Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Features
  • Comment
  • Store
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 eNewsletter
  • Toggle search form
  • Iowa Arab American Legislator Sami Scheetz
    ‘We Can’t Stop Now’: Sami Scheetz Announces Re-Election Bid for Iowa House District 78 American Arabs
  • American Middle East groups oppose granting Visa Waiver approval to Israel Sept. 27 , 2023
    American Middle East organizations protest against granting Israel Visa Waiver approval American Arabs
  • Alderman Lopez helped the Arab Community, now the Arab community should help Ald. Lopez American Arabs
  • Bavaria non-Alcoholic
    Ziyad Brothers congratulates brewers of Bavaria non-alcoholic beer for receiving international award Business
  • ADALAH confronts racist laws
    Civil Society Organizations to the Israeli Supreme Court: Cancel the Racist Admissions Committees Law Activism
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, announced Tuesday (Sept. 19, 2023) the filing of a lawsuit with a dozen plaintiffs seeking an end to the government’s secret watchlist that almost exclusively targets Muslims for harassment and humiliation when they travel.
    CAIR Announces Lawsuit in D.C., Mass., N.J., Mich. Seeking End to Secret Government Watchlist American Arabs
  • Furquan Ahmed serves as the Wayne County Community College District’s (WCCCD) Senior Vice Chancellor and President of the Northwest Campus.
    AHRC’s Announces its 2023 “Spirit of Humanity” Gala Awardees American Arabs
  • Congresswoman Debbie Dingell Wikipedia
    Flooding slams Wayne County in Detroit Michigan: Dingell releases statement of support Michigan
  • MBC launches new satellite channel focused on Saudi Culture
    Saudis launch new Satellite TV channel dedicated to Saudi Culture Arab World
  • The names and faces of the 14 Palestinian engaged in an open hunger strike to demand freedom from administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial. Graphic by Samidoun. You can join Samidoun's campaign here and find useful resources.
    Palestinians mount hunger strike campaign against administrative detention Arab World
  • “A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom & Human Rights,” McCormick Place, August 14-18, for the largest, worldwide gathering of global, faith-based, and social change leaders. 
    Largest global interfaith gathering coming to Chicago this week Christian & Muslim
  • State rep. Cyril Nichols, Democrat, 32nd Illinois House District
    Relationship between Arab Americans and African Americans needs more balance, Black State Rep says American Arabs
  • Syropotamia Online Magazine logo
    SYROPOTAMIA online magazine launched to Illuminate Arab American Stories American Arabs
  • Detroit’s true freedom fighters, activist, trailblazer, and leader Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson who died on July 10, 2023
    AHRC Mourns the passing of Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson, Freedom Fighter and Detroit Icon American Arabs
  • Abed Ayoub ADC National Director (Aug. 2022)
    ADC launches Arab American Business Advisory Council American Arabs
Tunis, Tunisia. Copyright (C) 2014 Abdennour Toumi, All Rights Reserved. Tunisia has hope

Tunisian delegation visits US hosted by AAI

Posted on October 24, 2019 By rayhanania No Comments on Tunisian delegation visits US hosted by AAI
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

Loading

Tunisian delegation visits US hosted by AAI

TUNISIAN DELEGATION VISITS THE UNITED STATES AS PART OF THE INAUGURAL COHORT OF THE U.S.-MENA EXPERIENTIAL PARTNERSHIP

The Arab American Institute Foundation (AAIF) welcomed the inaugural cohort of the U.S. – MENA Experiential Partnership in Washington, D.C. in September. The Partnership is a pioneering initiative spearheaded by the Arab American Institute Foundation, with support from the U.S. State Department’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).

The partnership pairs Arab American public servants with newly-elected officials in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for a year-long co-mentorship exchange that champions decentralization, good governance and public private partnerships. Tunisia has been chosen for the inaugural cohort of the U.S.-MENA Experiential Partnership. The visiting Tunisian delegation comprises 12 Tunisian municipal officials who were part of the historic 2018 Tunisian elections, which ushered in the first generation of elected officials at the local and city level. The delegation’s visit to the United States is part of an experiential learning trip designed to expose the Tunisian peers to American democratic institutions and systems of governance.

The delegation began its experiential learning visit with a U.S. State Department briefing at MEPI’s offices with officials from the Bureau of Near eastern Affairs and MEPI. Dr. Rita Stephan, the Director of MEPI, welcomed the delegation and reiterated the importance of U.S. international programing to promote diplomacy and democracy abroad.

Tunis, Tunisia. Copyright (C) 2014 Abdennour Toumi, All Rights Reserved. Tunisia has hope
Tunis, Tunisia. Copyright (C) 2014 Abdennour Toumi, All Rights Reserved. Tunisia has hope

The Tunisian delegation also meet with member organizations of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, including American Civil Liberties Union, Bend the Arc Jewish Action, Leadership Conference, LGBTQ Task Force, Muslim Advocates, and the National Disability Rights Network, and with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law. These engagements highlighted the role of an active and empowered civil society in a healthy, participatory model of democratic governance. The Tunisian peers also participated in a journalists’ roundtable with leading Arab American media personalities to discuss the important role of the media in strengthening the democratic process, and attended a lunch and briefing at Facebook’s Washington, D.C., offices, discussing issues of civic engagement and disinformation on the Facebook platform.

The Tunisian delegation visited the offices of the Arab American Institute Foundation, where they participated in a coaching seminar with Dr. James Zogby, President of the Arab American Institute, on the role of an active citizenry in the American political system and the importance of Arab Americans’ engagement in public service.

“The Arab American Leadership Council has been pivotal in acting as a bridge of understanding. The U.S.-MENA Experiential partnership is designed to empower Arab American officials to be stronger advocates for better policies, while also establishing a strong relationship between both peoples to overcome the East-West divide.”

The Tunisian delegation spent a day-long, intensive good governance training seminar, focused on skill development in conflict resolution, models of community engagement, ethics and transparency, and best practices in municipal governance including financial budgeting, running effective meetings, consensus building, etc.). The training modules where taught by faculty of the University of Maryland’s Municipal Leadership Training Certification program.

During their time in Washington, D.C., the Tunisian delegation also visited the United States Congress, and visited with senior staff members of Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, Congressman Dwight Evans, the Congressional Research Service, as well as with directors on the Senate Committee on Appropriations and the State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Sub-committee on the Appropriations’ Committee. The Tunisian delegation took this opportunity to share their successes as well as continued challenges in building and strengthening their democracy post revolution. The delegation also toured the U.S. Capitol building and key historical monuments in Washington, D.C.

The Arab American Institute Foundation hosted a Congressional Briefing entitled, Tunisia at a Crossroads: Balancing Political Stability and Economic Prosperity, sponsored by Congresswoman Betty McCollum’s office. The briefing was an opportunity to hear first-hand accounts from Mr. Sami Khalfallah and Ms. Imen Karoui, council members from the Tunisian cities of Sfax and Dar Chabaane El Fehri, respectively, on the latest political developments in Tunisia in the aftermath of the passing of President Caid-Essebsi, the ongoing presidential elections, and their repercussions on the stability of the country. The Tunisian peers were joined by Dr. Daniel Brumberg of Georgetown University, and Dr. Rita Stephan, the Director of MEPI.

AAIF also co-hosted an event with Georgetown University’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies entitled, The Madinah Now and Then: the Politics and Challenges of Cultural Preservation. Dr. Raja Gmir, councilwoman for the city of Tunis, spoke about the many successes of rehabilitating and preserving historical buildings in the Tunis Madinah and the push for the recognition of Madinahs as world heritage sites. Dr. Gmir was joined by her Ms. Dhoha Bouzid, Councilwoman for the city of Sfax, and Dr. Kathryn Hanson of the Smithsonian Institution, who spoke about her cultural preservation work in conflict zones, such as Iraq and Syria.

The Tunisian delegation and their Arab American peers also attended a reception and private dinner hosted in their honor by the Tunisian Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Faycal Gouia. Ambassador Gouia expressed and reiterated his support of the Tunisian cohort of the U.S.-MENA Experiential Partnership saying,

“We need more [Tunisian] delegations to visit [the United States] so that they can see for themselves democracy at work. It is also important to give exposure to our nascent Tunisian democracy by having American delegations visit. We must continue to build bridges of cooperation and understanding – and the U.S.-MENA Experiential Partnership, does exactly that.”

The Tunisian delegation traveled to Philadelphia where they were joined by their Arab American peers. The peers began their visit by a meeting with Mayor of the City of Philadelphia Mr. Jim Kenney and members of his senior staff. The Tunisian delegation had a fruitful discussion about best practices in how to run and manager a diverse metropolitan city.

The Tunisian delegation also met with Mr. Anuj Gupta, General Manager of the Reading Terminal, for a discussion on the successes of Public Private Partnerships in the city of Philadelphia, and with Mr. Numa St. Louis, the District Director for Congressman Dwight Evans, for a discussion on the models of constituent service delivery to serve the diverse communities. The Tunisian delegation also visited Independence Hall and the historic Liberty Bell and attended a briefing on the early founding and history of the United States, including the writing of both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
rayhanania
rayhanania
Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster at The Arab Daily News
RAY HANANIA — Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster

Ray Hanania is an award winning political and humor columnist who analyzes American and Middle East politics, and life in general. He is an author of several books.

Hanania covered Chicago Politics and Chicago City Hall from 1976 through 1992 at the Daily Southtown and the Chicago Sun-Times. He began writing in 1975 publishing The Middle Eastern Voice newspaper in Chicago (1975-1977). He later published “The National Arab American Times” newspaper (2004-2007).

Hanania writes weekly columns on Middle East and American Arab issues as Special US Correspondent for the Arab News ArabNews.com, at TheArabDailyNews.com, and at SuburbanChicagoland.com. He has published weekly columns in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, YNetNews.com, Newsday, the Orlando Sentinel, Houston Chronical, and Arlington Heights Daily Herald.

Hanania is the recipient of four (4) Chicago Headline Club “Peter Lisagor Awards” for Column writing. In November 2006, he was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist” by the New American Media. In 2009, Hanania received the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award for Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists. He is the recipient of the MT Mehdi Courage in Journalism Award. He was honored for his writing skills with two (2) Chicago Stick-o-Type awards from the Chicago Newspaper Guild. In 1990, Hanania was nominated by the Chicago Sun-Times editors for a Pulitzer Prize for his four-part series on the Palestinian Intifada.

His writings have also been honored by two national Awards from ADC for his writing, and from the National Arab American Journalists Association.

Hanania is the US Special Correspondent for the Arab News Newspaper, covering Middle East and Arab American issues. He writes for the Southwest News newspaper group writing on mainstream American issues.

Click here to send Ray Hanania email.

Follow RayHanania on Gettr.com, the uncensored Twitter Ray Hanania on Gettr, the new Twitter
rayhanania
Latest posts by rayhanania (see all)
  • ‘We Can’t Stop Now’: Sami Scheetz Announces Re-Election Bid for Iowa House District 78 - September 27, 2023
  • American Middle East organizations protest against granting Israel Visa Waiver approval - September 27, 2023
  • Alderman Lopez helped the Arab Community, now the Arab community should help Ald. Lopez - September 27, 2023

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
American Arabs, Features, North Africa, Tunisia Tags:AAI, Arab American Institute, MENA Experiential Partnership, Mentoring, Tunisia

Post navigation

Previous Post: Jewish and Muslim Partnership  commemorate Anniversary of Pittsburgh Synagogue shooting
Next Post: The Arab street Podcast: Kurds, UN General Assembly, & Respecting religion

Related Posts

  • Egypt and the need to overcome Radical Islam, a 1984 re-do Arab World
  • Washington Report hosts major conference on Israeli lobby American Arabs
  • Recipe: Arabian lamb, egg skillet for breakfast American Arabs
  • Protest draws thousands on US Complicity in Gaza War, March on Hewlett-Packard Conference Activism
  • Community salutes American Arab Tony Rezko American Arabs
  • Imad Hamad Director American Human Rights Council
    Voting Right: Vote for the Program and the Values American Arabs

More Related Articles

UAE helps soccer but what about Arab image? American Arabs
Resurrecting The Way of Sabeel for Sisters and Brothers within the USA-Israeli Empire American Arabs
Alderman Lopez helped the Arab Community, now the Arab community should help Ald. Lopez American Arabs
USS Liberty Remembrance of 50 years USA Government Cover-Up of Israel’s 8 June 1967 Attack on USA Spy-Ship American Arabs
Dr. Ben Carson out-trumps Trump in Attitude American Arabs
Imad Hamad is the executive director of the American Human Rights Council AHRC Executive Director Awarded the TSA Certificate of Appreciation Activism

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Alderman Lopez helped the Arab Community, now the Arab community should help Ald. Lopez
    September 27, 2023
  • Ali Mohamed Ahmed Osman Charge d’Affaires Embassy Sudan Tokyo
    The RSF mutiny’s resonance in Sudan: Understanding some of its impacts on regional and global dynamics
    September 23, 2023
  • Windows at many American Arab owned stores were broken the day after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. 14 Americans who "looked' Middle Eastern were murdered in the six months after the terrorism by Americans, most of whom were never prosecuted. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Disrespecting the memory of the 2,977 murdered victims of Sept. 11, 2001 by fueling a hatred of Arabs and Muslims
    September 11, 2023
  • Magdi A. Mofadal is the ambassador of Sudan to Austria
    Factors Stalling the Peace Process in Sudan
    August 28, 2023
  • grab634.jpg
  • Ziyad-300x300FIndStore.jpg
  • NEWS
  • Iowa Arab American Legislator Sami Scheetz
    ‘We Can’t Stop Now’: Sami Scheetz Announces Re-Election Bid for Iowa House District 78
    September 27, 2023
  • American Middle East groups oppose granting Visa Waiver approval to Israel Sept. 27 , 2023
    American Middle East organizations protest against granting Israel Visa Waiver approval
    September 27, 2023
  • Alderman Lopez helped the Arab Community, now the Arab community should help Ald. Lopez
    September 27, 2023
  • Bavaria non-Alcoholic
    Ziyad Brothers congratulates brewers of Bavaria non-alcoholic beer for receiving international award
    September 22, 2023
  • NEWSWIRE
  • American Middle East groups oppose granting Visa Waiver approval to Israel Sept. 27 , 2023
    American Middle East organizations protest against granting Israel Visa Waiver approval
    September 27, 2023
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, announced Tuesday (Sept. 19, 2023) the filing of a lawsuit with a dozen plaintiffs seeking an end to the government’s secret watchlist that almost exclusively targets Muslims for harassment and humiliation when they travel.
    CAIR Announces Lawsuit in D.C., Mass., N.J., Mich. Seeking End to Secret Government Watchlist
    September 19, 2023
  • Furquan Ahmed serves as the Wayne County Community College District’s (WCCCD) Senior Vice Chancellor and President of the Northwest Campus.
    AHRC’s Announces its 2023 “Spirit of Humanity” Gala Awardees
    September 18, 2023
  • MBC launches new satellite channel focused on Saudi Culture
    Saudis launch new Satellite TV channel dedicated to Saudi Culture
    August 18, 2023

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.

Events

  • Amer Zahr's 1001 Laughs Palestine Comedy Festival returns in 2023
    Amer Zahr's 1001 Laughs Palestine Comedy Festival returns in 2023
    16 Sep 23
  • Huna al Quds exhibit opens at Museum of the Palestinian People
    Huna al Quds exhibit opens at Museum of the Palestinian People
    29 Sep 23
    Washington D.C.
  • Light in Gaza: Born of Fire Upcoming Book Tour Dates for Portland & Washington State
    Light in Gaza: Born of Fire Upcoming Book Tour Dates for Portland & Washington State
    30 Sep 23
  • US Council of Muslim Organizations to hold 10th anniversary Fundraiser
    US Council of Muslim Organizations to hold 10th anniversary Fundraiser
    15 Oct 23
    Oak Brook
  • Arab American Democratic Club to host 40th Anniversary celebration Nov. 1
    Arab American Democratic Club to host 40th Anniversary celebration Nov. 1
    1 Nov 23
    Bolingbrook

POPULAR POSTS

  • AHRC’s Announces its 2023 “Spirit of Humanity” Gala Awardees AHRC’s Announces its 2023 “Spirit of Humanity” Gala Awardees The American Human Rights Council (AHRC-USA) is pleased to announce its ... posted on September 18, 2023
  • The RSF mutiny’s resonance in Sudan: Understanding some of its impacts on regional and global dynamics The RSF mutiny's resonance in Sudan: Understanding some of its impacts on regional and global dynamics By Ali Mohamed Ahmed ... posted on September 23, 2023
  • Disrespecting the memory of the 2,977 murdered victims of Sept. 11, 2001 by fueling a hatred of Arabs and Muslims Disrespecting the memory of the 2,977 murdered victims of Sept. 11, 2001 by fueling a hatred of Arabs and Muslims ... posted on September 11, 2023
  • Factors Stalling the Peace Process in Sudan Factors Stalling the Peace Process in Sudan By Magdi A. Mofadal Sudan’s partners are sounding the alarm over the deteriorating ... posted on August 28, 2023
  • Arab-American influencers Furrha Family share secrets of their success Arab-American influencers Furrha Family share secrets of their success Salem Furrha and his eight children @theFurrhaFamily on TikTok and Instagram represent ... posted on February 6, 2021
  • Regional and International Stakes in Sudan’s Stability Regional and International Stakes in Sudan’s Stability By Magdi A. Mofadal Sudan has been grappling with the gravest catastrophe in ... posted on July 14, 2023

Recent Posts

  • ‘We Can’t Stop Now’: Sami Scheetz Announces Re-Election Bid for Iowa House District 78
  • American Middle East organizations protest against granting Israel Visa Waiver approval
  • Alderman Lopez helped the Arab Community, now the Arab community should help Ald. Lopez
  • The RSF mutiny’s resonance in Sudan: Understanding some of its impacts on regional and global dynamics
  • Ziyad Brothers congratulates brewers of Bavaria non-alcoholic beer for receiving international award
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Glory to God int he Lowest by Author Rev. Donald Wagner
    Book Review: Glory to God in the Lowest: journeys to an unholy land
    February 18, 2023
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Comedian Ahmed Ahmed at The Comedy Bar in Chicago June 9 - 11, 2023
    Comedian Ahmed Ahmed performs in Chicago June 9-11, 2023 at The Comedy Bar
    June 9, 2023
  • Ziyad Food item
    Essential recipes and ingredients during Ramadan 
    April 4, 2023
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast
    December 15, 2022
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Comedian Ramy Youssef courtesy of his Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ramysfaceboo/
    “Ramy” cable series melds Arab world reality with every day American life
    October 22, 2022
  • 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 Gab.com, MeWe.com and IDobbinate.com, the alternatives to Facebook and Twitter Censorship.

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

Copyright © 2023 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme