mclogo
August 2015 - Issue 88
NEWS & EVENTS AROUND THE REGION
"Papal Pledge" Encourages Service, More

County Executive Ike Leggett has joined with other leaders in the region to promote a "Papal Pledge" of prayer and community service in advance of Pope Francis's visit to the D.C. area Sept. 23 and 24. The goal is to have more than 100,000 local area residents take a pledge committing to praying, serving the community, or acting for social justice.

Visit Walk With Francis to take the pledge or learn more on the campaign. 
 
 
HOC Opens Waitlist for Affordable Housing
 
The Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) is opening its wait list for affordable housing programs. Seniors age 62 and older and people with disabilities can now register for the wait list; the general public can start signing up on Monday, Aug. 24.

The wait list process is fully electronic, available online, and will stay open year-round. For those without access to a computer, kiosks will be available at all HOC offices, Montgomery County public libraries, and Department of Health and Human Services locations.

Sign up for the wait list or get more information on the HOC website or call the wait list hotline at 240-627-9800.
  
 
Good Samaritan Advocates Offers Pro-Bono Legal Services

Good Samaritan Advocates (GSA) at Covenant Life Church will hold a legal aid clinic in Gaithersburg on Saturday, Aug. 8, providing free legal services to those who cannot afford legal counsel. The clinic is by appointment only, so that clients can be properly screened and matched in advance with the attorney and volunteer team best suited to advise on their legal matter. Visit the Good Samaritan Advocates appointment request page for financial qualifications and an appointment application or call 301-869-2800 and ask for "legal aid."

Legal matters handled and resolved by GSA attorneys include adoption, alimony, auto injuries/insurance claims, bankruptcy, child custody/visitation, collection suits/credit card debt, contract disputes, contempt of court citations, deportation, drug possession, estate/trust matters, home mortgage modifications/foreclosures, housing/landlord-tenant disputes, immigration, drivers license revocation and other MVA issues, medical powers of attorney, political asylum, and subpoenas. 
GSA is recognized by the state of Maryland as an authorized legal aid clinic and has served hundreds of clients through the investment of thousands of volunteer hours at monthly clinics. 
   
 
State Offers Mortgage Help for Residents With Student Loan Debt

The state of Maryland's "You've Earned It!" program provides down payment assistance and a mortgage rate reduction to home buyers who have more than $25,000 in student loan debt and are purchasing a home in one of Maryland's sustainable communities, which include more than a dozen areas in Montgomery County.

The program, which is open while funding lasts, is aimed at assisting potential buyers who are employed and have good credit, but are saddled with student debt that is proving a barrier to home ownership. Through "You've Earned It!" the Maryland Mortgage Program is offering a 0.25-percent discount on fixed-rate, 30-year conventional and government mortgages plus $5,000 in down payment assistance in the form of a zero-percent deferred loan to qualified home buyers.
 
 
Expo Offers Free Exhibit Space to Organizations Working with Immigrants 

Nonprofits and government agencies that offer services or wish to reach the immigrant community are invited to set up a free booth at the New Americans Expo 2015, to be held Sunday, Oct. 4, at the Silver Spring Civic Building. The expo is expected to draw more than 3,000 local immigrants from all backgrounds and is designed to provide them with information about services and products available to help them succeed in this country.

For more information, email Cristina Frey or call her at 301-787-9424.
 
 
New Program Aims to Help With Citizenship & Naturalization

The Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC) is launching its New Americans Campaign in the D.C. metropolitan area to provide legal assistance to help eligible immigrants take the steps to become U.S. citizens. The program will feature workshops and social services focused on exploring eligibility for naturalization and providing assistance to individuals with their naturalization application. APALRC will provide individual representation to those who need assistance in seeking disability waiver, language accommodation, or expungement of criminal records to smooth their path to citizenship.

The New Americans Campaign is a national collaborative connecting legal service providers, faith-based organizations, businesses, foundations, and community leaders to ease aspiring citizens' access to naturalization services. The goal of the project is to create an open door for citizenship service by partnering with various sectors that have a relationship with a cross-segment of the Asian immigrant population.

Upcoming workshops will be announced on the APALRC website.
 
 

Learn About Interages Volunteer Needs 

 

Are you age 50+ and interested in inspiring students to succeed by sharing your experience and knowledge? Then check out Interages' volunteer open house,Thursday, Sept. 3, at the Jewish Council for the Aging, 12320 Parklawn Drive, Rockville. Drop by anytime between 10 am and 2 pm to learn about opportunities for the coming school year. 

 

Interages is a program of JCA, which serves people of all faiths and ethnicities. For more information, email Leah Bradleyor call her at 301-949-3551.

 

 
Peer Borrowing Program Aims to Build Credit

The Latino Economic Development Center has parterned with Mission Asset Fund to launch Lending Circles, a peer-to-peer lending and credit-building program, throughout the D.C. metro area.

The program draws on the immigrant tradition of peer borrowing to empower members of communities to support one another. Participants are organized into lending circles, most with 10 members. Each member makes an identical monthly loan payment of $50 to $200, and each month one member receives a zero-interest social loan equivalent to the total collected that month. Participants take turns receiving the loans every month until everyone gets a chance.

All loan payments are reported to credit bureaus, enabling borrowers to build a credit history, raise credit scores, and work toward greater financial stability.

Visit Lending Circles to learn more.

 
Community Inclusion Award Seeks Nominees

The New Americans Expo 2015 is now accepting nominations for its Community Inclusion Award, which will recognize an organization that has made a positive impact on the community, inspires others to promote inclusion of immigrants into the American culture, and has been a leader in helping immigrants integrate into Montgomery County.

Submit nominations at the award page by Saturday, Aug. 15. Questions? Email Cristina Frey or call her at  301-787-9424.
 
 
Community Walks Benefit the County's Homeless

Consider hosting a fundraising walk with your colleagues, congregation, community, and family and friends to benefit Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, a local nonprofit that serves more than 1,400 men, women, and children through permanent supportive housing programs and emergency shelter programs. These walks are a simple way to help increase awareness of the issue of homelessness while raising critical funds that directly impact homeless and formerly homeless individuals and families.

Learn how to get started here.
 
 
Sharing Montgomery Grant Process Under Way

The Community Foundation is now accepting intent to apply and site visit information for its 2016 Sharing Montgomery Fund grants. These submissions are the first step toward applying for a grant to support an organization that addresses the needs of the county's low-income children, families, and seniors.

All organizations must submit an intent to apply summary form to be eligible to submit a full proposal for funding consideration (in January 2016). This includes organizations that received past funding from Neighbors in Need Montgomery and the Connecting Youth to Opportunities Fund.

The intent to apply and site visit submissions are due Monday, August 10, 5 pm. Visit the Community Foundation website for more details.
 
 
Collaboration Council Seeks Behavioral Health Specialist

The Montgomery County Collaboration Council is looking to hire a bilingual mental health/ behavioral health specialist with cultural competence to coordinate the activities of Pathway to Services, a call-in service for residents who are looking for family-oriented resources for a range of child and family problems. 

 
 
Mark Your Calendar!

East County National Night Out: Tuesday, Aug. 4, 6-9 pm, East County Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road, Silver Spring. Presented in partnership with the 3rd district police station, this family-centric event features a moonbounce, face painting, soccer and basketball activities, police and fire vehicles, children's fingerprinting, music, and food. Call 240-773-6800.

Cheick Hamala Diabate Concert: Wednesday, Aug. 5, 7 pm, Strathmore Music Center Gudelsky Gazebo. Free outdoor performance by the Grammy-nominated Mali storyteller and musician specializing in traditional African instruments. Strathmore.

Fifth Anniversary of the Silver Spring Civic Building: Thursday, Aug. 6, 6 pm. Gather in the center's Great Hall to share stories, pictures, and artifacts representing events held in the building. Email Chickona Royster-Edwards.

Back to School Fair MCPS Back-to-School Fair: Saturday, Aug. 29, 11 am-2 pm, Carver Educational Services Center, Rockville. This kick-off to the new year allows Montgomery County Public School students and families to learn about the school system's programs and services while enjoying entertainment, children's activities, giveaways, and more. Back-to-School Fair.

Library of the Future Summit: Thursday, Sept. 24, 9 am-4 pm, Silver Spring Civic Building, plus a virtual viewing at the Gaithersburg Library. Help create the library of the future. Registration opens this month. Library Summit.
 
 

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.

World of Montgomery Festival: Oct. 18  

Hold This Date! 

 

The Seventh Annual World of Montgomery Festival moves to a new location for 2015. Our new partner is Montgomery College and the event will be held on the school's Rockville campus, Sunday, Oct. 18, noon to 5 pm. To experience what it means to be a 21st Century Global Citizen, Montgomery College Rockville is the place to be that day.


World of Montgomery 2015

At the Office of Community Partnerships, we sponsor dozens of ethnic heritage events each year. They are fantastic, but most of them represent a single ethnic group celebrating its heritage. The great thing about the World of Montgomery Festival is that we are celebrating all the ethnicities that make multicultural Montgomery so wonderful at the same time and in the same place. AND we are encouraging all Montgomery County residents to come learn about what makes Montgomery special.

On Monday July 20, the Fund for Montgomery sponsored a mini-World of Montgomery Festival at a Bethesda Big Train baseball game at Shirley Povich Field. What could be more American than a baseball game? In addition to our partners from the KID Museum,

we had a mariachi band, Chinese lion dancers, a taiji demonstration,

Mariachi Big Train
Mariachi Los Mensajeros del Sur perform at Povich Field July 20

and henna artists. The week before, Ethiopian shoulder dancers entertained the crowd.

 

 
We are looking to have 10,000 people join us on Oct. 18. If you want to get involved in helping make this the best World of Montgomery Festival ever, please send me an email or go to the World of Montgomery website
 
Enjoy the rest of your summer. Fun is good!

 

signature

Bruce Adams

Director, Office of Community Partnerships

  

Help Coordinate County Employee Giving Campaign

The Office of Community Partnerships seeks a part-time volunteer to coordinate the Montgomery County's annual employee giving campaign--a program that provides county employees with an opportunity to contribute to nonprofits that serve our community.

The volunteer position will require approximately 10-20 hours per week between September and December 2015, working with the OCP director and county departmental representatives to organize 50 or 60 campaign events for county employees. Each event will allow two or three nonprofits to share their stories with a dozen or more county employees.

This experience will give the volunteer an opportunity to work closely with and learn about dozens of Montgomery County's most valued nonprofits as well as learn about the county government.

Learn more here.

 

Volunteer Opportunities Are Just a Click Away

 

There are thousands of people in our community volunteering to help others. Use the Volunteer Center website to help you find opportunities that match your skills, interests, time availability, and location. In the last year, 10,267 volunteers responded to volunteer needs for 849 nonprofits!

 

Here are a few highlights of current volunteer needs:

Fall Classes Will Cover English & Computer Skills

 

The Gilchrist Center for Cultural Diversity will offer a number of classes in English and basic computers at locations across the county this fall. Classes begin in late September and early October, with registration opening on specific dates in September. 

 

Watch this space next month for a complete outline of all courses, dates, and locations or check out the Gilchrist website
 

Immigrant Teens Give Back Through Internships 

  

Gilchrist interns
Gilchrist interns Sosena Megabiaw, 
Genet Bezabih, and Haleluya Gruga

This summer, the Gilchrist Center has enjoyed the help of three teen interns from Liberty's Promise, an organization that helps immigrant youth achieve the American dream by providing them with educational tools and resources that can help them meet their academic and professional goals. All three are originally from Ethiopia, and are helping the center's clients find classes and services in the county--using their Amharic as well as English skills. They are also assisting staff with updating information and referral services, creating flyers and brochures, entering and analyzing data about programs, and helping with event preparations.  

Haleluya Gruga, a senior at Montgomery Blair High School, moved to Maryland from Addis Ababa in 2013 and describes her adopted community as very welcoming for people new to the country. Working for the Gilchrist Center appealed to her because of the support it provides to immigrants like herself and her family, in particular the help the center offers immigrants adjusting to new traditions and customs.

Genet Bezabih is also a senior at Montgomery Blair originally from Addis Ababa. She emigrated in 2014, and decided to intern with the Gilchrist Center for the opportunity it gives her to positively influence the lives of immigrants.

Sosena Megabiaw has lived in the United States since 2004 is a senior at Wheaton High School. She joined Liberty's Promise as a way to give her the same chances for success as her American-born peers and was motivated to intern with the Gilchrist Center so that she could help immigrants overcome feelings of isolation and loneliness.
 

Montgomery Coalition for the Homeless 
Gets New Playground at Seneca Heights 

KaBOOM Seneca Heights KaBOOM!, a national non-profit dedicated to bringing play opportunities to underserved children, recently built a playground for the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless at the coalition's Seneca Heights Apartments in Gaithersburg. There, 17 formerly homeless families and 40 single adults live and receive ongoing case management services to ensure they can maintain stable housing and build a stronger future for themselves. Government data shows that African Americans comprise of most of the individuals in our county's homeless shelters and in need of basic housing needs

The playground not only provides the children living at Seneca Heights with a place for active play, but the project gave them the chance to be involved in designing something special that will enrich their lives and be a visible daily reminder that their community believes in them and their future. Marriott International was a key partner in this project.
 
Goshen Church Celebrates Tradition & Community 

Goshen United Methodist Church in Gaithersburg hosted its annual Stewartown Community Day on July 11, celebrating the traditional black church congregation and community. The event featured plentiful food, music, socializing, community service awards, and a gospel extravaganza.  
 
Community Center Holds Ethiopian Day Festival 
Ethiopian Day
Among the participants at the Ethiopian Day Festival were Solomon Adbella, owner of Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant: Dr. Amde M. Amde, board chair of the Ethiopian Community Center in Maryland; Elias Woldu, chair of the  African Affairs Advisory Group; Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett; County Councilmember Roger Berliner; U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen; County Councilmember George Leventhal; and Steven McAdams of the Maryland Governor's Office of Community Initiatives
 

On Sunday, July 19, hundreds of county residents attended the annual Ethiopian Day Festival at the Silver Spring Civic Center Plaza. The event was organized by the Ethiopian Community Center in Maryland, which is playing an important role in connecting Montgomery's Ethiopian residents to county resources as well as promoting the cultural heritage of Ethiopia.

Montgomery County has more Ethiopian-born residents than any other county in the United States. (Montgomery County is also the most popular U.S. county for immigrants from Cameroon; second in the nation for immigrants from Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Bolivia; and third for individuals born in El Salvador.) Ethiopians are also the largest African community in Montgomery County and the second fastest growing immigrant population in the county.

Visit the Ethiopian Community Center in Maryland website to learn more about the organization. 

 

Ramadan Stirs County's Interfaith Spirit


Turkish-American Center
The mosque at the Turkish-American Community Center in Laurel, where the Islamic Society of North America hosted interfaith representatives from the greater Washington metropolitan area 
 
Interfaith relations in our region were on the increase during the Islamic holy season of Ramadan, which ended last month. Rev. Mansfield Kaseman, the county's interfaith community liaison, attended a wide range of Ramadan-related events--many of them crossing faith lines. These included an Iftar dinner at the Executive Office Building co-sponsored by the County Executive, the Montgomery County Muslim Foundation, and the Montgomery County Muslim Council; a joint Ramadan celebration between St. James Episcopal Church and the Islamic Community Center of Potomac; an Iftar dinner at the new $100 million Turkish-American Community Center in Laurel; and a Ramadan program and dinner for the RUMI Center of Rockville, hosted by the Gaithersburg Interfaith Alliance at the Ascension Episcopal Church. Rev. Kaseman also addressed a crowd from throughout the region at the IAAAM Mosque in Silver Spring during the holy month. 

 

County Faith Group Makes Strides Throughout Year

  

Over the last 12 months, the Faith Community Working Group (FCWG), a part of Montgomery County's Faith Community Advisory Council (FCAC), has held 26 workshops, social events, meetings, and seminars in collaboration with faith members and county agencies. These events attracted more than 2,300 participants interested in the group's interfaith efforts!

 

Learn about many of these activities on the FCWG website. (And watch for news of the launch of the encompassing FCAC website soon.)

 

School's Religious Diversity Guidelines Now Online

  

Religious Diversity Guidelines

The much-anticipated "MCPS Guidelines for Respecting Religious Diversity" are now posted on the school system's website. The FCWG Education Committee worked with the Board of Education and superintendent to develop this comprehensive guide on the subject of religion in our public schools. The draft was critically reviewed by Americans United for the Separation of Church and State and found to be exemplary. 


The guide has been translated into eight languages--Arabic, Farsi, Spanish, French, Amharic, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese--and all the translations as well as the English version can be accessed online. Hard copies will be available toward the end of August.

The guidelines were unveiled at a community forum in June, which can be viewed on the MCPS website.

 

MCPS--in partnership with FCWG--also plans to offer Parent Academy workshops aimed at deepening the community's understanding and appreciation for the diversity of faith traditions in Montgomery County.

   

Wheaton Triangle Hosts Salvadoran American Day This Sunday, Aug. 2
   
Salvadoran American
At a press conference announcing Salvadoran American Day: County Executive Ike Leggett; Sonia Umanzor of the Embassy of El Salvador; Maryland Del. Ana Sol Gutierrez (at podium); Walter Vazquez of COTSA; Nestor Alverenga, the county's Latino liaison; and Jose Granados of COTSA.

Celebrate the county's Salvadoran community at the sixth annual Salvadoran American Day Festival, this Sunday, Aug. 2, 11 am-6 pm, in the parking lot at Wheaton Triangle--located at the corner of Reedie Drive and Grandview Avenue. 
This free, family-oriented event will feature Salvadoran food, local craft vendors from El Salvador, and musical entertainment. The festival will also offer an array of community services, including a Latino Health Fair providing free and confidential health screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, HIV, and more.

Wheaton Triangle is located one block north of the Wheaton Metro Station, and festival attendees are encouraged to take Metro or park in the Metro garages, which are free on Sundays.

Salvadoran American Day is sponsored by Montgomery County in partnership with the Salvadoran-American Transnational Communities (COTSA).
 
Hispanic Gala to Raise Scholarship Funds

Mark your calendar for one of the most significant Latino social, political, and philanthropic events of the year--the Montgomery County Executive Hispanic Gala, set for Thursday, Sept. 10, 7-11 pm, at The Fillmore in Silver Spring.

The black tie event brings together stakeholders and organizations committed to assisting Latino youth education and building a diverse and unified county. Funds raised will be directed to scholarships for more than 50 local Hispanic students attending a Maryland institute of higher education.

Visit the gala website for more information, including ticket and sponsorship details.
 

Eid Celebration Held at Sandy Spring Museum

 

Eid Sandy Spring
Mimi Hassanein, Mona Negm, Monir Eltobgi, Allison Weiss, and Brooke Farquhar at the Sandy Spring Museum Eid al-Fitr celebration

The Sandy Spring Museum hosted its first-ever Eid al-Fitr celebration on Saturday, July 25, welcoming people of all faiths, ethnicities, ages, and beliefs to experience a bit of Middle Eastern culture while marking the end of Ramadan. The Eid celebration featured a range of foods from cultures throughout the Middle East, Turkish coffee, folk music, and original artwork. It also offered participants opportunities to engage in small group discussions and to celebrate that we live peacefully in a multicultural community.

County Councilmember Nancy Navarro, Office of Community Partnership Director Bruce Adams, Rev. Mansfield Kaseman, the county's interfaith liaison, were among those in attendance.

 

Local Iftar Dinner Shared Around the World

Bahrain TV recently produced and broadcast a video report showing how American Muslims celebrate their Iftar dinners, focusing the coverage on a family dinner at the home of Mimi Hassanein, Montgomery County's Middle Eastern community liaison. The televised dinner included the Hassanein family and friends, as well as guests Dr. Hedieh Mirahmadi, president of the World Organization for Resource Development and Education, and Imam Mohamad Bashar Arafat, who has become known nationally and internationally for his work in promoting better understanding between Muslims and other faith traditions.

Watch the video online.
 
Ramadan Clothing Drive Is Great Success

The Montgomery County Muslim Foundation held its annual Ramadan clothing drive at the Muslim Community Center in Silver Spring last month, collecting more than 2,000 items for distribution to needy residents of Montgomery County. Special thanks to the organizers and volunteers who made the drive so successful: Samina Ahmad, Tufail Ahmad, Salma Faridi, Amjad Humayun, Shahida Kirmani, Suraiya Manzoor, Ayesha Mohsin, Mona Ngem, and Sadaf Yamin.
 
Islamic Society of Germantown Celebrates Its First Eid Prayers 

On Friday, July 17, Muslims around the world celebrated Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan. In upper Montgomery County, observers were able to celebrate their first Eid prayers in the Islamic Society of Germantown's newly constructed masjid, where three prayers were held that morning to accommodate the local Muslim community.

With the support of Captain Dave Gillespie, commander of the county police 5th district station, and his team, the celebration went without a glitch.
 
Join County Delegation on Visit to El Salvador 

 

A delegation from Montgomery Sister Cities will visit Moraz�n, El Salvador (and other sites in El Salvador), Saturday, Nov. 7, through Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, and the community is invited to be part of it. As part of our county's goal to continue to strenthen our partnership with Moraz�n, the delegation will meet people from the local community, government officials, institutions, and community leaders. Participants will also be able to experience the many local festivals that will take place during the timeframe of the trip. The preliminary information packet includes more details about the trip, including costs and a draft itinerary.

Montgomery Sister Cities is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to encourage and foster friendship and mutual cooperation between the people of Montgomery County and people from communities of other nations through educational, cultural, social, economic, humanistic, and charitable exchanges. It is associated with Sister Cities International, whose mission is to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation-one individual and one community at a time.

Montgomery Sister Cities selected Moraz�n as one of its sister cities because El Salvador is the number-one country of origin of Montgomery County's immigrant population and the majority of the Salvadorans here came from the eastern part of El Salvador, where Moraz�n is located. Moraz�n was one of the most impacted areas during the civil war in the 1980s, which led many of its citizens to immigrate to the United States, especially Montgomery County. Moraz�n has a rich history, natural resources, and has preserved many of the customs of its indigenous peoples.

Questions? Email Nestor Alvarenga or call him at 240-328-7763. Or email Jacob Blickenov or call him at 202-425-6028. 
 

  

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