Last week, I hosted a webinar as part of the United in Service and Support series. This event focused on housing accessibility and affordability. With housing costs rising significantly faster than wages and more residents struggling to keep a roof over their heads—in part due to the reckless actions of the federal administration—these conversations are more important than ever. 

We were joined by experts from the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Services to End and Prevent Homelessness, the Housing Opportunities Commission, and First Savings Mortgage, who shared valuable resources for renters, homeowners, and those experiencing housing instability. We discussed the alarming rise in homelessness—up 32% over the past year—as well as the county’s increasing eviction numbers. But we also highlighted important progress, including the fact that more than 120 families have been placed into short-term housing in just the past four months, helping to take adults and children off the streets and into safe shelter. 

Our conversation reinforced the urgency of forging consensus around housing solutions. I’m proud to have championed legislation that brings more investment, more innovation, and less red tape to expand housing access and better connect residents with the support they need. I also had the opportunity to highlight these efforts during my recent remarks at the Affordable Housing Conference of Montgomery County, where I discussed the actions we’re taking to address the housing crisis head-on. 

As part of our More Housing N.O.W. initiative, the Council recently passed legislation to streamline the development process and reduce regulatory barriers, including expedited approvals for converting underused commercial space to residential housing and simplified subdivision rules. We also expanded our Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program to support deeply affordable housing projects and are working toward a sustained investment in homeownership opportunities. These initiatives build on our historic housing investments, including $97 million in capital acquisition and preservation funds, a $100 million Housing Production Fund, and $50 million to help nonprofits preserve affordable housing across the county. 

Here in Montgomery County, we are committed to doing everything we can to help residents stay housed and secure. I’m deeply grateful to all of our public and private partners who are working with us through this difficult time to meet this moment. 

Earlier in May, I was deeply honored to receive the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington’s inaugural Community Champion Award, recognizing our work to protect faith communities, combat antisemitism, and supporting services and programs that advance Jewish values. As I left the event with my family—grateful, humbled, and inspired—we soon learned of the horrific targeted attack that killed two members of the Jewish community just miles away outside the Capital Jewish Museum. 

This devastating act of hate is a painful reminder of why we must continue to stand up, speak out, and take action. In Montgomery County, I’ve proudly led efforts to secure nearly $5 million in Nonprofit Security Grants to help protect synagogues, mosques, churches, and cultural institutions at risk of hate crimes. Since the tragedy, increased security measures have been put in place outside local synagogues, underscoring the urgency of this work. 

Our strength comes from being proudly who we are—and from standing together. I remain more committed than ever to ensuring that our Jewish institutions are supported, our communities are protected, and that we respond to hate not with fear, but with unity, action, and resolve. May the memories of Sarah and Yaron be a blessing, and may we honor them through our continued pursuit of peace and justice. 

Recently, I had the privilege of attending two powerful events that remind us how essential it is to preserve our history and confront the injustices of our past to build a more inclusive and equitable future. 

On June 3, I joined community members for the premiere of Help Us to Help Each Other, Lord, a moving documentary from Friends of Moses Hall that tells the story of Morningstar Tabernacle No. 88 in Cabin John. The film highlights the vital role African American benevolent societies played in Maryland during segregation and will soon be used as an educational resource in schools and on public television. 

Just weeks earlier, I participated in the dedication ceremony for Montgomery County’s enhanced lynching commemoration site in Rockville, a solemn obligation to recognize all aspects of our shared history—both the good and the bad. Led by the Commission on Remembrance and Reconciliation, the event honored victims of racial terror lynchings including Mr. Sidney Randolph and Mr. John Dorsey-Diggs, and featured a moving keynote from Dr. Bobbie Legg, a descendant of one of the perpetrators, whose testimony offered a powerful example of truth and reconciliation. 

These efforts remind us that historical reckoning is not about looking backward, it’s a commitment to justice, healing, and ensuring these stories shape a better future for all. 

June is Pride Month, and I’ve been proud to take part in several powerful events honoring our LGBTQ+ community across Montgomery County. 

Earlier this month, I joined Mayor Monique Ashton and the Rockville Human Rights Commission for Rockville Pride in Town Square. The energy there was incredible — with live music, art, and community booths creating a truly welcoming space where people of all ages came together to celebrate authenticity, resilience, and the ongoing fight for equality. 

I also had the honor of raising the Progress Pride Flag alongside federal, state, and local leaders. This ceremony is a meaningful reminder of our county’s promise to be a place where everyone is seen, supported, and safe. 

Friday night, I was able to attend a Drag Bingo event at the BlackRock Center for the Arts—another fun way we celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of our LGBTQ+ community. 

Montgomery County is committed to building a community where everyone can live openly and love freely. Happy Pride Month! 

Last week, I had the honor of participating in the Black Business Forum hosted by the Montgomery County Black Collective, where we engaged in meaningful discussions about breaking down barriers and creating lasting opportunities for Black-owned businesses in our community. 

The event took place at the Brookside Gardens Auditorium in Wheaton and brought together a diverse group of business owners, community advocates, policymakers, and economic experts. Together, we explored practical strategies and policies to support Black entrepreneurs beyond symbolic gestures focusing on real investment, equity, and sustainable growth. 

During the “Legislative Chat: Leveraging Policy & Power” panel, I highlighted the Council’s efforts to expand access to capital, improve procurement opportunities, and remove systemic barriers that have historically limited business growth. I’m proud to stand with these leaders in advancing policies that empower Black-owned businesses and help build a stronger, more inclusive Montgomery County economy. 

I was proud to join Montgomery County Public Schools and the Burtonsville community on May 19 to break ground on the new Burtonsville Elementary School, a vital investment in East County’s future. This spacious, modern facility will open for the 2026–2027 school year and nearly double the current student capacity, addressing years of overcrowding. 

The school will feature bright classrooms, a media center filled with natural light, art rooms next to an outdoor courtyard for hands-on learning, upgraded playgrounds, athletic fields, and sustainable solar panels. A new bus loop and larger cafeteria will help ease daily traffic and improve the school experience for students and families. 

This project is the result of more than a decade of persistent advocacy by parents, educators, and local leaders who pushed for a school designed to meet the community’s needs. As Principal Kimberly Lloyd said, this groundbreaking is about more than constructing a building. It is about creating a foundation for generations of students to learn and grow in a welcoming neighborhood environment, where most kids will finally be able to walk to school safely. 

This new Burtonsville Elementary is a powerful commitment to our children’s education and the future of our community. 

Last month, I had the privilege of joining Councilmembers Marilyn Balcombe and Dawn Luedtke to celebrate the remarkable five-year anniversary of Main Street—an organization I deeply admire for its visionary leadership in building a more inclusive, connected community. 

Main Street has become a national model for inclusive, affordable housing and community-centered programming, empowering individuals of all abilities to live independently and thrive together. Its commitment to accessibility, choice, and dignity has transformed lives and shown what’s possible when we design communities with intention. 

Congratulations to Jillian and Scott Copeland and the entire Main Street team for five years of extraordinary impact, and for proving that inclusion isn’t just an ideal, but a way of life.