry into the apartment and where known, laptop computers have been most frequently targeted.Please be aware of these incidents and report all suspicious activity to the Police Non-Emergency Line at 301-279-8000.
April 21, 2010
2010 Summer Computer Camps for Girls
A special computer camp program, designed for girls in grades 6-8, is offered by Montgomery College in partnership with the Montgomery County Commission for Women. The lucky girls who attend will explore information technology and learn how technology is being used in new and exciting ways.
Studies have found that fewer than 20% of the students taking computer programming courses are girls, and women are vastly under-represented in information technology careers. In fact, in our own school system, computer programming classes often have just one girl or even no girls enrolled. Yet, computer programming is one of the fastest growing fields and provides some of the best paying career opportunities.
Our hope is that through these camps, girls will see the importance of technology in their lives, and their interest in pursuing a technology career may be sparked. These camps are staffed with MCPS faculty, and are offered on all three of the college’s campuses (Takoma Park/Silver Spring, Germantown, and Rockville).
Girls interested in the camp, who do not need financial assistance, may apply directly to the college. Those seeking need-based scholarships should apply through the County’s Commission for Women. A limited number of full scholarships for these camps are available for girls who qualify for the Free and Reduced Price Meal (FARM) program.
Please share this information with the faculty and students in your school and we encourage you to identify eligible girls who might be interested. Copies of all materials and forms may be found at the Commission’s website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/cfw or call (240) 777-8330. The materials and forms may be duplicated as needed.
April 19, 2010
Montgomery to Implement Accessory Apartment Disclaimer Following Councilmember Nancy Navarro’s Request
Disclaimer Will Help Prevent Violation of HOA Covenants
ROCKVILLE, Md., April 16, 2010—Applications for special exceptions for accessory apartments in Montgomery County will now include disclaimers that Homeowners Association (HOA) covenants may not allow the apartments, following a request by County Councilmember Nancy Navarro (District 4) to clarify a situation that has been a source of problems for HOAs.
In a March 26 letter to Katherine Freeman, executive director of the County’s Board of Appeals, Councilmember Navarro outlined why the County needed to address the issue.
“It has come to my attention that applicants may receive special exceptions for accessory apartments even where their Homeowners Association (HOA) specifically prohibits them,” Councilmember Navarro wrote. “In these circumstances, HOAs are often forced to incur costly legal fees to defend their covenants in court. I believe that a simple disclaimer on the special exception application for accessory apartments, stating that a resident’s HOA covenant may prohibit accessory apartments even if a special exception is granted, would prevent many of the difficulties and expense HOAs and residents have encountered due to the confusion surrounding this issue.”
Councilmember Navarro then asked that the Board of Appeals include such a disclaimer on its accessory apartment applications.
“This modest and inexpensive change may go a long way toward preventing future problems,” she wrote.
In a March 26 letter to Katherine Freeman, executive director of the County’s Board of Appeals, Councilmember Navarro outlined why the County needed to address the issue.
“It has come to my attention that applicants may receive special exceptions for accessory apartments even where their Homeowners Association (HOA) specifically prohibits them,” Councilmember Navarro wrote. “In these circumstances, HOAs are often forced to incur costly legal fees to defend their covenants in court. I believe that a simple disclaimer on the special exception application for accessory apartments, stating that a resident’s HOA covenant may prohibit accessory apartments even if a special exception is granted, would prevent many of the difficulties and expense HOAs and residents have encountered due to the confusion surrounding this issue.”
Councilmember Navarro then asked that the Board of Appeals include such a disclaimer on its accessory apartment applications.
“This modest and inexpensive change may go a long way toward preventing future problems,” she wrote.
Earlier this week, Ms. Freeman notified Councilmember Navarro that the members of the Board of Appeals concurred that adding a disclaimer would be a valuable addition to the applications.
The Board of Appeals approved the following language for the disclaimer: “Please note: Approval of a special exception is separate from Homeowner Association (HOA) and Condominium agreements and covenants, which may prohibit accessory apartments. Homeowners should consult their Condominium or HOA documents. The Board of Appeals cannot enforce HOA or Condominium covenants, which are private contractual agreements.”
Councilmember Navarro said today that the disclaimer could make a significant difference for HOAs and for applicants.
“Providing this information to applicants will go a long way toward preventing neighborhood conflicts,” said Councilmember Navarro. “I thank the Board of Appeals for listening to community concerns and acting upon my request.”
The Board of Appeals approved the following language for the disclaimer: “Please note: Approval of a special exception is separate from Homeowner Association (HOA) and Condominium agreements and covenants, which may prohibit accessory apartments. Homeowners should consult their Condominium or HOA documents. The Board of Appeals cannot enforce HOA or Condominium covenants, which are private contractual agreements.”
Councilmember Navarro said today that the disclaimer could make a significant difference for HOAs and for applicants.
“Providing this information to applicants will go a long way toward preventing neighborhood conflicts,” said Councilmember Navarro. “I thank the Board of Appeals for listening to community concerns and acting upon my request.”
Letter to the Board of Appeals
Montgomery County Board of Appeals Response to Councilmember Navarro's Letter
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