Howard County Office of Human Rights & Equity

06/12/2026

Just over a week to go until our Howard County Juneteenth Community Day & Block Party on Saturday, June 20th from 10am-3pm! Register at bit.ly/HoCoJuneteenth26 to receive the full program and make sure you don't miss out on any of the incredible workshops, classes, and activities we'll have on offer!

Our next set of workshops offer an opportunity to connect, to learn, and to uplift the voices, stories, and histories that have too often been overlooked, misunderstood, and erased. Join our expert lecturers on a fascinating and insightful journey through the history that shapes our current context, reminding us that freedom is not just a moment in history, but a lived experience that continues to evolve.

Workshop schedule:
10am-WHAT IS YOUR WHY? Finding the Spark That Ignites Your Flame with Jonathan McKinney

10am-The Lines We Cross: 250 Years of Maryland Forging America with Robert T. Parker of The Reginald F. Lewis Museum

1pm-Juneteenth: Justice Delayed with Steph Bertrand of the Howard County Office of Human Rights & Equity

2pm-Tracing the Shades of African American Freedom for the Land Where We Stand with Marlena Jareaux of HoCo Roots Revisited, Inc.

[Description: 4 graphic flyers with workshop descriptions for Juneteenth programming. Additional details in Alt Text.]

06/11/2026

Mark your calendars for our Howard County Juneteenth Community Day & Block Party on Saturday, June 20th from 10am-3pm! Register at bit.ly/HoCoJuneteenth26 to receive a full program and make sure you don't miss out on any of the incredible workshops, classes, and activities we'll have on offer.

Video credit: Gavin Lampasone

Head to the Lois Wooten Library between 1-3pm to participate in a filmed interview series with filmmaker and recent Howard County high school graduate Gavin Lampasone exploring the richness of oral history and personal stories as touchstones for preserving culture, history, and community.

[Description: AJ, a young man wearing a black t-shirt and jean shorts, walks around the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center while a small group of people play playground games in the background.]

06/10/2026

It was an absolute pleasure having our SY25/26 intern Yoni with us at the Howard County Office of Human Rights and Equity! He built genuine connections across the office, learning from staff experiences while bringing a radiant, joyful presence that made him a cherished colleague to everyone. His unwavering passion for social justice and insightful contributions to our Outreach Unit made a lasting impact, and we will miss him immensely.

[Description: three photos of OHRE staff standing with our high school intern, Yoni. Additional details in Alt Text.]

06/09/2026

Two weeks to go until our Howard County Juneteenth Community Day & Block Party on Saturday, June 20th from 10am-3pm! Register at bit.ly/HoCoJuneteenth26 to receive a full program and make sure you don't miss out on any of the incredible workshops, classes, and activities we'll have on offer!

Our next set of workshops will be led by an incredible group of facilitators, body workers, healers, educators, and advocates who will focus on rooting freedom and liberation practices in the mind and body. Join us for any or all of these revitalizing workshops as our expert practitioners lead participants through a journey of healing, mindfulness, and joy.

Workshop schedule:

10:30am-Mindfulness Practices for Grounding & Remembering Our Roots, Wherever We Stand with Anjole Wright

11:00am-Freedom Through Frequencies: A Sound Bath and Breathwork with Tiffani Peguese of Echo & Ease Wellness

11:45am-Everyday Acts of Liberation with Julie Hackett of Healing Touch and Tones

12:30pm-How Trauma is Stored in the Body: Breath & Bodywork as a Liberation Practice with Camille Brown of Camille Intuitive Wellness

[Description: 4 graphic flyers with workshop descriptions for Juneteenth programming. Additional details in Alt Text.]

06/08/2026

Our staff and Commissioners had an AMAZING time tabling at OEC Pride this past weekend! Thank you to the incredible organizers at Howard County PRIDE, as well as all the performers, vendors, supporters, and community members who came out for the day.

If you would like to learn more about the work of the Howard County LGBTQIA+ Commission, visit https://www.howardcountymd.gov/boards-commissions/lgbtqia-commission to learn how YOU can get involved in supporting the LGBTQIA+ community in Howard County year-round.

[Description: 5 photos of staff, Commissioners, and attendees at an outdoor Pride festival. Additional details in Alt Text.]

06/06/2026

OHRE and the LGBTQIA+ Commission are thrilled to be out at OEC Pride today! Stop by to grab a flag from our flag bar, meet some of our amazing Commissioners and staff, and learn more about how we work to eradicate discrimination, increase equal opportunity, and protect and promote Human Rights in Howard County. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️❤️ Howard County PRIDE

[Description: a Commissioner stands behind a resource table underneath an outdoor tent and speaks to two community members.]

06/04/2026

Only a few weeks until our Howard County Juneteenth Community Day & Block Party, and we are so excited to introduce you to the first of the amazing organizations who will be sharing their talents with our Howard County community. Register at bit.ly/HoCoJuneteenth26 to receive a full program and make sure you don't miss out on any of the incredible workshops, classes, and activities we'll have on offer!

Moving History Inc teaches the story of African-American people through immersive Arts programs and kinetic engagement. Enjoy cultural history programming illuminating the beauty and texture of Black culture through dance, drumming, braiding, sewing, and more!

Class schedule:

10am-Trust: Partner Dancing and the Quest for Safety in the Black Community

11am-From the A-Train to Soul Train: 6 Decades of Dance in 60 Minutes

12pm-Rap: The Cultural Clapback

1pm-Cookout Prep: Line Dancing

1pm-Braiding: Maps and Meaning

2pm-Culture and the Playground: Hand Games and Kids’ Songs

2pm-From the Motherland to Maryland: Djembe Rhythms

2pm-Textiles: Hand Stitching, Indigo and Community

[Description: 9 graphic flyers with class descriptions for Moving History programming. Additional details in Alt Text.]

06/03/2026

Who's ready to celebrate Juneteenth in Howard County? We're counting down the days until our Howard County Juneteenth Community Day & Block Party on Saturday, June 20 from 10am-3pm at the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center. Register at bit.ly/HoCoJuneteenth26

A big thanks to Visit Howard County, Maryland for featuring us alongside our friends at Columbia Association in your Juneteenth weekend feature! https://www.visithowardcounty.com/blog/post/celebrate-juneteenth-in-howard-county/

Celebrating Our Culture. Connecting Our Community. Centering Our Stories.

06/03/2026

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission will be having their Commission Meeting, Wednesday, June 3, at 6:00p.m. Visit www.howardcountymd.gov/OHRE-mlk to view the meeting agenda.

If you enjoyed this year’s MLK Holiday Celebration and Day of Service Activities and want to be a part of the team that makes it happen, join the MLK, Jr. Holiday Commission! County Executive Ball is looking for community members interested in continuing the important work of preserving Dr. King’s legacy of human rights and service. Apply at https://www.howardcountymd.gov/boards-commissions or email [email protected] for more information.

[Description: a green, blue, and white infographic noting the details of the upcoming Commission meeting. Additional details in Alt Text.]

06/02/2026

Last Saturday the Howard County Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Commission, in partnership with Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and the Inner Arbor Trust, led another amazing AAPI Festival here in Howard County! A huge thank you to the staff, performers, vendors, and exhibitors whose dedication and creativity made the celebration possible.

As shared by AAPI Commission Chair Kui Zhao, "This year’s Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month theme, 'Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together,' reminds us that resilience is built on respect, inclusion, kindness, and a shared sense of purpose. In a time when many still face bias and division, this message is more important than ever. It calls on all of us to help create communities where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued."

Additional photos at: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCVqc9

[Description: 13 photos of Commissioners, elected officials, and OHRE staff at an outdoor festival. Additional details in Alt Text.]