NEWS

Greek Library Wins the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s 2010 Access to Learning Award

The Veria Central Public Library, host of a successful American Corner received $1 million international award for embracing technology and creating vibrant community asset.
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The Fourth of July: Celebrating U.S. Independence Day

July 4th has been recognized as Independence Day in the United States ever since the country’s Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. To mark the occasion, Americans celebrate with parades, fireworks, concerts and other festive activities.

 

Photo Gallery

U.S. Men’s Soccer: One Team, Many Homelands

About a dozen U.S. players from immigrant families have achieved the ultimate goal in their sport — being picked to play for their country in the 2010 FIFA World Cup of Soccer. Edson Buddle, left, Landon Donovan, center, and Benny Feilhaber, right, all play for Team USA but have roots in other countries. This year, the United States has fielded the most ethnically diverse team in its World Cup history.

 

 


 

Photo Gallery

Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn

Mark Twain’s internationally acclaimed novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885), still draws admiration and criticism for its depiction of Huck, the boy outcast, and his friend Jim, a runaway slave.
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Graphic Novels: Drawing the Asian- American Experience

Asian-American artists and writers have attained considerable prominence as creators of sophisticated graphic novels, many of which explore cultural identity and social issues.
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Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2010


May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in the U.S. Some 15.5 million residents claim Asian heritage. More at the following link:
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Earth Day 2010: Preserving Marine Biodiveristy

Earth Day reminds us that all creatures depend upon water for life.
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Earth Day 2010


 

Cultural Sites Reflect U.S. Democracy -- Park Service protects sites that tell both inspiring, painful stories

24 March 2010

Washington — What do the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, and the theater where Abraham Lincoln was shot have in common? They are part of the network of scenic and historic sites safeguarded by the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) so visitors can learn about the people and places that have shaped America.
Some of these landmarks might have been lost without visionaries who believed they should be protected and set aside for everyone’s use, said NPS Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. Since 1916, the Park Service has been “the U.S. government’s steward of its history, telling the quintessential American story” of a sprawling, diverse nation, he explained in an interview.
The stories behind these sites and landmarks are “extraordinarily inspiring and, sometimes, extraordinarily painful,” Jarvis said. “This grand experiment in democracy isn’t perfect, but these stories reveal that we’re willing to discuss our mistakes — that we’re still learning, still growing.”
 

Presidential Proclamation on Women’s History Month



THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
March 2, 2010

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH, 2010

- - - - - - -

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Countless women have steered the course of our history, and their stories are ones of steadfast determination. From reaching for the ballot box to breaking barriers on athletic fields and battlefields, American women have stood resolute in the face of adversity and overcome obstacles to realize their full measure of success. Women’s History Month is an opportunity for us to recognize the contributions women have made to our Nation, and to honor those who blazed trails for women’s empowerment and equality.

Women from all walks of life have improved their communities and our Nation. Sylvia Mendez and her family stood up for her right to an education and catalyzed the desegregation of our schools. Starting as a caseworker in city government, Dr. Dorothy Height has dedicated her life to building a more just society. One of our young heroes, Caroline Moore, contributed to advances in astronomy by discovering a supernova at age 14.

When women like these reach their potential, our country as a whole prospers. That is the duty of our Government -- not to guarantee success, but to ensure all Americans can achieve it. My Administration is working to fulfill this promise with initiatives like the White House Council on Women and Girls, which promotes the importance of taking women and girls into account in Federal policies and programs. This council is committed to ensuring our Government does all it can to give our daughters the chance to achieve their dreams.

 

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Presidential Proclamation -- National African American History Month

Presidential Proclamation -- National African American History Month

February 01, 2010

In the centuries since African Americans first arrived on our shores, they have known the bitterness of slavery and oppression, the hope of progress, and the triumph of the American Dream. African American history is an essential thread of the American narrative that traces our Nation's enduring struggle to perfect itself. Each February, we recognize African American History Month as a moment to reflect upon how far we have come as a Nation, and what challenges remain. This year's theme, "The History of Black Economic Empowerment," calls upon us to honor the African Americans who overcame injustice and inequality to achieve financial independence and the security of self empowerment that comes with it.

Nearly 100 years after the Civil War, African Americans still faced daunting challenges and indignities. Widespread racial prejudice inhibited their opportunities, and institutional discrimination such as black codes and Jim Crow laws denied them full citizenship rights. Despite these seemingly impossible barriers, pioneering African Americans blazed trails for themselves and their children. They became skilled workers and professionals. They purchased land, and a new generation of black entrepreneurs founded banks, educational institutions, newspapers, hospitals, and businesses of all kinds.

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African American History Month 2010. Law Library, Library of Congress

National African American History Month in February celebrates the contributions that African Americans have made to American history in their struggles for freedom and equality and deepens our understanding of our Nation's history.

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Haiti Receives 10-Year Commitment from International Community

The international community makes a 10-year commitment to help Haiti’s reconstruction and will follow priorities set by the Haitian government. Donors will hold a conference in New York in March.

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Treasures from the World Digital Library

The World Digital Library (WDL), launched April 21, offers free online access to rare and important cultural materials from libraries and archives around the world. It is a project of the U.S. Library of Congress, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and more than 30 partner institutions. Every country in the world is invited to participate. By increasing the diversity of cultural materials on the Internet, the WDL aims to become a unique educational resource that will help improve international understanding and reduce the digital divide between countries. New content is being added regularly.

For more info, please click here.