Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Contact
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
    • Submit Press Release
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Arab Radio Podcast intro
    • Radio Baladi Detroit
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Toggle search form
  • photo credit author Nehemia Gershuni-Aylho www.NGPhoto.biz and Wikipedia
    Emergency Court Motions to Stop Elbit Drone Parts Shipment via Frankfurt Airport  Activism
  • American Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh murdered by Israeli soldiers May 11, 2022
    Documentary names soldier it says killed Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022 American Arabs
  • Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ
    Jordan bans 12 news sites for ‘spreading media poison’ following corruption report Arab World
  • CAIR Logo. Council on American Islamic Relations
    CAIR Condemns MIT for banning Class President from Graduation Ceremony over Anti-Genocide speech Activism
  • ADC creates emergency fund to defend people who are being punished for expressing views on the American-sanction violence by Israel in the Gaza Strip. Photo courtesy of ADC
    ADC Condemns ADL, Rep. Torres’ Defamation of Dr. Lara Sheehi Activism
  • UN Special Committee on Israeli practices in occupied territories warns of a second Nakba  Arab World
  • Arab American community liaison Hassan Nijem, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Basta at the Arab American Heritage Month event hosted by Pappas’s office.
    Pappas honors Arab American business and community leaders for Heritage Month Activism
  • 04-28-25 Pappas Arab Heritage Month
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas recognizes Arab American Heritage Month by honoring business and community leaders American Arabs
  • Stuffed Grape Leaves. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    A recipe on how to make Stuffed Grape Leaves with lamb, ox tail and rice American Arabs
  • Andrew Boutros, interim US Attorney Northern District of Illinois. Photo courtesy of the US Attorney's Office
    Andrew S. Boutros Takes Oath of Office as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois American Arabs
  • Israeli massacres of Palestinian civilians March 18 2025
    Palestinians demand investigation of Israeli war crimes in Gaza Strip Arab World
  • Illinois Muslim Action Day April 9 2025
    Illinois Muslim Action Day Policies at April 9 Statehouse News Conference American Arabs
  • Investigation demanded in March 23 massacre of 15 first responders by Israel's military in Rafah
    Investigation demanded into Israel slaughter of First Responder in Rafah on March 23, 2025 Arab World
  • More than a dozen candidates running for various local offices in the Chicagoland suburbs attended an Ifatr dinner Thursday, March 13, 2025 hosted by the Arab American Chamber of Commerce at the Jerusalem Banquet Hall in Bridgeview.
    Candidates promise fairness and engagement at Arab Chamber Iftar event March 13 Activism
  • Orland Fire Protection District, Fiscal Voices, receive endorsement of the Arab American Democracy Coaliton
    Independent candidates for Orland Fire receive Arab and Muslim American endorsement Activism

Kayrouz urges Lebanese expatriates to strengthen homeland

Posted on May 16, 2016September 24, 2018 By rayhanania No Comments on Kayrouz urges Lebanese expatriates to strengthen homeland
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

Prominent Michigan Accident Attorney Joumana Kayrouz keynotes the opening day of the 3rd Annual Lebanese Diaspora Energy Conference in Beirut, Lebanon on May 5, 2016, urging Lebanese Americans to support Lebanon “with their hearts, their minds, their citizenship and their pocketbooks.” www.YourRights.com

Prominent Michigan Accident Attorney Joumana Kayrouz, in a keynote speech on May 5, 2016, told a packed audience of more than 1,600 people gathered for an expatriate conference in Lebanon to return to the tiny coastal country with their hearts, their minds, their citizenship and their pocketbooks.

The 3rd annual conference, dubbed the Lebanese Diaspora Energy Conference, was organized by Gebran Bassil, Lebanon’sMinister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants who is the moving force behind the enforcement recently of laws extending citizenship to Lebanese expatriates.

Prominent Michigan Accident Attorney Joumana Kayrouz keynotes the opening day of the 3rd Annual Lebanese Diaspora Energy Conference in Beirut, Lebanon on May 5, 2016, urging Lebanese Americans to support Lebanon "with their hearts, their minds, their citizenship and their pocketbooks." www.YourRights.com

Prominent Michigan Accident Attorney Joumana Kayrouz keynotes the opening day of the 3rd Annual Lebanese Diaspora Energy Conference in Beirut, Lebanon on May 5, 2016, urging Lebanese Americans to support Lebanon “with their hearts, their minds, their citizenship and their pocketbooks.” www.YourRights.com

Kayrouz said that Lebanese Americans have been very successful in the United States and could use that success to strengthenLebanon’s future. Kayrouz is from Lebanon.

“Lebanon is smaller than the smallest American state, that being Rhode Island. Yet, as such a small community, Lebanese immigrants to the United States like myself have been very successful to occupy the highest positions of influence in all branches of the United States government, in public service, in the Federal and State governments, at the White House, in Congress, and in the judiciary,” Kayrouz reminded the crowd.

“What you are looking at today is the American Dream. I am the founder and owner of one of the largest personal injury firms and the largest female-owned lawfirm in Michigan. Michigan is 10 times the size of Lebanon. So I know we can do much to strengthen Lebanon.”

Kayrouz was recently named Michigan’s “Top Female Attorney of 2016,” and in 2012, Kayrouz was named “Top Lawyer of the Year” in a survey of more than 18,000 Michigan lawyers. Kayrouz also received the prestigious 2012 American Arab Chamber of Commerce (AACC) “Economic Bridge Builder of the Year Award”. That same year, Kayrouz also received the “Trailblazer Award” in recognition of her trailblazing achievements in the legal field, a field heavily dominated by men.

Kayrouz has been applauded for “breaking barriers” not just among American Arabs but also among American women living inMichigan.

Recognized with funding the single largest outdoor marketing campaign in Michigan advertising history, Kayrouz said that the publicity and media stories that were written about her always included that she is of Lebanese heritage and descent.

“Whenever I speak at a gathering in Lebanon or am interviewed by the news media in America, I proudly point out that I am American of Lebanese heritage,” Kayrouz said.

“I take great pride that through my work, marketing and advertising and my activism, I have helped put Lebanon on the map inMichigan.”

Prominent Michigan Accident Attorney Joumana Kayrouz
Prominent Michigan Accident Attorney Joumana Kayrouz

Kayrouz immigrated to the United States and initially settled in Connecticut, where she attended the prestigious Yale University. She later moved to Michigan to study and practice law.

But it wasn’t always so easy, she acknowledged during her remarks.

“What you are looking at is a little girl who arrived in 1986 in the state of Connecticut as an immigrant with only $1,000 in her pocket, broken English, very limited means and no connections,” she told the audience.

“There were not many Lebanese people living in the state of Connecticut when I arrived so there were no role models at the time. The American way of life was very different back when I arrived here in the United States. The only thing we as Lebanese knew about America was from popular American TV programs at the time like Dallas and Dynasty. The United States and Lebanonwere really not that open to each other. And there was no social media to bring our people together. So there was a huge gap between the two.”

Kayrouz said the challenge facing Lebanon is to re-engage successful Lebanese expatriates and she said the conference is a strong beginning. She credits this to the vibrant tireless efforts of His Excellency Gebran Bassil.

She said that she understands why many Lebanese expatriates can be discouraged by the political turmoil in Lebanon, the wars, the infighting, and the divisions in Lebanese society.

However, she quickly pointed out that “This kind of belief is very dis-empowering because it breeds inaction and contributes to keeping everything the same. That kind of belief keeps the Lebanese remaining a part of the problem rather than becoming a part of the solution.”

“It is our beliefs that drive our behaviors, and our behaviors then create our results. If we don’t like what we’re looking at, we have to change our behaviors, and to change our behaviors we have to revisit our belief system.”

No Lebanese, therefore, whether living here or abroad can afford to play the “dis-empowerment card,” she argued.

“A person’s success is not always measured by the size of one’s wallet but rather by the impact on the lives of others. What is the meaning of awards, titles and wealth if not to inspire others that they too can excel and also assist the less fortunate?” she asked.

“It’s not the circumstances we are born into, but the choices that we make.”

In speaking to the Lebanese news media after her presentation, Kayrouz noted that priority must be to restore citizenship to expatriate Lebanese living abroad.

Lebanon approved and amended laws in 2015 allowing people of Lebanese origin to regain or obtain their citizenship.

“The importance of the citizenship law goes beyond the demographic balance. Its importance lies in enabling Lebanon to benefit from its capabilities and potential and the expertise of expatriates,” she said.

Kayrouz said she supports the creation of a Lebanese Expatriate Fund to be financed by successful Lebanese expatriates in countries around the world.

“The idea is to bring Lebanese expatriates who have never been to Lebanon to their homeland to see it and experience it,” she said comparing it to programs financed by Jewish organizations which fund trips for Jewish youth to Israel.

“This initiative would allow Lebanese expatriates to truly experience their homeland and develop a sense of belonging toLebanon. In time, the number of tourists to Lebanon will increase as well as potential investors seeking to regain or obtain their Lebanese citizenship.”

You can get more information on Joumana Kayrouz by visiting her website at www.YourRights.com.

newswire info
  • About
  • Latest Posts
rayhanania
rayhanania
Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster at The Arab Daily News
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.

Follow RayHanania at Twitter
rayhanania
Latest posts by rayhanania (see all)
  • Israelisnipers shooting and killing hospital workers in Gaza - December 11, 2023
  • CAIR Condemns Israeli Executions of Wounded, Unarmed Palestinian in West Bank   - December 11, 2023
  • Arab and Muslim American voters face a “simple choice” between Biden’s inhumanity and Trump’s edgy politics - December 9, 2023

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
Activism, American Arabs, Arab World, Bloggers, Business, Editors Picks, News Tags:Beirut, Joumana Kayrouz, Lebanese Expatriate Energy Conference, Lebanon, Michigan, Prominent Accident Attorney, YourRights.com

Post navigation

Previous Post: 68 Years of the Palestinian Ongoing Nakba !
Next Post: Little Syria focus of traveling Arab Museum exhibit

Related Posts

  • June 8, 1967, USS LIBERTY mess deck becomes a hospital. Photo courtesy the USS Liberty Association
    DOD says truth on Niger more important than USS Liberty American Arabs
  • Fears of rising anti-Arab, anti-Muslim hate in America American Arabs
  • 5th Army USS Sgt. George Hanania in Europe. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Arab Americans celebrate 100th Anniversary of Veterans Day American Arabs
  • Christmas comes early for Gatlinburg residents hit by wildfires. Photo courtesy of Rocky Top Sports World, PR News Wire
    Christmas comes early for Gatlinburg residents hit by wildfires Features
  • English: Detailed map of Israeli settlements on the West Bank, January 2006. Produced by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - public UN source. Map Centre: http://www.ochaopt.org/?module=displaysection§ion_id=96&format=html (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
    Israel’s annexation law imperils peace Arab News
  • Mansour Tadros (left) joins Daily Herald Newspaper Columnist Burt Constable, American Arab journalist Amani Ghouleh, and WBBM TV Reporter Jay Levin in receiving Excellence in Journalism Awards from the Chicago Chapter of ADC in 2010
    Arab Journalists hold conference in Dearborn, 2011 Activism

More Related Articles

Staunch Sisi supporter calls for opening of stadia and dialogue with ultras Arab World
The Arab Street The Arab Daily News radio show and audio podcast at www.TheArabStreet.com Podcast: Arab Radio on Netanyahu, elections, Tlaib and Gaza American Arabs
AAI President Jim Zogby addresses the 19th Annual Spirit of Humanity Awards Banquet A Plurality of American Voters Support Ben & Jerry’s American Arabs
Al-Fatah Palestine Stamps: remembering the revolution Arab World
AHRC Logo new Feb 2021 AHRC “Spirit of Humanity” Awards & Dinner Gala, New Date:  Friday, October 21, 2022  Activism
Open Letter to Mordechai Vanunu, Fans, and Detractors Arab World

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Ray Hanania's 4 times a week columns at https://RayHanania.com at Substack

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Photo courtesy of Journalist Abdennour Toumi
    France: Political Compromise vs Political Instability
    August 28, 2024
  • Zakia Restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia
    Arabs eat Middle East food like they are making love
    June 27, 2024
  • Zwar lamb kabob and kufta with white and yellow rice
    Zwar ranked the Best Middle East restaurant in Chicagoland suburbs
    June 8, 2024
  • Pictured: Rahm Emanuel, Afghan activist Salman Aftab who was co-chair of the Iftar dinner, and several non-Arab Muslim leaders. Also pictured is Ald. Joe Moore. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania for Arab News
    Comprehensive look at the failings of former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
    January 18, 2024
  • NEWSWIRE
  • CAIR Logo. Council on American Islamic Relations
    CAIR Condemns MIT for banning Class President from Graduation Ceremony over Anti-Genocide speech
    June 1, 2025
  • Arab American community liaison Hassan Nijem, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Basta at the Arab American Heritage Month event hosted by Pappas’s office.
    Pappas honors Arab American business and community leaders for Heritage Month
    April 29, 2025
  • 04-28-25 Pappas Arab Heritage Month
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas recognizes Arab American Heritage Month by honoring business and community leaders
    April 27, 2025
  • Mike Ghouse
    Celebration of 500th Interfaith Marriage Ceremony
    February 14, 2025

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

  • NEWS
  • photo credit author Nehemia Gershuni-Aylho www.NGPhoto.biz and Wikipedia
    Emergency Court Motions to Stop Elbit Drone Parts Shipment via Frankfurt Airport 
    June 7, 2025
  • American Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh murdered by Israeli soldiers May 11, 2022
    Documentary names soldier it says killed Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022
    June 1, 2025
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Faisal Abbas Book Anecdotes
    Book Review: Arab author shares his anecdotes living in the United Kingdom
    October 22, 2024
  • Columnist Ray Hanania at the ADC Convention in Dearborn with the author Susan Abulhawa
    Book Review: Mornings in Jenin bySusan Abulhawa
    September 14, 2024
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Television set and remote. Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
    MBC GROUP unveils MBCNOW, its brand-new groundbreaking entertainment service aggregator
    February 24, 2025
  • ArabCon 2024 Gala Program features Dr. Cornel West, Macklemore, and more
    September 6, 2024
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2025 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme