America.gov-

American Indian Heritage Month Links

Louise Fenner — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:56:43 -0500

This document contains links to Web sites related to American Indian Heritage Month and other online resources.

U.S. Honors Contributions of American Indians, Alaska Natives

Louise Fenner — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:13:13 -0500

There are nearly 5 million American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States, 1.6 percent of the U.S. population. Each November, National American Indian Heritage Month pays tribute to the first Americans and celebrates their enduring contributions to U.S. history and culture.

First Lady Honors After-School Arts Projects That Inspire Youth

Jeffrey Thomas — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:30:40 -0500

First lady Michelle Obama honored 19 after-school programs at the White House November 4, presenting each with a Coming Up Taller Award. Youth programs in Mexico, China and Egypt were among the honorees. The programs exemplify how arts and humanities programs can affect the lives of young people.

Children Adopted from Russia Explore their Roots

Jaroslaw Anders — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:24:03 -0500

When Barbara Blackwell of Pennsylvania adopted two girls from Russia, she looked for information to share with them about their native country. Now 11 and 13, the girls study Russian and “are very proud,” she says. The Blackwells’ experience is becoming the norm among adoptive families.

Young Leaders of Grass-Roots Movements Meet in Mexico City

Lauren Monsen — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:59:42 -0500

When Web-based activists gathered in Mexico City recently for the Alliance of Youth Movements Summit, they spoke about their experiences in using the power of the Internet to achieve positive social change. As their stories reveal, technology now facilitates civic involvement around the world.

Theater, Film Help Bosnians Cope with Past, Address Diversity

Michelle Austein Brooks — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:43:08 -0500

War and conflict are harrowing, “but also very inspiring for arts, especially for filmmaking,” says Elma Tataragić, who helped launch a film festival as Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, was under siege in 1995. The Sarajevo Film Festival now attracts more than 100,000 attendees.

Diwali Lights Symbolize Search for Knowledge and Goodness

Alexandra Abboud — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:43:57 -0500

On the occasion of Diwali, one of the most popular festivals in India, celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists, the Talking Faith blog interviews Anju Bhargava, senior vice president at Bank of America and a member of President Obama's Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

New York Celebrates 400th Anniversary of Hudson’s Voyage

Ralph Dannheisser — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:45:00 -0500

When Henry Hudson in 1609 sailed into the harbor destined to become the site of New York City, he blazed a trail for millions of immigrants who would help New York to become hub of finance and fashion, politics, advertising and the arts.

Remarks by President Obama at “Fiesta Latina” Concert

Janelle Simmons — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:48:02 -0500

President Obama makes remarks before the “Fiesta Latina” performance at the White House.

Music Helps Kosovo Youth Learn About Their Similarities

Michelle Austein Brooks — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:34:00 -0500

Mitrovica, Kosovo, once was referred to as the Balkans’ rock music capital before years of ethnic conflict. Two nongovernmental organizations have been working to bring that title back to the city and foster interaction and mutual understanding between Serb and Albanian youth.

Diversity Visa Lottery for 2011 Is Open Until November 30

Louise Fenner — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:22:54 -0500

Registration for the 2011 Diversity Visa Lottery is open from October 2 to November 30, 2009. The government annually makes 50,000 permanent residence visas (“green cards”) available through the Diversity Immigrant Visa program. Applicants are selected through a computer-generated, random lottery.

Iranian-American Actress Shohreh Aghdashloo Wins 2009 Emmy

Azam K. Gorgin — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:33:17 -0500

Tehran-born actress Shohreh Aghdashloo becomes the first Iranian American to win an Emmy Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, receiving the honor September 20, 2009, for her supporting role in the original HBO miniseries House of Saddam.

On and Off the Court, Balkan Athletes Learn Conflict Resolution

Michelle Austein Brooks — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:37:16 -0500

Although their countries used to be part of one nation, teenagers from Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Slovenia and Kosovo do not typically interact much with one another. But their shared interests — including enthusiasm for basketball are helping bridge differences.

Hispanic Women Entrepreneurs Gather in Washington

Sharon Carper — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:26:31 -0500

The Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas initiative is promoting women’s business connections. The Women’s Entrepreneurial Conference in Washington will link women to markets, finances, technology, and to other women experienced in trade.

Arab Students Explore Worlds of Imaginative Writing in Iowa City

Howard Cincotta — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:42:28 -0500

Students from Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and Israel participate in a bilingual writing program in Iowa called “Between the Lines.” The program brings new and notable international writers to the University of Iowa each year for seminars and readings.

Eid Observances in America Share Common Theme of Family

Howard Cincotta — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:41:44 -0500

Eid al-Fitr celebrations in America revolve around family, faith, food and children. Learn about how three Muslim-American families observed the traditions of Ramadan and Eid in 2009 and interacted with Muslims and non-Muslims in their communities.

The Obamas Visit Copenhagen to Support Chicago’s Olympic Bid

Lauren Monsen — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:32:47 -0500

President and Mrs. Obama are traveling to Copenhagen, Denmark, to support Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Mrs. Obama, a Chicago native, says her hometown’s diverse population and culture would make it a welcoming host to athletes and spectators from around the world.

An Overview of U.S. Holidays

Bridget Hunter — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:29:26 -0500

Nations and religious denominations set aside a number of days to commemorate special events, persons or public occasions. These holidays typically are marked by a general suspension of work and business activity, and by public and/or religious ceremonies. Learn about U.S. holidays.

Through Changing Times, Belgrade’s Art Endures

Michelle Austein Brooks — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:11:57 -0500

Throughout its history, Belgrade’s youth cultural center, Dom Omladine, has been a place for people to discuss different ideas freely. Today, the center, home to more than 1,000 events each year, is still a place where people from different backgrounds, and with different ideas, are welcome.

Chinese and American Writers Explore Culture in the Desert

Howard Cincotta — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:55:12 -0500

The Chinese city of Dunhuang drew a group of American and Chinese writers together for a bold experiment in intercultural and literary collaboration. The program continues in October with a set of workshops and presentations in Iowa, along with visits to Chicago and Washington.

Muslim Americans Mix Old and New Traditions in Eid Celebrations

Howard Cincotta — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:26:54 -0500

Eid al Fitr in America is celebrated by Muslims like many other American faith communities — it combines faith, tradition, communities, families, sales, shopping and children.

Iranian Scholar Sees Her Arrest Based on Fear of Revolution

Howard Cincotta — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:48:05 -0500

When Iranian-American scholar Haleh Esfandiari was robbed at knifepoint on the way to Tehran’s airport in December 2006, she assumed it was a frightening but isolated incident. She was wrong. Instead, her ordeal was only beginning.

Hip-Hop Music an Outlet for Self-Expression

Carolee Walker — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:07:36 -0500

According to one expert, hip-hop music is the single most important melding of black and white cultures that has ever existed in the United States. Although hip-hop has remained close to its roots, the musical and cultural impact of this musical genre can be seen worldwide.

Hispanics, the Largest U.S. Minority, Enrich the American Mosaic

Louise Fenner — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:59:26 -0500

Hispanics, the largest and fastest-growing minority in the United States, are changing U.S. society and culture. Latinos fill several top positions in the U.S. government, and more and more products, advertising and media — both English and Spanish — are directed at Hispanic consumers.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

Suzanne Dawkins — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:17:51 -0500

Hispanic Heritage Month honors the diverse people of Spanish-speaking backgrounds in the United States. From September 15 to October 15, a multitude of special programs, events, exhibits and Web sites celebrate the heritage, culture, spirit and extraordinary contributions of Hispanic Americans.

Announcement on 2010 “Doors to Diplomacy” Award Competition

Amor Safi — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:43:11 -0500

The State Department releases a media note to announce the 2010 “Doors to Diplomacy” award competition, recognizing student-created Global SchoolNet Web projects.

Muslim American Doctors Give Back to Their Communities

Ahmed Mohamed — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:37:55 -0500

Muslim American doctors are answering President Obama’s call to service by volunteering at free health clinics that serve the poor and uninsured. Muslim community-based health organizations in the United States have emerged steadily since the mid-1990s.

Ramadan: An American-Egyptian Perspective

Mustafa Abdullah — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:21:21 -0500

Mustafa Abdullah, an American-Egyptian Muslim and a student at Wake Forest University, writes about his observation of Ramadan both in the United States and in Egypt. Across cultures and peoples, the principles of Ramadan remain the same, he writes, but the celebrations are different.

The Lessons of Ramadan

Ansaf Kareem — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:17:07 -0500

Ansaf Kareem, the son of Pakistani parents and a senior at Stanford University in California, writes that in a world where ethnic and religious conflict permeates the news cycle, the unity and pluralism embodied in the month of Ramadan serves as a positive reminder of the diversity of Islam.

The First Fast

Alexandra Abboud — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:07:54 -0500

Saleha Mallick, who was raised in Chicago by her Pakistani parents and attends Northwestern University, says Ramadan brings a mixture of emotions: hope for the feelings of renewed faith, nervousness for the long fasts, and excitement for the month of her mom’s delicious iftar food.

Ramadan in a Multi-Faith Family

Ilana Alazzeh — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:45:26 -0500

Ilana Alazzeh, the daughter of an Israeli mother and Pakistani father, is a senior at Smith College. She writes about her Ramadan experiences at college, where she says the community is small but diverse, like her family, and one of the most sincere she’s ever encountered.

Folklife Festival Brings Latino Musicians to Washington

Ralph Dannheisser — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:02:34 -0500

Musicians from Mexico and Colombia, from Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, from Paraguay and the United States brought their pulsating rhythms to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival’s “Las Américas: Un Mundo Musical/The Americas: A Musical World” on Washington’s National Mall.

Movable Exhibit Displays Images of Iranians in Everyday Life

Sonya Weakley — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:53:13 -0500

Feeling compelled to improve the image of Iranians in the minds of Americans, U.S. photographer Tom Loughlin has created a massive outdoor exhibit of portraits of Iranians posing or going about everyday life. “Pictures of You” displays the photographs on large hanging panels of translucent silk.

2008 Awards for Corporate Excellence

Kathryn McConnell — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:50:15 -0500

The State Department’s Award for Corporate Excellence recognizes U.S. businesses that demonstrate a commitment to promoting opportunity and prosperity in the overseas communities where they do business. Eleven finalists were selected from 61 nominations submitted by American ambassadors.

U.S., Middle Eastern Experts Join in Fighting Breast Cancer

Louise Fenner — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 14:31:28 -0500

The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and Susan G. Komen for the Cure are part of the U.S.-Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research, which is a program of the State Department’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).

New U.S.-Middle East Partnership To Fight Breast Cancer

Michelle Austein — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 09:34:27 -0500

Organizations from the United States, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are working together in a new initiative to fight breast cancer, first lady Laura Bush announced June 11.