Gaithersburg Arab American Heritage Month Proclamation
The City of Gaithersburg recognizes Arab Americans throughout the month of April, providing an opportunity to reflect on and learn about the many achievements in science, education, engineering, politics and the arts, of our Arab American neighbors. The Arab world is culturally rich and diverse, encompassing 22 countries; three monotheistic world religions; divergent political loyalties; as well as differences of locality, region, and kinship. Arab Americans have been part of our American society since the American Revolution, and have played prominent roles in education, government, business industry, culture, the arts and public affairs.
In the month of April, the City of Gaithersburg’s Multicultural Affairs Committee will celebrate Arab American Month by providing virtual programming that allows people to reflect on and learn about the heritage, culture and achievements of influential Arab Americans.
This year’s proclamation is being accepted by Dr. Deborah L. Trent. Her maternal grandparents immigrated from Ain Arab, Lebanon, and she has lived and worked in Montgomery County since 1988. Debbie chairs the Montgomery County Office of Community Partnership’s Middle Eastern American Advisory Group and is a member of the Arab American Institute’s National Policy Council. Her career in public diplomacy and development focuses on educational and cultural program design, monitoring, and evaluation. She is currently an independent consultant.
Earlier, Debbie managed Fulbright fellowship and postsecondary partnership programs, principally among Arab and U.S. scholars and students, at the United States Information Agency. She holds a doctorate in public policy and public administration, and she is immediate past chair of the American Society of Public Administration’s Section on Effective and Sound Administration in the Middle East and vice-chair of the Public Diplomacy Council’s Citizen Diplomacy Group.
This is a City of Gaithersburg, Maryland announcement.
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