Montgomery County Councilmember Michael Subin and representatives of the religious community today announced a November 18 forum designed to increase the faith community’s involvement with the problems faced by County youth.
The forum entitled -"Keeping Faith: The Religious Community and Our Children" - will be held on Thursday evening, November 18, 1999, beginning with dinner at 6:00 PM at the Ed Bohrer Community Center in Gaithersburg.
"Given tragic events involving youth in other jurisdictions that we have all heard about, it is time for the County to step forward and do more to engage our children, said Councilmember Subin, who chairs the Council’s Education Committee."
"We owe it to our youngsters to bring the fundamentals and moral values into the public square," said Jack Luxemburg, Vice President of the Jewish Community Council.
The forum will bring together 100 – 200 members of Montgomery County’s faith community to bolster efforts to help the County’s young people.
The sponsors of this program come from the whole range of the religious community – including Jewish, Christian and Muslim congregations. Secular organizations, including the National Capital Area Council Boy Scouts of America, the Mental Health Association, and Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington, also are involved as sponsors.
"We need to build the bridge between the home and schools," said Mimi Hassanein, Director of the Iman Learning Center.
Dr. Robert Cummings, Associate Dean at Howard University, will give the keynote address and Dr. Paul Vance, former Superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools, will moderate the panel discussion.
Participating panel members will include Mimi Hassanein, Director, Iman Learning Center; Monsignor Ralph Kuehner, Secretary for Social Concerns, Archdiocese of Washington; Rabbi Jack Luxemburg, Jewish Community Council; Father Miguel Umana, St. Rafael Catholic Church; B.J. Sohn, Deacon, Global Mission Church; Reverend D. Mitchell Ford, Renaissance Baptist Church; Rebecca Wagner, Director, Community Ministries of Montgomery County; and Steve Green, Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
Those interested in receiving further information should call the office of Councilmember Michael Subin at 240-777-7828.