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"A More Equitable and Inclusive Montgomery County"
County Executive Marc Elrich
November 5, 2019 - Issue 139
NEWS & EVENTS AROUND THE REGION
FY 2021 Operating Budget Forums

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is holding budget forums to seek input from residents about Fiscal Year 2021 (FY20) Operating Budget priorities. Upcoming forums:

Thursday, November 7, 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown.

Wednesday, November 13, 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m, Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road, Silver Spring. 

For more information and the schedule for all budget forums, click here.


Job Opening

The Office of the County Council is seeking a Deputy Director, which is an executive level position. The Deputy Director will be responsible for assisting the Executive Director, supervising
Council Staff and performing intensive review and analysis of complex fiscal and policy issues for the County Council. Closing Date: December 1, 2019. For a detailed job description, click here

Gaithersburg and Filipino-American Association Support Troops

The City of Gaithersburg joins the Filipino-American Association of Bethesda in collecting items for care packages to send to troops deployed overseas during the holiday season. A collection box is located in the lobby of the Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 South Frederick Avenue. Donations will be accepted until November 8. READ MORE>>>

Sandy Spring Museum 
Classes

Sandy Spring Museum presents immersive experiences for children ages 6 - 12 in the cultural arts of Puerto Rico through storytelling, hands-on arts projects, and simple bilingual games. Beginning November 17. READ MORE>>>

Tap into one of the oldest dance and music practices of the Caribbean - Afro-Puerto Rican bomba with Cultura Plenera. November 16.

"Thanksgiving for Everyone" -- Amnesty International Rockville, Trisha Gupta Studio, and Sandy Spring Museum invite you to a special pre-Thanksgiving dinner to "build a longer table." Click here for details.

Holiday Market

On Sunday, December 8, 2019, the 7th Annual Holiday Market will return to the Silver Spring Civic Center in Silver Spring, Maryland, to offer shoppers the opportunity to buy from local, women-owned small businesses! The event is sponsored by Empowered Women International and the Latino Economic Development Center.  READ MORE>>>

Transitional Living Scholarship

The Montgomery College Foundation announces the Transitional Living Scholarship for women with dependent children who are currently experiencing housing insecurity or have been in transition/homeless over the last two years. To apply, email
or call 240-567-4365.

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.

Online Conferences for Nonprofits

The Nonprofit Learning Lab offers online conferences on a variety of topics. Click here for more information. In addition, a nonprofit lab will be held in Baltimore on November 8. For details, click here.

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.

2020 Census
US Census Bureau Jobs

Join the 2020 US Census team in Montgomery County! Visit 2020census.gov/jobs or Apply Online Here!
2020 Census jobs provide:
* Wages starting at $21.00/hour
* Flexible hours
* Weekly pay
* Paid training
For more information or help applying, please call 1-855-JOB-2020 (English)

Become a Volunteer 2020 Census Ambassador!

The Office of Community Partnerships is recruiting 2020 Census Ambassadors to help ensure that everyone in Montgomery County is counted on April 1, 2020 (Census Day). Census Ambassadors are volunteers trained by the Office of Community Partnerships and Census Bureau and will conduct education and outreach by hosting information tables, distributing Census promotional materials and engaging with county residents. Multilingual members of the community are especially encouraged to apply.  READ MORE>>>

Montgomery County's 2020 Census Homepage

Please visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/census for census material and additional information about the 2020 Census, including:
* Sample Copy of the 2020 Census Questionnaire
* The Everyone Counts! 2020 Census Fact Sheet: Available in 7 languages
2020 Census Ambassador Application and Training Info
Maps and Tools to Identify Hard-to-Count Communities
Calendar of 2020 Census and Community Events


Service Providers Discuss Outreach Needs with Office of Community Partnerships

The Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center hosted the quarterly Down County Providers Network meeting on October 16 at its Wheaton office. Representatives from Interfaith Works, CASA, EveryMind, DHHS, and many other organizations attended the meeting, which featured an update on the impacts of changes to federal Public Charge rules from Agatha Tan of the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC) and recommendations on how to prepare for the upcoming 2020 Census from Diane Vu and Shawn Ellis from the Office of Community Partnerships.

Providers had the opportunity to meet the Community Liaisons for the Latin American, African American, Asian, and African communities, and learn about their roles.  The bulk of the meeting focused on challenges that providers face in their outreach efforts, and ideas for how to make outreach more effective. READ MORE>>>


The Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center Trains Volunteer Instructors on Immigrants' Rights and County Policies Regarding ICE

The many recent policy changes in immigration law have resulted in a great deal of fear and misinformation in immigrant communities. It is important for those who work with immigrants to be aware of the major policy changes, how the County is handling issues pertaining to immigrant communities, and what to do if ICE visits your location. The Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center held its second volunteer training about these issues on October 17, 2019 at the Gaithersburg Library (the first training was held at its Wheaton office on September 3). Volunteer instructors were provided with Know Your Rights information, learned about County policies and their responsibilities under the County's Promoting Community Trust Executive Order, and were trained on what to do if ICE visits their facility. The Gilchrist Center greatly appreciates the dedication of its volunteers, and their willingness to take the time to be educated about these issues so that they can best serve our immigrant communities.

November Workshops and Information Sessions

> The APALRC will hold a free application assistance workshop on Saturday, November 16th from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Rockville Memorial Library. Walk-ins are welcome, but people are encouraged to call and register in advance. Call 202-706-7135.

APALRC will continue to conduct brief immigration consultations at the Gaithersburg Library "citizenship corner" on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month (including November 5th and 19th) from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The APALRC also holds general intake hours on the 3rd Wednesday of every month (including November 20th), from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Gilchrist Center headquarters in Wheaton (Viers Mill Road). All intakes/consultations are on a first-come, first-served basis, unless a prior appointment is arranged in advance.

Please see the citizenship workshop flyers for November in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
______________________________________________________________________________________

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 for brochures in English and Spanish.

The Pro Bono Program is committed to helping the residents of Montgomery County,
MD. Individual circumstances may vary and in some cases the program may not be able to assist
everyone.

The Montgomery County Maryland Bar Foundation Pro Bono Program Legal Clinics continue to
meet twice a month throughout Montgomery County. Each clinic is staffed by attorneys
versed in different areas of practice including Immigration. 

For further information, please make sure to read the brochure or call the Pro Bono
Program at 301-424-7651 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Monday - Thursday.
________________________________________________________________________________________

> Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) Baltimore will host a training session in Baltimore:

Introductory Training - Representing Children in Immigration Matters , Thursday, November 21st, 9:00 s.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. The presentation will provide an overview of unaccompanied immigrant children and the laws that affect them; working with child clients and interpreters; family court and immigration proceedings for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status cases in Maryland; asylum law; and cases available for placement. This introductory training is required for new KIND pro bono attorneys before taking on their first KIND case, but there is no requirement of accepting a case to attend the training. Please RSVP to infobaltimore@supportkind.org by Monday, November 18th.
________________________________________________________________________________________

> 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! See the website for more information.

>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 the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) at various schedules
to meet the needs of learners. Please check the MC Citizenship Website for more information or call 
240-567- 8839.
_________________________________________________________________________________________

Language Services and Financial Assistance

> Language Access 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 email  interpreterbank@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 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.
ADVISORY GROUP MEETINGS
Upcoming Meetings of County Executive's Ethnic & Faith Advisory Groups
African Affairs Advisory Group (AAAG) will meet on Thursday, November 14, 2019 from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Silver Spring Civic Building, 1 Veteran Place, Silver Spring, MD. For more information, call 240-672-1788.
Asian Pacific American Advisory Group (APAAG) will meet on Thursday, November 14, 2019 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Jewish Council for the Aging, 12320 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 20852. If you would like to be included on the agenda, please contact Mr. Yi Shen at yi.shen@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Caribbean American Advisory Group (CAAG) will meet on Tuesday, November 5th and Tuesday, December 3rd, at 7:00 p.m. at the Civic Building in Silver Spring.
Latin American Advisory Group (LAAG) will meet on on November 12, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rockville Memorial Library, Third Floor, Suite 330 (Office of Community Partnerships). The meeting will focus on LAAG's  major civic duties coming up next year, including Census 2020 engagement to help ensure a complete count, and voter education presentations by the Montgomery County Board of Elections and the League of Women Voters.
Middle Eastern American Advisory Group (MEAAG) will meet on Monday, November 4th, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at the Rockville Memorial Library, Office of Community Partnerships Settlement Room #330. This is a public meeting and all are welcome. Speakers will be Nun Othman Yousif, Census 2020 Partnership Specialist/Arabic, and Shawn Ellis, OCP 2020 Census Manager. Please direct questions to dtrent@civilstrategies.net.
Interfaith Community Advisory Group Meetings: 
  • Tuesday, November 12  --  Executive Committee Meeting, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m, Rockville Memorial Library, Room 331 
  • Saturday, November 16 -- AAHI Mental Health First Aid Training for Faith Leaders, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., 1401 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD
     
  • Wednesday, November 20 -- Parent Academy Fall Session #2 , 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., Springbrook High School
  • November 15, 2019 -  Emotional Spiritual Care Volunteers Training on Shelter Care 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., DHHS
Help Those in Need With Tax Returns

Interested in providing an important service to our community during tax season? Consider volunteering to prepare taxes, schedule appointments, or greet clients through the RSVP/AARP Tax-Aide Program, which offers tax preparation for low-to-moderate income taxpayers (with special attention to those 60+). Training is provided.

Learn more about these volunteer opportunities at one of these information sessions. (Registration is NOT required.)

* Tuesday, Nov. 19, 10:00 a.m., at the Gaithersburg Library (18330 Montgomery Village Ave.)
* Wednesday, Nov. 20, 1:00 p.m., at the Wheaton Library (11701 Georgia Ave.)

For more information about joining the Tax-Aide Program team, email montgomerycountytaxaide@gmail.com, call 240-777-2612, or visit the Tax-Aide volunteer web page
AWARDS
Montgomery County Recognizes Community Icon Austin Heyman

Councilmember Gabe Albornoz, the Montgomery County Council and County Executive Marc Elrich recognized Austin Heyman on October 22. Austin most recently served as a Senior Fellow at the Office Community Partnerships. Austin has over half a century of service to Montgomery County and led the charge to build the age-friendly community we are today. His good friend Chuck Short spoke fondly of their 40-year friendship.

AARP Maryland presented Austin with the J. Joseph Curran Jr. AARP Maryland Lifetime Achievement Award. AARP states that through his words and his deeds, Austin exemplifies the vision of AARP's founder Ethel Percy Andrus: "It is only in the giving of oneself to others that we truly live."

For more photos of the event, click here
AFRICAN COMMUNITY
Upcoming Events
 
African Union Ambassador Farewell & Appreciation Town Hall Meeting
Date: Sunday November 10, 2019
Time: 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Montgomery Blair High School
51 University Blvd East, Silver Spring MD 20901
For more information, call 301-523-6214

ITFTA Bourda 2019
Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2019 to Thursday, November 7, 2019
Time: From 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Held by Islamic Tijaniya Foundation of America
For more information, call 410-440-4294
AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
Black and Brown Forum for Educational Equity and Excellence

Black and brown coalition

Identity and the NAACP Parents' Council, founding members of THE BLACK AND BROWN COALITION FOR EDUCATIONAL EQUITY AND EXCELLENCE, hosted the Black and Brown Forum for Educational Equity and Excellence on Tuesday, October 15th at 7:00 p.m. at Gaithersburg High School. The Coalition highlighted new information uncovered in an April 29, 2019 report and a June 11, 2019 report to the MCPS Board of Education that affirms that black and brown students across Montgomery County do not have access to the same resources and opportunities as their peers. As the County considers how to respond, the community was encouraged to charge County Councilmembers, the Board of Education, and Montgomery County Public Schools to remove barriers that cause these gaps and to ensure that all students succeed.

The Coalition brings together a cross-section of constituencies to advocate for MCPS to remove the barriers to black and brown students receiving the support, time and resources needed to master rigorous courses and the communication, collaboration, and cognitive skills (the ability to apply knowledge and skills within and across disciplines) to succeed in post-secondary coursework and the 21st century information economy. 
ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN COMMUNITY
Diwali Celebration


Montgomery County hosted the 10th Annual Diwali Celebration on October 23. Diwali, also known as Festival of Lights, is one of the most important holidays in India and is celebrated by people across the world. It is the celebration of triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.

Upcoming Events

Asian American Business Roadmap: Resources, Opportunities and Challenges
Please join County Council Vice President Sidney Katz and State Delegate Lily Qi at the Asian American Business Roadmap: Resources, Opportunities and Challenges on Monday, November 18, 2019 from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Nancy H. Dacek North Potomac Community Recreation Center, 13850 Travilah Road, Rockville, MD 20850. RSVP welcome but not required. Please contact Laurie Edberg at laurie.edberg@montgomerycountymd.gov or at 240-777-7906
CARIBBEAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
Strategic Planning


Pictured (left): Dr. Benjamin Farrell, Rosemarie Williams-Harvey, Kenneth Nelson
Pictured (right):  Laurie Williams, CAAG's EWD Co-Team Leader

The Caribbean American Advisory Group's Strategic Plan includes four priorities and work teams:
Culture and Outreach, Economic Development, Education and Workforce Development, and
Health and Wellness. These priorities will be addressed through various media, with support from experts in the field and in partnership with community organizations.

On September 26, 2019, CAAG hosted the first part of its Education and Workforce Development forums
at the Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza. The forum, Effective Business Strategies -
Part 1, was led by Montgomery College Professor Dr. Benjamin Farrell, a native of Nevis, and Mrs.
Rosemarie Williams-Harvey, a native of Jamaica and a senior manager of a talent acquisition
firm based in Montgomery County that specializes in nationwide recruitment for Federal and C-suite executives. Effective Business Strategies - Part 2 will be held in January 2020 and will focus on writing a
business plan, starting a small business, and applying for a business loan. 

The 2020 US CENSUS: What I Need to Know...

On October 30, CAAG hosted "The 2020 US CENSUS: What I Need to Know," a program at the Silver Spring Civic Building. The discussion was led by U.S. Census Bureau Partnership Specialists Robin Brown (Haitian), Daniel Jones (Dominican), Juliet Ceesay (Monserratian) and Shawn Ellis, Montgomery County's 2020 Census Manager.

April 1, 2020, National Census Day, marks the beginning of the 24th United States Census.
CAAG is encouraging all Caribbean nationals to Get the FACTS about the Census. It is important for the
Caribbean community to be informed and engaged. Full participation will give an accurate count of residents that will ultimately contribute to governmental decisions that affect the Caribbean community locally and nationally. 

For  more information please contact Derrice Deane at ddcarib@aol.com or  Yvonne.Stephens@montgomerycountymd.gov. CAAG will continue to participate in the 2020 Census  Outreach program throughout the county.
LATIN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
Latin American Film Festival    

The Latin American Film Festival, hosted by the AFI Silver Theater in Silver Spring, closed the month-long
festival with the world premiere of "Days of Light." The closing celebration included a presentation of a
proclamation on behalf of the County Executive to the AFI's director and staff, which also
commemorated AFI's 30th Anniversary showcasing films from Latin America. 

"Turn the Curve" Tutorial for County's Latino Advocates

The Latin American Advisory Group (LAAG) and the Hispanic Employees Association's (HEA) leadership met on October 8th at the CountyStat Office for a "Turning the Curve Fundamentals" session to attain a better grasp of the concept. For the LAAG, it was critical to pose questions to CountyStat to ensure they are on the right path for the Latino Community Workshop. For the HEA, it was important to revitalize themselves as an organization, and to understand how data from CountyStat could help them achieve that goal. Both organizations will follow-up with CountyStat with further questions and projects.

Latino Community Workshop



On October 19th, the Latin American Advisory Group hosted the Latino Community Workshop at
Montgomery College. Over 60 people participated in group discussions concerning the Administration's seven priority areas. The County Executive gave opening remarks and responded to questions from attendees, CountyStat also provided a brief rundown of what "Turn the Curve" means to ensure that the County continues to be a welcoming and inclusive community.
MIDDLE EASTERN COMMUNITY
Updates




On October 5th, Dawson's Market in Rockville Town Square hosted MEAAG's first food drive. MEAAG partnered with Mid-County United Ministries and the Governor's Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs to collect over 400 pounds of nourishing non-perishable foods for the most needy families in the county. Thanks to all individuals and the Children of Persia charity for donating and helping out!

On October 20th, MEAAG co-founding member Mahasty Sharifi hosted an American Iranian cultural  gathering in Bethesda. Many musicians and authors performed for an audience of 128, including MEAAG high school intern Anahita Javadi, on the violin. 
INTERFAITH COMMUNITY
Upcoming Events

MCPS Mental Health Fair - November 9th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Click here for flyer.

Interfaith Thanksgiving Service - November 20th at 7:30 p.m. Click here for flyer.

Updates


An Interfaith Prayer Service was held for Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal, the first turbaned Sikh deputy in America, at the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation Spiritual Center. Prayers for the late Deputy Dhaliwal, his family, the Sikh community and our nation facing increased gun violence were offered by representatives of various faith communities. READ MORE>>>

The 2019 Montgomery County Unity Walk on the Highway to Heaven celebrated the richness of our divine diversity and demonstrated the value of collaboration among government, nonprofits and faith communities.  READ MORE>>>
The Annual Founders Day at the Baitur Rehman Mosque featured the theme "Being a Good Neighbor - A Religious Duty." Universal truths were found motivating several hundred people to become better neighbors in terms of embracing diversity, caring for the needy, building bridges and being peace makers.  READ MORE>>>

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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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