More than 225 women gathered at BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown to celebrate International Women’s Day and to discuss ways to bring more women into positions of power.
The theme of March’s Women’s History Month is Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Following breakfast Friday, the women listened to speakers and then met in small groups to bring equity, diversity and inclusion into economic development, public safety, public health and education.
The event was spearheaded by Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles along with the other five female members of the nine-member county council – Kate Stewart, Kristin Mink, Marilyn Balcombe, Natali Fani-González and Dawn Luedtke.
“It starts with the people here in this room. There are so many powerful people here,” Balcombe declared.
Keynote Speaker Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman noted, “There are still glass ceilings to break, but when we work together, we can break them.”
Other speakers included Dr. Anne Khademian, executive director of the Universities at Shady Grove; Sylvia Henderson, president of Montgomery Women; Dorcus Richards, Assistant Fire Chief for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service; and Dr. Kisha Davis, Montgomery County Health Officer.
Getting ready for an exciting day ahead! Thank you to all who came to @BlackRockCenter to celebrate Women’s History Month on International Women’s Day! #MoCoWHM #IWD24 pic.twitter.com/0Tra32eEVC
— Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles (@CM_Sayles) March 8, 2024
If you have preconceived notions of what a police officer or firefighter should look like. Think again. Asst Chief Dee Richards was so on point this morning at the Montgomery County Women’s History Month event this morning. @mcpnews @mcfrs @MontgomeryCoMD pic.twitter.com/7Pb5nZbzFo
— CM Marilyn Balcombe (@MarilynBalcombe) March 8, 2024
Thank you to the first-ever female Comptroller for Maryland, @BrookeELierman, for joining us to deliver today’s keynote speech! @MDComptroller pic.twitter.com/Lr9bsUdktU
— Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles (@CM_Sayles) March 8, 2024
