Adrian for Laurel

»Juneteenth Festival«

The first half of the summer has been chock full of great activities, including our City’s Juneteenth Festival marking Freedom Day when the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation reached Texas at the end of the Civil War. Residents and vendors were out for a beautiful afternoon, including guest vocalists and the Laurel Boys & Girls Club Wildcats (one of whom is pictured below receiving a special proclamation from the Mayor). I also had a chance to connect with Mr. Joseph Fisher of First Generation College Bound and listened as he shared the importance of a values-driven culture supporting youth to provide them a springboard to their future. If you haven’t been out to City’s annual Juneteenth Festival, I recommend you check it out and help mark this important turning point in our nation’s history.

Photo credit: City of Laurel

»Maryland Municipal League Summer Conference«

Each year hundreds and hundreds of Maryland’s Mayors, Councilmembers, City Department Heads, and more convene for an annual summer conference to learn and share ways to help their municipalities be successful. Certification classes I took at the event included topics such as Open Meetings Act, Public Information Act, Municipal Employment Law, Social Media & 1st Amendment, Planning for Continuity of Operations, and Cyber risks for Municipal Governments. I also participated in the pre-conference tour of the historic town of Snow Hill where I connected with their Economic Development Director and Main Street Non-profit & got a number of good ideas to bring back to Laurel (more to come on that down the road).

»City Hall in the Park«

A great way to connect with City elected representatives and City Departments are at the monthly summer City Halls in the Park. This month’s was held at Marcus Colbert Community Park and was well attended, featured food and kid face painting, and a great opportunity to connect and hear questions and topics on everyone’s minds. I met a couple who had just moved to Laurel two weeks prior and were able to share experiences and ideas for work they have done that will help benefit Laurel. And during our open Q&A session, multiple residents shared their interest in seeing Laurel attract a great array of businesses to build up the economic vibrancy of our town, something very near and dear to my heart as well. Thank you for everyone who came out, to our City team for putting on the event, and the next one will be on Thursday, August 28 starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Greenview Drive Cabana.

Photo credit: City of Laurel