Christine Warnke, host of The Next Word invites Jeffrey Slavin, Mayor of the Town of Somerset to share about his active involvement in Montgomery County’s philanthropic community and nonprofit sector, where he has served on a variety of boards and commissions. Jeffrey became the first man on the board of the Women’s Campaign Fund in 1991. He talks about his mentors and inspiration to live a life of giving back. Throughout this show we get an insight of Somerset’s Mayor since 2008 and the 2011 Montgomery County Philanthropist of the Year.
Jeffrey was raised by his parents with the Jewish values of Tikkun Olam. A Jewish concept defined by acts of kindness performed to perfect or repair the world. That created a open mindedness for him and his sister that he carried throughout his professional career and personal life. They grew up vacationing throughout Europe and Africa. Not just for leisure or extravagance, his mother wanted them to appreciate all they had and for them to see other cultures and people who didn’t have the same advantages. Jefferey tells of his many women role models with whom he worked for throughout his early career or had the privilege of meeting. He learned a great deal from them and based his public service career on them. Starting with his mother who was a social worker, his father was a civil engineer who founded Princemont Construction. Then Hilda Mason who served as an at-large member of the Council of DC from 1977-1999, Polly Shackelton, an original member of the Council of DC in 1974 who served Ward 3 on the Council from 1975-1987, and Gladys Spellman U.S. Congresswoman serving the 5th district in Maryland.
Empowering the next generation, giving opportunities to the next generation, and sharing wisdom with the next generation is what motivates Jeffrey these days. He also strives to institutionalize policy to make it comfortable for all LGBTQ+ people to live their highest and best quality of life. Jeffrey’s newest position is the in coming Vice Chair of the Gay Caucus. He is also the Vice President of the National League of Cities (NLC) a voluntary association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Local Officials formed to encourage the active involvement and full participation of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender municipal officials, and their supporters, in the organization and programs of the National League of Cities. He is the vice president of Montgomery Community Media a nonprofit organization providing access to public media directly to Montgomery County residents, non-profit organizations, associations, and businesses. Thank you Jeffrey for an eventful, fun, informative show!!!
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