Trachtenberg Office Attends Kick-off Event for Arab American Heritage Month

Naomi Bloch represented Councilmember Trachtenberg yesterday afternoon at the event: Giving Peace a Voice: Enriching Minds, Engaging Hearts, Transforming Communities, the kick-off ceremony for Arab American Heritage Month that took place from 12:00 to 2:00 in the Theatre Arts Arena –Rockville Campus of Montgomery College.

After welcoming everyone, Enas Elhanifi, Arab American Heritage Month Coordinator, introduced Dr. Hercules Pinkney, Interim President, Montgomery College who made the opening remarks.

The Keynote Speaker, The Honorable Donna Edwards, Maryland Representative, U.S. Congress, was introduced by Dr. Sonya Chiles. who talked about how important it is for everyone to listen to people unlike themselves from other cultures and points of view and not to just talk “at” one another and that she has found, through her travels to the countries in the Middle East, that no matter what country, religion or culture they are from, that the “people on the ground” all what their children to grow up in peace; in a world without violence.

She took questions from the audience after her remarks. Several questions focused on the challenges of the peace process particularly as it pertains to Israel and the Palestinian people; the Settlements and Iran to which Rep. Edwards responded that there is much work to be done, that peace is difficult work and that all stakeholders have work to do and a role to play and that these negotiations need to be taking place behind the scenes and not in front of the cameras or in the newspapers. And she told everyone of the repeated desire expressed by the people in all the countries in the Middle East for more leadership from the United States on these issues.

The Special Guest Speaker was Ms. Dalia Mogahed, Senior Analyst and Executive Director, Gallup Center for Muslim Studies and Member of President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Ms. Mogahed referenced U.S. History and the writings of the Founders to remind everyone how this country was build on the idea that people were free to worship in whatever way they wanted to without prejudice. She referred to a book that told the story about the contributions of Arabs and Muslims made as soldiers in Americans wars all the way back The Revolutionary War. She wrapped up her remarks by stating that Arab Americans do not want to be merely tolerated but embraced for their continuing contributions to life in America.

Entertainment by jazz musicians Lena Seikaly and Samir Moulay Elmehdaoui and food were provided to cap off the program.

For more information about the Community Dialogue Series Celebrating Arab American Heritage Month at Montgomery College – April 2010, please contact: Enas Elhanafi at: 240.567.1759 or email: mailto:enas.elhanifi@montgomerycollege.edu.

Trachtenberg Office Attends the Committee for Ethnic Affairs Meeting

Naomi Bloch attended last evening’s Committee for Ethnic Affairs monthly meeting on behalf of the Trachtenberg office. The Committee for Ethnic Affairs meets on the first Thursday of every month to advise the County Executive and the County Council in matters of public policy relating to the County’s diverse communities. By emphasizing the richness of the County’s linguistic and cultural diversity, the Committee for Ethnic Affairs promotes interaction among the many groups that represent these communities.

Updates were given on some upcoming community events:

• The Arab American Heritage Month at Montgomery College, in April
• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the Community Resource Fair is taking place on May 8th, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Executive Office Building Cafeteria.
• The first in a planned series of speakers series will take place on May 24th at the Rockville Library from 7-9 in the first floor meeting room and the speakers will be author, Steven Roberts taking about his book: “From Every Corner of This Earth”

For more information about the meetings and events of the Committee for Ethnic Affairs you can check out their Facebook page.

The Trachtenberg Office Attends the Middle Eastern Affairs Advisory Group (MEAAG) Meeting

Naomi Bloch represented the Trachtenberg office at last night’s meeting of the Middle Eastern Affairs Advisory Group (MEAAG) that is held monthly in the Community Partnerships office located at 255 Rockville Pike, Suite 102 in Rockville.

The members updated each other on various issues and community events that they had participated in and then discussed the continuing efforts to reach out to members of their various communities on behalf of the 2010 Census. It was decided that the three main Islamic groups in Montgomery County would join together on behalf of this 2010 Census Complete Count outreach effort.

Then two upcoming “mark your calendar” events were discussed: Arab American heritage Month, Wednesday, March 31, 6:30 PM at the Executive Office Building (EOB) Auditorium, located at 101 Monroe Street, in downtown Rockville. Muslim Women in the Arts, Thursday, April 22, 6:30 PM, also to take place at the EOB Auditorium

The next meeting of the MEAAG will take place on Monday, April 12 at the Community Partnerships offices, Suite 102 and all are welcome.

For more information, click here.