 February is recognized as Black History Month and County Executive Marc Elrich says it is a prime opportunity to learn, discuss and contemplate the accomplishments and contributions of Black Americans and to better understand the long-lasting impacts of systemic racism. He attended the first State of the State address by new Governor Wes Moore, leaving with optimism about new perspectives and priorities. County Executive Elrich offers details on how $800,000 in grants will help the security needs of nonprofit and religious organizations that could be the targets of hate crimes. And following the murder of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, he reflects on how police reforms in Montgomery County over the past three years have the potential to make a difference.
 Montgomery County community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions decreased by 30 percent between 2005 and 2020, despite a 13 percent growth in population, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) GHG emission inventories.
 Rosa Parks became a key figure in the Civil Rights era when she refused to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery, Ala., public transit bus and was arrested in 1955. Recognizing her life and legacy, Montgomery County will join in the celebration of “Transit Equity Day,” which is observed on her birthday, Feb. 4, by reserving a seat on every Ride On bus operated by the County Department of Transportation.
 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich was joined by County Council Vice President Andrew Friedson and members of the County Council in Rockville this week for the announcement that a total of $800,000 in grant funding will be provided to 91 County organizations to improve security and deter hate crimes. The funds will come through the County’s Nonprofit Security Grants program.
 Nominations are now being accepted for the 2023 Montgomery County “Women Making History Award.” The award is presented by the Montgomery County Commission for Women and Montgomery Women. The deadline for nominations is 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7.
 A diverse selection of educational and entertaining programs celebrating Black History Month will be hosted by Montgomery Parks throughout February.
 Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) is offering a series of free author talks from February to April 2023 in partnership with the Office of Community Partnerships’ Middle Eastern American Advisory Group (MEAGG) and the Baltimore Luxor Alexandria Sister City Committee. The free talks will include Reem Faruqi on Tuesday, Feb. 7; Mojdeh Bahar on Tuesday, March 7; and Diana Abu-Jaber on Tuesday, April 11.
 Registration for Montgomery County Recreation’s (MCR) spring programs begins at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 13 for County residents for most program and activities. Registration for Bone Builders, Day Trippers and Senior Outdoor Adventures in Recreation (SOAR) will begin at 9 a.m.
 Montgomery County Recreation is working to ensure the dream of attending prom can come true for all high school students. The department is collecting gently used and new dresses, suits and accessories that students will be able to choose from during “Praisner’s Project Prom Dress” giveaway event on Saturday, April 15, at Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center in Burtonsville.
 County residents who are ages 100 and older or will turn 100 in 2023 will be honored in May at a special celebration. Montgomery County Recreation is now seeking to identify those residents so they can be invited to the event.
 The Montgomery County Commission on Veterans Affairs will honor County U.S. Uniformed Service members and veterans with detailed virtual tributes displayed on the County’s website to mark Black History Month in February. The tributes will include photos, background information and details of accomplishments during their military careers and afterward.
 The annual “GreenScapes” landscape symposium of Brookside Gardens will be held online from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17. The focus of this year’s program is “Designing with Purpose.”
 The Montgomery Art Association (MAA) member exhibition is now on display at the Benjamin Gaither Center in Gaithersburg through March 26. The featured artists will be available at a free reception from 6:30-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21. The exhibit and reception are open to the public.
 The RainScapes Rebate Program application portal of Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection is open. The portal will have information on installing a RainScapes program and will offer guidance on selecting the right type of project to get started. However, the portal will only be open through March 31.
 “African American Culinary Traditions,” a free online presentation from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7, led by the mother-daughter hosts Sheryl Brissett Chapman and Chana Brissett Chinegba, will feature a diverse array of community members sharing their food memories and family culinary traditions. The event, which is presented by Silver Spring Town Center, Inc., will be held via Zoom.
 Eighteen organizations and individuals were recently honored with Martin Luther King Peacemaker Awards at a ceremony sponsored by Montgomery County’s Street Outreach Network, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services' Positive Youth Development program. The awards organizations and individuals were honored for their peacemaking work to make Montgomery County a better place to live.
 Low-to-moderate income Montgomery County residents may be eligible for free tax income tax preparation assistance from the Community Action Agency’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) partnership. VITA hosts tax preparation assistance for households earning $60,000 or less.
 Montgomery County businesses conducting research in biotechnology, medicine or life sciences may be eligible to receive Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) matching grants to assist with their research funding and commercialization activities. Applications for grants will open at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15.
 Montgomery County Public Libraries will offer online workshops and one-on-one sessions geared toward assisting job seekers throughout February. All workshops are free.
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