Culture/Diversity

Autism in the Park!

Help the Howard County Autism Society kick off Autism Acceptance Month on April 1, 2023 with Autism in the Park!  The FREE  event will be held from 10:00am-2:00pm at Laura's Place Playground, in the North area of Blandair Regional Park in Columbia, MD.  Enjoy opportunities to visit with first responders, elected representatives, learn about the Autism community, enjoy interactive play, entertainers, face painting, music and food trucks.

Columbia Festival of the Arts LakeFest 2023

Columbia Festival of the Arts is recruiting volunteers for LakeFest 2023 which will occur June 16-18th. LakeFest is a free, three-day outdoor celebration on the lakefront in Downtown Columbia. The event includes live performance arts, children’s creative activities, a juried fine arts and crafts show, a variety of hands-on workshops for all ages and, of course, the always popular outdoor festival food fare. Around 300 volunteers are needed to assist artists and guests.

Summer Sister Cities European Exchange Program

High school students taking French or Spanish III or above interested in traveling to France or Spain, we are still accepting applications for the Columbia Sister Cities European Exchange Program 2023. Students are matched with a teen in France or Spain, have the opportunity to live with their matched student for two weeks in Europe, then host the same exchange student here in the US for the second half of the program. Program runs from end of June to end of July 2023. Costs include a program fee of $950 for Columbia residents and $1,100 for non-Columbia residents plus airfare.

Roots: Two Truths in One Heart; Two Peoples in One Land

March 8, 7-9pm

Join the Jewish Federation of Howard County, Howard County Library System, and Wilde Lake Interfaith Center to hear from Noor Awad and Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger.  Roots is an organization that fosters a grassroots movement of understanding, nonviolence, and transformation among Israelis and Palestinians.  Register https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E354729&id=66

Crafting Healthy Relationships: Zine Making for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) and teens, 13-18, are welcome to join HopeWorks' Youth Leaders on February 18 from 1pm to 3pm for a Zine workshop to reflect and explore healthy relationships, love, and dating. Dating violence is more common than people think, especially among teens and young adults: one in three teens in the US will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before they become adults, and nearly half (43%) of college women report experiencing violent or abusive dating behaviors.

HopeWorks' Youth Leadership Project

Open to teens, age 13 to 18, the HopeWorks’ Youth Leadership Project is a service-learning program dedicated to empowering teens to challenge systems of oppression and prevent relationship violence in their community. This project creates a space for students to grow in understanding themselves and the world. Facilitating self-care and social justice projects, youth leaders engage in frank discussions, raise their social consciousness and participate in creative projects and activism.

This project provides an affirming and safe space for all students. 

Tau Pi Talent Hunt

This is a Non-profit community initiative for kids from elementary to high school grade can display their talents in Art, Music, and Dance and when awards. The winner or winners will be given the chance to compete in our regional Talent Hunt event all expenses paid. 

Location: Owen Brown Interfaith Center

Date: 3/18/23

Time: Art Exhibit 10am-11am, Talent Showcare 12pm-2pm