Montgomery Parks announces May Speaker Series: Juneteenth: Celebrating the Past and Present

Scotland Heritage Festival Chair LaTisha Gasaway-Paul to discuss the Juneteenth and Montgomery County’s first African American owned community on May 31, at 11 a.m.

WHEATON, Md.– Montgomery Parks is hosting its May Speaker Series on Montgomery County’s first African American owned community and the upcoming Juneteenth federal holiday.  Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival Chair LaTisha Gasaway-Paul will discuss the triumphs of this historic community, the challenges residents face in the present, and their hopes for the future.  
 
What:       May Speaker Series:  Juneteenth: Celebrating the Past and Present   

When:       Wednesday, May 31, 2023 | 11:00 a.m.-Noon 

Where:     The session will be held online. Registration is available via the May speaker series online form     
                  A zoom link will be sent to registrants the day before the session. 
 

Gasaway-Paul, is a fifth-generation resident of Scotland, a Potomac neighborhood that is the first community where African Americans owned land in Montgomery County.  She is working to preserve Scotland’s history and ensure its survival.  Along the way, she is working to develop the Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival into the premiere Juneteenth celebration in the Washington D.C. area and enlisting an interfaith community to help preserve African American history.   

“Montgomery Parks is proud to co-sponsor the Scotland Juneteenth Heritage festival at Cabin John Regional Park,” said Mike Riley, director of Montgomery Parks. “We are honored to be part of this important event and to support this community. It’s sure to be a great event with a community service opportunity, kids’ carnival, and food that will provide fun for everyone on the holiday.” 

Scotland Festival Events will be held June 15-19 at several different locations.  Visit the Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival website for complete details. 

About Montgomery Parks      
Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 420 parks. Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems. MontgomeryParks.org 

Accessibility     
Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office at 301-495-2581 (Voice/TTY), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org to request a disability modification. Visit Montgomery Parks Accessibility for more information.  

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