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October 5, 2020 - Issue 148
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NEWS & EVENTS AROUND THE REGION
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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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Virtual FY22 Budget Forums
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is holding a series of virtual forums about priorities for the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Operating Budget and the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) budget. The next forum will be held starting at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, and will focus on the operating budget. Each of the forums will be hosted via Microsoft Teams.
Click here for more information and the schedule for all upcoming forums.
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ESOL Classes for Adults
Find an online ESOL class on this flyer from MCAEL. A full list also can be found here.
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Vietnamese American Services
English Classes, Job Links, and more. Click here.
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Voting in Maryland
Learn more about voter registration, mail in ballots, polling sites, and all things election related here.
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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.
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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.
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Institute for Race, Justice and Civic Engagement
Register here for "Activism 101," free non-credit courses offered by Montgomery College.
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Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame Announces The Class of 2020
The Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame (MCSHF) has named six local sports figures to be inducted as the 2020 class. The inductees will be honored in a virtual ceremony on Sunday, October 18th at 7:00 p.m. To read about the honorees and for information about the event, please click here.
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Winter Lights Festival to Benefit Food and Nutrition Programs
Gaithersburg Winter Lights Festival has become a much-anticipated holiday tradition for families in the Washington area. The 3.5 mile drive takes visitors past hundreds of dazzling light displays and beautifully lit trees in the idyllic setting of Seneca Creek State Park. As a drive-thru event, it presents the perfect opportunity to celebrate the holidays while we all socially distance this year.
Qualified Food and Nutrition Programs that serve the residents of the City of Gaithersburg are invited to apply. A limited number of opportunities are available. READ MORE>>>
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AmeriCorps Program Grants Now Available
The Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism is soliciting applications for 2021-2022 AmeriCorps State funding. AmeriCorps program grants fund service activities that address a variety of critical needs in the community.
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Maryland Nonprofit Recovery Initiative (NORI)
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is administering up to $40 million of the Governor's $50 million Nonprofit Recovery Initiative (NORI). The remaining nonprofit funding will be administered by the Maryland Department of Commerce.
For more information, 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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Zoom Registration for Lifelong Learning Institute Non-Credit Courses
Virtual Face-to-Face in Real-Time! Montgomery College Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI)Â is offering all fall 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>>> |
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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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Census Deadline Changed Again - Now October 16 at 6:00AM Eastern Time.
A federal court in California had a ruling to extend Census until the end of October, that was changed by a ruling of the Supreme Court on 10/13.
The Census deadline is now 10/16/2020 at 5:59 AM Eastern Time. See the U.S. Census Bureau's website at www.census.gov.
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Online Classes Help Hundreds Improve English, Learn Computer Skills, and Prepare to Become Citizens 
Hundreds of Montgomery County residents are practicing or learning English, acquiring new computer skills, and preparing for their citizenship tests online, thanks to the Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center's transition to online classes.
The Center's Fall classes filled quickly, with more than 100 students studying English online weekday evenings and Saturdays, taught by 17 teachers and 7 "Zoom Assistants" - all volunteers who participated in multiple trainings to prepare for online instruction. Several of the Zoom Assistants are Montgomery College students completing service learning hours.
Twelve online computer classes, with topics ranging from basic internet skills to Microsoft Word and Excel, to QuickBooks, are in progress, with 91 students attending. Three classes are offered in Spanish. Twelve volunteer instructors are teaching the classes.
The Center is providing training and coaching to its teachers and students on how to use Zoom. Many English students do not have computers and take their classes on smartphones, a reality for which the English instructors must prepare.
Five online citizenship classes totaling 74 students are currently in progress. The demand for citizenship classes exceeds the present capacity offered by the Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center. The Center continues to struggle with meeting the community needs due to lack of funding for additional classes.
Online Conversation Classes are a valuable way for residents to practice their English, learn new vocabulary, meet new people, and reduce the isolation prevalent during this time. The Center currently offers 11 online Conversation Classes, which are taught by 10 teachers assisted by 3 Zoom Assistants. More than 100 students attend the classes weekly. These classes are open for drop-in, no registration required. Click here for a list of classes with links, and join the conversation!
While our other English classes have been filled, please call the Center at 240-777-4940 for assistance finding classes offered by other programs, or see MCAEL's list of Fall Classes: https://www.mcael.org/esol-fall-classes.
The Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center thanks the 49 volunteers who enable us to offer our many weekly classes to the community! |
October 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.
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> 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.
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> 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:
(PLI) Representing Children in Immigration Matters 2020: Effective Advocacy and Best Practices
Oct. 1, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. (Online). Click here for more information.
Quick Topics Training-Drafting a Proposed SIJS Order and Preparing the I-360
Wednesday, October 14, 2020, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Click here for more information.
Introductory Training - Representing Children in Immigration Matters
Thursday, October 22, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Click here for more information.
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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. |
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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 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. |
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:
The African Affairs Advisory Group will meet on Thursday, October 8, 2020 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Please feel free to reach out for more information and access. Contact the AAAG liaison, harrieta.shangarai@montgomerycountymd.gov.
African American Advisory Group Liaison: julian.norment@montgomerycountymd.gov
Caribbean American Advisory Group will meet virtually on Tuesday, October 6 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. via Zoom. Contact yvonne.stephens@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Latin American Advisory Group will meet virtually on October 13, 2020. The meeting will focus on an update of the last six months of COVID-19 recovery.
Middle Eastern American Advisory Group will meet virtually on Thursday, October 8th, 5:00 p.m. - 6 p.m. Guest speakers will be OCP Director Diane Vu and County Councilmember-at-Large Will Jawando. All are welcome.To receive the Zoom link, please email Arwa.ElBoraei@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Interfaith Community Advisory Group
Monday, October 9 - Education Committee Meeting Wednesday, October 28 - Religious Land Use Working Group Meeting Liaison: mansfield.kaseman@montgomerycountymd.gov |
Help Fill Food Needs in Our Community
Throughout Montgomery County, families and individuals continue to struggle with securing food during this health and economic emergency. Want to help serve these needs as a volunteer or donor? You'll find a variety of food assistance needs posted on the Montgomery County Volunteer Center website, including opportunities to help prepare and distribute food as well as to donate food and other essential items.
For additional ideas on ways to help get food to those who need it during this pandemic, check with the
grassroots neighborhood organizations featured on the Volunteer Center's volunteer response to COVID-19 page. |
African Heritage Month 
During this event, the 2020 - 2021 African Affairs Advisory Group leadership officially transitioned into their roles and have scheduled their first monthly meeting for October 8th, 2020 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. via a virtual link. Meetings are held every second Thursday of the month, and are open to all.
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Colorectal Cancer and the African American Population
On September 26 Afrique Today Live, in collaboration with the Assembly of Petworth and Immigrant Community Services, aired a live panel discussion about the impact of colorectal cancer on the African American population and the strategies necessary to reduce the risks. For more information please click here.
During September, census outreach continued via social media platforms and in person at various locations including shopping centers, food distribution centers, apartment complexes and places of worship with great support from volunteers and collaboration with community partners.
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AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
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Black and Brown Coalition: Virtual Accountability Forum
Join the Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence for its Virtual Accountability Forum, "Seeking Accountability on Promises Made to Black and Brown Children" on October 15 at 7:00 p.m. Attendees will hear from public officials, students and parents about achieving equity for underserved Black, Brown and low income children, as well as the impact of distance learning and the challenges related to the recovery of learning loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Register today.
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In Memoriam
Thomas Tran, a leader in the Vietnamese community and an advocate for all Asian Americans in Montgomery County for over three decades, passed away on September 10, 2020. Mr. Trần was the founding member of the Association of Vietnamese Americans (formerly the Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association), which is the oldest Vietnamese American community based organization in Maryland. He also served as a member of the Governor's Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs and as a member of the Montgomery County Asian Pacific American Advisory Group. Please click here to read County Executive Marc Elrich's statement (Engish and Vietnamese).
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CARIBBEAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
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On Saturday, October 10th, The Caribbean-American Political Action Committee will host the Africans Unite Summit to address the rights of people of African descent worldwide. Please use the link to view panelists and "hot-topics." Registration is required. On Sunday, October 18th, the Jamaican Nationals Association in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute's grantee, the African Caribbean Cancer Consortium (AC3) Research Working Group, will sponsor a virtual forum, Cancer Awareness and Prevention in the Caribbean and the US Black Population: An Honest Discussion. Registration is recommended.
Caribbean Reading Corner
Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Antigua, and Barbuda have started operating the CARICOM Travel Bubble with the hope of resuscitating the travel and tourism sectors. Click here to learn more.
CAAG: Working to Serve the Caribbean Community in Montgomery County.
Mrs. Venice Mundle-Harvey, Chair
Mrs. Derrice Deane, Co-Chair
Mrs. Yvonne Stephens, Liaison
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Hispanic Heritage Month 2020
National Hispanic Heritage month is commemorated throughout the county from September 15th through October 15th. This year, the County Executive's Office will be participating and co-hosting two events to mark the occasion, highlighting the contributions of Latinos and community partnerships that have stepped up to serve our families most impacted by COVID-19.
The first event is co-sponsoring the National Hispanic Heritage Family Day in coordination with Black Rock Center for the Arts and the Germantown Hub. This event will take place on Saturday, October 3rd from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Black Rock Center for the Arts in Germantown.
The second event is a civic-focused virtual event on Friday, October 9th, at 6:30 p.m., live thru the County's new Spanish Facebook page. This is a collaboration with Telemundo to promote the upcoming elections and incentivize voter registration and vote-by-mail requests. The virtual event will also recognize a community partner that has helped our year-long campaign to ensure Latinos are counted in the 2020 Census.
Census Campaign
The Office of Community Partnerships continues its collaboration with all regional Complete Count Committees and nonprofit partners to close the year-long campaign and help increase the County's complete count. Each region will be hosting outreach events to finalize our campaign through the October deadline.
Volunteer activities are available thru the Volunteer Center website. To participate in any of the multiple Census campaign events happening around the County, feel free to sign up to any of the volunteer opportunities listed.
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MIDDLE EASTERN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
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October 3, 4, 10 and 11: The Muslim Community Center IT Academy will hold Amazon Cloud Computing Training, one of the most sought-after cloud computing certification programs. Visit https://mccmd.org/education/itacademy/ for online registration and additional details. The IT Academy at MCC is offering this training as a service to the community and all are welcome.
MEAAG will host a Facebook Live event in October, tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, October 13 at 5:30 p.m., to connect residents with Montgomery County Government resources for rental assistance. Speaker TBA.
Community Service
In July, Farideh Jahanbin launched a meditation group for the Iranian community with Shahrzad Nakhostin, meditation instructor and Reiki master. Most students are aged 55 and above and have met weekly at Congressional Plaza in Rockville, leaving their nearby apartments for an hour of physically-distant socializing, meditating, and learning breathing techniques and chakras, which are points of physical and spiritual energy. By the end of meditation, the shopping center is vacant and stores are closed, and the group sings, dances, and departs in high spirits. Mrs. Jahanbin and Mrs. Nakhostin are looking for a convenient indoor space to continue the meetings when the weather cools.
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On September 2, MEAAG member Sahar Fahmy (pictured at right), who also chairs the Rotary Club Washington Global-MOCO Satellite, distributed school supplies to refugee children in Prince Georges County. RCWG-MOCO Satellite partnered with the PG and Montgomery County Police Departments and donated dozens of school kits that the children need for online study.
In partnership with Montgomery County Public Libraries, MEAAG convened an intergenerational "Meet-the-Author" series of Zoom talks.
The first session on August 27th featured local children's author Karen Leggett Abouraya (Malala Yousafzai: Warrior with Words, Hands Around the Library: Protecting Egypt's Treasured Books). The final two sessions were held on September 10th and September 24th. The featured author on September 10th was Rajia Hassib (A Pure Heart), a West Virginian by way of Cairo, Egypt, and on the 24th local author Nadia Hashimi (A House without Windows), of Afghani descent.
In the words of one participant, "Thank you! It makes a real difference to see the author live and be able to ask questions!" MEAAG and MCPL look forward to all three authors returning when their next books are published and plan to host more author talks. Send us your suggestions.
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Education Town Hall - "Coming Together for Education"
Listen to an engaging dialogue with leadership from Montgomery County Public Schools and faith communities in a conversation about the status of virtual-only learning in MCPS, returning to in-person instruction, technology access, mental health and racial equity, access to psychological services, special education, pre-k services, and more. Town hall participants also discuss how the Faith Community Advisory Council's Education Committee serves as a bridge between MCPS and faith communities.
Spirituality in Treatment Webinars
Systemic Treatment Models Bridging Faith and Mental Health Professionals -This webinar series, running through December, will highlight programs that provide spiritual support as a component of treatment and describe how staff training increases their understanding of its benefits. Click here for flyer.
October Events
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Click on image for flyer.
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COMING in OCTOBER - A FREE Youth-MHFA training for faith leaders sponsored by EveryMind. Stay tuned for registration details. For more information, please contact Laura Laskofski.
The Academic Deans of the Washington Theological Consortium Schools invite all faculty members and program directors of WTC schools and institutions to join this Virtual Faculties' Convocation during this time of racial reckoning for our schools and faith communities. ·
October 12-17 - Food Recovery Week 2020 - Manna Food Center's Community Food Rescue (CFR) and the DC Food Recovery Working Group (DCFRWG) are combining forces this year to co-host DMV Food Recovery Week. The global pandemic has revealed how much we need a more resilient food system - one that sustains the earth and provides sufficient, nutritious food for all who need it.
October 25th - The Faith Community Advisory Council (FCAC) is co-sponsoring the Interfaith Leadership Forum Inaugural Event. This event, which inaugurates the new Interfaith Leadership Forum, will explore how to deepen interfaith work in religious communities, professional life, and our culture. Leaders and those who want to become leaders - from all segments of society - are invited to join the virtual event.
Montgomery County Executive Order
Religious Facilities may open to the general public for indoor and outdoor services provided they comply with the General Operating Requirements, and the specific requirements on this page.
Multiple services are allowed in various locations within the building when religious ceremony space requirements and General Operating Requirements are followed. If multiple services are held at the same time, individuals and household groups should be assigned a specific service location, and not move between different locations.
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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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