Montgomery College to Commemorate Arab American Heritage Month

[Howard Hartman]

Montgomery College to Commemorate
Arab American Heritage Month

Kick-off Event Wednesday, April 6 to Feature Dr. James Zogby, Senior
Advisor for Zogby Polling Firm and Founder of the Arab American Institute

Montgomery College will begin its celebration of Arab American Heritage Month on Wednesday, April 6, 2011, at 7 p.m., with a talk by Dr. James Zogby, founder and president of the Arab American Institute and senior advisor for the polling firm Zogby International. Dr. Zogby’s talk, titled “Getting it Right: Bridging the Divide Through Knowledge, ” will address his new book "Arab Voices,” which is based on the latest Zogby polls. A book signing will follow.

Maryland Senator James C. Rosapepe (D) will also deliver remarks. The event will take place in the College’s Theatre Arts Arena, located in the Theatre Arts Building, 51 Mannakee Street, Rockville. It is free and open to the public.

Montgomery College will continue its Arab American Heritage Month celebration throughout the month of April with a series of special events, designed to encourage discussion and learning, and highlight the diverse cultural traditions of the world’s 22 Arab countries. This year’s theme is "Let’s Give Peace a Chance: Voices of Courage, Willpower for Change, Unified Visions of a World Transformed,” and the schedule is as follows:

Interfaith Dialogue
Tuesday, April 12
11 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
Globe Hall, High Technology and Science Center (HT) Building, Germantown Campus

Poetry at One: An Open Reading Arab and Arab American Voices
Tuesday, April 19
1 – 2 p.m.
Science East Building, Room 224, Rockville Campus

Film Screening: “Budrus”
Thursday, April 21
6–8:30 p.m.
High Technology and Science Center (HT) Building, Room 216, Germantown Campus
“Budrus” is an award-winning feature documentary film about a Palestinian community organizer, Ayed Morrar, who unites local Fatah and Hamas members, along with Israeli supporters, in an unarmed movement to save his village of Budrus from destruction by Israel’s Separation Barrier.

Film screening: “Veiled Voices”
Thursday, April 28
2–4 p.m.
The Commons (CM) Building, Room 211, Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus
“Veiled Voices” is a film filled with stories about Islam and the lives of Muslim women, directed by Brigid Maher, who also served as cinematographer and editor.

Film Screening: “Among the Righteous”
Wednesday, April 13
Time and room to be determined, Rockville Campus
“Among the Righteous” explores the untold stories of Arabs and Jews during the Holocaust.

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 240-567-1759 or e-mail enas.elhanafi@montgomerycollege.edu.

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