Montgomery County Council proclaims Muslim American Heritage Month and Korean American Day

Montgomery County Council President Natalie Fanny Gonzales opened the Jan. 13 session by proclaiming January 2026 as Muslim American Heritage Month and later read a joint proclamation recognizing Korean American Day.

The morning ceremony included remarks from Noorshayna Ayers, a board member of the Muslim Community Center in Silver Spring, who said the center is celebrating its 50th anniversary and welcomed the county's recognition as a commitment to inclusion and partnership. Asif Hussain, president of the Montgomery County Muslim Council, thanked the council and outlined a calendar of community events for January and Ramadan, urging ongoing engagement beyond the monthlong observance.

Gonzales read the council's Muslim American Heritage Month proclamation, which cited global and local demographic figures and encouraged reporting of Islamophobia to enforcement agencies. In the afternoon the council and county executive's office presented a joint proclamation marking Korean American Day; County Chief Administrative Officer Rich Maddalino and a counselor from the Korean Embassy joined local faith and community leaders to highlight historical ties (including a sister‑city partnership with Daejeon) and cultural contributions.

The proclamations were paired with calls for continued partnership between elected leaders and community organizations on events, services and anti‑bias work. No formal policy changes were made during the presentations; both recognitions were ceremonial and intended to center community visibility and outreach in upcoming county programming.

The council recessed after the proclamations and moved on to scheduled interviews and public hearings.