For Immediate Release: Tuesday, February 22, 2011
ROCKVILLE, Md., February 22, 2011—The Montgomery County Council on Tuesday, March 1, will host a panel of experts on Egypt for a forum entitled "The Egyptian Revolution: What Happened? And What Happens Next?" Councilmember George Leventhal (at large) has taken the lead in organizing the forum.
The forum, which is open to the public, will take place from 6-8 p.m. in the Third Floor Hearing Room of the Council Office Building in Rockville.
“The purpose of the discussion will be to learn about the dramatic and exciting events that transpired in Egypt during the past month and to try and understand what may happen there next,” said Councilmember Leventhal. “The latest Census figures reveal that Montgomery County has the largest proportion of foreign-born residents of any Maryland jurisdiction and our County's leaders have a special obligation to stay informed regarding critical events around the world.”
“The discussion on this night will not have a legislative purpose,” Leventhal said. “We do not intend to bring any resolutions or policy statements before the County Council regarding international affairs.”
The following speakers are expected to take part in the forum:
· Sahar Aziz, Egyptian-American lawyer and adjunct professor, Georgetown Law Center. For more information about her, go to: http://www.saharazizlaw.com/
· Mohamed Elmenshawy, director of languages and regional studies program at the Middle East Institute; Weekly columnist with Egyptian daily newspaper Ashorouk. For more information about him, go to: http://www.taqrir.org/eng/team.cfm
· Mimi Hassanein, a Montgomery County businesswoman who maintains a home in Cairo where she and her husband recently hosted Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and his wife, Catherine
· Foudan Salem, president of the Egyptian American Cultural Association. For more information about her, go to: http://www.eacaonline.org/
· Diane Singerman, government professor, American University, School of Public Affairs. For more information about her, go to: http://www.american.edu/spa/faculty/dsinger.cfm
“We hope many people will attend this forum and learn about this history-making situation from perspectives you may not have been able to find on television or via the Internet,” said Councilmember Leventhal. “This will be a rare opportunity to learn about history from people who have special insight on why this happened.”
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Release ID: 11-039
Media Contact: Neil Greenberger 240-777-7939, Patty Vitale 240-777-7972