Doors will open at 8:30am, a light breakfast spread will be provided. A Community Media Day Proclamation will be given by the Montgomery County Council at 9:30am. The discussion will begin at 9:55am.

Our event aims to foster a meaningful and engaging conversation that explores the following key themes:

The role of community media in promoting and protecting free speech.
Challenges and opportunities for free speech in our current climate
How free speech empowers and unites our diverse community.

We hope to facilitate an open and inclusive dialogue on the role of free speech in the realm of community media. We have assembled a panel of experts who will share their insights, experiences, and ideas, making this an engaging and informative discussion.

Host and MCM CEO, Jasmine White will facilitate the conversation of 2 esteemed panelists, all passionate about free speech. Meet the panelists:

Evan Glass: Evan Glass is President and an At-Large member of the Montgomery County Council. He is the first openly LGBTQ+ individual to serve on the Council and in this role. Now in his second term, Council President Glass is Chair of the Transportation & Environment Committee and a member of the Economic Development Committee. Council President Glass’ priorities for the coming year include addressing housing affordability, striving toward transit equity and achieving Vision Zero, addressing the climate crisis through meaningful environmental legislation and clean energy initiatives, and ensuring that Montgomery County is economically competitive.

Ari Z Brooks: Ari Z. Brooks is the Executive Director of Friends of the Library, Montgomery County. She is also an experienced fundraiser and nonprofit manager having held leadership positions in three not-for-profit organizations for more than twenty-five years in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Her work has primarily focused on engaging and inspiring the community to provide volunteer and philanthropic support to worthy causes.

Mike Wassenaar: Mike Wassenaar is President & CEO of the Alliance for Community Media, the organization which supports, promotes and defends Public, Educational and Government Access television in the United States. He regularly leads seminars and lectures on community-based media organizations throughout the United States, and has made presentations before Congress, the FCC and other national and regional media organizations.

Speak Up, Speak Out: A Community Discussion on Free Speech