In Montgomery County, many minorities have recently felt that they are under represented in decision making; it is visible that the minority population is not accounted for in legislation decisions. This is why district four council member Nancy Navarro proposed Bill 27-19. As an immigrant herself from Caracas, Venezuela and a mother of biracial children, she feels a personal calling to knocking down the racial walls created in government decision making.
Bill 27-19 was created in an effort to create racial equity and social justice program for county government. It is evident that Navarro has diligently been working on hearing the people’s voice. Organized meetings in Germantown, Silver Spring, White Oak and student meetings in Gaithersburg High School have had over 750 Montgomery County residents show up to discuss racial equity and social justice programs in our county.
If passed, this bill will create a greater involvement between all ethnic groups. This will be done by establishing a racial equity and social justice department. The latest executive branch is to be headed by the racial equity officer. Action plans are to be developed by the new department to work towards racial equity involvement in all county departments and offices. Impact statement will become a requirement for decision making within the legislation and budget items. Lastly a racial equity and social justice committee are to be developed. Nancy Navarro personally claims, “Bill 27-19 will ensure that county government is working to dismantle inequity on an individual, institutional and structural level in an organized way with established goals and ongoing benchmarks to evaluate our progress.” Council members hope that as a result of the proposed bill, future legislation may be delegated with the lens of inclusion, racial equity and social justice.
Community members may voice their thoughts at the next public hearing on October 29th at 1:30 and 7 p.m. At the Council Office Building located in 100 Maryland Avenue Rockville Maryland. Registration is online at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council/ or call to 240- 777 – 7803.
Article by Daniela Perez of Northwest High School
Graphic by Charles Wang of Walter Johnson High School