mclogo
"A More Equitable and Inclusive Montgomery County"
County Executive Marc Elrich
July 6, 2020 - Issue 145
NEWS & EVENTS AROUND THE REGION
Contact Tracer Jobs

Athena Consulting is currently hiring long-term (6-12 months) temporary Contact Tracers on behalf of the Montgomery County's Health and Human Services   COVID-19 response efforts.  This position requires 1-2 day, onsite training. After training, this will be a fully remote position . Click here for more information.

Prekindergarten & Head Start Registration is Now Open!

MCPS has launched a new online registration/enrollment process to support families who wish to enroll their children. Click here for more information.
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.
Do You Need Health Insurance?

Enroll in the Maryland Health Connection until July 15. In light of the COVID-19 emergency,
Maryland Health Connection has opened a special enrollment for uninsured Marylanders. Online application is live everyday starting at 6 a.m. Click here for details.
The Great American Take-Out

More than 50 restaurants in the eastern area of Montgomery County are open for the "Great American Takeout" that is being organized with the support of County Executive Marc Elrich and the Maryland State elected officials from Districts 14 and 20.

Business Resources During Covid-19

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is intended to assist individuals and businesses with their COVID-19 related needs.The Senate Committee on Small Businesses & Entrepreneurship created The Small Business Owner's Guide to the CARES Act
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The SBA offers continuing guidance, which is available here. More business resources are available from the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation's COVID-19 update.
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The Maryland Department of Commerce in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Labor, the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation, and several other state agencies launched a  new webpage  dedicated to business resources during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Click here for more information.
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Latino Economic Development Center also offers updates, information, and resources for small businesses. READ MORE>>>

Summer Classes at MC

Summer Session II classes at Montgomery College begin on July 11. You can find non-credit class details hereFor credit classes, click here.

MC also offers online summer youth programs. Watch this video for details.

Lifelong Learning Institute on Zoom

Virtual Face-to-Face in Real-Time! Montgomery College Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI) is offering all summer courses online via Zoom. Zoom allows students to hear and see the instructor as they present their class using videos, powerpoints, and lectures. Zoom also offers students the opportunity to interact with the instructor and other students - asking questions and joining in discussions.
READ MORE>>>

Help Habitat for Humanity at Home

Build simple projects that you can do from the safety of your own home. Project materials will be shipped to your door. Donate your project to  a Habitat Repair Partner or keep for your home.
Click here for details.

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.

Primary Election Voters' Guide 2020 

The League of Women's Voters of Montgomery County's Voters'  Guide is here. For information on how to access the Guide in English and Spanish, click here.

Election Judges Needed 

Election judges with basic IT and customer service skills are needed for the administration of the primary and general elections. The Board also needs judges who are bilingual in Spanish and English, as well as those who speak other languages. To serve as an election judge, you must be a United States citizen, a registered voter in Maryland, and you must attend training. Please contact the Board of Elections, visit the website www.777vote.org or visit the Election Judge page for more information about the community service opportunity. For the application, click here.
COVID-19 RESOURCES IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Community Resources Available


Do you need food during the COVID-19 emergency?  Contact 311 and ask for the Food Access Call Center! You will receive a call back in the language of your choice and talk with a trained staff member about your food needs. You will receive information about free meal and grocery delivery, SNAP (Food Stamps) and different local food providers in your community. No identifying information is needed.
 
¿Necesita alimentos durante la emergencia por COVID-19? ¡Llame al 311 y pregunte por el Centro de Llamadas para Alimentos! Le devolverán la llamada en el idioma de su preferencia y podrá hablar acerca de sus necesidades con una persona capacitada. Recibirá información acerca de entrega gratuita de comida, SNAP (estampillas de alimentos) y de diferentes proveedores de alimentos en su comunidad. No necesita dar información de identificación.

2020  CENSUS
Montgomery County's 2020 Census Social Media Accounts

We continue to post informative 2020 Census content daily, including our Represent Your Neighborhood - Stand Up and Be Counted 2020 Census Challenge that kicked-off this week. If you haven't already, please like and follow our 2020 Census, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram pages and invite your networks to do the same:
Re-Post, Like, and Share it Now! 

Please visit our social media accounts listed above and like, retweet, or share any of the existing content. To share today's message, you can cut and paste the info below and also include this graphic when you post to your accounts: 
Check out the Response Rates Map and Rankings Dashboard to see how your hometown is doing and encourage your stakeholders, family and friends to participate. It's a great way to track the progress of the nation's self-response. The map is updated every afternoon to reflect the self-response rate of the country and of each state, county, city, census tract, congressional district and tribal area.

2020 Census Jobs

It's not too late to apply for a temporary part-time position with the 2020 Census. Apply to earn extra income and help your community.

COVID-19 Updates

Based on continuing assessments, guidance from federal, state and local health authorities, the U.S. Census Bureau is planning to reactivate 2020 Census field operations, pending statutory relief from Congress, after June 1. The Census Bureau is taking this step to help protect the health and safety of the American public, Census Bureau employees, and everyone who will go through the hiring process for temporary census taker positions.

Census Bureau Still Hiring

The U.S. Census Bureau continues to accept applications for temporary part-time positions with the 2020 Census. Although many job offers have been made, there is still an opportunity for jobs to be offered. The hourly rate in Montgomery County for Census Takers starts at $29.50/hr. and there is only one way to apply. Visit Pay & Locations to see the latest hiring focus areas. Interested applicants should visit www.2020census.gov/jobs
Already Applied?

Check your status, or to update or download your application. REVIEW YOUR APPLICATION
Or call the Hagerstown Area Census Office (ACO) at (240) 382-6277 to speak to someone about the status of your application.

Updating Your Application

You can update your application by logging back in to your account. Once you log in, you will see a button labeled "Edit Application." If the button does not appear, it may be that your application is not far enough along in the process to be updated. Please check back again later if you do not see the button. To withdraw your application from consideration, call 1-855-JOB-2020 (1-855-562-2020) and press 3 to reach your area census office. You may also use the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY/ASCII.

Click here for information about Understanding Your Status, Protecting the Workforce and the Public, Applicant Fingerprinting

Census Jobs FAQs

Available Language Support from the US Census Bureau

To help you answer the census, the U.S. Census Bureau provides translated web pages and guides in 59 non-English languages, including the ones listed below and American Sign Language.

Resources for the Top 7 Languages Spoken in Montgomery County

Amharic/ አማርኛ
Chinese (Simplified) / 中文(简体) 
Chinese (Traditional) /中文(繁體
French/Français
Korean / 한국어 
Spanish /Español
Vietnamese/ Tiếng Việ

Gilchrist Center Staff Respond to Urgent Community Needs During COVID-19 Crisis

The Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center normally operates out of four sites throughout the County, offering free and low-cost classes to help residents build skills (such as English, computers, and citizenship preparation), as well as providing information and referral services.

At the beginning of the public health crisis, Gilchrist Center staff began to strategize on how to continue serving County residents while working from home. How could we continue to assist County residents in their time of greatest need? Despite countless challenges, dedication to customer service has not wavered. The Center worked hard to strengthen its staffing and technological capacity in order to better serve the community remotely during this time. Staff often spend 20 - 40 minutes on the phone with a client to identify all their needs and provide targeted resources that may best assist them. Many clients are extremely upset or afraid, having lost their jobs, facing hunger, not knowing who to trust or where to turn. 

The Gilchrist Center's Management Team would like to express our appreciation to Carlos Iglesias, Carla Ayala, Gabriela Raudales, June Lee, Graigni Loor-Iwazaki, and Martha Guzman of the Gilchrist Center, Nicolas Prieto-Barahona (Recreation) and Angelica Rengifo (Libraries).  Despite numerous challenges, they have remained deeply dedicated to listening with empathy to callers' needs, and providing residents with information about all the services they can tap into to steady their lives.

The Gilchrist Center continues to serve our clients with critical referral services, online computer and ESL literacy programs, as well as our ongoing English conversation and citizenship classes that will continue to run through the summer. To learn more about our work and services, please visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Gilchrist or call 240-777-4940.   

English Conversation on Zoom

See the schedule below and go  online to register.
July 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. 

CitizenshipWorks is secure and private, and it allows attorneys to remotely review, edit, ask questions, and provide feedback on the draft N-400 form. 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
.
Even though the APALRC office is closed to in-person meetings, they can still answer questions about the 2020 Census (immigration law related or otherwise) by phone and email. They can also assist persons with limited English to obtain Census information in the language of their choice. 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. See the brochures in English or Spanish.
   
The Pro Bono Program is committed to helping the residents of Montgomery County, MD. Individual circumstances may vary and in some cases they may not be able to assist everyone.   For further information please make sure to read the brochure or call the Pro Bono Program at 301-424-7651 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 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.  

Given the evolving situation regarding COVID-19, for the safety of staff and volunteers, HIAS has suspended all in-person client meetings and all non-essential travel, including pro bono legal delegations to the border. However, 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.  
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> Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) Baltimore offers a variety of virtual webinars and training sessions. For more information, please click on the links below.

Quick Topics Training --  Asylum: Preparing for the Asylum Interview - July 8, 12 pm - 1 pm, RSVP by emailing  infobaltimore@supportkind.org.
Major Changes in Immigration Court Procedure
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> Citizenship Information Sessions Presented by Montgomery College and Catholic Charities

Are you a legal, permanent resident preparing for the U.S. citizenship test and interview? Come to an
information session and discover how Montgomery College and Catholic Charities may be able to help
you for free! See the website for more information.

> Free Citizenship Preparation Classes in Montgomery County

Montgomery College (MC) provides FREE citizenship preparation classes throughout Montgomery
County, including locations in Rockville, Silver Spring, and Wheaton. Multi-level classes are funded
through a grant from the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) at various schedules
to meet the needs of learners. Please check the MC Citizenship Website for more information or call 
240-567-8839.
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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
(because of funding from the Maryland Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention).
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 to pay 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:

The African Affairs Advisory Group, African American Advisory Group, and the Caribbean American Advisory Group will hold a health seminar, "THE NEW NORMAL-- Reintegrating into Society while Coping with COVID"  on Saturday, July 11th from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.  For more information, please contact harrieta.shangarai@montgomerycountymd.gov.

The African Affairs Advisory Group
meets virtually every second Thursday of the month from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for July 9, 2020. Please feel free to reach out for more information and access. Contact the AAAG liaisonHarrieta.Shangarai@montgomerycountymd.gov

African American Advisory Group Liaison: 
julian.norment@montgomerycountymd.gov

Asian Pacific American Advisory Group  will meet virtually on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Click here for the link to join the virtual meeting.  Please contact Mr. Yi Shen at yi.shen@montgomerycountymd.gov if you would like to be added to the agenda.

Caribbean American Advisory Group is meeting virtually on first Tuesday of the month.
The next meeting will be held on July 7 at 7:00 p.m. The Zoom link will be provided closer to the meeting date.
Liaison:
Yvonne.Stephens@montgomerycountymd.gov   
  
Latin American Advisory Group will meet in September. For more information, please email Jessy.MejiaTerry@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Middle Eastern American Advisory Group
will meet virtually on Wednesday, July 8th, 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. All are welcome. To receive the Zoom link, please email drent@civilstrategies.net. For more information about this meeting, please read article below.
Interfaith Community Advisory Group Meetings: 
  • Thursday, July 2 -- Executive Committee Meeting,  1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m., virtual meeting via Zoom
  • Monday, July 20 -- Education Committee Meeting, 6:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., virtual meeting via Zoom
  • Wednesday, July 22 -- Religious Land Use Group Meeting, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., virtual meeting via Team

Food Assistance Remains Critical Need

Many of our neighbors continue to struggle with securing food during this health and economic emergency. You can  find a variety of opportunities to help with food-related needs  posted on the Montgomery County Volunteer Center website, including many calls for food distribution volunteers, meal preparers, and donors. 

For additional ideas on ways to help get food to those who need it during this pandemic, check with the  g rassroots neighborhood organizations featured on the Volunteer Center's  volunteer response to COVID-19 page.

How You Can Volunteer From Home

Now that so many of us have had some time to figure out working and learning from home, it's not much of a stretch to move on to volunteering from home. And with the new  Virtual Opportunity filter on the Volunteer Center website, it's easy to find meaningful ways to serve remotely. Among the virtual volunteering opportunities currently posted are opportunities for everything from mask makers to friendly letter writers to website and social media assistants.

Search through  all the opportunities posted on the website to find more ways to serve.

AFRICAN COMMUNITY
Health and Safety Study

BSHAPE, a health and safety study, is designed to empower African women to make informed decisions about their health, relationships, and safety. Led by Dr. Bushra Sabri from Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, participants can receive up to $70 for each completed study session, or $235 for completing the full study. For more information and eligibility criteria, click here.

AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
Chinese American Community Expresses Support and Solidarity with Black Americans

Members of the Chinese American community of the greater Washington, DC region shared their grief and outrage regarding the killing of George Floyd and all Black Americans who have lost their lives because of the color of their skin or the circumstances of their lives. READ THE LETTER HERE.

ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN COMMUNITY
Montgomery County Sister City Donates Masks 

Montgomery County's Sister City, Xi'an, donated 20,000 masks to the County to help keep front-line staff safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Montgomery County is grateful for Xi'an's generosity and goodwill. This donation was possible due to the collaborative efforts of Montgomery Sister Cities, the Office of Community Partnerships, the Northwestern Chinese American Association of Greater Washington and Delegate Lily Qi. To read more, please click here

In Memoriam

The County has lost a longtime advocate and leader for the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community, Dr. Sam Mukherjee. Dr. Mukherjee died on June 18. Please click  here to read a statement on behalf of County Executive Marc Elrich. 

CARIBBEAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
Census and COVID-19

CAAG continues to strategize and reach out to the Caribbean community to increase participation and encourage "self- identifying" as Caribbean in the 2020 Census. The group continues to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 in the community and provide information about services and resources that are available in the County.  

National Caribbean American Heritage Month
 
The Montgomery County Executive's 2020 Caribbean American Heritage Month Proclamation and Celebration was held virtually on Tuesday, June 16th, honoring Caribbean Americans' rich culture and their significant contributions to the County and nation. County Executive Elrich presented certificates of appreciation to three Montgomery County residents who are making notable contributions in the County. The certificates are named in honor of three founders and former chairs of CAAG who also made significant contributions to the Caribbean community and County:
  • Ms. Moye Stephenson Fairweather, an employee of Montgomery College, received the Leo Edwards Award for Community Service;
  • Mr. Anthony Malone, a sole business proprietor, received the Rayness R. Mayne Award for Business, Management and Entrepreneurship;
  • Mr. Shawn Ellis, Census Manager at the County's Office of Community Partnerships, received the Ambassador Curtis Ward Leadership Award.  
READ MORE>>> 

The Caribbean-American Political Action Committee (C-PAC) and Caribbean Partner Organizations' annual Caribbean American Heritage Month Ecumenical Church Virtual Service was held on Sunday, June 28th at St. John's Episcopal Church in Beltsville, Maryland. The service was led by the Rector, Rev. Joseph M. Constant and the keynote speaker was the Rev. Canon Dr. Kortright Davis. The theme of the service was "The Right Hand of God."  August will be celebrated as Maryland State Caribbean Heritage Month. 

For more information about the Group's activities, please email Yvonne.Stephens@montgomerycountymd.gov.

CAAG: Working to Serve the Caribbean Community in Montgomery County. 
Mrs. Venice Mundle-Harvey, Chair
Mrs. Derrice Deane, Co-Chair
Mrs. Yvonne Stephens, Liaison

LATIN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
Expansion and Collaboration for Community Outreach

Latinos have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID19 pandemic, and the County has prioritized reaching vulnerable communities using innovative ideas and tools to get resources and information to this population. One of those efforts has been the use of the County's WhatsApp Spanish Line, which became operational in April, and has been growing ever since. One of the most positive outcomes has been that other County organizations and entities have opted to receive information, and also collaborate to provide even more information.

Montgomery County Public Schools, MANNA, the Food Council, among others, are now collaborating with the Office of Community Partnerships to relate information in Spanish about County resources and priorities.  The collaboration with Montgomery County Schools, for example, has facilitated OCP's ability to speak to Montgomery County parents in Spanish regarding the Census. A Spanish Virtual Census Event was held in June, through Montgomery County's Public Schools' Facebook page, where Census representatives explained the Census Questionnaire, line-by-line, on how and why it was important to complete the Census.

Another positive collaboration has been coordinating food distribution updates for the public with MANNA. Due to the increase in food pantry demands, Manna has had to make changes to their standardized model to provide services. Now, when schedule changes must be made in their food distribution, or new food distribution sites open up, OCP is updated in order to inform the community thru WhatsApp.

Latino Agenda for Action 2020 - 2024

The Latin American Advisory Group has provided their report, Latino Agenda for Action 2020 - 2024, to the County Executive, several County Department heads, and the Montgomery County Board of Education. The report will be made available to the public when the County resumes normal operations.

MIDDLE EASTERN AMERICAN COMMUNITY

At the July 8th meeting of MEAAG, Ms. Mona Negm, President of the American Muslim Senior Society (AMSS), will be presented with the first annual Middle Eastern American Advisory Group Distinguished Community Service Award for her outstanding volunteer service to improve the quality of life in Montgomery County. 

The meeting will also mark the Middle Eastern American Heritage Month that was cancelled in March and provide a round-up of MEAAG and OCP activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Check our Facebook wall for updates.  

Webinar: Business Resources During COVID-19

MEAAG will convene a webinar and community conversation on business resources during COVID-19 on July 22d at 5:00 p.m. Mr. Daniel Koroma, Business Liaison Officer, Office of the County Executive will present practical steps for accessing several resources: the Early Care and Education Initiative Recovery Fund Program (ECEIRP);  County Microenterprise Stabilization Program; Montgomery County Telework Assistance Program; and the Montgomery County Public Health Emergency Grant (PHEG) program. All are welcome; please contact Arwa.ElBoraei@montgomerycountymd.gov to register and receive the Zoom link.

Capturing Kindness Photo Contest

The Montgomery County Middle Eastern American Advisory Group (MEAAG) is pleased to announce the Capturing Kindness during Covid-19 Photo Contest. Residents and employees of Montgomery County -- amateur photographers of all ages -- are eligible to submit. Images with acts or scenes of kindness during the novel coronavirus pandemic should somehow reflect the diverse Middle Eastern American community of the County. Click here for details.

Seeking Research Study Participants

Salman Elbedour, PhD and Lawrence Wilson, a doctoral student at Howard University, seek the help of Arab Americans through voluntary participation in a survey of how discrimination impacts the Arab American community in DC, MD and VA. Completion of the questionnaire will help the researchers gain an understanding of how discrimination impacts your community. If you wish to participate, please complete the questionnaire using this link: https://forms.gle/NF7nfA7Dm6gWQhK38

Upcoming Events

MEAAG will convene a webinar and community conversation on health and safety and another topic (TBD). Feel free to suggest one on our Facebook wall!

MEAAG is arranging several virtual, intergenerational webinars through September, featuring three area authors: Karen Leggett Abouraya (Hands Around the Library: Protecting Egypt's Treasured Books); Nadia Hashimi, who has published several works of adult and children's fiction; and Rajia Hassib, author of In T he Language of Miracles and A Pure Heart. Dates and Zoom links are to be determined.

Updates
  • MEAAG high school interns from 2019-20 have re-upped for this academic year. Thanks to Layla Obeid, Anahita Javadi, and Afsana Mainuddin, and to MCPS for permitting supervised online SSL credit hours during the pandemic.

  • Yaran Iran (Friends of Iran), a group formed by MEAAG founding member Mahasty Sharifi, uses the Telegram messaging app to share news, information, educational features and fun activities. In-person gatherings were held pre-COVID-19. Farsi speakers of any nationality are welcome to join; text Ms. Sharifi at 301-461-1937. At right, a photo by a Yaran Iran member, inspired by #BlackLivesMatter.
     
  • Sahar Fahmy, MEAAG member and founder of the Montgomery County Rotary Satellite Club focused on women's issues, and Middle Eastern Liaison Arwa ElBoraei attended the June 23 Organization of American States-Rotary Club of Washington Global event on the refugee crisis in Latin America. A recording of the event can be found on YouTube. READ MORE>>>
  • During the pandemic, MEAAG member Amjad Chaudhry (pictured below) has been active in the Bait-ur-Rahman Ahmadiyya Mosque's relief efforts. The masjid community has provided more than 9,000 pounds of food to at least 600 individuals, delivered groceries to more than 25 homes, distributed prepared meals, taught online weekly classes to more than 80 children, hosted a blood drive, and provided counseling. 

INTERFAITH COMMUNITY
Faith in Action in the Time of COVID-19

Rev. Mansfield Kaseman with the Faith Community Advisory Council and Lisa Martin with the Silver Spring Town Center co-hosted Faith in Action in the Time of COVID-19 on June 18th.  A panel of faith leaders presented their responses and contributions to those experiencing the many challenges brought about by COVID-19 in the Montgomery County community, and beyond. READ MORE >>>

Virtual Town Hall for Faith Communities

A Virtual Town Hall on Reopening Houses of Worship was held on June 23rd. The event, moderated by Rev. Mansfield Kaseman, was co-hosted by the Faith Community Advisory Council and the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS). Over 300 people gathered online to learn more about the COVID-19 Executive Order Phase 2 from County Executive Marc Elrich and County Council President Sidney Katz.  To view a recording of the Town Hall, click here .

For updated information on houses of worship reopening, please click here. For Q & A about religious gatherings, please click here.

Candid Conversations on Race -- Not Just Another Book Club

The Faith Community Advisory Council's book groups, Candid Conversations on Race, are going virtual with the book White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo. Book groups will be held on Zoom, July 12 and 26 and August 9 and 23 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Please register by July 7 using this link. Registration is limited to 10 people. Click here for full description of the book club.

SHARE YOUR NEWS
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.
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