Montgomery College to Commemorate Arab American Heritage Month

Montgomery College’s 10thanniversary of Arab American Heritage Month will address the theme, "The Power of Cross Cultural Dialogue on the Road to Consciousness.”The celebration is designed to encourage discussion and learning and highlight the diverse cultural traditions of the world’s 23 Arab countries as well as the Arab American community.

All events are free and most open to the public.

The kickoff event for this month-long series of events will be held Tuesday, April 8 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Theatre arts Arena on the Rockville Campus and will feature George Selim, Director for Community Partnerships for the White House. Selim will give a talk entitled, “The Role of Community Engagement in Promoting Cross Cultural Understanding.” Following the opening address, the public is invited to enjoy light refreshments as they view exhibits sponsored by Arab embassies and Arab American organizations. 

The Arab American Heritage Month Celebration at Montgomery College will feature:

April 3           

Film Screening and Discussion of “The Muslims Are Coming”; Follow a group of Muslim American comedians as they travel through the American south and the southwest, 6-8:30 p.m., High Technology and Science Center (HT), Globe Hall, Germantown Campus;

April 8                       

George Selim Kickoff Event; 11 a.m. -1:30 p.m. Theatre Arts Arena, Rockville Campus;

Book and Discussion of “The Art of Hajj”; 2:30-4:30 p.m., The Commons Building (CM), Room 211, Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus;

April 9                       

Film Screening and Discussion: “Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think,” A documentary based on data collected by the Gallup Poll, 1-3 p.m., Resource Center (RC), Room 204, Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus;

April 10         

Film Screening and Discussion: “5 Broken Cameras,” 2013 Academy Award Nominee Best    Documentary Feature, 12:30-2:30 p.m., The Commons Building (CM), Room 211, Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus;                 

April 14         

Film Screening and Discussion: “Noor.” Screening of drama, followed by distinguished panel: Director, Actors and Frank Islam. Written by Dr. Akbar Ahmed, the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University, and directed and produced by Manjular Kumar, Program Director at the Smithsonian Institution. 7 p.m., High Technology and Science Center (HT), Globe Hall, Germantown Campus;

Hijab Contest, Experience wearing a Hijab for a week! Atrium, Student Services Bldg., Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus (all day event);

April 17       

Film Screening and Discussion: “The Citizen,” Yearning to leave behind his life of misfortune in the Middle East, Ibrahim Jarrah wins the U.S Green Card Lottery for a chance to become an American citizen. He lands in New York City the day before 9/11 ... and the events of the September terrorist attacks forever shape the struggles he faces on his journey to capture the American dream, 12:30-2:30 p.m., The Commons Building (CM), Room 211, Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus.

April 21-25    

Muslim Awareness Week at Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus –sponsored by the Muslim Student Association. April 25 will include an open Friday prayer, a public congregational service;

April 22          

Book and Discussion of “Rumi: Poet and Mystic” from 2:30-4:30 p.m., the Commons Building (CM), Room 211, Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus;

April 23         

“Muslim Women: Between Sharia and Cultural Practices,” A talk by Guest speaker, Dr. Azizah Al-Hibri; 5-7 p.m., the Commons Building (CM), Room 211, Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus;

Entire month of April:

Flashback: 10 Years at a Glance!, Humanities Building (HU) Display Case, Lower Level, Rockville Campus;

For a complete list of activities and events celebrating Arab American Heritage Month at the College, visit www.montgomerycollege.edu/AAHM.

For information about more Arab American Heritage Month events at Montgomery College, contact Enas Elhanafi at enas.elhanafi@montgomerycollege.edu.

For maps and directions to Montgomery College’s campuses, visit www.montgomerycolleg.edu/maps.

###

Montgomery College is a public, open admissions community college with campuses in Germantown, Rockville, and Takoma Park/Silver Spring, plus workforce development/continuing education centers and off-site programs throughout Montgomery County, Md. The College serves nearly 60,000 students a year, through both credit and noncredit programs, in more than 130 areas of study.

Tags: