Lunch and Learn Program Set for March 10 Features Personal Memories of Castro's Cuba

A first-hand account of growing up in Castro's Cuba, emigrating alone to the United States as a teenager, and making a life first in Chicago, then New York and finally Maryland is what Potomac Community Village members and guests will hear from speaker Simon Babil at a free Brown Bag Lunch and Learn presentation open to all in the community.

Two years after Castro came to power, Babil was the first in his family to leave Cuba and arrive in the U.S. at age 15, with one suitcase and $5 in his possession. Babil brings alive the refugee story with his recounting of having to learn English in his first two years in Chicago and finally reuniting with his family in New York where he studied electrical engineering. Babil also relates his family's experience as part of Cuba's Jewish community, the exodus of most of this community following the revolution, and the ensuing impact.

As part of Babil's assignment as a PCV volunteer helping a neighbor unpack and move boxes, he had a happy encounter with another former Cuban resident whose family had also left the island nation years ago.

PCV's Lunch and Learn with Simon Babil is on Friday, March 10, from 12:30 – 2 p.m at the Potomac Community Center, 11315 Falls Road, Potomac. Please bring your own brown bag lunch and PCV will
provide beverages and dessert. While reservations are not required, it will help us know how many cookies and other goodies to set out and how many chairs, if you call us at 240-221-1370 or email us at info@PotomacCommunityVillage.org.

Potomac Community Village is a non-profit network of neighbors and friends geared to enabling older Potomac residents to age in place in their existing homes by creating social connections and providing volunteer services such as transportation, computer assistance and simple home repairs. For more information, to volunteer or get volunteer help, contact 240-221-1370, info@ PotomacCommunityVillage.org
or check out www.PotomacCommunityVillage.org or www.Facebook.com/PotomacCommunityVillage.