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Office of Community Partnerships - Community Engagement Cluster Newsletter  - November 2011, Issue 43

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County Executive's Ball to Benefit Libraries
   
The Friends of the Library 2011 Executive's Ball Benefiting Montgomery County Public Libraries will take place on Sunday, December 4th at 6:00 PM, at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Road, Bethesda, MD 20852.

The Ball will feature a silent auction, reception, dinner and dancing. Tickets are $125, and may be purchased online at 
http://www.folmc.org/executives-ball/.

 AsianOCP Asian & Middle Eastern Liaison Job Open
Lily Qi, who served with distinction as the Asian and Middle Eastern Liaison at the Office of Community Partnerships, has been appointed by County Executive Ike Leggett as Special Projects Manager to work on several Countywide initiatives including biohealth industry growth strategy and international partnerships. OCP Director Bruce Adams noted that "Lily set a national standard in her work to build Montgomery County's strong language access policies as part of a comprehensive approach to strengthening the cultural competence of our County government. We'll miss Lily at OCP, but we are delighted that the County Executive has recognized her great talents and energy, and we look forward to working closely with her in her new job."
 
The Community Outreach Manager job (IRC 7120) was posted on November 1. Applications are due by Friday, November 18 (see link below) with a start date projected to be January 2, 2012. This is a merit-based position with benefits that will expire on December 31, 2014. Continued employment in this position beyond December 31, 2014 is contingent upon action by the County Executive elected in November of 2014. The position is one of three full-time positions working as a team under the supervision of the director of the Office of Community Partnerships within the newly established Community Engagement Cluster.

The three major areas of responsibility are: (1) community outreach and engagement with the County's Asian populations; (2) community outreach and engagement with the County's Middle Eastern populations; and (3) leadership role promoting and ensuring compliance with County, State, and Federal language access policies and procedures.

Bilingual applicants in Asian and Middle Eastern languages are encouraged to apply. Minimum qualifications include: Bachelor's Degree in Public or Business Administration or related fields and extensive (seven years) professional administrative experience in the areas of public relations or program management in community outreach or public policy.

For a more detailed description of the areas of responsibility and preferred criteria,  

Deadline is November 18, 2011.

Coalition Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy Search for Executive Director  
The Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy vision is that all adult residents are employable, engaged, and empowered by literacy to achieve their full potential. Further, that all local businesses have access to an English literate workforce. 

The Coalition seeks an experienced Executive Director - at least 5 years - to provide strong leadership and work with all stakeholders to advance MCAEL's mission. The Executive Director will focus significant time on fundraising efforts, securing new funds from diverse sources, including individuals, businesses, government and private foundations.  Additional skills are financial management, operational and program management, community engagement and development, and Board of Directors relations.

To apply, email letter of interest, resume, salary requirements, and names of three references to:

Joshua N. Jeffries, Chair, Personnel Committee at [email protected], or send to 7200 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1025, Bethesda, MD 20814.   

Deadline is November 10, 2011.

CelebrationMessage from the Director: Celebrating Service & Diversity 
Bruce Adams
Director, Office of Community Partnerships
Ike and Volunteers
AmeriCorps members Lucy Yost and Katie Sayago (yellow shirts) join Volunteer Center manager Molly Callaway and County Executive Ike Leggett to promote Community Service Week

October 16 through 22 gave us a chance to celebrate much of what makes Montgomery County so special -- our diversity and our commitment to service. On Sunday October 16 in the heart of downtown Wheaton, 2,500 residents at our World of Montgomery Festival celebrated the traditions that our residents have brought here from across the globe. On Saturday night October 22, we ended our week of service with a really fun party to celebrate our 25th Community Service Day attended by 2,000 in downtown Silver Spring. In between, thousands (we are still counting!) of County residents rolled up their sleeves and went to work to help their neighbors in need and to beautify our community.

Community building events like the World of Montgomery Festival and Community Service Day stand in stark contrast to the negative and adversarial politics that dominate the national scene. Here in Montgomery County, we have people doing extraordinary things every day. Here, by working in collaboration across lines of difference, we are building a positive multicultural community that can be a model for the nation.

These events don't just happen. People make them happen. Volunteers Frank Page and Eric Cathcart stepped up to help us plan the two big events of October 16 and 22.  Harry Iceland and his colleagues from the Committee for Ethnic Affairs organized our International Village.  Nonprofit partners like LEDC, Montgomery Community Media, and A Wider Circle played leadership roles. County employees Sidney Cooper, Karla Silvestre, and Johana Jones,  just to name a few demonstrated the power of collaboration across sectors. Theresa Testoni, our representative on the Governor's Commission on Service and Volunteerism, demonstrated once again what it means to be a model public citizen. The incomparable Cheryl Kagan raised the needed funds through our new Fund for Montgomery at the Community Foundation for Montgomery County. Adventist HealthCare and Safeway led the group of private funders that made these events possible.

I want to express my special appreciation to the staff and volunteers at the Volunteer Center. The Volunteer Center has more than met the challenge of a near death budget experience of a year ago. Under the leadership of the awesome Molly Callaway, the Volunteer Center has maintained essential programs like RSVP, probono consulting, and the MCPS service learning hours, transitioned to a new data base, and, with the support of TerpSys, created a sensational new web site. The person who pulled this week of service together and won my highest admiration was AmeriCorps member Lucy Yost who showed an astonishing capacity to juggle dozens of tasks while maintaining her extraordinary good humor and commitment to service. Lucy set a new standard of grace under pressure.

Thanks to all of you who served! Please remember next time you meet someone new not to waste your time commenting on the weather or even asking them where they work. Get right to it. Ask them the essential question: "Where do you serve?" And if they don't have a good answer, you'll know where to send them:  www.montgomeryserves.org!

WOMF
Photo from the World of Montgomery Festival stage (from left to right): Karla Silvestre, Office of Community Partnerships; Manny Hidalgo, LEDC; County Councilmember Hans Riemer; County Councilmember Nancy Navarro; County Executive Ike Leggett; Ana Lopez van Balen, Mid-County Regional Center Director; Lucy Yost, Volunteer Center; Tufail Ahmad, Montgomery County Muslim Foundation; and Frank Page, World of Montgomery Festival coordinator.

Giving_CampaignMontgomery County Employee Giving Campaign Kickoff
The Montgomery County Employee Giving Campaign celebrated its Kickoff at the Public Safety Training Academy on Friday, October 21. County Executive Ike Leggett spoke of the growing number of our neighbors in need. Several of our nonprofit partners introduced their causes to the assembled departmental campaign coordinators. The County's Employee Giving Campaign will run from October 21 through December 2, 2011. County employees are now able to log on and make their pledges at: www.pledgefirst.org/montgomerycounty.

Employee Giving Campaign
From left to right: Shellie Williams, Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County; Bill Hanbury, Renny Perdue and Monika Taylor, United Way; Jeff Brown, America's Charities; County Executive Ike Leggett; Colleen Maguire, ALS Association; Anna Hargrave, The Community Foundation for Montgomery County; Kelley Taft, Community Health Charities; Edwin Washington, America's Charities; and Alyson March, EarthShare.

GrantsMontgomery County Council Seeks Applicants for Grants Advisory Group 
The Montgomery County Council is seeking applicants for positions on its Fiscal Year 2013 Grants Advisory Group. Each year the Council appoints a community panel of volunteers to review and advise the Council on grant applications from non-profit organizations that help fund a wide range of services for our community.  This is an opportunity for community members to provide advice to the Council and learn more about the work and services of nonprofits in our County.  The deadline to apply is November 14, 2010. 

The Grants Advisory Group will be appointed in December and will be asked to report to the Council by the end of April 2012. Panel members will need to attend training sessions and review relevant materials during late January and February. The applications review will take place between March 1 and April 15.

Interested applicants living or working in the County should submit their letter of interest with a resume to: Council President Valerie Ervin, Montgomery County Council Office, Stella B. Werner Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850 or via email to [email protected].

Letters of interest must be received no later than 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14. Questions regarding the Grants Advisory Group should be directed to Peggy Fitzgerald-Bare, Council Grants Manager at 240-777-7924 or [email protected].

The following link provides more information on how to apply:  http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Apps/Council/PressRelease/PR_details.asp?PrID=7915.

Food_CouncilMontgomery Food Council Forming
Montgomery County County Executive Ike Leggett and Councilmember George Leventhal helped the County celebrate the first national "Food Day" on October 24 by formally announcing that the County will soon have a Montgomery Food Council. The Food Council will work toward Food Day's mission of bringing together residents from all walks of life to push for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way. Some of the original background research that led to the Food Council Project was done by OCP intern Andy Lowy: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/EXEC/partnerships/PDFs/mcsustainablecommunityfoodinitiative.pdf.

Food Council
Among those at the Food Day ceremonies at Farmland Elementary School in Rockville were, left to right: Dolores Milmoe of the Audubon Naturalist Society; Woody Woodroof of the Red Wiggler Community Farm; Marla Caplon of the Montgomery County Public Schools food service program; Jessica Weiss of growingSOUL; Claire Cummings, new coordinator of the Food Council Project; Julie Greenstein of the Center for Science in the Public Interest; and Caroline Taylor of the Montgomery Countryside Alliance.

 RoundtableCounty Commission on Children and Youth Holds Roundtable
The Commission will hold its 5th Youth Having a Voice Roundtable, scheduled for Wednesday, November 9th, 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM at the Silver Spring Civic Building (One Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring).
 
The Roundtable was established in 2008 as an opportunity for youth to bring a voice to their experiences, the Commission to gather testimony to strengthen its work and message throughout the year, for County leaders to hear the message of the community's youth as it relates to a specific topic, for organizations to raise awareness about their programs and the needs of youth who access their services, and for the Commission to inform the larger community about critical issues faced by our County's youth.
 
The Commission on Children and Youth is a committed volunteer group of 27 parents, child-serving professionals and youth, which is charged with advising the County Executive and County Council, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Board of Education on the development of coordinated community and government policies, programs and services that support children, youth and families.
 
This year's event will focus on Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender issues.

For more information about the Roundtable contact Mary Gies, Staff to the Commission at 240-777-4659 or [email protected] 
HardknocksHardknocks After School Program Fundraising Drive
The Germantown Hardknocks After School youth program has been making a strong impact in the community of Germantown, Maryland with positive youth development through academics, sports and life skills. Due to the budget crisis, Hardknocks will hold a fundraising drive through November 10th, to help raise funds for the program. These donations will help to restart the after school program and implement the SAT/ACT Prep, MSA Prep, Life Skills, Youth Support Group, Gang Prevention and Intervention, Youth Development, Work enforcement programs and sport program.

Find out more about Hardknocks programs by visiting their website at www.leaguelineup.com/hardknocksbasketball

To make a tax deductible donation go to http://www.razoo.com/story/Germantownhardknocks?referral_code=share.

BagsCounty Launches New Website to Educate Consumers and Businesses About New Bag Law 
Under the carryout bag law, effective January 1, 2012, all retail establishments in the County that sell goods and provide their customers a bag (either paper or plastic) to carry out purchases are required to charge 5-cents per bag.  Internet, telephone, self-checkout counters, and fax sales also count as points of sale if the products are delivered in store-provided carryout bags.  Retail establishments include all stores, permanent booths, service stations, grocery stores, department stores, and other sellers.  Occasional retailers (defined as retail establishments engaging "in the retail sale of goods no more than six days in any calendar year") are exempt from the carryout bag law.

Montgomery County's carryout bag law is intended to encourage everyone to do their part to reduce litter in our waterways, on our streets and in our parks by providing shoppers with an incentive to bring their own reusable bags.  Plastic bags are consistently one of the top items found in studies of litter in Montgomery County.  It is also expensive to control and clean up litter.  In 2009, Montgomery County spent over $3 million on these efforts.

The website is part of a public education campaign, aimed at residents and businesses, to ensure everyone understands the law before it goes into effect.  The education efforts will include distributing reusable bags and information to seniors and low-income residents.  Currently the website includes Frequently Asked Questions and Basic Fact Sheets for residents and retailers, as well as a series of webinars for retailers.  More information and materials will continue to be added.

Find out more about this new law by visiting www.montgomerycountymd.gov/BAG.

HousingCounty Office of Human Rights and Fair Housing Group Host Educational Forum
Montgomery County's Office of Human Rights and the Interagency Fair Housing Coordinating Group will host an educational forum about fair housing on Thursday, November 10th from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 PM, at the Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place, Silver Spring.
           
The free forum, called "One-Stop Fair Housing Shop," will focus on housing for people with disabilities and will feature a number of experts in the field.  The forum will feature exhibitors and representatives from a number of government agencies, including Montgomery County's Office of Human Rights, Office of Consumer Protection, Office of Landlord-Tenant Affairs, Commission on People with Disabilities and Housing Opportunities Commission, as well as Maryland's Commission on Civil Rights and Department of Disabilities.  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Equal Rights Center will also participate.

Continuing education units will be provided along with a certificate of training.  Lunch will be served.  To register, or for more information, call Anis Ahmed at 240-777-8454 or 240-777-8480 (TTY) or email [email protected].

Grants_WorkshopGrants Management Workshop in Washington, DC
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and Grant Writing USA will present a two-day grants administration workshop in Washington, December 15-16, 2011.  In this class you'll learn how to administer government grants and stay in compliance with applicable rules and regulations.  This training is recommended for grant recipient organizations across all disciplines.

Tuition is $595 and includes Grant Writing USA's 400-page grant management workbook and reference guide.  Seating is limited, and online reservations are necessary.

More information including learning objectives, class location, graduate testimonials and online registration is available at http://grantwritingusa.com/grants-training/grant-management-workshops/washington-dc-december-2011.html?utm_source=gwusa&utm_medium=email&utm_content=bottom&utm_campaign=washington-dc-december-2011-3.  If you prefer friendly, personal service, please call 1-800-814-8191, or write [email protected]. 
  

Calendar Community Calendar   

A Wider Circle Offers Adult Educational Series

A Wider Circle combines critical life skills and important professional development topics in providing a unique "holistic" experience for all participants in this educational series. Topics include Resume Writing, Interviewing Skills, Money Management, and more. The series, which is free, will meet on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, and runs from October 25th to November 29th, and will meet at Center for Community Service, 9159-C Brookville Road, Silver Spring 20910. Dinner and childcare are included.

To register for the remaining 5 sessions, RSVP to [email protected] or call 301-608-3504.
 
Habitat for Humanity Benefit Breakfast
Join Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County, MD for the 4th Annual Affordable Housing Benefit Breakfast on Friday, November 4th at the Bethesda Marriott.  Learn about past projects, hear about future plans, find out how you can help.  The Bethesda Marriott is located at 5151 Pooks Hill Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.

For more information or to secure your spot today, contact Special Events Coordinator, Debbie Hayden, at [email protected] or call 301-990-0014 x13.

Beacon Newspapers and County Host 50+ Expo
If you're over 50 - or love someone who is - don't miss the FREE 50+Expo taking place on Sunday, November 6th from noon to 4 PM at White Flint Mall in N. Bethesda, Md., co-sponsored by Montgomery County Government.

In addition to more than 50 nonprofit, government and business exhibitors, health screenings, computer classes, flu shots and live entertainment, the keynote speaker will be Dr. Charles Blahous, a trustee of Social Security and Medicare, who will address the challenges facing both programs and proposals being considered by Congress. Valuable door prizes and giveaways round out the day. For more information, call the Beacon Newspapers at 301- 949-9766.

Free Immigration Workshop
The Ewe Church of America and Universal Evangelical Church will hold an Immigration workshop on Sunday, November 6th at 5:30 PM at Ewe Church of America. The workshop will feature U.S. Immigration and Nationality Law Attorney, Loide Rosa Jorge, who will discuss the basics of U.S. Immigration Law, how to choose a competent Immigration attorney, and how to avoid Immigration Consultant Scams.  Ewe Church is located at 12800 New Hampshire, Silver Spring, MD, 20904.  For more information about this workshop, call 301-768-9807.

Smithsonian Institution Presents Silver Spring Stories 
Join the Smithsonian and its community partners as they present a program on the history of immigration and the creation of new communities in Silver Spring and Montgomery County. The program, Silver Spring Stories: A Conversation About Community and Immigration, will take place on Tuesday, November 8th, from 7 to 8:30 PM, at the American Film Institute, A.F.I Silver II, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD. 

The program is free and open to the public.
 
PTA Holds Workshop to Welcome and Engage Multicultural Families
The Montgomery County Council of Parent Teacher Associations will roll out the red carpet and engage multicultural families on Wednesday, November 9th, from 6:30 - 8:30 PM, at its Hungerford campus.  The workshop will provide parents with best practices and resources about how to be more engaged in their children's education.  Parent panelists will be available to answer questions, and Child Care, and Interpreters will also be available, as will a light dinner.  The workshop will take place in the CESC Auditorium at the Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville 20850. 

For more information about this workshop, contact Rachel Sprecher at [email protected].

 Montgomery County Muslim Foundation Annual Fundraiser  

The Muslim Foundation is dedicated to serving their neighbors in need.  Projects include transportation services, annual food and clothing drives, Feed the Homeless for local shelters, Thanksgiving meal program for needy families, and holiday gift baskets.  The annual fundraiser will include food and entertainment, and takes place on Friday, November 11th, at the Universities at Shady Grove Conference Center, 6:30 to 10:00 PM.  Tickets are $50 per person, or $180 for a family of four.  To purchase tickets, call Shafiq Khan at 301-526-3055 or Irma Hafeez at 301-610-0028.  For more information, visit the Foundation's website at www.mcmfusa.org.

Community Bridges Holds Annual Fundraiser
 

Community Bridges has been empowering girls for 14 years to become exceptional students, positive leaders, and healthy young women.  Over the years Community Bridges has empowered more than 1700 girls.  This year's annual fundraiser will feature Congressman Chris Van Hollen as guest of honor, and will take place on Thursday, November 10th at the Silver Spring Civic Center, One Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 6:00 to 8:30 PM.  General Admission is $50, and for those 30 and under, $30.  For more information about this fundraiser and to purchase tickets online, go to http://www.communitybridges-md.org/.  Or, call 301-585-7155, or email at  [email protected].  

   

Veteran's Day Program and Celebration  

Come celebrate Veteran's Day on Friday, November 11th at 11 AM, at Veteran's Plaza (adjacent to the Silver Spring Civic Building) One Veteran's Plaza.

"Tribute to America's Veterans" Concert
The Fourth annual "Tribute to America's Veterans," hosted by Silver Spring Town Center, Inc., and the Commission on Veterans Affairs, will take place on Friday, November 11th at 7 PM, at the Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza, One Veterans Plaza.

 Gourmet Walking Tour of Wheaton
Culinary Tour

Join culinary experts from Les Dames d'Escoffier for a guided gourmet walking tour of the Wheaton Business District. Experience the multiplicity of ethnic food markets and restaurants as we make our way to our planned stops for tastings and demonstrations, beginning with breakfast at By Brazil and culminating in a delicious lunch at Dessie Ethiopian Restaurant.

The tour will take place Saturday, November 12, from 9:45 AM until early afternoon, and the cost, which includes breakfast, lunch and tastings, is $45 per person. Meet at the corner of Price Ave & Fern Street.  Free parking is available at the Montgomery Parking lot on Reedie Drive, between Amherst Avenue and Fern Street. Or, take the Metro Red Line to the Wheaton Station.  The street level will be Reedie Drive. Walk across the street and down Fern Street (behind the old Safeway) to the next street, which is Price Avenue. The first stop of the tour will be at By Brazil at 11333 Georgia Avenue.

To RSVP for this event, go to http://www.lesdamesdc.org/, or call 202-973-2168, or email [email protected].
 
Montgomery County Annual Thanksgiving Parade
Montgomery County Department of Recreation will host the 14th Annual Thanksgiving Parade in downtown Silver Spring on Saturday, November 19th at 10 AM. Brian van de Graaff, Meteorologist with ABC7/WJLA-TV will be the EMCEE, and the parade will also be televised live on News Channel 8. 

For more information, call 240-777-6821 or visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec.

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