• Release ID: 09-066
• Release Date: 5/11/2009
• Contact: Ben Stutz 240-777-7960 or Tony Hausner301-587-6943
• From: Office of Valerie Ervin

Councilmember Valerie Ervin to Open 1st ‘Safe Silver Spring Summit’ on May 16
Meeting Will Focus on Best Strategies to Keep Revitalized Silver Spring a Vibrant and Safe Community

May 11, 2009—Montgomery County Councilmember Valerie Ervin, whose district includes Silver Spring, will be the opening speaker on Saturday, May 16, at the first “Safe Silver Spring Summit” to be held at Montgomery College’s Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus at 7600 Takoma Avenue. The meeting of community leaders, residents, public safety officials and other organizations is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. in the Science North Building (Room 100).

The summit is being convened by representatives of SSCAB (Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board) and Prezco (Presidents’ Council of Silver Spring Civic Associations). Prezco neighborhoods include East Silver Spring, Indian Spring, Linden, North Hills of Sligo Creek, North Woodside/Montgomery Hills, Park Hills, Seven Oaks-Evanswood, Sligo Branview, South Silver Spring, Woodside, Woodside Forest and Woodside Park.

Silver Spring is a dynamic and diverse urban and suburban community. The mission of Safe Silver Spring is to develop strategies, partnerships and goals to keep Silver Spring a community where people can live, work, travel, shop and play safely.

“I want to commend the leaders of Safe Silver Spring for convening our residents in an open and constructive discussion of public safety issues,” said Councilmember Ervin. “As a 22-year resident of Silver Spring, I know that our community’s safety is paramount and it is one of my top priorities as your Councilmember.”

The first Safe Silver Spring Summit will bring together residents, community leaders, non-profit organizations and public officials to develop an action plan that enables communities to prevent and reduce crime and keep neighborhoods safe.

“Prezco and our partners all believe that law enforcement, the community, businesses and other organizations need to work together to address our concerns with crime and safety in Silver Spring,” said Andrew Kleine of Prezco.

The summit will consist of overview presentations and seven workshops that will be held in the morning and then repeated in the afternoon. Introductory remarks will be made by Lt. Liquorie of the 3rd Police District and State’s Attorney John McCarthy. The seven workshop topics are:
• Making Safe and Civil Public Spaces
• Gangs and Pack Robberies
• Youth: Schools, Truants, and Kids Hanging Out
• Policing, Security, Resources, and Communication
• Por qué y Cómo Comenzar una Vegilancia Communitaria (Why and How to Start a Neighborhood Watch) NOTE: Workshop will be in Spanish
• Silver Spring Central Business District (CBD)
• Residential Neighborhoods adjacent to the SSCBD

Resource experts and community residents will participate in the workshops to develop action plans to address issues in each of these areas. Other organizations participating in this Summit include:
• Office of County Councilmember Valerie Ervin
• 3rd District Police District
• State Attorney’s Office
• Northwest Park Oakview Weed and Seed
• International Corridor C-Safe
• Downtown Silver Spring
• Safe Takoma
• CASA de Maryland
• USDOJ/COPS
• Maryland Office of Crime Control and Prevention
• Montgomery County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
• Maryland Community Crime Prevention Institute
• Montgomery County Public Schools Safe and Drug Free Schools
• Impact Silver Spring
• Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services, Youth Violence Prevention Coordinator and the Street Outreach Network

To register to attend the Summit, send an email to SafeSilverSpring@gmail.com or call 301-431-4185 (ext 212).

When registering, attendees should specify the morning or afternoon session, provide their first two workshop choices and indicate if there is a need for language (e.g., Spanish, Amharic, or sign) language translation or other special needs.