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Office of Community Partnerships Newsletter
May 2011, Issue 39

 In This Issue

Message from the Director: Celebrating What Makes Montgomery Great -- Our Diversity & Our Commitment to Serving Others

Bruce Adams

Director, Office of Community 

 

SAVE THESE DATES: We are going to have a week long celebration of what makes Montgomery County great from October 16 to 22, 2011. The annual World of Montgomery Festival will kick-off the week starting at noon on Sunday October 16 in downtown Wheaton. There will be community service programs all week all across the County culminating in a Community Service Day Silver Anniversary party in downtown Silver Spring on Saturday evening October 22. Please contact me if you would like to get involved in planning this important weekend: [email protected].

 

Hundreds of Montgomery County residents are signing up for our Pledge 25 campaign. Sign-up today, complete your 25 hours, and you will be recognized at our Silver Anniversary Community Service Day celebration in Silver Spring on Saturday evening October 22. Click here to find out more and sign up

                         
Pledge25Logo

asianAsian Pacific American Heritage Month Focuses on Modern-Day Asian Experience

On Thursday, May 26, from 3:00 - 6:30 p.m. in the Executive Office Building Auditorium, 101 Monroe St., Rockville.  This year's theme is "Asian Americans in the Capital Region: Heritage in the Making."  There will be two panels, the first is "Churches, Mosques and Temples: A faith-based approach to social services in the Asian American community" and the second is "A Conversation with Asian American Policymakers: Community Engagement in a Global Economy."  Three of the four Asian American lawmakers will be present. 

"Global Montgomery" series Connects County Employees with New Communities

The Office of Community Partnerships has started an educational series for County government employees called "Global Montgomery."   It is one of several cultural competency training series designed to improve government cultural competency and better connect the new communities with the County.  Each of the seminars are presented by community leaders and feature a cluster of 2-3 cultures within Montgomery County.  The first program featured the Lunar New Year celebrating the communities of the Chinese, the Korean and the Vietnamese.  A new program, "Iran and Turkey: At Crossroads of Cultures" is scheduled for Friday, May 6.  At this time, these programs are only for County employees.  For more information or to volunteer as a community presenter, please contact Lily Qi at [email protected].  

roundLatino Leadership Roundtable: How will you serve?

The County Executive's Latin American Advisory group is hosting a Latino Leadership Roundtable on Monday, June 6th from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the Silver Spring Civic Building. The purpose of the event is to help connect Latino residents with available volunteer opportunities in Montgomery County. We welcome all Latino residents to come, network, and learn about various opportunities available to those interested in becoming more involved in Latino community issues in Montgomery County. Some of the opportunities featured will include serving in the County Executive's Latin American Advisory Group, the County's Boards, Non-profit boards, and other service opportunities in the County. Save the date and invite your friends. For more information, contact Karla Silvestre at 240-777-2525 or [email protected].

 

census event latino

Members of the County Executive's Latin American Advisory group, community partners, Councilmember Navarro and County Executive Ike Leggett working to promote the 2010 Census in the Latino community.

housingJoin the Affordable Housing Conference of Montgomery County
On Monday, May 9, 2011 for its 20th annual Affordable Housing Summit at the Bethesda North Marriott Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Road, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  The Morning Keynote speaker is Eugene Robinson and the Luncheon Keynote speaker is Governor Martin O'Malley. The cost is $80 per person. Register online at www.affordablehousingconference.org.  Please direct any questions to Lise Tracey at 301-520-1587.

foodThe Manna Food Center: Feeding Hope in our Community with May Food Drive 

Manna Food Center provides the vital service of 3.5 million pounds of perishable and non-perishable foodstuffs yearly to at risk families and children in Montgomery County.  This breaks down to seventy pounds of food, enough sustenance for three to five days per family, per month.  Please see the informational video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6XF1bCS9fc.

 

To understand the impact of Manna's work, all 28 Giant Food Stores are sponsoring a two-day food drive on Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Interested parties of 3 or more persons "adopt" a store for the day for food collection from shoppers.  To register your group for a store, please contact Manna at [email protected] and indicate 'GIANT FOOD DRIVE' in the subject line.

16th Annual Taste of Wheaton: Old Favorites & New Additions

Downtown Wheaton will host this signature event on Sunday, May 15 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in downtown Wheaton at Grandview Avenue and Reedie Drive.

 

Along with food samples from local restaurants offered at prices ranging from $1 to $5 per "taste," two new activities will be added to this year's family-friendly event.  "Wheaton Idol" karaoke will debut, where attendees can belt out their favorite tunes and walk away with a CD of their vocal performance.  Also, new this year, is a DJ/dance area, where guests can dance as well as watch performances by Wheaton Studio of Dance; Albert Einstein High School's salsa team, Titanes Salseros; and hip hop dance team Urban Artistry.

 

In addition to great food, live music and entertainment will be featured on two stages, with performances from roots rock band Appaloosa Band, salsa band JCJ Band, jazz by Electrokoustic Band, and Top 40's and R&B by Secret Society.  Rocknoceros and the RTT's will perform for the kids, and children's activities include caricature drawings, balloon artists, puppet shows and kids' rides.

 

Portions of Grandview Avenue will be closed during the event, and Triangle Lane will be closed.   Free parking will be available at the Wheaton Metro garage on Veirs Mill Road and at the County garage at Amherst Avenue and Reedie Drive.  The Wheaton Metro Station is located one-half block south of the event.

 

For more information, call 240-777-8106, or visit www.wheatonmd.org.

 

RockvilleCity of Rockville's 3-Day Memorial Day Event

Hometown Holidays is Rockville, Maryland's annual street festival celebrating Memorial Day. The three-day event features dozens of entertainers performing on seven stages, children's rides, teen activities, VisArts Fine Arts Festival, an environmental expo, the Taste of Rockville, the Annual Ride for Rockville Bicycle Tour, and the Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade. The 2011 Hometown Holidays will feature George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic, who have been entertaining audiences for decades with their blend of funk and rock, and are known for such hits as "Give up the Funk," "Flashlight," "Atomic Dog" and "Not Just Knee Deep."

This year's Memorial Day ceremony includes music by the Rockville Concert Band and Chorus, a wreath laying led by American Legion Post 86, and 21-gun salute and presentation of colors by American Legion Post 86 Color Guard. The Memorial Day Parade includes drill teams, marching bands, community groups, military units and more.
 

        Dates: May 28 - 30, 2011

        Location: Rockville Town Center (walking distance from the Rockville Metro Station.)

        Parking: free parking is available at the jury parking lot at the corner of Jefferson and Monroe streets and the Metro parking lots. Parking garages are located at 255 Rockville Pike, 51 Monroe Place and on Fleet Street behind the Council Office Building.

 

 Rockville 3-day Memorial Day Parade

habitatHome-Building Trip to Morazan, El Salvador July 23-31, 2011

Are you looking for an mind-expanding adventure that will help you into better physical shape as well as touch your heart and spirit? Then join Habitat for Humanity's 7-day excursion to beautiful El Salvador while we build some homes in El Divisadero in the state of Morazan. You will learn about the country and the people in a way that you never could with ordinary travel.

 

The earthquake-resistant houses are made of concrete blocks and structural steel reinforcement. The roofs are made of fiber-cement sheeting, and the floors of cement brick. Most homes have two bedrooms, a living room, a dining room and a latrine or toilet. Windows are shutter type, protected by steel bars in order to provide adequate lighting, ventilation and security.

 

Teams stay in a hotel or guest house separated by gender; typically two to four per room with shared bathrooms.  Approximately $1,200 for ground transportation, lodging, meals, insurance, and a donation to the project, plus air fare of approximately $645. Total cost of approximately $1,845.

 

The Team Leader is John Paukstis, Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County MD, Inc. If you are interested in learning more about this unique experience please contact him at [email protected].

 

The Habitat trip to Morazan will be part of Montgomery County's first ever Sister City partnership. A delegation of about 60 Montgomery County residents led by County Executive Ike Leggett, former Member of Congress Connie Morella, and Councilmember George Leventhal will be in Morazan July 25-29. Members of the Habitat group will join the delegation on Tuesday morning July 26 for a formal signing ceremony with County Executive Leggett and the Governor of Morazan. For information about Montgomery County's Sister City program, please contact Mier Wolf: [email protected].

leadership2011 Linowes Leadership Awards: Call for Nominations  

Deadline for Nominations: May 25, 2011
 

The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region invites you to nominate exceptional youth and adult leaders to be considered for the 2011 Linowes Leadership Awards. 

 

Now in its 14th year, the Linowes Leadership Awards program recognizes the vision, creativity and leadership of unsung community leaders of all ages working in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area.  Nominees should largely be unrecognized for their work and dedication.  Four awards are made annually, with one award specifically recognizing a young person age 18 or younger.

Each recipient will receive an award of $2,000 along with an additional $3,000 to be donated to the nonprofit organization of his or her choice.  All recipients will be recognized at The Community Foundation's "Celebration of Civic Spirit" event later this year. 
 
For more information on the Linowes Leadership Awards program and details on the nomination process, please visit www.thecommunityfoundation.org or contact Jessica Sherry at [email protected] or (202) 955-5890, ext. 159.
 

UWUnited Way Launches Community Volunteer Days

On Friday, May 13th and Saturday, May 14th the  United Way of the National Capital Area (United Way NCA) is offering your company and employees an opportunity to volunteer at various United Way NCA member organizations throughout the greater Washington Metropolitan Area. Volunteer opportunities range from painting, landscaping and cleaning homes to working in kitchens, delivering food and administrative assistance. The location, volunteer capacity, time and day vary by member organization. Interested parties can view a list of current volunteer openings by following this link.  Please direct your top three selections and/or any questions to Andrea Banks at [email protected].

education15th Annual Awards for Distinguished Service to Public Education

Deadline for Nominations: 5:00 p.m. on June 30, 2011

 

The Montgomery County Board of Education is seeking nominees who have made exemplary contributions to improving the lives of our children through public education in Montgomery County.  The Board will be giving awards in the following categories:  Community Individual, Community Group, Business, Montgomery County Public Schools Staff, School Service Volunteer, and Individual Pioneer. This information is available in multiple languages on the MCPS website.  Any questions should be directed to Becky Gibson at [email protected].

JCRCJoin the Jewish Community Relations Council's Board of Directors

 

The JCRC of Greater Washington is the public affairs and community relations arm of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and over 100 Jewish institutions throughout the region, including synagogues, schools and human service agencies. The organization is devoted to: strengthening government relations, building ties among different groups in society, advocating for Israel and serving as a catalyst for social justice.
 

Nominees should be comfortable with the JCRC's mission and understand that serving on the board is a privilege and obligation that involves attending board meetings and other JCRC events; volunteering time, energy and talent to the organization, and serving on a committee or working on a "portfolio."  In addition, prospective board members should have held previous positions of Jewish community leadership, must represent the agency in a positive way and accept the agency's by-laws. They are also expected to make a meaningful financial gift to both the JCRC and the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.

  • Please fill out the application online by Monday, May 9, 2011 to be considered for a term beginning July 1, 2011 and concluding June 30, 2013. Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted. The Nominating Committee will assume that the nominee has agreed to serve if chosen. Also, please note that the JCRC board nomination process is very competitive and submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance to the board.

For more information contact Adina Remz at [email protected] or at (301) 770-0881.

blueprintCounty's "Senior Village Blueprint" Now Available at Libraries

This step-by-step guide created to support communities within Montgomery County--and throughout the region--that want to start a senior Village organization in their neighborhood, is now available at all of the County's public library branches.  Senior "Villages" provide grassroots services to combat social isolation, improve mobility and enhance access to senior-designated services. 

 

According to an AARP study, nearly 90 percent of adults 50 and older want to stay in their current home and community as they age. The Village movement is a nationwide initiative to support "aging in place." County Executive Ike Leggett has been actively engaged in and committed to supporting the growth of Villages in Montgomery County.

 

The Village Blueprint is a "how-to" manual on starting, organizing, administering and sustaining a Village.  In addition to public libraries, copies of the Blueprint will be available at the County's five regional service centers.  For an electronic copy, go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/bcc and click on the link for "Senior Information."

 

Or, for more information, call the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center at 240-777-8200.

GandhiGandhi  Brigade Youth Media Seeks New Program Director

Gandhi Brigade is looking for an extraordinary person with strong program management experience and a love of young people.  This is a tough job for an equally tough person with a lot of heart.  The job posting can be found at  http://www.idealist.org/view/job/kTwM5BGspK5P/#.  
Please direct questions to Richard Jaeggi, Executive Director, at [email protected].

newsAsian American Nonprofit News

Congratulations to both the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC) and SAALT.

 

APALRC, a legal advocate for justice for the Asian American community in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area, recently welcomed its new Executive Director, Zenobia Lai, Esq.  Ms. Lai comes to APALRC with two decades of legal services experience.  To read more about the new executive director and legal services for low-income Asian Americans, please visit www.apalrc.org.  

 

The Executive Director of SAALT (South Asian American Leading Together), Deepa Iyer, will be honored with the Community Leadership Award by the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) on May 4, 2011 in Washington, DC.  Deepa has guided SAALT's direction since 2004 and has been a strong voice for the South Asian communities. To read more about the work of SAALT, please visit www.saalt.org.   

oOffice of Community Partnerships Calendar
Committee for Ethnic Affairs: 1st Thursday of every month, 7 p.m. at the Executive Office Building Auditorium. Contact Lisa Austin for more information: [email protected].

World of Montgomery Festival Planning Committee: Thursday, May 5, 2011. 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Mid-County Regional Services Center, 2424 Reedie Drive, Wheaton (right near the Wheaton METRO). For information, contact Bruce Adams at [email protected].

 

World of Montgomery Festival: Sunday, October 16, 2011. Noon to 5 p.m. in downtown Wheaton. Come celebrate Montgomery County's diversity with a fun afternoon of food, entertainment, and cultural activities. For information, contact Bruce Adams at [email protected].

 

Community Service Day: Saturday, October 22, 2011. All-day with projects throughout Montgomery County. Come to downtown Silver Spring 5 to 8 p.m. for the Silver Anniversary Celebration of Community Service Day. Find more information on the Volunteer Center website

 

***** 

 

The Latino Network meetings are a forum to exchange community and government resources for the benefit of the general community and in particular for Latino residents of Montgomery County. It is also an opportunity for service providers to network and collaborate on joint efforts and to voice community issues to the County Executive's Office. If you are interested making a presentation about a community resource, please email Karla Silvestre at [email protected].

 

Latino Leadership Roundtable: Monday June 6th from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the Silver Spring Civic Building. For more information, contact Karla Silvestre at 240-777-2525 or [email protected]

 

Up County Latino Network Quarterly Meetings, June 22, 2011 from  9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Casey Community Center, New Location 810 South Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4102

 

Down County Latino Network Quarterly Meetings July 20, 2011, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.

Wheaton Library, 11701 Georgia Ave # 1, Wheaton, MD 20902-2064

 

County Executive's Latin American Advisory Group, 2nd Wednesday of the month. Please contact Karla Silvestre to check on meeting times and location at 240-777-2525 or karla.silvetre@montgomerycountymd.

 

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