Latest knowledge from George Mason College says greater than 54,000 African immigrants dwell in Montgomery County.
SILVER SPRING, Md. — Whereas many loved a sunny stroll round downtown Silver Spring, Metassebia Kefelegn headed straight to the Civics Constructing to be taught extra about her representatives.
Kefelegn, initially from Ethiopia, moved to Montgomery County in 2002. As a member of the Ethiopian Nurses Affiliation in North America (ENANA), she joined dozens of different members of the African Diaspora to attend a city corridor hosted by state delegates Lorig Charkoudian and Jheanelle Okay. Wilkins, and state senator Will Smith.
“I needed to return and listen to what the state is doing for the African group and in addition give my suggestions relating to the nursing occupation,” she mentioned.
Latest knowledge from George Mason College says greater than 54,000 African immigrants dwell in Montgomery County, making up about 16% of the county’s immigrant inhabitants.
After some meals and fellowship, attendees bought to listen to concerning the delegates’ work on matters starting from healthcare to housing. However whereas the delegates highlighted a few of their legislative accomplishments, additionally they let the group know there’s nonetheless work to do, similar to in infrastructure.
“We had a $2 billion shortfall in our transportation finances, so what that meant is that we wouldn’t be capable to begin new tasks,” Wilkins defined. “I do know numerous our constituents contact us on a regular basis about these state roads that want trimming, or we now have potholes in our state roads that must be repaired, so it has an actual influence.”
Attendees additionally bought an opportunity to focus on different points which are essential to them and listen to direct suggestions, which some say is a uncommon alternative for some teams of their group.
“Oftentimes, a few of the sub-communities, the African communities, and the immigrant group normally, generally they’re not heard from. Individuals don’t even know they exist,” mentioned Jevon Brown of the youth soccer outreach group, ESYDA. “Their points usually are not typically heard, so the flexibility to return right here in a unified voice, it’s useful!”
Now people like Kefelegn hope that this will probably be a constructing block to a stronger connection between the African Diaspora and Montgomery County.
“I need individuals to get pleasure from residing right here,” she says. “I don’t need them to maneuver, so I’m doing my half to maintain individuals right here.”
