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To commemorate the holidays, our December 15th YAH event will have TWO social action projects:
Don’t miss this action packed day of giving!
Remember kids get SSL credit for their participation.
This program reaches maximum capacity quickly so please RSVP
early to reserve your space to participate. (read more…)
Please join us for our MLK Day, Youth Against Hunger program on Sunday, January 20 from 3pm to 5pm. We will make 800 sandwiches and cut up 125 pounds of fresh vegetables for local shelters.The MLK Day of Service is a way to transform Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and teachings into community action that helps solve social problems. That service may meet a tangible need, or it may meet a need of the spirit. On this day, Americans of every age and background celebrate Dr. King through service projects that strengthen communities, empower individuals, bridge barriers, and create solutions. (excerpt taken from Serve on King Day)
| FEMME: Women Healing the World
FEMME is an inspirational voyage about women around the world who are actively transforming and healing global society of a daily basis. Starring Sharon Stone (Casino, Total Recall, Basic Instinct), Jean Houston, Marianne Williamson, Jean Shinoda Bolen, Riane Eisler, Nobel Peace Prize Laureats Shirin Ebadi and Mairead Maguire, Rickie Lee Jones, Dr. Hedieh Mirahmadi, and more! Influential women discuss religion, science, history, politics and entertainment – and the solutions to the multiple crisis we face throughout the world. FEMME focuses on utilizing a feminine approach with nurturing energy to inspire a new hope for the future.
Dr. Hedieh Mirahmadi, Founder and President of ICC is featured in this film.
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Please join us for our monthly Youth Against Hunger program on Sunday, November 24 from 3pm to 5pm. Let’s roll up our sleeves and work to help our neighbors in need and enhance our community.
The October Youth Against Hunger program brings diverse communities together to make 700 sandwiches and cut 100 lbs. of vegetables for the local homeless and to raise awareness on the importance of helping the needy.
Diverse volunteers get acquainted while engaged in social action.
| A Connections Concert for Peace Featuring Peter Yarrow and Heartbeat Jerusalem A diverse range of musicians and artists will gather to explore the power of music to connect people around the world. This groundbreaking initiative will connect artist from the United States and the Middle East, giving special attention to the efforts of those building peace in Israel and Palestine. All proceeds will go to further grassroots peacebuilding efforts between Israelis, Palestinians, and Americans. Live performances by: |
On Wednesday, November 6, Rabbi Charles Arian, Imam Bashar Arafat and Reverend Randy Lord-Wilkinson led participants in meditation from three different traditions. Rabbi Arian of Kehilat Shalom focused on image-based meditation. Reverend Wilkinson of the Church of Ascension led with word-centered meditation and Imam Arafat of Civilizations Exchange & Cooperation Foundation led through God’s beautiful names. Andrew Stern of Interfaith Gatherings and Dr. Hedieh Mirahmadi of ICC started with remarks about the art of meditation-an inspirational evening was had by all with requests for a follow-up session. (read more…)
On October 29, 2013, the Montgomery County Faith Community Working Group (FCWG) hosted an Internet Safety seminar at Watkins Mill High School. Over 100+ parents and teens as well as representatives from local, state and the federal government attended the event. Speakers discussed risks such as online radicalization, recruitment efforts of transnational terrorist organizations, internet-based sexual predators, and cyber bullying. Participants were particularly interested in learning about how they can monitor their children’s use of social media, along with dangerous websites and platforms.
The distinguished panel of speakers included Montgomery County Police Chief J. Thomas Manger, Mr. Irfan Saeed (Department of Homeland Security), Mr. Stephen Chaikin (Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney), Tim Smith (City of Gaithersburg Youth Services Director), Reverend Randy Lord-Wilkinson (Church of Ascension, Gaithersburg) and WORDE President Dr. Hedieh Mirahmadi.
(read more…)
| Over 150 diverse volunteers came to make our most successful YAH program to date!
We worked side by side on Montgomery County’s 27th Annual Community Service Day to make 800 sandwiches and prepare 125 pounds of fresh vegetables. This October program was sponsored by Episcopal Church of the Ascension Gaithersburg Lenten collection. |
On September 10, 2013, over 60+ attendees participated in the Montgomery County Faith Community Advisory Council annual meeting with County Executive Ike Leggett at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Rockville. The discussion centered on improving collaboration between faith communities, and engaging additional residents to address a broad range of local issues, from land use and affordable housing concerns, to preventing violence and reducing hate crimes.
The meeting included presentations by the Interfaith Community Liaison, Rev. Mansfield Kaseman, as well as from the Religious Land Use Working Group by Rev. Ken Howard, and the Montgomery County Faith Community Working Group (FCWG) co-chairs Dr. Hedieh Mirahmadi and Rabbi Batya Steinlauf. (read more…)
On September 9, 2013 approximately 60 individuals from a diverse range of faith communities and nonprofit organizations attended a disaster preparedness and response meeting at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Gaithersburg, MD. The meeting was conducted under the auspices of the Montgomery County Faith Community Working Group (FWCG) to improve coordination between the faith community and county officials in the event of an act of terrorism, or other disasters.
The program commenced with introductions by Reverend Mansfield Kaseman (Interfaith Liaison, MC Office of Community Partnerships), and Becky Zorn (Community Outreach Coordinator, Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security). Representatives from the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS) and Health and Human Services (HHS) in Emergencies provided participants an overview of the day-to-day operations of these departments and discussed how they function within the county’s disaster response plan. (read more…)
Volunteer, Bridge Divides, End Hunger!Please join us for our monthly Youth Against Hunger program on Sunday, September 15 where we will also commemorate the Day to Serve by asking everyone to bring any nonperishable food items to donate to Nourish Now. This September Youth Against Hunger program brings diverse communities together to make 700 sandwiches, preparing 125 pounds of vegetables, and delivering to 10 local shelters to raise awareness on the importance of helping the needy.
When: Sunday, September 15 at 3 p.m.
Where: ICC, 19650 Club House Rd, Ste 205, Montgomery Village, MD 20886
Who: Youth, young professionals and parents–all welcome to join in! *SSL Opportunity
RSVP: Samia Haque at samia@theicc.net or call (240) 396-5350
Speaker: Brett Meyers, Executive Director, Nourish Now
| The Faith Community Working Group was begun out of the County Executive’s office as part of his effort to increase faith based participation in all aspects of county life—everything from food insecurity issues, to upholding religious land use laws and being a resource in violence prevention.
On August 28, 2013, the subcommittee organized a town hall meeting with Montgomery County Police Chief J. Thomas Manger at the Muslim Community Center (MCC) in Silver Spring, MD to discuss the faith community’s role in promoting public safety and preventing violent extremism. The event was attended by over 75 individuals from diverse faith communities and civic groups, and reflected the growing partnership between the Montgomery County Faith Community Working Group (FCWG) and the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD). ICC Founder and President, Dr. Hedieh Mirahmadi’s Speech |
Volunteer, Bridge Divides, End Hunger!Please join us in our community service project, Youth Against Hunger! We’ll be making 700 sandwiches, preparing 80 pounds of vegetables, and delivering to 8 local shelters. Let’s bridge our differences and end hunger locally!
When: Sunday, August 25 at 3 p.m.
Where: ICC, 19650 Club House Rd, Ste 205, Montgomery Village, MD 20886
Who: Youth, young professionals and parents–all welcome to join in! *SSL Opportunity
RSVP: Email Samia Haque at samia@theicc.net or call (240) 396-5350
Speaker: Luis Cardona, Youth Violence Prevention Coordinator, Montgomery County HHS
Access: The ICC is ADA accessible. The elevator is located on the front side of the building.
On Sunday July 28th, the ICC hosted an Iftaar (breaking of the fast). Nearly 90 friends, supporters, colleagues and members of the community attended and shared the experience of breaking of the fast during the holy month of Ramadan. During the event, Mansfield Kaseman, Interfaith Community Liaison from the Office of Community Partnerships, presented a Proclamation to ICC founder Hedieh Mirahmadi, designating the month of Ramadan as Muslim American Heritage Month.
Dr. Hedieh Mirahmadi with County Council Member Nancy Floreen
On Friday, July 26 MCC hosted a delightful iftar that included many county officials such as County Council member Nancy Floreen, members of our esteemed police force, and representatives from different nonprofit organizations in Montgomery County.
42 families and individuals raised their hands to to help needy kids succeed in Montgomery County!
Thank you so much for your generous donations!
Click here to see “Thank You Letter” from Stepping Stones Shelter
Come and hear about the University of Maryland’s work to encourage community gardening in the area. Learn about the many benefits of community gardening, including how it enhances water quality and how it helps the local community. The meeting will end with an interactive discussion on what efforts we can initiate, locally.
When: Tuesday, June 25 from 7 to 8:15 p.m.
Where: ICC, 19650 Club House Rd, Suite 205, Montgomery Village, MD 20886
Contact: phlavinka@gmail.com
ICC Co-sponsors a Reception and Fundraiser for HEARTBEAT
Amplifying Israeli and Palestinian Youth Voices
to Build Trust and Transform Conflict
Come Learn About, Engage With, and Support Heartbeat!
On June 9, 2013, interfaith members of the Bethesda Jewish Congregation (BJC), Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church (BHPC), Idara-e-Jaferia mosque and the International Cultural Center (ICC) met at the home of BJC host Gary Sampliner to share food and dialouge. (read more…)
On May 13th 2013 at the beautiful Am Kolel Jewish Renewal Community sanctuary, a private interfaith meditation was held for ordained and lay religious leaders. Leaders from the Buddhist, Islamic, Bahai, Christian and Jewish faiths shared their traditions surrounding meditation and scared chanting. The event was organized and moderated by Andrew Stern of the Interfaith Meditation Initiative, a non-religious, non-sectarian 501(c)(3) public charity based in Washington, D.C. Participants included: (read more…)
Please join us in our community service project, Youth Against Hunger on Sunday, May 19! We’ll be making 700 sandwiches, preparing 125 pounds of vegetables, and delivering to 8 local shelters.
Let’s bridge our differences and end hunger locally! Click here to RSVP.
This May event is generously paid for from the proceeds of the Celebrating Harmony benefit concert co-hosted by: Am Kolel Jewish Renewal Community, Episcopal Church of the Ascension (Sligo Parish), Saint Nicholas Episcopal Church, and the International Cultural Center. (read more…)
On Sunday, May 5, 75 people stopped by to participate in Green workshops. Grant Baxter, former Master Gardner and passionate about vegetable gardening reviewed the basics of Organic Vegetable Gardening in your backyard.
Farmers Larry and Laura from Good Life Farm shared the importance of CSA’s and how to sign up for veggies all season long. Young volunteers led by Emmalee June of DC Green Muslims participated in compost container gardening where they planted sugar snap peas and lettuce for local shelters.
Chef AK used simple, fresh ingredients, like kale and mustard greens from Farmers Larry and Laura to make a delicious green rice. Following the food break, speakers talked about implementing green food for our physical and spiritual health. We also learned the process of setting up a community garden. (read more…)
Thursday, April 25, was an amazing evening at ICC. We brought together the faith community, government officials, youth activists, gang prevention experts and journalists to prevent violence.
Thank you to all who participated and pledged their commitment.
We were honored to have Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett join us.
Over 50 people joined us on April 28 to help end hunger in Montgomery County. We made 900 sandwiches and prepared 150 pounds of fresh vegetables for delivery to 9 local shelters.
Around the world, spring is celebrated as a time of rebirth, renewal and rejuvenation. As our neighborhoods become alive with the sights and sounds of the season, join us for a multi-cultural celebration of the Beauty of Spring at this month’s ICC Community Tea Time.
Join us on Sunday, March 24 to make sandwiches for local shelters.
Get involved, make sandwiches, make new friends. It’s another way to donate!
Click here to see past Youth Against Hunger events (video and photos).
As a a part of its Interfaith Educational Programming, ICC is happy to co-host the next Jewish Islamic Dialogue Society’s (JIDS) meeting this Sunday, March 17 at 2:30 p.m.
Project: Multi-session program entitled “What Unifies Us and What Divides Us” (read more…)
On Sunday, March 10, ICC, The Churches of Ascension and St. Nicholas, & Am Kolel Jewish Renewal Community hosted a sold-out interfaith concert. Joyful music from the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faith traditions filled the hall at Ascension.
ALL proceeds benefit local shelters through ICC’s Youth Against Hunger program.
The International Cultural Center is proud to co-sponsor Heartbeat, an Israeli and Palestinian Youth Musical Group from Jerusalem, Haifa, & Jaffa-Tel Aviv.
The Power of Music to Transform Conflict
HEARTBEAT creates opportunities and spaces for young Israeli and Palestinian musicians to work together, hear each other, and amplify their voices to influence the world around them. We invite you to join us! (read more…)
EVENT PHOTOS
The International Cultural Center invites you to A workshop with the artists of Jews and Muslims Making Art Together
Jews and Muslims making Art together (JAMmARTt) is a project that came about as an idea of one person who reached out to another and another and eventually, with the help of the Muslim Community Center and Tikvat Israel synagogue the individuals bonded as a group. In 2008 they began to plan and develop the project. Their labor of love was completed in 2010. Currently on display at the ICC, we invite you to this workshop to interact with the artists and to learn how they used art to motivate social change. (read more…)
Rev. Randy Lord-Wilkinson, Rector,Church of the Ascension Convener of the Gaithersburg Interfaith Association will lead this interfaith meeting at the ICC. It’s a bring your own lunch affair this time.
You’ll be meeting Dr. Hedieh Mirahmadi, President of the World Organization for Resource Development and Education, www.WORDE.org, an educational organization whose mission is to enhance communication and understanding between Muslim and non-Muslim communities, in order to mitigate social conflict and political instability and to promote international security. (read more…)
Topic: Sikhism in America
On Thurs. January 10, . Rajwant Singh, Dentist and a founding member of the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, a Sikh congregation based in Rockville, will speak on the history of Sikhism, and their religious practices in other countries and in the US.
This new group meets monthly on the second Thursday evening, alternating between St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and another religious community’s site in the Bethesda /Rockville area.
In honor of the President’s National Day of Service, ICC organized a community service project–Youth Against Hunger.
The Youth Against Hunger is a regular program of ICC that brings diverse communities together to make sandwiches for the homeless and to raise awareness on the importance of helping the needy. We are grateful to our 90 hard-working participants who helped make this day of service a success. Our speakers addressed the importance of charity from the Abrahamic traditions.
Montgomery County Media covered our event! Click here to view.
As a a part of its Interfaith Educational Programming, ICC co-hosted the screening of the film, “Arranged”. A story about the friendship of two young female teachers in New York City– an Orthodox Jew and a traditional Muslim, the film poignantly depicts the journey of two women getting “arranged marriages” while striving to be in charge of their own happiness within the context of their deep religious and cultural convictions. The discussion was facilitated by Alex Patico, of the North American Secretary of the Orthodox Peace Fellowship. (read more…)
The International Cultural Center organized a workshop “Transforming Offense into an Opportunity for Dialogue” on Saturday, December 1, from 3 to 5 pm.
“Transforming Offense into an Opportunity for Dialogue”
with Dr. Qamar ul-Huda, Senior Program Officer, Religion and Peacemaking Center, US Institute of Peace
After worldwide protests erupted in reaction to the incendiary video insulting the Prophet of Islam, the International Cultural Center (ICC) presented a timely workshop for the Muslim community. The workshop was designed to inform and engage our community on peaceful means of response to offense and addressed the following topics: (read more…)
On Sunday, November 4, 2012 from 3 to 5pm the International Cultural Center (ICC) organized an “Interfaith Tea Time” to share and learn “The Heritage of Gratitude.”
On Sunday, October 21, 2012 from 4pm to 6pm, the International Cultural Center continued the monthly community service program, “Youth Against Hunger” to make sandwiches for the local shelters. (read more…)
The International Cultural Center (ICC) community joined the 9/11 Unity Walk on Sunday, September 9, 2012 from 1:30 – 5:30 p.m at Washington Hebrew Congregation. (read more…)
On Sunday, August 26, 2012 from 4pm to 6pm, the International Cultural Center continued the monthly community service program, “Youth Against Hunger” to make sandwiches for the local shelters. (read more…)
During the mu nth of July, the International Cultural Center held a Back to School Drive for 42 needy children at Stepping Stones Shelter in Rockville, Maryland.
On Friday, August 3, 2012, ICC hosted a service-oriented evening, where cross-cultural community members helped pack each needy child a supply bag. Afterwards, participants shared a warm potluck dinner and took turns explaining what they were grateful for.
Our friends from Capitol Area Interfaith Friends (CAIF) joined us and brought lots of new friendly faces.
How many needy students can you help? In 2012, it cost ICC $13 a child to buy necessary school supplies.
Click here to see “Thank You Letter” from Stepping Stones Shelter
Click here for 2013 Back to School Supply Drive
On Saturday, July 28, 2012 from 4pm to 6pm, the International Cultural Center continued the monthly community service program, “Youth Against Hunger” to make sandwiches for the local shelters. (read more…)
On Saturday, June 16 from 4pm to 6pm, the International Cultural Center continued the monthly community service program, “Youth Against Hunger” to make sandwiches for the local shelters. (read more…)
The International Cultural Center hosted a complimentary Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, April 28, 2012. It was a great opportunity to “break bread” with new friends and interact with our esteemed speakers about the importance of community and religious tolerance. (read more…)
The International Cultural celebrated spring festival on March 31, 2012 from 11:00am to 5:00 pm. This event was a great initiative taken by The International Cultural Center to celebrate spring in an innovative way where the community was able to cherish cultural rituals of Iran, Egypt, and The Asian Subcontinent! (read more…)
The International Cultural Center organized a makeover event on Saturday, February 25. This was an opportunity to learn innovative techniques to enhance natural beauty. ICC invited expert and Mary Kay Consultant Reena Hafiz to demonstrate her artful skills
On December 17, 2011 from 4-6pm the International Cultural Center invited Reena Hafiz, a motivational speaker, to share with the community her “Principles of Success”.
On December 10th 2011, the International Cultural Center continued the monthly community service project to make a total of 2011 sandwiches this year for local shelters in the greater Washington, DC area. 
On Thursday, December 8, 2011 from 11 am to 3 pm the International cultural Center organized an event of Fall Arts/Crafts Collection & Scarf Painting Demonstration by Paisley Touch, a creation of a local designer Banu Makhdoom. (read more…)
On November 12th 2011, the International Cultural Center continued the monthly community service project to make a total of 2011 sandwiches this year for local shelters in the greater Washington, DC area.
On Saturday Oct 8, 2011 WORDE invited George Selim from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office for Civil Liberties and Civil Rights to the ICC. (read more…)
On September 24th, the International Cultural Center continued the monthly community service project to make a total of 2011 sandwiches this year for local shelters in the greater Washington, DC area. (read more…)
On Sunday, September 11, 2011, ICC hosted youth-centered discussion led by Qumar-ul Huda from United States Institute of Peace (USIP). Mr. Huda is a Senior Program Officer at USIP’s Religion and Peacemaking Center of Innovation. (read more…)
On August 6th 2011, the International Cultural Center continued the monthly community service project to make a total of 2011 sandwiches this year for local shelters in the greater Washington, DC area. (read more…)
On Friday, July 29, 2011 ICC in conjunction with WORDE hosted Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani to discuss Islamic values in family affairs and to launch, A Fatwa against Domestic Violence, co-authored by Dr. Homayra Ziad, PhD. (read more…)
