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September 3, 2019 - Issue 137
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NEWS & EVENTS AROUND THE REGION
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One Voice Reception
The 3rd Annual One Voice Reception will take place on Thursday, September 12 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Baby Wale, 1124 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001.
The One Voice Reception recognizes the trailblazers on Capitol Hill who are working to create U.S.-Africa policies that impact the African Diaspora.
The reception will be held during the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference Center.
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LGBTQ Youth Services
Montgomery County Collaboration Council has teamed up with
SMYAL to begin providing services specifically to the LGBTQ youth population in Montgomery County. Many youth who identify as LGBTQ are faced with disparities across various systems and often find themselves further marginalized and shut out of opportunity. This open house will serve as a celebration of our LGBTQ youth and will also provide stakeholders and allies an opportunity to hear directly from them what they see as barriers to their success and well-being here in the County.
SEE FLYER.
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Historic Church Tour
Peerless Rockville announces the inaugural Historic Church Tour on September 28, 2019 from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Explore the rich history and unique architecture of several Rockville churches dating back over 150 years. Learn about each congregation's history and role in Rockville throughout time, and view stained glass windows, special tours, musical performances, and more!
Ticket prices rise on September 14! Get yours today!
READ MORE>>>
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Job Openings
MCDHHS is currently recruiting for a
Human Services Specialist IV (Opportunity Coach) position to work with MCDHHS staff in a 2-year Kresge Foundation grant-funded initiative in the East County area.
The Office of the County Council is seeking a
Legislative Senior Aide to support a
Councilmember's office. The position will perform a variety of legislative duties relating
to office and constituent services.
READ MORE>>>
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MoCo Sports Hall of Fame
The inaugural class of the
Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame will be honored at a ceremony to be held on Friday, September 13, 2019 at the Silver Spring Civic Center from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This event is FREE and open to the public, however, online registration is required.
READ MORE>>>
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GWAPI/GGSF Health Fair
Date: Sunday, September 29, 2019
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Location: North Potomac Community Recreation Center, 13850 Travilah Road, Rockville, MD 20850
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Montgomery College Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI) Fall Registration
flexibility through daytime, evening, and weekend courses at multiple Montgomery County locations. Individuals ages 60 and over pay fees only; tuition is waived. Courses offered in Brain Fitness, Art, Art History, Archaeology, World Cultures, History, Politics and more. There are over 34 new fall courses, including Ashkenaz, the Jews of Eastern Europe; History of Fashion, The Science of Well-Being; and Revolutionary Design. Click here for registration information.
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Volunteers Sought for Montgomery County's Climate Planning Process Workgroups
The County is seeking volunteers to serve on workgroups focused on community engagement/ education and climate adaptation/sequestration.
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Gaithersburg Seeks Judges for 2019 Municipal Election
The City of Gaithersburg is seeking election judges for its 2019 municipal
elections, being held on Tuesday, November 5. To be eligible for consideration, interested applicants must be registered to vote in Montgomery County.
Residency within the City of Gaithersburg is not required. Attendance at an election judge training session is mandatory.
READ MORE>>>
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Free Off-Season Tax Preparation
The Community Action Agency's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) partnership, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, offers off-season tax preparation for prior year and amended taxes (2016-2018) through October 30. VITA's free tax preparation services are for Montgomery County residents only. To qualify, residents must have incomes of less than $55,000. Click
here for more information.
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Ike Leggett to Receive Award
The White House Fellows Foundation and Association (WHFFA) will be presenting the 2019
Legacy of Leadership Award to former County Executive Isiah "Ike" Leggett, who served as a White House fellow from 1978-1979. This is the highest award presented by the WHFFA, given in recognition of proven leadership, dedicated public service, and sustained support to the White House Fellows Program. The award will be presented during the Annual Leadership Conference in Washington D.C., on the evening of October 17, 2019.
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The Future of Our Workforce
Speakers will share innovative approaches, partnerships and more to diversify, attract, train and develop their workforce. Find out what workers want, best practices on workforce development, and how to keep your workforce engaged.
September 20 | 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Baltimore Marriott Waterfront
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Food Council Seeks New Members
The Montgomery County Food Council is now accepting applications for new Council Members. Ideal candidates live, work, or have a strong investment in Montgomery County, have expertise in local food-related issues, represent a food system sector or community stakeholder partner and/or have a capacity to bring specific food system expertise, community relationships, and/or resources to support our initiatives. The Food Council is committed to building a culturally diverse Council that reflects our County's population, and strongly encourages applications from minority candidates. READ MORE>>>
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Fight Acts of Hate and Bias
Communities United Against Hate (CUAH) is launching a year-long training series to engage the public around the issue of hate crimes and bias related incidents. The series is free and will feature quarterly themed modules addressing different aspects of hate and bias. Each module will culminate in a town hall, bringing together attendees, policy-makers, and other stakeholders to discuss key takeaways. For more information, click
here.
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Celebración 20
Save the date for Identity's Celebración 20, an evening to celebrate 20 years of Latino youth reaching their highest potential. The event will be on September 26, 2019 at Universities at Shady Grove. Click
here
for more information.
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Winter Lights Festival to Benefit Local Charities
Qualified nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations are invited to apply now for beneficiary status. A limited number of opportunities are available. Certain restrictions apply.
Application forms are available online The application deadline is October 11, 2019.
READ MORE>>>
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75 Objects + 75 Stories
In celebration of its 75th anniversary in 2019, Montgomery History is bringing long overdue attention to its extraordinary collection of artifacts to help tell the story of Montgomery County's storied past.
The resulting online exhibition,
75 Objects + 75 Stories
, highlights some of the most iconic, treasured, and idiosyncratic objects from the collection.
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CentroNía plans expansion into Montgomery County
CentroNía and the Martha B. Gudelsky Foundation's joint proposal to open a child care center in the former Silver Spring Library was officially approved after a unanimous vote by the Montgomery County Council. The center is expected to open in late 2020.
READ MORE>>>
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Online Conferences for Nonprofits
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Upcoming Small Business Training and Workshops
Wherever you are with your business, taking it to the next level requires you to think differently and leverage a new set of resources. Learn more
here
about a wide variety of offerings and opportunities.
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Montgomery County's 2020 Census Webpage
US Census Bureau Jobs
2020 Census jobs provide:
- Salaries starting at $21.00/hour
- Flexible hours
- Weekly pay
- Paid training
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For more information or help applying, please call 1-855-JOB-2020 (English)
Silver Spring Complete Count Regional Subcommittee Meeting
On August 19th, the Silver Spring Regional Census Subcommittee held its second meeting at the Silver Spring Civic Building to host a workshop that covered two very important aspects of the County's 2020 Census outreach campaign. The first portion of the evening was led by the group's chairperson and Director of the Silver Spring Regional Center, Reemberto Rodriguez. Discussion focused on ways to create an effective flyer. These conversations presented strategies considered generally most effective, as well as those that should specifically be considered in our Census education and awareness outreach.
The second portion of the meeting was led by Eric Racsh, Operations Manager of the Silver Spring Civic Building, and addressed social media issues. Eric led a discussion about how everyone can, and should, creatively build the 2020 Census into their existing presence on various social media platforms.
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Class Registrations Starts this Fall!
The Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center will be offering classes in computer literacy, English as a Second Language, workshops for entrepreneurs, as well as many other classes and services this fall at locations in Wheaton, East County, Gaithersburg, and Germantown.
Registration dates are in early September and classes will begin in late September.
For questions, please call 240-777-4940, or visit our
website.
Welcoming Week
 Montgomery County strives to be welcoming to all residents every day of the year. During Welcoming Week, September 13-22, special events across the county will bring people together to help us build a county of neighbors.
By participating in Welcoming Week, County residents are part of a movement of communities across the world who recognize that being a welcoming community for all makes us stronger economically, socially, and culturally.
There will be many ways to participate! More information is coming, but check out:
Welcoming America is the national organizer of Welcoming Week. It is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that is leading a movement of inclusive communities becoming more prosperous by making everyone who lives there know they belong. For more information about Welcoming Week, or if you'd like to organize an event, please see: https://www.welcomingamerica.org/programs/welcoming-week
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Citizenship Day is September 17!
Nonprofits Host Workshops Around the Region
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American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
DC Chapter will partner with various nonprofit  organizations throughout DC, MD and VA to host 10 free or low-cost naturalization clinics to assist individuals in eligibility screening and provide help filling out forms for U.S. citizenship. See the flyer for more information on locations, hours, and contact information.
Volunteers are also needed: Join the national effort! Citizenship workshops bring together dedicated and compassionate attorneys, law students, paralegals, interpreters and community members to assist Lawful Permanent Residents in eligibility screenings and completing the Application for Naturalization (N-400). Click here to register.
> Free Legal Services Provided by Pro Bono Program
- The Pro Bono Program provides FREE LEGAL SERVICES to low-income county residents in civil cases. The Pro Bono Program provides two means for residents to receive free services - at a legal advice clinic or through the client intake line for referral to an attorney volunteer for direct representation. Click here for information in English. Click here for information in Spanish.
- The Montgomery County Maryland Bar Foundation Pro Bono Program Legal Clinics meet twice a month throughout Montgomery County (Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center and Germantown meet only once a month). Each clinics is staffed by attorneys versed in different areas of practice including Immigration.
Please note that the east county clinic that meets the 1st Thursday of every month has two
Immigration attorneys to address inquiries regarding Immigration.
- For further information please read the brochure (see link above) or call the Pro Bono Program at 301-424-7651 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Monday - Thursday.
> Citizenship Information Sessions Presented by Montgomery College and Catholic Charities
Are you a legal, permanent resident preparing for the U.S. citizenship test and interview? Come to an
information session and discover how Montgomery College and Catholic Charities may be able to help
you for free! Information sessions: September 10th at 6:00 p.m. and September 14th at 9:00 a.m.
> Free Citizenship Preparation Classes in Montgomery County
Montgomery College (MC) provides FREE citizenship preparation classes throughout Montgomery County, including locations in Rockville, Silver Spring, and Wheaton. Multi-level classes are funded through a grant from United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) at various schedules to meet the needs of learners. Registration will begin on September 10th at 6:00 p.m. and September 14th at 9:00 a.m. To register, please bring your green card to Montgomery College, 11002 Veirs Mill Road, Wheaton, MD 20902. Please check the
MC Citizenship website
for more information or call 240-567-8839.
> Free Citizenship Preparation Classes in Chevy Chase
Saturday classes at Chevy Chase United Methodist Church begin on September 21st. Click
here
for details.
> Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) Baltimore
Wednesday, September 11, 2019, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. EST
Please join KIND Baltimore for a Quick Topics Webinar on applying for asylum and SIJS-based Employment Authorization.
Thursday, September 26th, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Learn more about the U.S. immigration system, obtaining advocacy experience, and providing valuable pro bono legal representation for a vulnerable child facing deportation.
Language Services and Financial Assistance
> Language Services by Ayuda
Do you provide services to Maryland victims of crime? Do you ever need a spoken or sign interpreter to communicate with the victims whom you serve? The Language Access Program at Ayuda can provide you with professionally trained, trauma-informed interpreters at no cost (because of funding from the Maryland Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention). Please write to
i
nterpreterbank@ayuda.com
with "Maryland Victims" in the subject heading to learn more and to add your organization to the list of those that will receive services.
> Financial Assistance for Citizenship Application Fees offered by CASA
CASA, in partnership with Montgomery County, is offering financial assistance to those who are eligible to apply for citizenship but cannot afford to pay the application fee. Residents of Montgomery County who earn less than 300% of the federal poverty guideline may qualify for a scholarship in the amount of $150 or $300 to help pay the application filing fee. Interested applicants should call (240) 560-2272 for more information. Flyers are available in
English
and
Spanish
. Note: Low-income individuals seeking to apply for citizenship may also be eligible for a
fee waiver
or
reduced fee
through USCIS.
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Upcoming Meetings of County Executive's Ethnic & Faith Advisory Groups
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| Asian Pacific American Advisory Group (APAAG) will meet on Thursday, September 19, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rockville Memorial Library, located at 21 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850. The meeting will be held in the large mediation conference room (Suite 331). |
Caribbean American Advisory Group (CAAG) will meet at the Silver Spring Civic Building on Tuesday, September 10th at 7:00 p.m.
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Latin American Advisory Group (LAAG) will meet on September 10th from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Rockville Memorial Library, Third Floor, Suite 330, at the Office of Community Partnerships.
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Middle Eastern American Advisory Group (MEAAG) will meet on Monday, Sepember 9th, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at the Rockville Memorial Library in the Mediation Room, #331. Youth and adults are welcome. Please contact Debbie Trent at dtrent@civilstrategies.net for more information.
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Interfaith Community Advisory Group Meetings:
- Tuesday, September 3-- Racial Equity and Social Justice Core Group Meeting, 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Room 331, Rockville Memorial Library
- Tuesday, September 3---- Interfaith Mobilization Team Meeting, 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Room 331, Rockville Memorial Library
- Thursday, September 5 -- Executive Committee, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Room 331, Rockville Memorial Library
- Tuesday, September 10 - - FCWG Steering Committee, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Room. 331, Rockville Memorial Library
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Pick Your Favorite Volunteer Activity to Celebrate Community Service Month
Join residents across the area for Montgomery County's annual celebration of volunteerism --
Community Service Month
, which begins on Wednesday, September 11, and runs through October. By engaging in one or more volunteer activities during the event, you'll be part of a larger movement demonstrating the power and joy of serving others.
Groups looking to serve together -- scout troops, office teams, book clubs, or any other small or large gathering of individuals -- can find appropriate projects by selecting the
Group filter as part of their search. While we think every day is a good day for all types of volunteers, the Volunteer Center is particularly encouraging groups to participate in Community Service Month.
Montgomery County has been commemorating our community's spirit of service since 1986, when we designated a single Community Service Day in October. This year, in recognition of the critical impact volunteers have on life in Montgomery County, we've expanded the event to cover an entire month that also aligns with the September 11th
National Day of Service as well as
Day to Serve, a movement started in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and DC to unite people with the shared goal of helping those in need.
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African Heritage Month
September is African Heritage Month! Check out these events in Montgomery County:
> September 5
-- Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and the Montgomery County African
Affairs
Advisory Group invite you to the 11th Annual African Heritage Proclamation, 7:00 p.m. -
9:00
p.m., 1
Veterans Place, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Click here for more information.
> September 14 -- Cameroonian Doctors Association
Free Community Health Fair
, Silver Spring
Presbyterian Church (SSPC),
580 University Boulevard East, Silver Spring, MD 20901
> September 21 --  PANAFEST-USA, 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring Civic
Center. This event celebrates African heritage and showcase the cultures of area residents of
African
descent
under the overall arching theme "I ♥ African Heritage Unity!" Click here for flyer.
> September 21 -- CASEC Walk to Fight Cancer, 8:30 a.m. at Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring Civic
Center. Free flu shots and hepatitis screenings plus music, dance, food, and entertainment. See flyer
for details.
> September 22 -- Tayitu Cultural and Educational Center 19th Anniversary
Celebrating 19 years of promoting literacy, culture, education parity and performance art in
Coming up in October
> October 5 -- African Diaspora Entrepreneurship Summit, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., I/O Spaces, 8222
Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Click
here for flyer.
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AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
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On August 3rd, the People's Community Baptist Church in Silver Spring held their annual Summer Picnic. An estimated crowd of 600 was entertained with water slides for the youth, karaoke and line dancing for the adults. There was also plenty of food to go around! Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh (pictured in first photo, right) was among the public officials who attended.
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ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN COMMUNITY
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Maryland Mid-Autumn Festival
Join the Vietnamese American Services for its Maryland Mid-Autumn Festival on Sunday, September 15th from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 52 Randolph Road, Silver Spring, MD 20904. This event -- free to the public -- promotes Vietnamese culture through a wide range of activities, traditional performances and healthy food. For information in English, please click here. For information in Vietnamese, please click here.
Asian American Lead Family Day
Join Asian American Youth Leadership Empowerment and Development (AALEAD) to celebrate youth and families at the AALEAD Family Day. This event, free to the public, will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2019, from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., at Woodrow Wilson High School, 3950 Chesapeake St., N.W., Washington, DC 20016. For more information and registration, please click here.
South Asian Film Festival
The D.C. South Asian Film Festival (DCSAFF), in partnership with Montgomery College, invites you to its Eighth Annual South Asian Film Festival highlighting innovative films from the subcontinent. The festival will be held from September 20 through September 22 at the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Theater, located at51 Mannakee Street, Rockville, MD 20850.
The opening night red-carpet gala will feature an exploration of the life and art of progressive poet Kafi Azmi and includes post-film discussion with director Sumantra Ghosal and award-winning actress Shabana Azmi. The festival continues with a robust line-up of films and documentaries on Saturday and Sunday. Closing ceremonies feature a screening of The Last Color with director and chef Vikas Khanna, food tasting, dance performance, awards and more.
Don't miss this exciting opportunity to explore South Asian art, cuisine and culture through a festive
cinematic experience. For film schedules and ticket sales, please visit www.dcsaff.com.
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CARIBBEAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
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From Emancipation to Caribbean Independence Lecture
On August 1st, the Caribbean American Advisory Group partnered with the Caribbean Research & Policy Center (CRPC) and the Caribbean-American Political Action Committee (C-PAC) to present "From Emancipation to Caribbean Independence," a lecture by Dr. Franklin Knight, Professor of History Emeritus, Johns Hopkins University. Read blog post here.
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Hispanic Heritage Month in Montgomery County
Hispanic Heritage month is observed in the United States every year
from September 15 through October 15. The kick-off date marks the independence of most of Central America: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Mexico's independence day is on September 16th and Chile's is September 18th. The observance ends after October 12th, Columbus Day. In Latin America, October 12th is known as "Dia de la Raza", or Indigenous
Peoples' Day, celebrating t
he continent's diverse nations, tribes, and native culture.
Montgomery County will commemorate the month with a variety of events:
> The City of Gaithersburg and The Latino Art League (TLAL) of Greater Washington DC will
present
an exhibition of multimedia artwork celebrating the group's diverse talents. The exhibit is on
display September 6 through October 28 at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 South
> Festival Salvadoreñisimo de la Independencia -
September 15, 2019
The festival opens at 11:00 a.m. at the
Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 501 Perry Parkway,
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
> Montgomery County Council's Sixth Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Commemoration
"Latin Americans: A History of Serving Our Nation" -
September 24, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.
Montgomery County Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue - Third Floor Council Hearing
Room, Rockville, MD 20850
or call 240-777-7986.
A performance by Teatro Milagro, written by Milta Ortiz and directed by Mandana Khoshnevisan
Debuting at Montgomery College's Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center,
5
1 Mannakee Street,
Rockville, MD 20850
> Maryland's Legislative Latino Caucus' 2019 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
"Confronting Issues Impacting Our Communities & Celebrating Our Culture" -
September 28, 2019
12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.,
Montgomery County Council Office Building Cafeteria, 100 Maryland Avenue,
> AFI Silver Theater's Latin American Film Festival
On its 30th Anniversary, the AFI is celebrating the month with a selection of movies from Latin
America, Spain and Portugal. For details, click here
.
> Montgomery County Executive's Latin American Advisory Group's Hispanic Heritage Month
Community Forum and Workshop - October 19, 2019 (by invitation)
Montgomery County's Latino leaders and advocates will convene for a discussion and provide
input
regarding the Latino perspective on the Administration's
Seven Priorities; Thriving Youth and
Families;
A Growing Economy; Creating a Greener County; Easier Commutes; Creating a More
Affordable, Welcoming County; Safe neighborhoods; and A More Effective, Sustainable Government.
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Upcoming Events
On Saturday, September 7th, the Arab American Institute will commemorate the September 11th Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance in the DC metropolitan area. AAI volunteers will assist the National Park Service at one or more national memorials by planting flowers, mulching, and painting, as well as removing trash and invasive species. Please register here by Thursday, September 5th at 5:00 p.m.
September 11th is Maryland's 2019 Day To Serve Kick-Off Park Clean Up at Quiet Waters Park, 600 Quiet Waters Park Rd, Annapolis. Click here for registration information. Click link for general information on Maryland Day To Serve and the 9/11 Remember-Honor-Teach 5K.
Updates
Masjid Al-Haram
Mecca
In mid-August, Eid al-Adha was celebrated by Muslims and their families and friends across the globe, including many MEAAG members. Mumtaz Jahan made her first Hajj, or pilgrimage, to Mecca and Medina (Saudi Arabia). Her photographs show what she described as an amazing experience, seeing how almost 2.5 million worshippers are managed. Ms. Jahan even met some other Marylanders! Pictured at left above is a scene after Friday prayers, August 16, at Masjid Al-Haram in Mecca.
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L-R: Afsana Mainuddin, Mumtaz Jahan, Debbie Trent, Arwa ElBoraei, Layla Obeid, Anahita Javadi
MEAAG has launched a strategic planning process and engaged three talented high school interns to boost our intergenerational networking and engagement capacity. On August 26th, we met Anahita Javadi, Afsana Mainuddin (Rockville High School), and Layla Obeid (Winston Churchill HS) at OCP for an informal welcome and orientation. They are, respectively, of Iranian, Bangladeshi, and Syrian-Jordanian heritage and look forward to learning more about other Middle Eastern cultures while sharing theirs. |
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Upcoming Events
> IFC Unity Walk
-- Sunday, September 8, 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Washington Hebrew Congregation
> FutureFest
-- Sunday, September 15, 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Silver Spring Civic Building
> Friendship Picnic
-- Sunday, September 22, 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Wheaton Regional Park
(otherwise known as New Hampshire Avenue) is returning on Sunday, October 13, beginning at
Blake High School. There will be a resource fair at 1:00 p.m. and an opening ceremony at 2:00 p.m.,
followed by walking and riding buses together to visit houses of worship representing different faith
traditions.
Updates
Interfaith Network of Montgomery County (INMC) Receives Gift at the Twinbrook Baptist Church Legacy Service
Faith Advisory Community Council Executive Committee members (L-R) Bishop Chris Mathews, Lubna Ejaz, and Rev. Carol Flett
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Rev. Dr. Jill McCrory of Twinbrook Baptist Church
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After careful consideration of all proposals, INMC was awarded $20,000 for its
projects, deemed in line with the values of the Twinbrook Baptist Church.
Rev. Mansfield "Kasey" Kaseman has worked closely with the Twinbrook's clergy and lay leaders in the past, having served as their community minister for 26 years. Together, Rev. Kaseman and the Twinbrook Baptist congregation actively pursued social justice advocacy and community service.
Rev. Kaseman and his colleagues are deeply grateful for the life sustaining gift for the Interfaith Network's programs. Sincerest gratitude goes out to the Legacy Taskforce and Pastor Jill McCrory, who have entrusted the INMC with the Twinbrook Baptist legacy, and a gift that INMC assures will keep on giving.
Flower Branch Apartments Anniversary Memorial Service
On August 9, 2019, the 3rd Anniversary Memorial Service for the victims of the Flower Branch Apartments solemnly honored the seven who died and sought to comfort those who grieve and live with continuing trauma.
READ MORE>>>
Meeting with County Executive
The Executive Committee of the Faith Community Advisory Council presented their stewardship reports on the Religious Land Use, Neighbors in Need and Faith Community Working Groups to County Executive Marc Elrich. Special Assistants Debbie Spielberg and BB Ortero, and Director of the Office of Community Partnerships, Diane Vu were also present. The Executive Committee ranges from Anglican to Zoroastrian and seeks to represent the needs and interests of 767 faith communities in Montgomery County. Their mailing list exceeds 5,000 that grows through workshops ranging from security to advanced care planning; intercultural dialogues on racism and bias; partnerships with government and nonprofits working on hunger, healthcare and welcoming refugees; coordinating interfaith responses to acts of violence; and engaging faith communities in caring for our environment.
The County Executive expressed appreciation to the committee for its service and asked them to help the County care for its homeless this winter, as its largest shelter has been closed due to an environmental health problem; work with faith communities in addressing the need for more affordable housing; and engage more faith communities in climate solutions.
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Ethiopian Delegation to Visit
County Executive Marc Elrich extended an invitation to the Mayor of Gondar, Dr. Muluken Adane, along with his staff, to visit Montgomery County from September 15-21, 2019.
The delegation will be speaking with Montgomery County department heads, the County Executive, Councilmembers, and exploring Montgomery College campus locations. Their focus will not only be to foster the sister city relationship between Montgomery County and Gondar, but also to develop strategic plans with Montgomery College due to the large Ethiopian diaspora, and learn about the county's best practices within each department.
They will also be attending events throughout the county, including FutureFest™, presented by the KID Museum in partnership with Montgomery County and the Fund for Montgomery. This free event merges two beloved festivals, KIDfest and the World of Montgomery Festival and includes hands-on, creative activities, music, and dance from our sister cities in China, El Salvador, Ethiopia, India, and Korea. FutureFest™ takes place Sunday, September 15, 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Veterans Plaza and the Silver Spring Civic Center - One Veterans Place, Silver Spring MD 20910. The delegation also is scheduled to attend Panafest, described above.
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Have News to Share?
To submit your news and events of interest to those in and serving Montgomery County's emerging communities and neighbors in need, email complete details and/or a press release to the OCP Newsletter.
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