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"A More Equitable and Inclusive Montgomery County"
County Executive Marc Elrich
March 10, 2021 - Issue 153
NEWS & EVENTS AROUND THE REGION
COVID Vaccinations

See information on COVID-19 vaccinations, and a link to pre-register those 75 and older on the county's website:

Free COVID Tests

Do you need a COVID-19 test? Visit the County's website for information about upcoming testing clinics and to make an appointment. Click here.

Donate Food

Want to organize a food drive for Manna in your neighborhood? Manna is accepting food donations in large blue bins outside their warehouse at 9311 Gaither Rd in Gaithersburg. Check the  Most Needed Foods list and drop it off 24/7 without needing to come inside. Click here.

Paycheck Protection Program - Round 2

Good news! The Paycheck Protection Program is now more accessible to those who are self-employed. Continue to the Latino Economic Development Center's PPP applicaiton here.

County Cities Rank High for Diversity

WalletHub, an online financial resource and services website, ranked Rockville, Gaithersburg, Germantown and Silver Spring in the top four spots in its annual diversity study.  READ MORE>>>

Women in Government

Register now for the Montgomery County Women in Government Event on March 12, 2021. Space is limited, so be sure to register before spots fill! Click here for a flyer with details.

Scholarships Available

The Montgomery County (MD) Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is accepting applications for its 2021 Scholarship Program. All applications are due by the postmarked date of March 13, 2021. READ MORE>>>

Mobile Markets at MC Campuses

The Mobile Food Market offers fresh produce and other foods at no cost to Montgomery College students, faculty/staff, and the community. READ MORE>>>

Renters: Avoid Eviction

Concerned renters can get help in avoiding eviction here

Renters who receive a court notice are encouraged to contact Maryland Legal Aid (240-314-0373) and be sure to attend court, as lawyers are scheduled to be available to support renters.

Lifelong Learning Courses

Registration is now open for Montgomery College Lifelong Learning Institute Non-Credit Courses.
Zoom classes in real-time! Over 40 new classes are being offered in Winter/Spring 2021. Click here for registration information.

ESOL Classes for Adults

Find an online ESOL class from MCAEL here.

Vietnamese American Services

VAS annual report is available here.

Artist Vibe

Artist Vibe is a monthly online show with a live audience, featuring one local performing artist and one local visual artist/artisan. Sponsored by FAsMarketplace, its mission is "to create tangible opportunities for ordinary citizens to improve their lives through entrepreneurship, education, the arts, sports and other means." Click here for viewing information.

LEDC Small Business Directory

It's now easier than ever to shop from LEDC-supported small, minority-owned businesses in DC, MD, and NoVA. Check it out here. 

Maryland Community Needs Survey

Ensure your local community needs are included in the Maryland State Service Plan by taking this 11-minute survey. Click here.

Senior Planet Montgomery 

Senior Planet Montgomery offers virtual programs to help seniors learn new skills, save money, get in shape and make new friends. Visit their website or call 240-753-0676.

Stay Home and Learn

Nonprofit Learning Lab is offering daily online trainings as a resource for nonprofits who are responding to the evolving changes and needs in their community and within their organizations as a result of COVID. Click here for more information.

Empowered Women International and LEDC present free webinars in English and Spanish. Click here for information.

GILCHRIST IMMIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER
Success Stories

Gilchrist staff who take calls through the Information and Referral Program work hard to ensure that our residents receive the services they need. Beyond redirecting clients to the appropriate local agencies, Information and Referral specialists take the time to help clients navigate available resources and follow up with these clients. Read more about the individuals who have been helped by dedicted staff -- clients who are at risk of homelessness, food insecurity, eviction and educational inequity.

By the Numbers -- Impact during COVID

Since the pandemic started in March 2020, the Gilchrist Center moved its operations to phone-in and virtual services. Here's a quick look at the impact the Center made from March to December.

Food Access Survey

The Montgomery County Food Council launched the Food Access Survey to guide Montgomery County food security initiatives in 2021. Please share with your networks! Your feedback is essential.

Residents who complete Part I of the survey will be entered in a drawing to win a $25 gift card, and residents who complete Parts I and II of the survey will be entered to win a $50 gift card.

The deadline for the survey responses is Wednesday, March 17th, 2021. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Amharic, French, and Mandarin.

English Classes

Montgomery College offers English classes through its American Pre-Academic and Professional ESL (APPE-ESL) Program. For information about classes, schedules, and pricing, click here.
Workshops and Info Sessions  

> Free Citizenship Application Consultations by APALRC
 
Due to concerns about the coronavirus, the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center is not scheduling any citizenship application workshops currently. However, APALRC has access to a safe and secure web platform, CitizenshipWorks, that applicants can use and get free help from an experienced attorney at the APALRC in reviewing and drafting their citizenship application. 

The website exists in three languages: English, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese. The website allows applicants to start and stop their application at any time and saves their work each step of the way. 

Please note, CitizenshipWorks is not connected to USCIS or the US government, it is a private website. This is not the same as filing online through the USCIS website. To start drafting your application today, please go to http://www.citizenshipworks.org/Portal/APALRC
For more information, please contact APALRC at info@apalrc.org or 202-393-3572.
 
> Free Legal Service provided by the 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 a referral to an attorney volunteer for direct representation. For further information, see the brochures in English or Spanish or or call the Pro Bono Program at 301-424-7651 between the hours of 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, Monday - Thursday. 
> Free immigration consultations by HIAS by phone

HIAS works with a generous network of pro bono attorneys - both locally through their headquarters in NY and Silver Spring, MD, and across the country - to provide legal services to asylum seekers, asylees, and others who are seeking humanitarian relief. 

They are now providing free telephonic immigration consultations for Montgomery County residents. If interested in receiving a consultation, please email generallaw@hias.org or call 240-668-4053 and leave a message. You must note in your email or your voicemail that you are a Montgomery County resident to get a callback.
 
For all other Maryland residents, please call HIAS's intake line the first Friday of every month at 301-844-7248 to receive a free immigration consultation. 
> Free Citizenship Preparation Classes and Naturalization Application Assistance

Are you a legal, permanent resident preparing for the U.S. citizenship test and interview? Montgomery College (MC) provides FREE citizenship preparation classes online via Zoom in partnership with Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services, MC also offers help with the N-400 application for naturalization. For more details, contact citizenshipprogram@montgomerycollege.edu or visit the website.
> FIRN

FIRN Inc. a Department of Justice (DOJ) accredited non-profit organization located in Columbia, Maryland, is currently accepting intakes for individuals residing in Montgomery County who need representation in their removal proceedings.  All immigration services are provided either low-cost or pro bono and FIRN's staff speak English and Spanish. Any Montgomery County resident interested in completing an intake should contact Alexis Downs De Colocho, adowns@firnonline.org or call 410-992-1923. For more information about FIRN please visit  www.firnonline.org.
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. 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  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
All ethnic advisory groups are currently meeting virtually. For more information or concerns, please feel free to reach out to the liaisons listed below:

African Affairs Advisory Group 
will meet virtually on March 14, 2021, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Topic:" Leading the Way: Innovators in Government, Community, and Entrepreneurship." For more information please contact the African Community Liaison 
harrieta.shangarai@montgomerycountymd.gov

African American Advisory Group will meet on April 1, 2021 at 5:00 pm. For more information, contact
julian.norment@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Asian Pacific American Advisory Group will not meet in March. The Advisory Group will reconvene in April. If you have any questions, please email Mr. Yi Shen, yi.shen@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Caribbean American Advisory Group 
Yvonne.Stephens@montgomerycountymd.gov

Latin American Advisory Group met virtually on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at 6:30 pm. The newly appointed group voted for its new leadership, processes and procedures, and focused on outlining its 2021 agenda around Covid relief and recovery. For more information, contact Jessy Mejia Terry, Latino Liaison, 
jessy.mejiaterry@montgomerycountymd.gov

 
Middle Eastern American Advisory Group
Arwa.ElBoraei@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Interfaith Community Advisory Group 
March 22, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm - Education Committee 
March 24, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm - Religious Land Use Working Group 
March 25, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm - Executive Committee  
Nominate Volunteers for Top County Awards
Montgomery Serves Awards logo
Nominations are now open for the Montgomery Serves Awards, our county's highest honor for volunteer service. This prestigious annual awards program is coordinated by the Montgomery County Volunteer Center and recognizes volunteer efforts in the following categories:
To nominate deserving volunteers, complete the appropriate online nomination forms linked above no later than Friday, March 12, at 5 pm.

50+ and Looking for Help Finding a Volunteer Fit?

If you are age 50 or over and want to make a significant contribution of time and talent to serve our community, the 50+ Volunteer Network can help you find service opportunities that fit your experience and interests. Through virtual consultations with volunteers and ongoing relationships with partner agencies, the network has connected hundreds of volunteers with a broad range of organizations as tutors and mentors, program managers and assistants, outreach and advocacy specialists, board members, communications and marketing professionals, and more.

Email 50plus@montgomerycountymd.gov to get started on finding your best volunteer fit.

Watch the Ways to Make a Difference

Make a Difference, a monthly County Cable Montgomery program, highlights the contributions of stellar county volunteers and organizations that work to better our community. This month's episode features a look at how volunteers can get involved with serving Empowered Women International and KindWorks
ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
Lunar New Year Celebration

County Executive Marc Elrich celebrated Lunar New Years Day with Asian community leaders on February 12, 2021. Lunar New Year is celebrated in multiple Asian countries, such as China, Korea (Seollal), Vietnam (Tết), Japan, Singapore, Tibet (Losar), and Mongolia (Tsagaan Sar). This year marks the Year of the Ox. The Ox is a hard working, steady and reliable animal. The Year of the Ox is supposed to bring stability and success through hard work. View the County Executive's proclamation here.

The Asian American Health Initiatives in partnership with the Office of Community Partnerships held an Asian American town hall on February 23, 2021. The town hall featured county officials and community physicians who addressed pre-submitted questions about COVID-19, the vaccine, and how to pre-register. Watch the town hall on YouTube at https://buff.ly/3pXvirc.
LATIN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
Mid-County COVID Community Committee

On Wednesday, March 10 at 6:30 pm and every other Wednesday evening for the next couple of months, the Mid-County COVID Community Committee (MC-CCC) will be meeting virtually to engage in outreach activities in the Mid-County region and encourage other Mid-County neighbors to register for the COVID vaccine. As dose availability increases, this committee will complement the county's efforts and reach deeper into the region to ensure all neighbors who wish to get their vaccine are registered with the county's health department. The first virtual meeting was held on February 24th.
MIDDLE EASTERN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
Spread the Joy

March is Middle Eastern American Heritage Month!  MEAAG's celebration,"Spread the Joy," will be held on on Zoom on Sunday, March 14th from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, with emcee Sarah Elbeshbishi.  For more information and registration click here.

Art in the Garden

From March 1 to April 25, MEAAG and the Brookside Gardens Visitor Center are co-sponsoring the exhibition "Middle Eastern American Artists in the Garden and Beyond." The exhibition features works (many for sale!) by local Middle Eastern American artists in an online gallery, a free webinar on March 10th to meet the artists, and an in-person exhibit March 29 to April 25 at the visitor center! Click here for more information and registration.

Author Talk

The second of six monthly MCPL-MEAAG Conversations with Middle Eastern American Authors will be held on March 16 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The featured speaker is Pakistani American children's author Hena Khan, who will discuss her new book, Amina's Song. To register, please click here

Update

MEAAG's meeting on February 10 included newly appointed MEAAG members and guests. MEAAG is now 17 members strong! Click here to see the membership list. Shawn Ellis, OCP Community Outreach & Communications Manager, discussed vaccination outreach and emphasized the importance of sharing official information across our communities to help reduce vaccine hesitancy. For the latest verified local information, click here
INTERFAITH COMMUNITY
The Faith Community on Social Media

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