Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Town Hall

The Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center will partner with the Congolese Community of Washington Metropolitan (CCWM) to host a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Town Hall Meeting from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm on March 4 at the Gaithersburg Library (2nd Floor). Officers from USCIS will discuss recent immigration rules and updates (public charge rule, naturalization test, etc.), and community members will have the opportunity to ask questions. Register for this free event here.

Legal Consultations

The Gilchrist Center will host a free legal consultation organized by the Maryland Pro Bono Resource Center on April 22 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Gilchrist Center in Wheaton. The clinic offers free consultations prior to appearing at immigration court. Click here to register. 

Connect with the Gilchrist Center

For information about services and programs available in the county, visit in-person or call the Gilchrist Center at 240-777-4940. Click here to receive text or email notifications about upcoming class registration, Gilchrist Center news and announcements, and community updates.

Immigration, CItizenship, and Legal Services

March Workshops and Information Sessions

The Montgomery County Maryland Bar Foundation Pro Bono Program Legal Clinic has resumed free in-person consultations twice per month at the Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center's Gaithersburg and Wheaton sites! Visit the website for details. For further information about pro bono services, please see brochure and flyer.

The Rita Rosenkrantz Family Law Training Program provides free legal training for attorneys who agree to take a pro bono case. To learn more about the basics of family law training and how to access the webinar, please visit the Bar Foundation CLE page of the BAMC website at www.barmont.org. For additional information, please contact Yesenia at 301-340-2534 or Yesenia@BarFoundationMC.org.

Special Immigration Juvenile Status (SIJ) information is available in English and Spanish.

Free Citizenship Application Consultations by APALRC

The Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC) will hold in-person appointments for those seeking assistance with applying for Citizenship and Naturalization at the Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center in Gaithersburg at the Gaithersburg Library, 18330 Montgomery Village Ave, 2nd floor. Clinics are held every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Click here for details.

Assistance is available in many languages including Chinese, Korean, and Urdu. You must be a lawful permanent resident to apply. Please click here to request assistance or call the APALRC Helpline at (202) 393-3572. For additional information, visit the APALRC website.

HIAS Legal Services

HIAS provides legal services to asylum seekers, asylees, and others who are seeking humanitarian relief. All clients must fear returning to country of origin, and must reside within Maryland, DC, or Virginia. To receive a free immigration consultation, please contact the legal intake line at (301) 844-7248 on the first Friday of every month between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. Interpreters are available. Walk-ins are not accepted.

Montgomery College Free Citizenship Preparation Program

Are you a legal, permanent resident preparing for the U.S. citizenship test and interview? Montgomery College provides FREE citizenship preparation classes online and in-person.

In partnership, Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services offers help with the N-400 application for naturalization. Upcoming orientation sessions:

• Saturday, March 11 at 9:00 am at the Rockville Campus
• Wednesday, March 22 at 6:00 pm at the Rockville Campus

Classes will run for 10 weeks from April to June.

For more details, email citizenshipprogram@montgomerycollege.edu or visit the website. View the flyer here.

Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)

MCASA provides direct legal services to survivors of all ages across the state of Maryland. For more information, visit the website or call 301-565-2277.

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) Baltimore

Introductory Training - Representing Children in Immigration Matters, March 16, 2023, 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Click here for information and registration.

A new project from KIND International Programs supports family reunification through the Central American Minors (CAM) program. To learn more about the CAM program, who is eligible, KIND’s role, and how to refer a case, please view the recorded information session. You can refer a case directly to KIND, contact the KIND CAM Team at +1 (855) 477-9998 or email solicitantesCAM@supportkind.org.

Language Access Services for Crime Victims

The Language Access Program at Ayuda provides 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.

Financial Assistance for Citizenship Application Fees

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. Click here for more information.

County Executive's Advisory Groups

Black History Month Hosted by African, African American and Caribbean Advisory Groups

OCP's African, African American and Caribbean Advisory Groups hosted a 2023 Black History Month celebration on February 5 at the Silver Spring Civic Building. 

Coming together for the first time to celebrate their common African heritage, the three Black advisory groups honored former County Executive Ike Leggett, who created space for Black communities to share their concerns and to participate in countywide policy discussions. Current County Executive Marc Elrich presented a proclamation in appreciation of the Black communities of the County. Other local officials who attended the event included Council President Evan Glass, Councilmember Laurie Anne Sayles, and Maryland House Delegate from District 20, Jheanelle Wilkins. The event was hosted by Maureen Umeh, a County resident and TV anchor/reporter at Fox 5 News.

Upcoming Meetings of County Executive's Ethnic & Faith Advisory Groups

African Affairs Advisory Group meets every second Thursday of the month. During 2022-2023, the meetings will take place in different locations around the county to better connect with communities across the region. The next meeting will be held on March 9. For more details, please email harrieta.shangarai@montgomerycountymd.gov.

African American Advisory Group -- For more information, contact julian.norment@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Asian Pacific American Advisory Group will meet onTuesday, March 21. For more information, please email Mr. Yi Shen at yi.shen@montgomerycountymd.gov. 

Caribbean American Advisory Group will meet virtually on Tuesday, March 7 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. For more information, please email Rodrigue Vital, Caribbean American Liaison at rodrigue.vital@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Faith Advisory Group will meet on Monday, March 20 at 6:00 pm. For more information, contact interfaith@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Latin American Advisory Group will meet virtually on Tuesday, March 21. The LAAG will be deciding on a yearly meeting calendar and looking at goals for the next year, specifically meeting with Montgomery County Department Chiefs about programs, initiatives, services, and resources specific to the Latino community. For more information, email Jessy Mejia Terry, jessy.mejiaterry@montgomerycountymd.gov.

LGBTQ Advisory Group will meet on Monday, March 20 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Please click here for Zoom link. For more information, contact amena.johnson@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Middle Eastern American Advisory Group will not meet in March. Please contact OCP Middle Eastern Liaison Arwa.ElBoraei@montgomerycountymd.gov for more information.

Volunteer Center

Montgomery Serves Awards

Nominations for the Montgomery Serves Awards, our County's highest honor for volunteerism, are now open! These annual awards recognize individuals, businesses, and groups that have demonstrated remarkable commitment to direct volunteer service in our community.

To submit nominations to recognize those who have performed outstanding volunteer service in 2022, or those 60 years and more who have performed a lifetime of volunteer service, click here!

Free Tax Preparation

Free tax preparation assistance is available for low-to-moderate income Montgomery County taxpayers through the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program. Services are provided by trained volunteers and are by appointment only. Self-schedule at www.taxaidemc.info or call 240-777-2577, Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.

For more information, please visit www.taxaidemc.info or download this flyer.

African American Community

Gospel Train Ride to Freedom Concert

On February 25th, the Lincoln Park Historical Foundation and Mt. Calvary Baptist Church hosted the Annual Gospel Train Ride to Freedom Concert: Reflections of Historical Roots and 46th Anniversary of Lincoln Park Historical Foundation. Program themes explored historical roots through spiritual uplifting, songs and praises, and performances conducted by individuals, gospel and combined choirs, and artists from across the state.

Upcoming Events

March 4 - Healing & Deliverance Ministry | 10:00 am - 1:00 pm - Bishop Paul L. Walker & Pastor Lisa Walker - Governer Square Apartments, Gaithersburg, MD;

Food & clothing distribution

March 12 - Health Sunday - God’s Mighty Works are Displayed Through Sickle Cell Warriors | 11:00 am - 3:00 pm - Emory Grove UMC, Rev. Lorraine Brown

March 29 - Dr. Elwood Gray Book Signing Event, "Dog Tag" | 12:00 pm - Brigadier General Charles McGee Library, 900 Wayne Ave, Silver Spring, MD

Email drelwoodgray@gmail.com to RSVP

For more information, please contact ygause@nccf-cares.org.