Gaithersburg

A suburb of Washington, D.C., the city of Gaithersburg, Md., is known for its cultural diversity and celebrated community programming. Its historic Casey Community Center, built in 1938 as a dairy barn, features more than 200 activities each year for every age group, including traditional and sensory-friendly film screenings for families, as well as a farmers’ market, poetry nights, and recreational and culinary classes. The annual Gaithersburg Book Festival, which has been described by NPR as “a little treasure,” also offers programming for all ages, is free to attend, and has become one of the nation’s top literary events. 

In 2021, Gaithersburg received a perfect score of 100 on the Municipal Equality Index, an initiative by the Human Rights Campaign that measures the inclusivity of municipalities as it relates to LGBTQ+ residents and workers. 

The city also offers a variety of activities for seniors, such as virtual exercise classes, trips to museums and theaters, along with wellness services, including access to social workers, pharmacists, and mental health counselors among others. 

Recently, Gaithersburg debuted a new Financial Empowerment Center that provides one-on-one financial counseling as a free public service for any resident, regardless of income. Financial counselors will help residents pay down debt, improve their credit scores, and create manageable budget and savings plans. Appointments are available virtually or in person and in multiple languages. –L’Oreal Thompson Payton