What's Happening with Black Girl Magic Stories & MoCo Pride Center?

We sit down with MoCo Pride Center’s leadership to unpack what a physical location means for health, safety, and belonging: Testing Tuesdays with full-spectrum STI screenings, a lending library of inclusive books, growing support groups, and rotating health services. Everything is free, open to all county residents, and designed to lift up those most underserved.

Then the magic continues with the return of Black Girl Magic Stories to Montgomery County’s airwaves and streams. Hosts Nia, Oju, and Makeda trace the show’s roots from intimate storytelling to a wider circle of voices across the DMV, pushing past one-note portrayals to reveal the full range of Black women’s lives. This season centers resistance in unexpected, resonant ways—self-care as resistance, education as resistance, art as resistance—showing how daily choices become acts of power.

Enjoy the episode? Subscribe, rate, and share with a friend. Your reviews help more neighbors find free services and powerful stories.

Episode Transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/220748/18683666-what-s-happening-with-black-girl-magic-stories-moco-pride-center/transcript

Transcript

Welcome And Guest Reintroduction

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Good day and welcome to What's Happening Moco. And we have back today our good friend Philip Alexander Downey, the CEO of the Moco Pride Center. He's going to update us on what's happening there at the Moco Pride Center, and he has a special announcement, something about magic. What's happening, Moco Magic, maybe?

unknown 0:19

What?

SPEAKER_00 0:22

Good day, and welcome to What's Happening Moco, an authentic, unscripted podcast from your Montgomery County government. Now, here's your host, Derek Kenny.

SPEAKER_02 0:36

Philip, welcome back to this program. How are you today? I'm doing great. Thank you for having me. Thanks for being here. Uh when we last talked, it was the beginning of a new year. We had no idea of what type of year it would be, 2025. And we're talking about the start of uh the opening of the Moco Pride Center. We also got a nice overview of the LGBTQA no LGBTQIA plus community. Um what's different now? And let's talk about what's happening with the MoCO Pride Center.

MoCo Pride Center Opens In Bethesda

SPEAKER_01 1:06

How was that? Absolutely. So we have been in a year of extraordinary growth, adding new programs, new support groups. And on August 30th, our physical center opened in Bethesda, right next to the Bethesda Metro Station.

SPEAKER_02 1:22

That's awesome. That's awesome. So now your programs have a physical location to for people to come to and to uh fellowship, but then also to become more educated and have maybe a safe creative space for people to come to as well.

Programs, Testing Tuesdays, And Free Services

SPEAKER_01 1:36

Absolutely. So the center features uh rotating testing services, a lending library, which is amazing, which which uh features inclusive books for all community members, and so many amazing LGBTQIA plus stories that are told authentically through the lens of different community members so that their stories are told and represented. Um, and then of course, we have lots of program and meeting space that's always expanding um in terms of the types of programs and resources that we have at the center. Testing Tuesdays, I'm on every Tuesday. Uh, you can come in and get uh full spectrum uh STI test uh in addition and also receive a gift card because we also want to feed you um as well. We have so many amazing programs from our care kits to our support groups. It's a fantastic space.

SPEAKER_02 2:25

All right, people know we're gonna ask next whenever it comes to accounting resources. How much does it cost?

SPEAKER_01 2:31

Nothing. Is it free? It is free. Everything is free, everything is free, all of our resources are free. Not only that, we will give you incentives. So if you come in to get a test, which yes, we have testing Tuesdays, which is drop-in, but you can make an appointment to get STI tests. Um, and we're adding other health screenings to that as well. And we will actually give you a gift card for coming in to get a test.

SPEAKER_02 2:52

Oh, that's wonderful. That's wonderful. That's a serious cost savings and a series of benefit for residents of the county. Um, are there any type of requirements that are needed for people to come in for the free testing and the uh gift um card or whatever?

Access For All And Incentives

Grand Opening Highlights And Support

SPEAKER_01 3:03

They're not. You can be any county resident, anyone. We do not check for gender sexuality for folks to come in and access services. Fantastic. So everybody is welcome. But of course, as always, we are focusing on our community members who are most underserved, marginalized, and disenfranchised to make sure that we can rise the tide with all communities. Fantastic, fantastic.

SPEAKER_02 3:23

All right, and so the Moco Pride Center opened up in August. Um, what was the occasion like? Um, like who was there? You know, was it the ribbon cutting? Let's set the stage, let us kind of share in the uh the um the glory in the whole thing because we weren't necessarily there and it wasn't that long ago, just a few short months. Um let's talk about that event. What was that day like for you?

Announcing Black Girl Magic Stories Return

SPEAKER_01 3:44

Oh, it was a fantastic day full of joy and resources. We had so many incredible uh vendors who are from LGBTQIA plus communities. We had resources from the county serving LGBTQIA plus communities. We had all of our um and or representatives from all of our county council members who unanimously voted to fund the Pride Center. Um we also had um our uh uh federal representatives as well as state representatives. So uh Senator Chris Van Holland, uh Senator Chris Van Holland's office was there as well. Um, and um we also received a governor's two governor citations um from the state of Maryland, which was absolutely fantastic. Two, hold on, two governor citations? Yes, indeed. Okay, all right. And so um just an entire day full of joy, community, loving, and belonging. We're always building spaces of belonging to make sure people know that they belong here in this county.

SPEAKER_02 4:44

Speaking of building spaces for people that belong in this county, you have a special announcement to share today, and you're bringing something new to the county, the local pride center. You brought that in August. But now you're bringing back something old that will be new again into the county.

SPEAKER_01 5:01

And what is that? Absolutely. So Black Girl Magic Stories, which is premiering during this amazing Black History Month, and then also continuing through Women's History Month. Black Girl Magic Stories uh started in 2019 here in Montgomery County, airing on MMC TV, and now it is returning to Montgomery County. Uh, we had a season on DC television, but we are so happy that we're bringing it back to Montgomery County with our partners.

How Black Girl Magic Stories Began

SPEAKER_02 5:27

So that is awesome. We need more fresh and entertaining and wonderful, relevant content in our county, especially in our XS channels. MMC is Montgomery Municipal Lee uh channel. Yes, Montgomery Um County Municipal Cable Television. There we are. Fantastic. Led by the wonderful Melissa Amold, I believe. That is new. She is a great partner of ours, and we uh want to applaud her and her organization for having the uh good thought to um welcome you guys back to the county. We're very happy to see that. You can definitely watch them on Comcast Channels 10, uh 10 for analog, uh 998 for HD, RCN, uh if you have RCN channel 10 or HD 1059 or Verizon Channel 10. You can watch Black Girl Magic Stories. And before you before we shift gears, how do people contact the Moco Pride Center? Um, the URL, I guess, or if there's um ways to contact them on social media.

SPEAKER_01 6:24

Absolutely. So the Moco Pride Center can be contacted by um emailing us at hello at mocopridecenter.org. Um, and you can visit our website at um moco pridecenter.org um or moco pridefamily.org to learn more about the entire consortium of organizations that serve uh Montgomery County, Maryland. And then uh for to learn more about black girl magic stories, you can visit us at livingyourtruth.org forward slash BGMS.

SPEAKER_02 6:52

Fantastic, fantastic. And using the what's happening, the Moco Magic, the next time you see us, you'll be talking to the host of Black Girl Magic Stories. And we're back with Nia, Oju, and Makita, the host of Black Girl Magic Stories. Welcome to the podcast. How are you guys doing today?

SPEAKER_08 7:11

Great, great. Thank you for having us.

SPEAKER_02 7:13

It's great having you here. And any friend of Phillips is a friend of ours. Any show that Phillips likes, then you know, we'll give you guys a chance to get it up when it's over. Now, I I was a little upset at first because he mentioned to me that you guys went across the border to DC for, you know, a little while, but then you brought your magic back to Montgomery County, Maryland. Uh, before we talk about your journey, let's talk about how this all started. How did the TV show, Black Girl Magic Story, start? And when I come to you, you could give your full name because I don't want to mention anyone's last name because it might seem like they are related to Philip Nia. So, all right. Let's start. Nia, how do how do how does this this this idea of a show, not just um you could have done anything these days? How did you start the show? Why did you start the show?

Chemistry Of The Hosts

SPEAKER_08 8:03

Um, so I can't take credit for starting the show. It was the brainchild of Philip. Um, and he did come to a group of women that he knew and he said, Listen, we're always sitting around having these amazing conversations. You all are so wise, you're um amazing in your fields, but we don't get to see you on television. We see a lot of one-dimensional characters, we see a lot of stereotypes, but I know so many amazing black women who are part and parcel to who I have become. And so I want to give a platform to those stories. And, you know, if you know Philip, you know that you can't say no to him. Um I am not an extrovert. I'm not someone who has ever dreamed of being on television. Um, and I know that that's the same for a lot of my castmates. But when we came, we truly did feel the magic and we wanted to be a part of it. And so now we are on season three. Season three, and it's it's been magic. So yeah.

Expanding Voices And Conversations

SPEAKER_02 8:57

Hey, well, welcome back to Montgomery County. It's awesome having you guys here. So you have one season in McGombery County, another season in DC. Um, and we all love the DMV. So it's great having you guys here consistently for three years. And of course, any uh sibling of Phillips is a sibling of ours, right? There we go. All right, all right. Full disclosure. Full disclosure. I love finding little things out. Like so, so not only is Philip the um this is the brainchild of Philip, that he thought enough of it to entrust his sister to be associated with it. And you know, the way that people operate their sisters, they don't put them associated with anything that's not going to be successful and positive and strong. And and sure enough, you guys have a great program that is all of that, right? Yes. All right, so let's jump around to Miss Red over here, Makita.

SPEAKER_07 9:41

Ah, how are you today? Lady and Red, I'm doing good. All right, all right.

SPEAKER_02 9:45

That's that's how she was introduced to me earlier. I didn't just make that up. All right. You don't talk about uh uh, you know, here's okay, you there you got now now. How was it when you guys first got together? Who had the who brought forward the idea um once Philip shared his vision? Were you guys all in the room and and it was just the three of you guys? How did you guys get together to this this uh threesome here?

Beyond Stereotypes And True Diversity

SPEAKER_07 10:10

Yeah. So of course, Philip brought us together. Of course. Um, and I we knew each other from doing different events in the area that of course were most of the time managed and directed by Philip. Right. Um, but also I used to work with Oju's sister. Yes.

SPEAKER_05 10:33

Okay.

SPEAKER_07 10:33

And um so I don't know, it just we clicked, right? It was something, it was the magic, right? Of just hearing each other's stories because when we first did that season one, we had the opportunity, each of us to sit down with Philip 101 and really talk about our stories and talk about, you know, just our personal lived experiences, but also professional um experiences. And so I think we watched those stories and we realized that there were threads, right, that we share through each of our stories that just connected. And so when we came together, it I don't even think it was it wasn't difficult at all.

SPEAKER_02 11:17

It wasn't difficult.

SPEAKER_07 11:18

No, no, not at all.

SPEAKER_02 11:19

It was magic. Oh wow! Oh wow. It was magical. Amazing, amazing. Wow, how ironic, right? Okay, it was okay. It's magical. Ow. Am I saying your name correctly?

unknown 11:32

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 11:32

A Jagbe.

SPEAKER_03 11:33

A Jagbey. You got it.

SPEAKER_02 11:35

Love the attire.

SPEAKER_03 11:36

Thank you.

Why The Name Black Girl Magic Stories

SPEAKER_02 11:37

Now you guys came together, um, and now you are this um three um awesome women with this program. Um, what is it that you like the most about the program uh thus far?

SPEAKER_03 11:51

Okay, so when we did season one, like Mikita mentioned, it was us telling our stories. What I've liked about season two and this one is we're incorporating more women and getting to share with them our findings, learn from them. They're also kind of giving their shared experiences, and it's more of a conversation versus just a one-way direction. So not only are you hearing from us, hearing our perspectives on things, you're also getting to hear from even more women throughout the county and even throughout Maryland or the DMV and the insights that they can bring to the different topics we are discussing.

SPEAKER_02 12:21

Awesome. Now, what what is it about black women that you guys are trying to uh feature in the program? I know that sometimes the stigmatized, of course, always strength, obviously beauty. Yeah. What are you trying to impart to your audiences that highlights the other dynamics of African American women?

SPEAKER_07 12:41

So, how long do we have for this?

SPEAKER_02 12:42

Oh, it's a podcast. It's a podcast.

SPEAKER_03 12:48

So one, that's the first, the first one is a good thing, self-care.

Season Themes: Resistance In Many Forms

SPEAKER_07 12:51

Yeah. Yeah. I I think for me, one of the things that I really enjoy the most about this experience and being a part of Black Girl Magic Stories is it really shows that black women are not a monolith.

SPEAKER_05 13:07

Okay, yes.

SPEAKER_07 13:07

Right? It also really debunks a lot of the stereotypes that we often hear about black women, that we are a dynamic, dynamic human beings. And we all have so many different lived experiences, but we also have things that we can relate to. And so it's it is a yes and it's not uh, you know, yes or no. Okay. Right. Um, and so I think that to me is the magic of what Philip has has developed. Um, it just really allows to allows us a space where we can explore then the dynamics and just the ever unfolding of black women and their stories in in this country.

Hoped Impact And New Perspectives

SPEAKER_02 14:01

Wow. Wow, it's powerful. It is. And so you have this powerful name as well. Black girl magic, very catchy, yes, um, very trendy. Uh, black girl magic stories. Um, what what led you to choose that name? Because once you choose that name, it's it's so um such a powerful name in the uh American vernacular, really, not just the African-American community. Um what compelled you to use that and why was it appropriate for your program?

SPEAKER_08 14:29

I think that, you know, it is a phrase that we've been hearing for a bit, but it rang so true when you actually get in community with black women that we actually are magic. Like our joy is alchemy. The way that we take nothing and make it into something, like that is magic. Like the way that we transmute our grief and the grief of others, that's magic. Like they're it's real. It's not just a cute catchphrase. Like it is evident in the way that we live our lives, in the way that we prop up others, like, and then we continue to move through life with smiles on our face and and you know, show up looking good, even though things in here might not necessarily be the best, but that's all magic.

Guidance For Young Women

SPEAKER_02 15:14

So thank you guys for showing up looking good today. Really appreciate that. And and but it's it's true though, like you don't you don't have the luxury of being able to wear your problems or wear your emotions um because the society doesn't necessarily um give you enough room and um and and and the way that's perceived in many cases, and not the same um latitude that others may get. Um let's talk about some of the stories or topics that you guys will have this season coming up for the fine residents of Montgomery County, Maryl Maryland. Not that they're any better than the residents of DC that might be watching your older episodes, but you know, McGombery County, you know.

SPEAKER_06 15:55

Top tier.

SPEAKER_02 15:55

Yeah, top tier.

SPEAKER_06 15:58

Okay. I'm saying, yes.

SPEAKER_08 16:00

What do we got? Okay, so um, yeah, I'll jump right into it.

SPEAKER_04 16:04

So thanks.

How To Connect And Watch

SPEAKER_08 16:08

Um so um the entirety of the series is focusing on resistance, what we thought was very timely. Um, but resistance in a way that it's not often, it is seen, but it's not often expected. And so our first episode is self-care as resistance, and then we have education as resistance, and then art as resistance. Um, and then, you know, if you guys want to uh stick along with us, you'll you'll hear the other topics. But those are our first three episodes that we're releasing, and we get to sit down with people from each of those disciplines and discuss how their everyday lives contribute to um resistance as a whole and individual resistance as well.

Authenticity, Community, And New Locations

SPEAKER_02 16:45

So that's powerful because many times people think about resistance as such a uh one thing, you know, just strength and pushing back or whatever. But I think nowadays resistance can be nuanced. Absolutely. It could be the way you carry yourself in the face of adversity, it could be the way you take care of your family, the way you uplift others to be able to cope with the things that are happening in society. Um, how do you think these stories um will contribute to like uh broader conversations, um, not just around Montgomery County, Maryland, but just around dinner tables or um in cars as people might be listening to something from MMC or watching their phones or definitely on cable, watch um Montgomery Municipal CB Cable channel on uh the county's access channels, uh cable. If you have cable, thank you so much. We love it, we love you. All right, what do you guys think about that? What do you what do you expect people to kind of get from your um stories?

SPEAKER_03 17:41

New perspectives, wonderful being able to kind of see art in a different way, see self-care in a different way, see education in a different way, and just to be able to at least start the conversation if they never thought of having it to begin with.

SPEAKER_07 17:53

Yeah. But I also will go back to something, Derek, I think that you said where you were talking about oftentimes we don't have the luxury or the space to be able to wear our feelings oftentimes, or just, you know, the the the different intricacies of our lives on our shoulders, or to be able to share those. And so I think for me, um, it's making the invisible visible, right? It is beginning to have conversations that oftentimes space is not given to have those conversations or knowledge is not transferred for individuals to be able to have conversations about black women, right? In general, and the diaspora.

Premiere Date And Who It’s For

Closing Magic And Subscribe CTA

SPEAKER_02 18:40

Oh, yeah. Yeah. That's actually a good segue because not only will you have other women, your peers, watching the program, but you'll have younger women looking to you as kind of examples to see, you know, what's what's your life experience like? What could they be looking forward to? How to deal with these experiences without having to guess at it. Um, what what do you say to young ladies out there that might be looking to you um as a leader? That was just um Makita that was talking just before. Some people will only be listening hearing this in audio. And because they'll hear three voices, each time you ask talk, just say this is Nia or um Oju or Did I do that right? Okay, there we are. All right, I can't. I'm like half the time. Okay, Makita, thank you. All right, yeah. So what do what do you say to these uh young ladies, even girls that are listening and watching you, uh, what do you hope they get from your program?

SPEAKER_03 19:34

Ask questions. Okay. Be inquisitive. Don't always just say things at face value, but want to say why, with respect, of course, but don't take things just as you see them. Things are not always as they seem. So ask questions for sure.

SPEAKER_02 19:48

Fantastic, fantastic.

SPEAKER_07 19:49

I think also you're not alone, right? This is Makita. And for them to know that they're not alone and that there are black women around them that, you know, have have walked the path that they may be getting ready to enter or that they're on. And so lean into those women for mentorship, for support. Um, and also just to make sure that you prioritize yourself first.

SPEAKER_05 20:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 20:20

Right? Always prioritize yourself first.

SPEAKER_02 20:22

There's nothing, nothing wrong with that, right? No, not at all. They say in the airplane, make sure that you have your flotation device on first before you help somebody else. Make sure you have your air first, oxygen first, before you help somebody else, right? You can't help anyone else if you're not strong enough to help anyone else. So it's not uh a selfish statement saying, take care of yourself first, make sure that you're okay first. It's putting yourself in a better position to help others. And I think that's very generous and a great way of thinking about things. And so you mentioned something very good earlier. You said ask questions. Is there a way for people to reach out to you guys and ask questions if they've seen your show or they want to have a little candid conversation with um the women, the host of um Black Girl Magic series?

SPEAKER_03 21:07

Yes, me.

SPEAKER_02 21:08

Stories.

SPEAKER_08 21:09

Um, you can definitely reach out to us through our website, um, which is livingyourtruth.org forward slash BGMS. Um, and then we are I won't I won't put other people's social media out there, but I can put mine out. Okay, yeah. Um you can find me on Instagram and I'd be glad to have a conversation with you. Um so yeah.

SPEAKER_02 21:29

Excellent, excellent. And uh and when is the first show coming out? The first show of the new iteration in McGurber County, Maryland, which is probably better than DC's.

SPEAKER_06 21:38

I love how you slip that in there. You're right about that.

SPEAKER_02 21:46

All right. And we're getting that information uh very currently. But what what things have had got you guys excited this year? Are there things um that have gotten you guys motivated, um, feeling great, other than the wonderful snow we had last week? It's It's February. It's um brand new year, it's Black History Month. Wow, how ironic.

SPEAKER_06 22:05

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 22:06

We're talking about black girl magic and black history month.

SPEAKER_06 22:10

Fortuitous of us, right? That's kind of a good thing. And it's still the shortest month of the year.

SPEAKER_02 22:14

You know, one of the coldest, too. Okay.

SPEAKER_06 22:18

True. One of the coldest. One of the shortest.

SPEAKER_02 22:19

As far as the magic, though, is taking something that may be shorter or colder or maybe not and making it more. That's our and and we've I think we're doing that. We're doing that well in Montgomery County, Maryland. Yes. We had several great events the last few days. Today we had the African-American employees host the Black History Month program, uh, fantastic, um, great um people. Uh Ronat Smith from the African-American Um Slave Museum, and um we had uh Cheryl Spicer from Montgomery Parks. She's one of those super brains that knows the history of Montgomery County, uh forward and backwards, of course, the County Executive, and all those great things. And so, anyway, we do um Black History Month very well in Montgomery County, Maryland, and of course, you guys are are relaying information from the perspective of black women with black girl magic stories. Yeah. Fantastic. And so we so now we know that February 20th will be the first episode. All right, we're looking forward to seeing that. Yes. All right. What things do you want people to know? Like, okay, so people say, Oh, you have a show. What's the first thing the people ask, or what are some of the things you want them to know that they may ask about?

SPEAKER_08 23:32

I think for me, um, something that I appreciate about the show, kind of going back to living in your truth, is that there's a lot of authenticity in it. There's not a lot of smoke and mirrors. We come as our authentic selves and we are truly sitting down and having a conversation with one another. Um, a lot of the women in this new season I've never met before, but it felt like home. And I love that community building. A lot of the women ended up becoming friends, sharing information. And so we want the viewers to engage with us in that same way. Um, and so where they feel like they're a part of the conversation and then they're taking it to their um girlfriends or whoever, to their community and they're sitting down and having those conversations as well. So I think that I hope I answered the question correctly, but I think that's what I'm looking forward to. All right.

SPEAKER_07 24:24

And even though we're TV on a TV show, we're real people, right? You know, like we we park our cars to get to where we go, you know.

SPEAKER_05 24:36

We have been in bathrooms and buildings, changing clothes, you know.

SPEAKER_07 24:40

We we're real people. Um, and we love what we do, um, but we are also learning as we go.

SPEAKER_02 24:50

I think it's a wonderful thing. I think what you're describing is authentic.

SPEAKER_07 24:54

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 24:54

You have an authentic program, you are authentic women, you're not putting on a different face um for the program. You're coming um as who you are, um, not necessarily um carrying all the weight of your life to the program, but you are authentically who you are. You're asking questions from your perspective. You're not a different person asking questions, you're asking questions as Makita or Oz you or Mia. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 25:19

And the more thing is the locations.

unknown 25:22

Wow.

SPEAKER_03 25:22

There are new locations that we're having our interviews or conversations in. Oh. And so learning about different parts of Montgomery County while doing it is also spectacular.

SPEAKER_02 25:30

So have you guys already recorded several episodes? How many episodes have you recorded thus far?

SPEAKER_03 25:36

Stay tuned. You'll be welcome.

SPEAKER_02 25:38

Stay tuned.

SPEAKER_05 25:41

I like that. I like that. All right, I'm excited. I'm excited.

SPEAKER_02 25:44

So you're gonna have a consistent, um, authentic program ready for residents of Montgomery County, Maryland. And who do you want to watch the program?

SPEAKER_03 25:51

Everyone's experience. It's fantastic. All right, and it's streaming online as well.

SPEAKER_02 25:56

Oh, fantastic, fantastic. Watch on cable. If you can't watch on cable, of course you can see it online as well as Black Girl Magic Stories. Not just Black Girl Magic, Black Girl Magic Stories. Got it. And speaking of magic, that's what's happening, Mocha. We have some what's happening, Moco Magic. And the the magic we had today was bringing amazing guests, of course, Philip Alexander, um, Oju, Mia, Makita, all you wonderful people here today to share the magic of the Mocha, of the um the Moco Pride Center, of course, the um uh Black Girl Magic Stories, and of course, What's Happening Moco. And now in True Magic Fashion, we ask you guys to subscribe, support the uh um Black Girl Magic Stories, support the What's Happening Moco podcast. Make sure you like, subscribe, and share. Share, share, share, share, share. And now we're gonna do a little bit of magic of our own. You guys ready? Yeah, right. One, two, three.

SPEAKER_00 26:56

Thanks for listening to What's Happening Mo Gomes. Please subscribe, be your favorite podcast, and follow us on Facebook. This podcast is brought to you by County Cable Montgomery, your source for news and information from the Montgomery County government. Connect with us via cable, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube by searching for County Cable Moko.