2021 set a new high for antisemitic incidents, with the coronavirus pandemic fueling a worldwide rise in antisemitism, according to a report of the U.S.-based Anti-Defamation League.  While these incidents decreased in 2022 in other countries, the ADL found that the number of antisemitic incidents in the U.S. increased by more than 35 percent in […]

Our June meeting will focus on migration, past and present. We welcome Basheer Azizi, President of the Islamic Center of Hagerstown, to talk about the history and present reality of migration among people of Islamic faith and Rabbi Mark Perman of Congregation B'Nai Abraham to share the history and present reality of migration among Jewish […]

After summer hiatus, HARC meetings resume with a September kick-off.  We welcome Chief Paul Kifer of the Hagerstown Police Department to speak with us about new programs and updates, discuss challenges in the city of Hagerstown and answer questions.  We also look forward to learning about our host church and hearing a song from students […]

At our October HARC meeting, we will address the issue of rising mental health challenges, what programs and resources are available in Washington County to help, and how the faith community can play a role.  Guest speakers will be Victoria Sterling, LCSW-C, Director of Behavioral Health Services for the Washington County Health Department and Carrie […]

A panel of interfaith leaders will discuss the biggest challenges to religion in our society today. Please note this program is at a different day and time to allow for those who cannot normally make our Tuesday meetings to attend. Join us for dinner and fellowship.  Thanks to the Islamic Society of Western Maryland for […]

At our December meeting, we will explore what it means to be a "healing community" with San Mar Family and Community Services.  Guest speakers from San Mar will be Jerica Washington, LCSW-C, Deputy Executive Director and Director of the Jack E. Barr Center for Well-Being; and Jennifer Lewis, LCSW-C, Director - Treatment Foster Care. San […]

All members and affiliates are encouraged to attend our annual meeting!  This is both a business meeting and a program. Here's the line up: * The Faces of HARC:  a brief look at what we accomplished in 2023, who "we" are, and where we are going in 2024 * Speaker:  Dr. David T. Sovine, Superintendent, […]

In February, we will hear from Brianne Tesla Bearese, MA, LCPC, CPLC, Founder and Director of Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness of Washington County, MD.  Pregnancy and infant loss affect many families in our community in ways we may not be aware of.  Join us to learn about the support and resources in our area […]

We spend most of our monthly HARC meetings learning about important programs and initiatives in our community and finding ways the faith community can “plug in” to help, or take information back to our houses of faith and organizations. As valuable as these programs are, they usually leave little time for us to really get […]

  We look forward to Brook Lane hosting and offering the program for our April meeting in honor of their 75th anniversary year! Brook Lane, founded by the Mennonite Church, is western Maryland’s largest, non-profit mental health system. The main campus in Hagerstown, MD is home to the second largest freestanding psychiatric hospital in Maryland, […]