The Pakistan Association actively interacts with the community at large. In this area our participation in the Multicultural Community Partnership (MCP) has been very fruitful. MCP is dedicated to promoting dialogue, understanding, and partnerships among organizations from many cultures and represents organizations from diverse ethnic backgrounds. The organizations in the Partnership take turns to organize get-together dinners at which cultural presentations are made or issues of mutual interest are discussed.
On October 26th the Pakistan Association hosting such a talk and dinner. The event, which took place at Tabeer Resturant in Maryland, attracted a large gathering from a number of diverse cultural backgrounds. Notable among the participants were James Offord, Dr. Judy Docca, Co- Chair MCP Steering Committee, Linda Plummer, President Montgomery County NAACP, Judge Chung Pak, Co-Chair MCP steering Committee and Commissioner for Asian Americans.
Professor Faizan Haq of the Cora P. Maloney College, State University of New York, and Buffalo was the guest speaker. Prof. Faizan spoke eloquently on “Diversity: Past, Present, & Future.” His speech brought out the importance of fostering understanding and cordial relationship between people of diverse religious, cultural and social backgrounds.
On behalf of the Maryland Governor, Paris Glendening, Judge Pak presented to the Pakistan Association a citation in appreciation of the Association’s outstanding services to the citizens of the state . Judge Pak also presented a similar individual award to Mr. Mohammad Siddique, a trustee of the Pakistan Association. Mr. Siddique is also a Member of the Multicultural Community Partnership Steering Committee and represents the Pakistan Association in the MCP.
A colorful dress show depicting a variety of Pakistani dresses was presented which was greatly admired by the audience. The dinner provided the Association with an excellent opportunity to make a presentation on the issues, which are important to the Pakistani-American community, and to familiarize them with our cultural heritage.
Multicultural Community Partnership is dedicated
to promoting dialogue, understanding, and partnerships among organizations
from many cultures, in particular the following:
NAACP
Montgomery County Branch; Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional
Studies; D.C. Baptist Convention; Hispanic Alliance; B'nai B'rith (JFK);
Coalition of Korean American Organizations; Islamic Center of Maryland;
Muslim Community Center; Tri-County Chapter of National Conference of Puerto
Rican Women; Pakistan Association; League of United Latin American Citizens
(LULAC); American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee; Indian American Leadership
Council; MCGEO-UFCW Local 1994 AFL-CIO; Intercultural Education Exchange;
The Painted Gourd, Red & Black Voices; Women Empowering Women of Indian
Nations; Montgomery County Alliance of Black School Educators; American
Jewish Committee; Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 689 AFL-CIO; League
of Korean Americans of Maryland; Organization of Chinese Americans Greater
D.C. Chapter; Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Washington Chapter;
and Montgomery County Pillipino American Assoc.
