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May 2018 - Issue 121
NEWS & EVENTS AROUND THE REGION
Congressman Raskin's Medicare Town Hall

Tuesday, May 1 from 1 p.m. at the Holiday Park Senior Center - 3950 Ferrara Drive, Silver Spring, Maryland (parking will be available). Medicare Town Hall with Congressman Jamie Raskin & NCPSSM President/CEO Max Richtman. Call Congressman Raskin's District Office at 301-354-1000 if you have any questions or if you require any special accommodations (such as a sign language interpreter). Visit us online at Raskin.House.Gov.

IMPACT Now! 2018 Focuses on Worker Ownership: 
Thursday, May 3rd, 6 pm-8:30 pm, Silver Spring Civic Building. Explore worker ownership as a promising economic model for addressing the growing wealth gap in Montgomery County. Click here to register

Montgomery County Recreation to Host Move More Montgomery Festival on May 12

Third annual Move More Montgomery Festival on Saturday, May 12 from noon to 4 p.m. at Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm, which is located at 506 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg. The event is free and open to the public. You can also bring your dog.

For more information, visit the Move More Montgomery Festival's website or call 240-777-6946.


Montgomery County Executive Candidates Forum

Thursday, May 24 from 6:00-8:30pm at the Interfaith Works Clothing Center, 751 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville. County Executive candidates will share their vision for Montgomery County and address questions related to jobs and workforce development, affordable housing, opportunity disparities, health and mental health care, safety net services, early care and education, and other topics of concern to the nonprofit sector and the 500,000+ residents who receive services from nonprofit organizations.

Please contact Brigid Howe if you would like to join the planning committee. 

Leveling the Playing Field Offers Free Sporting Equipment to Nonprofits

For nonprofits looking for free sports equipment to enhance programming and save money, Leveling the Playing Field, a local charity, provides free sports equipment to programs looking to provide affordable, accessible sports programming for their community. 

Their warehouse has roughly a million dollars of sporting equipment for tennis, soccer, golf, baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse and more. LPF has donated over $2 Million to over 500 programs worldwide. To learn more and apply to receive equipment, visit the LPF donation site. Additional questions? Email Ian Cohen or call 301-844-5621.

Interactive Website Launched to Understand Demographics of Self-Sufficiency

A new interactive website will help government agencies, nonprofit organizations, advocates and policy makers understand the demographics of county residents living below the self-sufficiency standard threshold. Learn more about Montgomery's Interactive Self-Sufficiency Standard here. To view the interactive website, click here.


Restaurants & Nonprofits Can Now Join Community Food Rescue's Food Recovery Network

Community Food Rescue is Montgomery County's food recovery network. Learn how you as a food business can donate your surplus unsold food easily with a click of button through Community Food Rescue. Learn how you as a non-profit food assistance organization can obtain good food for your clients who are food insecure. Learn how you as a volunteer can become a volunteer food runner to transport food from donors to recipient organizations throughout Montgomery County. Click to visit website to learn more.

Beacon Celebration of the Arts: Online Art Competition for area amateurs 50 and up:  If you paint or draw, make pottery, jewelry, sculpt or enjoy digital photography or poetry, you are invited to enter your best works in the Celebration of the Arts - a competition for amateur artists 50 and over who live in Maryland, D.C. or Virginia. 

The online competition opens April 1 and runs through June 29. Read complete rules and details here, or call (301) 949-9766. 

Sandy Spring Museum Refugee Art Exhibit: 
May 2 through September 2:  Collection of artwork created by refugees residing in the DC metro region.Uprooted: The Art of Refugees will commence with an opening reception Saturday, May 5, 1:00-3:00 PM at the museum. 

Starting May 5, the museum will be open Thursdays from 10 am - 8 pm, and Fridays and Sundays from 11 am - 4 pm. There is no admission charge.  For more information visit www.SandySpringMuseum.org

Youth Development and Mentoring Symposium: 
May 22 and 23 from 8:00AM-3:30PM at The Universities at Shady Grove, 9630 Gudelsky Dr, Rockville. Registration opens in April. The symposium will focus on helping leaders get young people ready for life. Keynote by Karen Pittman, President and CEO of The Forum for Youth Investment.

Montgomery Parks Issues Request For Proposal (RFP) For Nolte Local Park

Montgomery Parks, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is seeking private use tenants to lease the activity building located in Nolte Local Park.  A Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued on March 15. The building will be available for a five-year lease. Additional information is available on the M-NPCC web site.

The Montgomery Parks staff cannot contact or discuss the RFP with interested individuals or potential bidders.  All inquiries should be directed to: Jana Harris, M-NCPPC- Principal Procurement Specialist 301-454-1600  

The RFP for the Park Activity Buildings will be posted on e-Maryland marketplace. Interested bidders should monitor website for the issuance of the RFP. 

Montgomery College (Rockville Campus) Bilingual Mediation Training Course

June 1 to 10th. Training is open for anyone 18 years and above who are ready to expand their communication and conflict skills and includes lots of role play and activities to give you a hands on experience.This course is tailored for anyone who on a daily basis works with people. Business, non-profits, government agency and education employees will find this an invaluable experience. Click here for details or search for course on college website. Course ID is ID HBI176. Download form here.

Public Forum: High-Volume Priority Use of Public Facilities

Wednesday, June 6 from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Executive Office Building Auditorium, 101 Monroe Street, Lobby Level, Rockville. For General Inquiries:Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. or 240-777-2725, Email: After-Hours Problem Line: 240-490-CUPF (2873)

Heritage Days 2018
Saturday, June 23 & Sunday, June 24 - noon to 4pm - FREE!

At 40 sites throughout Montgomery County. Join Heritage Montgomery in celebrating the 21st annual Heritage Days with a weekend packed with fun, family-friendly, free events all across the county. For details visit website or call 301-515-0753.

Get Involved: Join a Board or Commission

County Executive Ike Leggett seeks applicants of diverse backgrounds, professions, gender, geography, disability, and ethnicity to serve on the county's boards and commissions. Members of County boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time. Applications of individuals selected for appointment are made public as part of the confirmation process. 

Access complete list of vacancy announcements for boards, committees, and commissions  here .

Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center Opens New Wheaton Office
Helping Our New Neighbors Thrive

Saturday April 7 marked another important step forward for the Charles W. Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center as County Executive Leggett and Council Vice President Navarro helped cut the ribbon for the Gilchrist Center's new headquarters in Wheaton. The Gilchrist Center has been at the heart of Montgomery County's effort to be among the most welcoming communities in the United States.

The Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center is Montgomery County's welcome center for immigrants where residents from diverse communities are connected with educational, economic, and civic resources. "For many of our newest residents, the Gilchrist Center is their first step on the road to prosperity. Whether they have come to study, to be with family, or to flee repression or violence, the Gilchrist Center has provided a warm and welcoming environment for more than 16 years," said County Executive Leggett.

"Our classes and services, provided by dedicated volunteers and staff, offer clients a jumpstart so that they may contribute their skills and talents and become fully engaged contributors to life in Montgomery County," said Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center Director Kaori Hirakawa. The ribbon cutting event included a recognition of the center's top volunteers.

The Gilchrist Center's wonderful volunteers celebrate with County Council Vice President Navarro, former First Lady Phoebe Gilchrist, and County Executive Leggett


The Center has three other locations in Gaithersburg, Germantown, and East County, providing culturally competent information and referral services, classes and programs to support residents through partnerships and volunteers. As part of the services offered, County immigrants can obtain information and referrals to programs and services offered by government agencies and community organizations, strengthen their life skills through English and basic computer classes, and increase their knowledge to prepare for civic life and/or U.S. citizenship.

The center is named after Montgomery County's second elected County Executive who served from 1978 to 1986. County Executive Gilchrist was one of the most important architects of our modern multicultural Montgomery County. We were pleased that former first lady Phoebe Gilchrist and her son Don and grandchildren were able to join us for the festivities.

The Gilchrist Center's new headquarters is conveniently located in the Westfield South Building in the Wheaton Westfield Mall (11002 Veirs Mill Road, Suite 506), a few minutes' walk from the Wheaton Metro Station. The space includes three classrooms, a meeting room, and office space for staff. For additional information about the Gilchrist Center, please click here.




signature
Bruce Adams
Director, Office of Community Partnerships



Get to Know Your New Community Liaisons


Josephine Garnem 
Community Liaison for African Community and
Program Manager, East County Gilchrist Immigrant Resources Center
josephine.garnem@montgomerycountymd.gov

Josephine Garnem is the Community Liaison for the African  Community. She is also the Program Manager for the Gilchrist
Immigrant Resources Center for the East County region. She is responsible for developing and managing the basic computer literacy program and acts as the subject matter expert in the field of workforce development for the center. Josephine was born in Sierra Leone and has lived in the Middle East, Uganda, Pakistan and Afghanistan before moving to the USA.  She is an experienced community mobilizer and humanitarian professional, with over 20 years of global experience in many places including Africa, South Asia, the Middle East, and in the USA. Josephine holds a bachelor's degree in Education from the Njala University, Sierra Leone, a certificate from Cornell University on Project Management Leadership, and presently pursuing her master's degree in Social Work.


Claudia M. Canales
Latino Liaison
Administrative Assistant to the County Executive
claudia.canales@montgomerycountymd.gov 


Claudia Canales has more than 16 years of experience in various government and private arenas. Having 
mastered diverse positions in legal, public, and government sectors, she has enriched her deep appreciation, determination, and commitment to improve the quality of life for our region. In Ms. Canales' position at an international law firm, she provided high-level paralegal assistance to a managing partner and, in 2006, she was part of the legal team that travelled to the World Court representing Uruguay in the Pulp Mills on the River arbitration case (Argentina v. Uruguay). She began her career with Montgomery County in 2007.  In 2011, she was promoted to the position of bilingual Confidential Administration Assistant for the County Executive, Isiah Leggett. Her position empowers her with the ability to act as a liaison and effectively communicate between the county departments/agency directors, employees, elected local, state, and federal officials, representatives from the private sector, and the significant diverse citizens throughout the county.


Joanne Antoine
Community Liaison for the Caribbean Community 
joanne.antoine1027@gmail.com

Joanne Antoine is the liaison to the Caribbean American
 community. She works with the Caribbean American Advisory Group to recommend policy related to Caribbean affairs to the County Executive ensuring he is able to effectively respond to the needs and concerns of Caribbean Americans living and/or working in the County. She also provides support for Caribbean programs and projects in the County. Ms. Antoine is a first-generation Haitian American progressive organizer who has spearheaded numerous voter registration efforts and path to citizenship clinics aimed at activating and moving the Caribbean diaspora to actions that ensure their voices are heard. She has worked on numerous political campaigns and now helps build winning campaigns for women candidates of Caribbean descent running for office here in the US and in the Caribbean region.

CCUMC Free Citizenship Class 

A free Citizenship Class is offered at Chevy Chase United Methodist Church 3 times a year for 10 weeks at a time. The next series of classes starts on Saturday, May 12, and will continue every Saturday until July 7.  Each class is from 10 AM until 12 NOON at the church at 7001 Connecticut Ave. Enter the church from the parking lot off of Shepard St. and go down the steps to the Citizenship Room.

We can help you with every step of the application process and with preparation for the interview.  We have mentors who will give you one-on-one assistance during each class.  If you are interested, you can just come to any class on Saturday or call the church at 301-652-8700 or one of the teachers: Bob at 301-830-3317 or Judy at 202-250-4365.

Citizenship Application Workshop

Saturday, June 9, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Rockville Library - 2nd floor meeting room 21 Maryland Avenue, Rockville. Call (202) 393-3572 for an appointment. The Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC) and Advancing Justice | AAJC in partnership with the Montgomery County Office of Community Partnerships will be hosting a Citizenship Application Workshop where the APALRC legal team and trained volunteers will assist participants with completing their naturalization applications.

Assistance will be available in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Spanish and English.  Please call to register in advance to ensure an interpreter will be available in your language. 

Citizenship/Legal Immigration Fair

A free Citizenship Class is offered by Baltimore City Community College Workforce Development and Continuing Education Division, with support from United States Citizenship & Immigration Services. Classes will be held at Eastcounty Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road, Silver Spring, TUESDAYS | 5:30pm - 8:30pm April 10 to June 26, Register in class in first 8 weeks - until June 7th. Contact us at 410-986-3201 or visit www.bccc.edu/citizenship
MAY ADVISORY GROUP MEETINGS
Upcoming Meetings of County Executive's Ethnic & Faith Advisory Groups

African Affairs Advisory Group Community Meeting on Thursday, May 10 from 7:00PM-8:30PM at The Silver Spring Civic Building - One Veterans Place Silver Spring. To stay updated on AAAG's latest events and opportunities, please visit Facebook: www.facebook.com/Africanaag, Instagram: @Africanaag,  Twitter: @Africanaag.

The Asian Pacific American Advisory Group has not set a date for the May meeting. For more information and updates, contact Diane Vu at diane.vu@montgomerycountymd.gov for additional information. 

Caribbean American Advisory Group Community Meeting, Tuesday, May 1 from 7:00PM-8:00PM at The Silver Spring Civic Building - One Veterans Place Silver Spring. Contact Joanne Antoine joanne.antoine1027@gmail.com for more information.

The Latin American Advisory Group Community Meeting, Tuesday, May 8, from 6-8 p.m. at the Executive Office Building - 101 Monroe Street, 2nd Floor, Rockville. Contact: Claudia.canales@montgomerycountymd.gov.

The Middle Eastern American Advisory Group will meet on Monday, May 14th, at the Rockville Library, 3d floor, Mediation Room, 7 - 9 pm. Youth and adults are welcome.  Contact: Debbie Trent at dtrent@civilstrategies.net  for more information.

May 10
Faith Community Working Group (Every 2nd Thursday of the Month)
Location - Jewish Community Relations Council from 2-4 PM

May 11
Neighbors in Need Working Group (Every 2nd Friday of the Month)
Location - Conference Call from 8-10 AM

May 23
Religious Land Use Working Group (Every 4th Wednesday of the Month)
Location - UpCounty Regional Services Center from 2-3 PM

May 24
FCAC Executive Committee (Every 4th Thursday of the Month)
Location - Rockville Memorial Library Suite 331

For more information about the faith community contact Kasey Kaseman at mansfield.kaseman@montgomerycountymd.gov
County Recognizes Top Volunteers

Congratulations to the volunteers and community leaders who were recognized for their outstanding service to our county at last week's annual Montgomery Serves Awards ceremony. We honored the individual (Jane Callen), youth (Esmirna Guttierez Campusano), group (Comfort Cases), and business (Apex Home Loans) volunteers of the year for their service 2017, presented the Neal Potter Path of Achievement Award for lifetime volunteer service to Chih-Hsiang Li and Sharyn Duffin, and bestowed the Roscoe R. Nix Distinguished Community Leadership Award to Tufail Ahmad, Brian Frosh, and Linda Plummer for their contributions to the county over the course of their lives. In addition, County Executive Ike Leggett recognized sponsors and partners who make the event possible: the Carl M. Freeman Foundation, which sponsors the event along with the Fund for Montgomery; Imagination Stage, which hosts the celebration, Comcast, which creates videos highlighting awardee's service; and WUSA9 news anchor Andrea Roane, who emceed the event. 

Montgomery Serves Awards winners & presenters

These deserving individuals and groups represent just a fraction of the many ways Montgomery County residents give their time and talent every day to make our community better for all. Visit the Volunteer Center online to learn more about the honorees and find ways that you can serve our community.

Montgomery County Commemorates National Service Recognition Day

On April 3, County Executive Ike Leggett and the Montgomery County Council issued a joint proclamation in honor National Service Recognition Day, with Council President Hans Riemer presenting it at a ceremony attended by several of the many AmeriCorps and SeniorCorps members who serve in Montgomery County. You can watch the presentation here

national service day proclamation
Learning is fun!  Gilchrist Center Volunteer Instructors Gain New Skills

Twenty-four of the Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center's volunteer instructors participated in a workshop on adult learning theory in preparation for the Center's spring session of classes.  Adult education specialist Heather Ritchie led a fun and informative training on how adults learn, and the most effective teaching techniques for adult learning.  All of the teaching strategies used in the training can be used by the teachers in their classes.  This was also a rare opportunity for the Center's computer and ESOL teachers to meet and work together.  


Spring Classes for Seniors at the East County Center

Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center, Silver Spring / East County location, in partnership with Senior Planet Montgomery, started it's Spring 2018 session with Beyond the Basics course for seniors. This 10-week long class covers use of the Internet as an everyday resource for practical and enriching activities for socialization, entertainment and life-management. Seniors are given the opportunity to learn about social networking, online shopping, online banking, health management, entertainment, and how to use the Internet for different types of research. They also learn the basics of social networking, how to protect their personal information, and ways to explore and cultivate their interests online. The center also offers an 8-week Introduction to Computers class. This class is open to everyone 18 years and older. Classes teach the basics of using a computer, basic Microsoft Word, Internet and email.


Senior Event: Improving Community Connections and Care for Seniors 

A free event to connect Vietnamese seniors to the community. On Sunday May 6th from 3.30pm - 5.30pm at: 12800 New Hampshire Ave,Silver Spring.  Seniors will be provided free transportation. There will be performances by children, students and volunteers in the community as well as food and gifts.

This event aims to reduce the isolation, improve mental health in seniors and promote community connection and caring for seniors. Based on a recent need assessment on seniors, there are 65% of seniors who feel isolated and lack caring from family and community. 50% of them could not afford to attend any event during the last 2 years.
Contact Tho Tran: Cell: 301 646 5852.Email: thotran@vasusa.org, Nguyen Le: Cell: 240 838 1838, Email: nguyenle@vasusa.org.
African American Health Annual Community Day

On April 21st, the African American Health Program and partner organizations hosted its annual Community Day at Montgomery College Takoma Park's Charlene R. Nunley Student Services Center.  The theme was "M.O.V.E! Making Obesity Virtually Extinct!



Game Changer Mentoring Conference for Young Males

The 2018 Game Changer Conference for Young Males on Saturday, April 14, was a tremendous success. The founder, UCF Youth Development Organization and Co-Sponsors: Mu Nu Chapter, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., in Montgomery County, Montgomery County Public School System, Montgomery College, The Universities at Shady Grove. The conference purpose is to come together every year to encourage, uplift and inspire students to pursue excellence in academics, athletics and all areas of their life.

The one-day mentoring conference provides young males and adult men a forum to discuss male-related issues, as well as learn some basic life skills (e.g., proper handshake, tie tying, interview skills, auto safety, CPR, etc.). Opening remarks was conducted by to Co-Sponsors representatives to include Dr. Jack Smith, Superintendent, Montgomery Public School District, (one of the best consistently high-achieving school district in the country).

The conference featured enrichment workshops, such as STEM, Bullying, Leadership, Fatherhood, Strategic Planning for life, how to become an "A" student? In addition, there was an Essay Writing Competition that saw a four-peat student champion, Parent Advocacy workshop. The conference concluded with a community "Straight Talk" conversation with Montgomery County Police Officers featuring Marcus G. Jones recently nominated as Assistant Chief of Police and MCPS Resource Officers working in the school system.



This is a "community collaboration" model where like-minded organizations work together for a greater impact to help our young males build confidence, competencies and succeed so that male students can graduate from high school on time, and to gain a competitive edge to be college ready and workforce ready!


African Affairs Advisory Group (AAAG) hosted WorkSource Montgomery

On April 12, the County Executive's African Affairs Advisory Group (AAAG), hosted its monthly community meeting at the Silver Spring Civic Building. More than twenty local community leaders, representing eleven Africa diaspora groups, were in attendance (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, D.R.Congo, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Cameroon). A member from the Haitian American community was also in attendance. The Chief of Staff for WorkSource Montgomery, Dr. Dave Bounora, was the guest speaker for that evening. He spoke about WorkSource's programs, including job readiness trainings, job fairs, workshops and more. A speaker from Community Action Agency, a group that represents over thirty local nonprofits in Montgomery County, was also invited.

AAAG working group members gave updates on Education, Economic Development, Health, Culture, Outreach and the Sister Cities exchange visit by the Mayor of Gondar, Ethiopia to Montgomery County. 

The meeting was then opened to all attendees to give updates on various key events, and community concerns/issues. The meeting came to an end with the AAAG Chair, Omega Tawonezvi recognizing Daniel Koroma, Community Outreach Manager and Liaison officer, Office of Community Partnerships, on behalf of the continental African community, for his years of service, commitment, numerous contributions through key representation and civic engagement, and hard work as the liaison to the African community.
Caribbean American Advisory Group (CAAG) is now on Facebook  

CAAG is revamping their group and recruiting new members. To stay updated on latest events, upcoming plans for Caribbean American Heritage Month in June, and opportunities to join the group as a representative whose heritage is any country in the Caribbean region, like their new Facebook page.



Turkish Coffee, Treats, and Discussion at Sandy Spring Museum

The Rumi Forum of Maryland is inviting you to join us for Sandy Spring Museum`s monthly Coffee Culture program on Saturday, May 5th for 10 am or 11 am sessions to enjoy complimentary Turkish coffee and treats while participating in interfaith dialogue and cross-cultural conversations with new friends. During the table conversations, questions will be given to the participants to discuss and reflect on the theme: "Together we can bring peace." Sandy Spring Museum is located at 17901 Bentley Road,Sandy Spring.The event is free and open to the public. Turkish coffee and treats will be served. Register here by Tuesday, May 1.

American Muslim Senior Society Event

Please join our multi-cultural celebration on Sunday, May 6th from 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm. It celebrates AMSS' inauguration and the first class of multi-talented ambassadors for health and long term care. Location: Silver Spring Civic Center, 1 Veteran Place, Silver Spring, MD 20910. RSVP here.
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