Montgomery County native, author, and former Special Assistant to the President and Associate White House Counsel to President Obama Jason G. Green joins Universities at Shady Grove Executive Director Dr. Anne Khademian for a timely and reflective conversation on his new book, Too Precious to Lose: A Memoir of Family, Community and Possibility.

Taking place just days before Juneteenth, this special event explores the connections between history, belonging, leadership, and the power of community. Through personal stories rooted in Montgomery County, Green reflects on how understanding the past can help communities build a stronger, more connected future.

The conversation also carries a uniquely local significance. Held less than three miles from the historic Pleasant View site at the center of both Green’s book and his family’s story, the event highlights the deep ties between education, preservation, and community engagement. In recent years, students from The Universities at Shady Grove have contributed to preservation and restoration efforts at Pleasant View, strengthening connections between the campus and the broader community.

This fireside chat will also help kick off a week of gatherings leading up to the June 20 reopening celebration for Pleasant View — a site with more than 158 years of history that continues to offer lessons about resilience, responsibility, and what it means to build something worth sustaining for future generations.

Community members, students, educators, civic leaders, and anyone interested in Montgomery County’s history and future are encouraged to attend this meaningful conversation.