Trachtenberg Office Attends the May Community Outreach Forum

Naomi Bloch represented Councilmember Trachtenberg’s office at today’s monthly meeting of the Community Outreach Forum, which took place on the 3rd Floor of the Rockville Library in the conference room of the office of Human Rights.

The goals of the Community Outreach Forum include:

• Exchange and coordinate County Government outreach efforts
• Help build relationships among County staff and partners in order to foster collaboration
• Inform ourselves about community issues and best practices

Today’s meeting featured presentations from Lorna Virgili, from the County Executive’s Public Information Office (PIO), who talked to us about the various Spanish media in the County and how best to make use of them. Ms. Virgili reported how a working partnership has been developed between the County Executive’s office and these various media and focused on the H1N1 and 2010 Census as two successful examples of this effort.

We also heard from Sonia Mora – Administrator for the HHS’ Latino Health Initiative (LHI) of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. Ms. Mora gave us a slide presentation explaining the successful outreach strategies being performed by LHI staff and 37 volunteer community members, in order to improve the quality of life of Latinos living in Montgomery County. This is done by the development and implementation of an integrated, coordinated, culturally and linguistically competent health and wellness system that supports and respects Latino families and communities.

Finally, we heard from Rosalinda Delgado, Editor of a Spanish language bi-monthly magazine that she founded called Buena Gente (“Good People”) covering both Montgomery and Frederick Counties.

For more information:

Office of Community Partnerships
Public Information Office
Latino Health Initiative
Buena Gente