NORRISTOWN — Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairwoman Jamila Winder was in the nation’s capital earlier this week to mark a first for Montgomery County.
Winder, the first African-American woman elected to the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, took a moment during Wednesday’s county commissioners’ meeting to share her experience visiting the White House.
Winder was one of nine Black elected officials invited to participate in a roundtable discussion on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., that focused on “the issues that are plaguing the Black community across this country.”
“We talked about issues of gun violence, we talked about affordable housing and (the) homeless crisis, and ways in which we as Montgomery County can optimize some of the reforms and funding that are coming out of the federal government,” Winder said. “Not just for our Black citizens, but for all residents.”
Winder also wanted to “acknowledge other first Black leaders in the county.”
Along with former Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairman Ken Lawrence Jr., who in 2017, was the first African-American person to serve as county commissioner in Montgomery County, Winder spotlighted Coroner Dr. Janine Darby and Register of Wills Tina Lawson. Both are the first Black women elected to their respective positions in Montgomery County.
“We’ve come a long way over the last 40 years since I’ve been a resident of Montgomery County, and the beauty of Montgomery County is our diversity. So let’s take this moment to acknowledge the contributions that our Black friends and neighbors have made for generations to this great county, and this great country … let’s celebrate Black history not just in February, but every month throughout the course of the year,” Winder said.
Montgomery County’s Black History Month programming has events scheduled each Wednesday in February. Visit montgomerycountypa.gov/blackhistorymonth for more information.
