NEWS & EVENTS AROUND THE REGION
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COVID Vaccinations
See information on COVID-19 vaccinations, and a link to pre-register on the county's website:
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Free COVID Tests
Do you need a COVID-19 test? Visit the County's website for information about upcoming testing clinics and to make an appointment. Click here.
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Recovery Development Grants for Nonprofits
Competitively selected grants ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 will be awarded to Montgomery County nonprofits whose work aligns with the State's intent to assist community organizations that create and sustain jobs.
For more information, click here.
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Free Online Workshops for Job Seekers and Entrepreneurs
Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) is offering free online workshops and one-on-one sessions geared toward assisting job seekers and entrepreneurs throughout July. All workshops will be offered virtually. Click here for more information.
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Job Opportunities
The Maryland Center for Legal Assistance (MCLA) is hiring for its new, upcoming office in Rockville. MCLA operates District Court Help Resource Centers throughout the state of Maryland. The Help Centers deal with a wide range of civil legal matters, including landlord-tenant, consumer matters such as debt collection and credit card cases, child support, and criminal record expungements to remove barriers to obtaining housing, employment, and child custody. Employment opportunities for its upcoming Rockville office include: Administrative Assistant and Staff Attorney. Visit the MCLA website for a list of openings across all locations.
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Safety Net Foster Program for Pets
Montgomery County Office of Animal Services recently launched its Safety Net Fostering program to help pet owners in Montgomery County who need assistance and temporary care for their pets, including when they are facing eviction, domestic violence, hospitalization, or loss of housing. More information as well as the link to apply for the program can be found here.
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Book Talk at the Market
Book Talk at The Market is a series that gives local authors a platform to discuss their work, present a book reading, and sign books in the community. Are you a local author who would like to participate in Book Talk at the Market? For more information please click here.
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Lifelong Learning Courses
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Vietnamese American Services
VAS annual report is available here.
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Artist Vibe
Artist Vibe is a monthly online show with a live audience, featuring one local performing artist and one local visual artist/artisan. Sponsored by FAsMarketplace, its mission is "to create tangible opportunities for ordinary citizens to improve their lives through entrepreneurship, education, the arts, sports and other means." Click here for viewing information.
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LEDC Small Business Directory
It's now easier than ever to shop from LEDC-supported small, minority-owned businesses in DC, MD, and NoVA. Check it out here.
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Maryland Community Needs Survey
Ensure your local community needs are included in the Maryland State Service Plan by taking this 11-minute survey. Click here.
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Senior Planet Montgomery
Senior Planet Montgomery offers virtual programs to help seniors learn new skills, save money, get in shape and make new friends. Visit their website or call 240-753-0676.
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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.
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COVID-19 VACCINATION PROGRAM CONTINUES
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County Ranks First for Vaccinations
The Center for Disease Control's COVID-19 vaccination data shows that among counties with populations larger than 300,000, Montgomery County ranks first in the nation for vaccinating people ages 12 and older.
Daytime, Evening, and Weekend Vaccination Clinics
To meet the needs of working families and members of the community who have not found it convenient to get vaccinated, the county continues to offers smaller in-community vaccination clinics. During July, daytime, evening, and weekend free vaccinations will be available across the county, including Takoma Park and Briggs Chaney.
Briggs Chaney Vaccination Clinic In East County, free daytime, evening, and weekend vaccinations are available at the Briggs Chaney Park & Ride Lot, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road, Silver Spring, MD 20904. Walk-up vaccinations are offered Tuesday, July 6th through Sunday, July 11th, with daytime and evening appointments Monday- Friday, 12:00 pm-8:00 pm and weekend availability on Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 pm-5:00 pm. To make an appointment or to check Montgomery County's website for other available clinics, click here.
Takoma Park/Long Branch Vaccination Clinics Free vaccinations will be available at Clifton Park Baptist Church, 8818 Piney Branch Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20903. The clinic will be hosted on Tuesdays from July 15-July 27 from 1:00 pm-7:00 pm. Walk-ups are accepted.
Free vaccinations will also be available in the parking lot of the Americana Grocery of Maryland, 8541 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring, MD 20901. This clinic will be offered on most Thursdays in July, including the 15th, 19th, and 26th from 1:00 pm-7:00 pm.
The vaccines offered at both sites will be Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer, allowing individuals aged 12 and older to be vaccinated. Free parking is available.
Germantown Vaccination Site Moving
The county has suspended the vaccine site at the Germantown campus of Montgomery College on Friday, July 2 due to diminished demand. The county will transition to offering vaccinations at a site at the Upcounty Regional Service Center in Germantown beginning Tuesday, July 6.
Progress in Vaccination Rates
As of Thursday, July 1, more than 638,533 or 60.8% of county residents had received the two required doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or the one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. (These numbers do not include Montgomery County residents who have been vaccinated outside of Maryland.) More information is available here.
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GILCHRIST IMMIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER
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Citizen Preparation Classes This Summer
Citizenship Preparation classes are starting again on Zoom for the summer session! You can participate on your phone or your computer. The Gilchrist Center is excited to continue to offer the program, which includes components on U.S. history and civics and how to improve communication skills in English to practice for the test. Click HERE to register.
Practice English
The Gilchrist Center continues to offer online English conversation classes. Join us to practice English in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Come as often as you like! Click HERE to join available classes. There is no registration required.
The Gilchrist Center is not holding ESOL and computer classes during the summer. A list of other organizations that offer English classes is available HERE.
Info and Referral Service Offers Help
The Info and Referral Service strives to direct calls to the best resources available to clients. Often the information that is provided goes beyond simply redirecting a call. When a client called for advice after her purse containing her permanent resident card had been stolen, she was extremely worried about losing her status and was afraid to contact USCIS. The service referred her to organizations that could help her apply for a replacement and request fee waivers. She also was redirected to other resources that provide financial assistance. Knowing that a solution existed relieved a lot of her stress. At the end of our call, she told staff "I was so worried and scared, but now I know what to do!"
To reach an Info and Referral specialist, call 240-777-4940, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Click HERE for more information. |
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 in reviewing and drafting their citizenship application. 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/APALRCFor 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. Although in-person clinics remain closed, ome-on-one consultations with attorneys are available. For more information, call the Pro Bono Program at 301-424-7651. Click here for flyer.
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> Free immigration consultations by HIAS by phone
HIAS works with a network of pro bono attorneys to provide legal services to asylum seekers, asylees, and others who are seeking humanitarian relief. At the current time, 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' intake line the first Friday of every month at 301-844-7248 to receive a free immigration consultation.
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> Free Citizenship Preparation Classes and Naturalization Application Assistance
Are you a legal, permanent resident preparing for the U.S. citizenship test and interview? Montgomery College (MC) provides FREE citizenship preparation classes online via Zoom. In partnership, Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services offers help with the N-400 application for naturalization. For more details, please email
citizenshipprogram@montgomerycollege.edu or visit the website.
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> Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) Baltimore
July training sessions:
- Quick Topics Training - How to Prepare for your Asylum Individual Hearing
July 14, 2021, 12:00 pm -1:00 pm (Online)
- Introductory Training - Representing Children in Immigration Matters
July 22, 2021 9:00 am -11:00 am (Online)
Click here for more information.
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> FIRN
FIRN Inc. a Department of Justice (DOJ) accredited non-profit organization located in Columbia, Maryland, is currently accepting intakes for individuals residing in Montgomery County who need representation in their removal proceedings. All immigration services are provided either low-cost or pro bono and FIRN's staff speak English and Spanish. Any Montgomery County resident interested in completing an intake should contact Alexis Downs De Colocho, adowns@firnonline.org or call 410-992-1923. For more information about FIRN please visit www.firnonline.org. |
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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. 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. |
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> 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 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. |
Upcoming Meetings of County Executive's Ethnic & Faith Advisory Groups
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All ethnic advisory groups are currently meeting virtually. For more information or concerns, please feel free to reach out to the liaisons listed below:
African Affairs Advisory Group will meet on July 8 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. This meeting will focus on education and the ways in which the Black /African community can bridge the gap. For more details and virtual link please email harrieta.shangarai@montgomerycountymd.gov.
African American Advisory Group For more information, contact
julian.norment@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Asian Pacific American Advisory Group The Asian Pacific American Advisory Group will not meet in July and will reconvene in August. If you have any questions, please email Mr. Yi Shen at yi.shen@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Caribbean American Advisory Group is on summer break from July through August and plans to resume its monthly meeting activities effective September 9.
Latin American Advisory Group will reconvene for its next meeting in the third week of August 2021. More details will be provided in the August newsletter. For more information, please email Jessy Mejia Terry, Latino Liaison at
jessy.mejiaterry@montgomerycountymd.gov
Middle Eastern American Advisory Group will meet on Wednesday, July 14 from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. All are welcome! Contact OCP Middle Eastern Liaison Arwa.ElBoraei@montgomerycountymd.gov to receive the Zoom link.
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Make This A Summer of Service
Summer is here! It's a great time to get outside and enjoy the natural world around us. In addition to hiking, swimming, and playing outdoors, you can make the most of this month by also volunteering outdoors.
You'll find a wide range of volunteer opportunities that take place outside by searching the Volunteer Center website using the Outdoors filter.
Health restrictions have eased and businesses are reopening, but food insecurity remains an issue across Montgomery County. You can help ensure residents have the nutrition they need by volunteering for one of the many current food assistance needs. These include donation drives as well as opportunities to serve at distribution sites and more.
Check the Volunteer Center website for more opportunities.
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Hate Crimes and Hate Bias Conversations
There are still many concerns from the Asian community regarding hate crimes and hate bias incidents. If you have experienced hate crime or hate bias, please report the incident to the Montgomery County Police Department by calling 911 for emergency or 301-279-8000 for non-emergency issues.
The Office of Community Partnerships previously held several virtual conversations to address hate bias incidents. Click on the links below to view.
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CARIBBEAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
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Caribbean American Heritage Month
On June 8, more than 30 people gathered in front of their computers or portable devices to watch the annual Caribbean American Heritage Month celebration presented by CAAG. Over 200 people viewed the event on YouTube or via Carib Nation TV, which livestreamed it for audiences in the DMV region.
County officials, including County Executive Marc Elrich, Council President Tom Hucker, Council Member-at-Large Will Jawando, and two State of Maryland Delegates representing Montgomery County, Jheanelle Wilkins of District 20 and Gabriel Acevero of District 39, attended the event. Both County Executive Erlich and Council President Hucker expressed their deep affinity and appreciation for the contributions made by Caribbean Americans for the advancement of the county.
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Mid-County Covid Community Committee
Every Wednesday evening from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, the MC-CCC meets virtually to share updates on the county's vaccine efforts and brainstorm, plan, and engage in outreach activities in the Mid-County region to encourage neighbors to register and get their Covid vaccines. Since dose availability is outpacing demand, the committee is working to complement the county's efforts by building on the efforts of food hubs and other events and locations.
So far, this committee has held three pre-registration events (and are planning a fourth), registering over 300 Mid-County neighbors, before pivoting to complementing pop-up clinics.
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MIDDLE EASTERN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
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Update
During June, MEAAG welcomed two summer high school interns, Mehak Sukhera and Tina Pasha. They will be assisting with events on voter education, youth engagement, adult literacy and business development. If there is a program you would like to suggest, please contact Arwa.ElBoraei@montgomerycountymd.gov with any ideas or requests.
MEAAG member Sahar Fahmy introduced MEAAG to The Civic Circle, a local nonprofit promoting young students' understanding of and participation in democracy through music and the arts. TCC's founder, Eliza Newlin Carney, met with MEAAG and discussed a co-sponsored program to spur student and parental interest during the current campaign season ahead of the 2022 elections.
Meet the Author
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The Faith Community on Social Media
Read their latest newsletter here.
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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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