News

A Braver Angels: Skills for Disagreeing Better Workshop scheduled nearby in Frederick County, which isn’t too far from Washington County:

Date: Saturday, July 18th

Time: 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM

Location: Middletown Library

This workshop focuses on practical skills for having constructive, respectful conversations across political differences. Given the challenges you described with community tensions and the difficulty of engaging folks across the aisle, we thought this might be of interest to you or others in your network who are looking for tools to navigate these dynamics.

Here is the registration page: https://braverangels.org/event/skills-for-disagreeing-better-168/

or view the attached a flyer for this event with a QR code for registration.

Rev. Ben Manning was called to eternal glory earlier this week, after a several year battle with pancreatic cancer. Rev. Manning most recently served Boonsboro Christian Church. A memorial service will be held on July 18th at 2:00pm at First Christian Church of Hagerstown, 1345 Potomac Avenue in Hagerstown.

Obituary

In June, representatives of the Washington County Department of Social Services (DSS) spoke at our monthly HARC Meeting.  

Joshua Bond, Assistant Director for Family Investment, gave an update on changes to benefits that will affect vulnerable members of our community. The “Big Beautiful Bill” changes go into effect this fall. Joshua explained who will be affected and what it will mean for people seeking benefits.

Leanne Nevels, Child Welfare Supervisor, talked about the need for foster families in Washington County and what that involves. There is an extreme shortage of foster families in our county currently. She asked faith communities for an opportunity to speak in their congregations as they seek families to serve in this way. For more information or to offer a speaking opportunity at your congregation, contact Leanne at leanne.nevels@maryland.gov or (240)420-2275. 

Watch the recording:

 

As you know, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is attempting to convert an 825,000-square-foot industrial warehouse in Williamsport, MD into a massive ICE detention facility despite overwhelming environmental, infrastructure, and human rights concerns. Because of the State of Maryland’s lawsuit, DHS is now accepting public comments as part of the environmental review process. Action Network has info on how and what to submit.

Learn more and take action

This summer, the break – and learning gap – will be smaller for kids at Bester Elementary School. Thanks to a partnership between HARC’s Lighthouse Program, Bester Community of Hope, and Bester Elementary School, more than 60 children have fun and educational summer full-day programs for two weeks in June and two weeks in August. The school is providing “camps” for the month of July.

“Everywhere I go, I see kids hugging you guys, who they only met for the first time this week” shared Angela Yamashita, Lighthouse Program Coordinator, in an email to program Leaders.  “They’re chatting with you at breakfast and lunch, asking you to join them at recess, and telling us they don’t want to leave at the end of the day. That kind of connection doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because you showed up, paid attention, and made these kids feel welcome and wanted.”

Programs, or “Clubs,” in Lighthouse Summer Enrichment Program include Arts & Crafts, Sports, Music, STEM, Astronomy, Games, Cooking & Food, Passport to the World (world cultures), MC/Songwriting, How Things Work, and a special advanced Art program, with additional programs to be added in August. The program is set up to accept up to 120 children, with just over 60 participating currently. Families who live in the Bester Elementary School area can contact the school to enroll in July and/or  August programs.

 

 

I read an article recently that really struck a chord with me. The author pointed out how challenging it is for parents right now to try to teach values such as honesty, integrity, compassion, and reverence for justice and truth when children are exposed every day to leaders and others in positions of authority who represent the antithesis of those values.

As faith leaders and other valued members of the interfaith community, we who are an integral part of HARC and believe in its mission are needed more than ever to resist the headwinds that are threatening to blow our society and our culture so far off course that we may never find our way back.

One of our great Jewish theologians, Abraham Joshua Heschel, wrote these words prior to his untimely passing in 1972. He wrote: “that in a free society, some are guilty, but all are responsible.” In the face of so much adversity let us never throw our hands up and think that the continuation of the current trend is inevitable. It is not. I am proud of this organization and the fact that even though we all know we cannot save the world, we are doing everything we can to make our corner of it better each and every day.

As we head into summer, HARC has accomplished so much under the leadership of our extraordinary executive director, Kathy Powderly, that it truly boggles the mind. We owe Kathy, Elizabeth, as well as all our outstanding members and volunteers a great deal of gratitude.

I am honored to be your current president and salute all of you for not only talking the talk (because talk can be cheap) but also walking the walk. We are making a difference and when those winds begin to shift in the right direction we can all take comfort in knowing that we played our part in making that happen.

Shalom (Peace)

Rabbi Mark
HARC President