Arab Democratic Club to host Zoom candidate’s and leaders forum March 25
The Arab Democratic Club will host its pre-election Forum for Democratic candidates running in the April 6 election and for elected public officials in a special celebration of Arab American Heritage month on Thursday March 25.
The forum will again be held Virtually using Zoom for the candidates and will be broadcast on the Arab Democratic Club’s Facebook Page for public viewing.
Sonia Khalil, an event organizer, said that the event gives the Arab American community an opportunity to meet candidates and to also hear from our elected officials, while at the same time celebrating Arab American Heritage Month which is in April.
“So many people come up to me asking about this event and I know it is important,” said Sonia Khalil.
“The coronavirus pandemic has forced us all to do things differently but that doesn’t mean we don’t engage our local governments, demand that they recognize our rights, and also come together and celebrate our heritage.”
The elections on April 6 are primarily for local municipal, school district and library positions. Candidates expected to participate include many running for local offices including in former Mayor Dan McLaughlin who is seeking election as mayor, Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady, Mohammed Jaber seeking to run for Orland Trustee, Tasneem Abuzir and Mervete Kiswani who are both running for trustee spots on the Palos Township board, Mike Glotz a candidate for Mayor in Tinley Park.
Several current elected officials have been invited to address the forum and to help celebrate Arab American Heritage Month including Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas.
“Arab American Heritage Month is important and Illinois is the only state of 50 states that has codified the commemoration of the many things Arab Americans have contributed to our society into an actual law. It isn’t just a resolution but a commitment from Illinois elected officials to the Arab American community,” said Ray Hanania, who manages communications and media for Urban Strategies Group and a partner with the AADC.
“We need to ensure that the community hears from all of the important voices who represent us and who seek to represent us. I have faith in our community that the community is smart enough to decide what is in their best interests when they hear from all sides and all candidates.”
AADC led the campaign to convince Illinois to introduce the law recognizing Arab American Heritage month in 2017 and 2018 when it was adopted.
The Arab American Democratic Club was founded by Samir Khalil and each election seasons provides the most impactful forum for community engagement.
“We are working on securing some surprises to address the community,” said Samir Khalil.
“It requires a lot of volunteerism to bring everyone together. And all of our people are volunteers who are doing this to help empower Arab Americans.”
Democratic and non-partisan candidates who wish to address the community should contact that AADC to receive the Zoom link. Each guest speaker will be given up to 5 minutes to address the gathering.
The program is supported by many Arab American organizations and community leaders including Hassan Nijem, the president of the Arab American Chamber of Commerce, and Nemer Ziyad of Ziyad Brothers Importing.
The full list of guest speakers will be published on the Facebook Page and on the AADC website at www.AADCIL.com.
Visit the Facebook page of the Arab American Democratic at:
Facebook.com/ArabAmericanDemocraticClub
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.
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