Charles W. Gilchrist
Center for Cultural Diversity
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Montgomery County Government's Immigrant Resource Center, also known as Gilchrist Center, is getting ready to start the second edition of its Job Search Workshop. This workshop is a unique offering designed for high intermediate or advanced English students to receive personalized assistance in their job search. In a small class environment, students prepare a resume and cover letter, practice interview skills, search for jobs online and using other methods, identify and apply for job opportunities, and complete online and paper job applications.
The students have a high intermediate or advanced English level, are familiar with Microsoft Word and the Internet/Email, and have access to a computer.
The class is currently held in Wheaton, starting March 6. The cost is $25. For further information please contact Anna DeNicolo at
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African American Community
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RECOGNIZING BLACK HISTORY
Two significant events in American history were recognized on Feb. 4 as the Montgomery County Council saluted Black History Month. This year's theme of "At the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality: The Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington," celebrates the respective 150th- and 50th-year anniversaries of these events that changed the course of the nation. Among those at the ceremonies in Rockville were, left to right: Elbridge James, Councilmember Craig Rice, Daniel Koroma, Tina Clarke, Darlene Roots-Douglas, Councilmember Valerie Ervin, Shirl Spicer, Vernon Ricks, Julian Norment, Ruby Rubens, Odessa Shannon and Charlotte Coffield.
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 Folks, there are still good seats available on the 2013 Civil Rights Educational Freedom Tour!Please consider going along with us or If you cannot go consider sponsoring or co-sponsoring 1-2 young persons from schools in your area. This is a great value and a great opportunity to see the Civil Rights Movement come alive right before your eyes. If you have visited some of the places; that's great but there is nothing like experiencing the sites and sounds with colleagues and others committed to making this a better nation. We will close out the trip on March 4th. GET ON THE BUS!!!
For further information:
Office of Human Rights / Beverly Marshall, 240-777-8479
21 Maryland Avenue, Suite 330, Rockville Maryland 20850
Human-Rights.Administration@montgomerycountymd.gov
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/humanrights
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Montgomery County (MD) Alumnae Chapter (MCAC) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated celebrated Black Heritage
Month. Their theme was "Womanhood: Stories from Across the African Diaspora." It was panel presentation by women of the African American,Continental African and Caribbean Experiences. It included a panel and audience exchange with a feast of foods from the Black World.
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| Lunar New Year is celebrated by over 70,000 county residents of primarily Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese decent. New Year is a time for renewal, peace and happiness. Celebrations have become a big part of the multicultural community in Montgomery County and can last for up to two weeks. This year, the Lunar New Year fell on February 10th and the County Executive joined thousands of residents of all backgrounds at numerous celebrations around the County to welcome in the Year of the Snake.
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Vietnamese Traditional Dress Pageant,
Association of Vietnamese Americans Tet Festival.
Photo from Montgomery County Government.
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Interfaith Community Liaison
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UPCOUNTY FORUM ON FAITH AND HUMAN NEED
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Ms. Catherine Matthews, Director of the Upcounty Regional Office, convened a forum with Rev. Mansfield Kaseman, Interfaith Community Liaison, for religious leaders on February 21. Dr. John Kenney, Chief, Aging and Disability Services for HHS addressed the theme of Faith and Human Need followed by an open discussion.
Participants included Ms. Debbie Thomlesson, Director of Faith Connections; Rev. Kenneth Nelson, Chair of the Black Ministers Conference; and representatives of the Dayspring Community, area churches, Help organizations and the Capital Area Boy Scouts Council.
Appreciation was expressed especially for matching pressing needs with resources found through Montgomery College, Health and Human Services, Faith Connections, Interfaith Works, WURNCO Help and each other. Noting the benefits of such collaboration led to questions about follow up meetings.
Interest in organizing such forums in other regions of the County should be addressed to Rev. Kaseman, 240-777-2503, cell 240-447-1715 or mansfield.kaseman@mongtomerycountymd.gov
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CONSIDERING BUYING, BUILDING OR EXPANDING YOUR PLACE OF WORSHIP?
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 Meetings are being planned in all regions of Montgomery County for soliciting input from faith communities in advance of producing videos on all aspects of the permitting process. Too often faith communities knowing places of worship are permitted in every zone do not understand there are many other laws and regulations impacting every zone. Thus you are invited into a process aimed at avoiding unfortunate decisions and forming an effective partnership with the Department of Permitting Services and the Montgomery County Planning Department. For further information contact Rev. Mansfield "Kasey" Kaseman, Interfaith Community Liaison, at 240-777-2503 or cell 240-447-1715 or mmkaseman@gmail.com |
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INTERFAITH CELEBRATION AND DIALOGUE
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 We are incredible creatures regardless of the language we speak, the place we came from, or the faith we practice, if any. In celebration of this fact and the power of love, art and friendship you may reserve April 7, at 5:00 pm at Busboys and Poets, 5th and K Streets NW. Love in Any Language: A Celebration of Loving the Divine will feature amazing artists from diverse backgrounds communicating how love and the divine intersect. Next will come brainstorming on how we may counter fear with love and thus live into hope. The implementers of this event are interfaith religious leaders from the region and further information is available from Steve Sawmelle, SLKursban@erols,com |
Habitat affiliates in Maryland have partneredwith Habitat El Salvador to provide 90 housing solutions in the El Barrial community over the next 4 years. Interested in getting involved in this parnership? Join us for a Global Village trip this summer and spend the week building a home for a Salvadoran family. No special construction or language skills required, just a positive attitude, and desire to help others.
For general information contact Sarah Reddinger (301) 990-0014 X27
sarah.reddinger@habitat-mc.org
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 2013 Mother 2 Daughter Financial Summit The Financial Literacy Organization for Women and Girls (FLOW) is partnering with the financial markets to kick off its 2013 Mother Daughter Financial Summit, "Empowering Girls to be Money-Wise" Saturday, March 9, 2013, at the 4-H National Youth Conference Center, 7100 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, Maryland, from 8:30am until 1:00pm. |
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JOIN US APRIL 29 TO CELEBRATE VOLUNTEERS.
JOIN THIS HEALTHY FOOD CAMPAIGN AND READ THIS BOOK!
I try to focus on one topic in this space each month, but this month I need three.
I was planning on thanking everyone for all the wonderful nominations for our second annual Montgomery Serves Awards event. And I certainly need to do that as we received 117 nominations of outstanding volunteers. I know the amazing people who have been selected by County Executive Leggett for the Roscoe R. Nix Distinguished Community Leadership Award, and I look forward to seeing which volunteers emerge from the 117 nominations. You won't want to miss this wonderful event on Monday night April 29 at Imagination Stage in Bethesda.
Register here: montgomeryserves.org
I was surprised that I wasn't so much hungry as miserable during our SNAP challenge campaign a few weeks ago when hundreds in the county voluntarily limited their food for five days to what they could purchase on the no more than $5/day provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Virtually none of the things I eat to stay healthy fit within my $25 budget. Now comes a national campaign that kicks off on March 1 with an important new film - "A Place at the Table: One Nation. Underfed."
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And now for my best new find of February. Lots of us have heard the new MCPS Superintendent Josh Starr talk about grit. I just finished a book that everyone interested in the future of our kids needs to read - "How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character" by Paul Tough. I've been a little league baseball coach. I'm a parent of two. I have an after-school program for elementary school kids in Anacostia, and I have run leadership programs for Montgomery County high school students for 26 years. Every single thing I have learned is elegantly captured in this book. Tough's conclusion is tough on the status quo: "We have been focusing on the wrong skills and abilities in our children, and we have been using the wrong strategies to help nurture and teach those skills." Amen.
Read this book! www.paultough.com
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Bruce Adams
Director, Office of Community Partnerships
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Last February 20th, 2013, the County Executive delivered his "State of the County" address to a packed house of over 700 at the Silver Spring Civic Building. To get more information please click on the links below. |
 The County Executive proposed English Language on Demand as his second of three initiatives to move the County forward in his State of the County address. This initiative encourages "residents to become 'teaching volunteers' in our County English language learning network" by getting involved with the Montgomery County Language Corps. Information can be found on the Language Corps webpage: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/partnerships/mclc.html. Or contact Diane Vu, Language Access Coordinator via email at diane.vu@montgomerycountymd.gov or phone at (240) 777-8320. |
 The Montgomery County Council will continue its efforts of going throughout the County to find out what issues most concern residents and the business community when it hosts a Town Hall Meeting for the Silver Spring area starting at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, at the American Film Institute (AFI) Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. |
Make a Nomination!
You are invited to make a nomination for the 2013 Board Leadership Award
Nominations are due by
Friday, March 15, 2013
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 Join the 5K race to benefit the Children's Inn at NIH Saturday, April 6, 2013 Race begins at 8:00 a.m. Location: 12505 Park Potomac Ave. Potomac, MD. Includes a 200 yd. Kids Fun Run Music, food and entertainment. Registration: http://www.imathlete.com Keyword: Shulman Rogers |
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On January 22, representatives of the United Way of the National Capital Area presented 23 Montgomery County charities with grants totaling $244,453 at a session of the County Council. County Executive Ike Leggett and Council President Nancy Navarro joined local nonprofit grantees in accepting the check.
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| The 2012 Montgomery County Employee Giving Campaign raised $212,000 for the county's nonprofit partners. Thanks to all of the county employees who donated and to the departmental representatives who organized meetings with community nonprofits. Special thanks to volunteer Katie Young who served as our campaign manager and to America's Charities which provided the technical support for the campaign. |
Montgomery County Public Libraries has a new Newsletter!
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 How are local nonprofits affecting our economy? That's the central question of a new report from Nonprofit Montgomery. Looking at the workforce in Montgomery County, find out what new insights the report has revealed. For more. |
 MetLife Foundation & Generations United Announce 2013 Best Intergenerational Communities They're places that folks of all ages proudly call home because they recognize the benefits of intergenerational programs, practice, policies and services. Please join us in applauding the recipients of the 2013 MetLife Foundation/Generations United Best Intergenerational Communities Award: Dunedin, Fla; Montgomery County, Md.; Itta Bena, Miss.; and Westchester County, NY. In addition, kudos go to the 2013 National Finalists: Chanute, Kan. and Proctor, Minn. |
Applications for the Superintendent's Leadership Program are now available.
The yearlong honors career and leadership development program looks for students who have demonstrated leadership, maturity and the ability to learn outside the classroom.
The application deadline for the 2013 - 2014 school year is midnight on March 15, 2013.
An information session for students and parents is scheduled for Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at 6:00 pm at the Johns Hopkins University at 9601 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850 in Gilchrist Hall Room 207.
The online application and more information is available at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/superintendent/leadership
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 Impact starts LBAA spring soccer registration.This week marks the beginning of registration for LBAA spring soccer! Students from Kindergarden-6th grade of all skill levels are welcome to join one of our multiple teams that will be playing as part of the Takoma Park Rec Soccer League. Registration ends on Friday, March 29th. Practices will begin on April 6th at Broad Acres Elementary School. For more information, please contact LBAA Program Coordinator Edvin Hernandez at edvin@impactsilverspring.org or 301-495-3336. |
If you are 55+ and want to
- look for new opportunities to share your wisdom
- learn more about Montgomery County
- give back to the community while meeting like-minded people
Come to an Information Session
MONDAY, MARCH 11, 3:45 - 4:45 P.M.
Silver Spring Civic Center
One Veterans place, Silver Spring, MD 20910
THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 3 - 4 P.M.
Johns Hopkins University, Gilchrist Hall, 9601 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850
FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 3 - 4 P.M. Reservations required (301)881-3333
Application and information about the program is available www.leadershipmontgomerymd.org
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Will you join us on Thursday, March 7 for a very special networking opportunity hosted by Maryland Women Ambassadors for Business? Proceeds benefit the Women's Business Center....so please bring your colleagues and friends too! This fun and informative networking lunch features Sandra A. Crowe, author of "Since Strangling Isn't an Option... and "I Didn't Sign Up for This".
Location: CohnReznick, 7501 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 400E, Bethesda.
Fee: $45 includes lunch.
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