MoCo BOOST participants and their families come together! | |
On November 17, the Collaboration Council along with community partners welcomed MoCo BOOST participants and their immediate families to the first in a series of social events. For highlights, watch this video.
Special thanks to Arts on the Block for sharing their space with us!
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Community of Engagement presents:
Conversations at the Intersection on December 14
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Please join the Collaboration Council on December 14 from 5:30 to 7:30pm as we host the first session in the 2022-2023 Community Conversation Series at Main Street’s Poppy Boy’s Kitchen + Patio. | |
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We are excited to welcome Dr. Rodney Glasgow of the Glasgow Group to lead an interactive workshop and conversation around identity development, implicit bias, and the lived experiences of our social selves.
This talk will also focus on how our identities intersect with each other and shape how we act, react, and interact in the world. This conversation will provide an opportunity to collectively share our stories and gather tools for effective allyship. We will also explore what we can do to combat our biases, face our prejudices, and promote inclusion.
Register today to join the conversation on December 14!
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Families Displaced by Gaithersburg Fire: How You Can Help | |
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On November 16, an explosion and fire in an apartment complex in Gaithersburg injured multiple residents, including several children. Many families were evacuated, taking little or nothing, and are currently in temporary shelter. In times like these, there is nothing more powerful than the support of the community. You can donate to help the residents impacted by this unexpected and devastating tragedy.
To support families affected by the fire, visit the donation page at Making Homes Matter.
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Native American Heritage Month: Check out this Local Exhibit!
As we honor Native American Heritage Month, we invite you to visit the Gaithersburg Community Museum for Indigenous People in Our Area: Past and Present, an exhibit exploring Indigenous life in Montgomery County. This free exhibit will be on view until January 15.
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REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
Advancing Youth Development Training: January 17-20
We are excited to offer our highly acclaimed Advancing Youth Development (AYD) Training from January 17-20, 2023. This AYD Training is an intensive 4-day professional development opportunity for community youth workers who work directly with youth ages 10 to 24 in school and community settings in Montgomery County.
AYD Training gives participants the necessary tools and skills to understand youth culture. Participants will learn how to help youth navigate and use resources, identify their own strengths, and define and achieve their goals. See the registration page for more details, and we also invite you to watch a short video with reflections from several participants in our most recent AYD Training in September.
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Bringing The Basics to More Montgomery County Families
Members of The Basics team participated in a community event hosted by Cross Community to further promote The Basics initiative and The Basics Insights text messaging program.
Thank you to our colleagues at Cross Community for including us in this event!
The Basics consists of five evidence-based parenting and caregiving principles that promote high-quality cognitive and social-emotional development among children 0-5.
To learn more, visit The Basics web page.
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Welcome to our new Collab Corner. Each month, we'll ask a few Collaboration Council staff members to share a little about their personal interests or pastimes - things they've been doing to relax, recharge, learn something new, or just have fun. | |
Freddy Climaco
Out-of-School Time Program Coordinator
| I recently read Blair Imani’s Read This to Get Smarter for a class assignment. This was a short read on how someone can become more compassionate, socially and emotionally conscious, and informed, on issues like race, gender, sexual orientation, class, disability, and so much more. Within each chapter of the book, Imani walks us through the everyday issues, biases, social constructs, and recommendations of these given issues. When she gets towards the end of some topics, she often says “part of getting smarter…” or “one of the ways we can be smarter/ kinder/ and more respectful…”. This makes the book feel like a conversation instead of an informative / textbook reading. I would definitely recommend reading it, as it is a short read, but a great source of knowledge. | | |
Meredith Bowers
Deputy Director
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Lately everything feels so heavy and serious, so I've been gravitating to people, places, and things that are joyful, quirky, and surprising. Here are a couple of my recent weird and wonderful discoveries:
> Reading Remarkably Bright Creatures (a novel narrated by a Giant Pacific Octopus).
> Visiting the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore (like a playground for the eyes).
> Watching Leslie Jordan video clips (RIP to this kind and eccentric soul). It may be trite, but during a time when there is just so much healing work to do, laughter continues to be my go-to medicine.
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Our media team will be taking time off during the holidays, so we'll see you back here in January 2023! We wish you a happy holiday season! | |
Thank you for your continued support of children, youth and families in Montgomery County. | |
Click the logos to visit our program websites: | | | | | |