7th Annual Lebanese Student Assn Gala, Wayne State Uni
7th Annual Lebanese Student Association Unified Gala
Saturday, February 2, 2019
Crystal Gardens – Southgate, MI
The Lebanese Student Associations (LSAs) of Michigan State University, University of Detroit Mercy, and Wayne
State University have become a unified force within the greater boundaries of our respective school campuses. We
have grown from a small group of students with a simple idea into a large community of friends, alumni, and
visionaries, who share a common passion for our beautiful country, culture, and customs. We are dedicated to building
and sustaining a strong network amongst Lebanese students, and extending that network to harmonize with the rest of
Lebanese communities on various college campuses.
Ancient city of Byblos in Lebanon. (PRNewsFoto/Lebanese American University)
AADC Hosts Miriam Zayed Memorial Brunch Feb. 3
Save the Date: Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, 10 am. Nikos Restaurant, 7600 S. Harlem Ave
The Arab American Democratic Club (AADC) is proud to host a Memorial Brunch on Sunday February 3, 2019 at Niko’s Restaurant from 10 AM until 1 PM to honor the memory and activism of AADC Board member Miriam Zayed.
There is no costto attend the breakfast.
Community Leaders who worked with Miriam Zayed will be among the speakers and include Arab American Institute President James Zogby, former Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn, AADC Vice President Saad Malley.
Miriam Zayed’s daughter Lena Hussein who will make Special Presentations to community leaders MPI President Malik Ali, Professor Dr. Ghada Talhami and Ziyad Brothers Importing’s Nemer Ziyad.
We have more individuals who will be attend to honor Miriam Zayed’s Legacy.
Miriam Zayed passed away on Oct. 23, 2018. The week before she died, Miriam participated in a candidates Forum & Brunch that she helped organize. She was very proud of the community turnout. She also was very proud that the keynote speaker at the event, Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, was able to report that the state will approve legislation to officially designate April as Arab Heritage Month
Please put this event in your schedule. We have further announcements about the program we will share as we get closer to the event date.
Palestine Children’s Relief Fund fundraiser March 16
The Palestine Children Relief Fund will hold its annual fundraiser in Chicago on March 16,2 019 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Hotel, 9300 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Rosemont, IL 60018.
Funds raised by the PCRF provide support and assistance to children victimized by Israeli oppression and orphans in need to support.
The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund was founded in 1991 in the USA to address the medical needs of Arab children in the Middle East.
Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) annual fundraiser March 16, 2019
Our Mission
Our Mission is to provide medical and humanitarian relief collectively and individually to Arab children throughout the Levant, regardless of their nationality, politics or religion.
Our Vision
Our Vision is to build the most effective, efficient, transparent and humanitarian relief organization in which every child in need gets the care and treatment they deserve, while improving the fundamental defects in Palestinian health services in the occupied territories and Lebanese refugee camps.
March 22 Washington DC Conference focuses on Israel lobby
The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs (WRMEA), the nation’s premier news source on Middle East, Arab American and Arab World issues, is co-hosting with the Institute for Research and Middle East Policy (IRMEP) the annual conference examining the sinister influence of the pro-Israel lobby in America.
The 6th Annual Conference will continue to explore how Israel uses its massive funding and coordinated lobbying organizations to brainwash Americans about the true facts about Palestine and the Middle East, and whitewash Israel’s Apartehid policies and atrocities against civilians.
The conference is considered one of the most important gatherings to explore how Israel prevents peace and manipulates the mainstream American news media, politicans and the unknowing American population to defend Israel and close their eyes to Israel’s civil rights and human rights violations.
Israel Lobby Conference in Washington DC March 22, 2019
This year’s conference will be held at the National Press Club at 529 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20045.
Our 6th annual conference at the National Press Club will be the most important ever!
Click here for more information
How has the Israel lobby further captured key nodes of U.S. government policymaking? Why is U.S. policy so expensive, destructive and unrepresentative of the will of the American people? How are a handful of politicians now successfully running against previously unquestioned, longstanding Israel lobby platforms? What rules do reporters follow when they tell the truth about U.S. policy and the lobby? Why do U.S. presidents sign secret letters promising not to publicly discuss Israel’s clandestine nuclear weapons program? Why does the U.S. give more foreign aid to Israel than to any other country, and how is the makeup of that aid changing? What, if anything, does the U.S. get out of its so-called “special relationship” with Israel? How are human rights groups working to “de-Israelize” state and local governments? What is the Israel lobby doing to provoke an armed U.S. confrontation with Iran? What else is the lobby doing to improve Israel’s strategic position in the region? Why are assertions that Israel and the U.S. have “shared values” made, and are these assertions accurate?
Israel Lobby Conference audience 2018
With so many think tanks and self-designated “public policy” organizations in Washington, one would think experts would publicly discuss these topics often. But they don’t!
In reality, these topics are rarely discussed, and never when it matters most—right before the Israel lobby’s biggest annual meeting in Washington, DC!
On March 22, 2019, just two days before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee holds its annual policy conference at the Washington Convention Center, a polar opposite gathering of top thinkers, activists, authors, politicians and experts will meet at an even more prestigious location: The National Press Club.
Qualified experts—most denied mass media platforms in the United States—will once more convene to critically examine U.S. Middle East policy and the negative impact of the Israel-centric policies the lobby demands. Most important, once again Americans interested in improving Middle East policy can convene and discuss alternatives for the future!
April recognized as National Arab American Heritage Month
The month of April has been recognized as National Arab American Heritage Month by at least 8 U.S. States and the District of Columbia.
The effort needs to be expanded to include every U.S. State not only where Arab Americans live but in states where Arab Americans may or may not be sizable populations. The fact is that Arab Americans do live in every U.S. State an territory and their heritage deserves to be recognized as the heritage of other ethnic and racial groups are recognized such as African American Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month and more.
Here is an overview of U.S. States that recognize April officially as Arab American Heritage Month.
The campaign was spearheaded by Warren and Amal David of ArabAmerica.com based in Washington D.C. several years ago, and with the support of Ray Hanania and TheArabDailyNews.com.
Inside the Tent at the Arabesque Festival in June 2010 when Richard M. Daley was mayor. Photos by Ray Hanania
Many states had inconsistent and different designated month celebrations, like in Illinois where for many years since the 1980s, November was recognized as Arab American Heritage month first in Chicago and then later expanded to Illinois by Governors Jim Edgar and George Ryan.
But since the election of Gov. Bruce Rauner, and because of anti-Arab policies embraced by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Illinois and Chicago Arab Heritage month celebrations in November were suspended. Rauner and Emanuel have taken very aggressive anti-Arab stands including with Rauner backing and signing an illegal state law that violates the U.S. Constitution punishing any American who criticizes Israel or supports a boycott of Israel by denying them state contracts or funding.
Emanuel, whose father was a member of the terrorist Irgun Tzai Leuhmi in the 1940s, has refused to meet with Arab Americans in part because of his desire to avoid raising the issues of his father’s past and his own anti-Arab policies.
Emanuel’s first act as Mayor of Chicago after being elected Mayor in April 2011 was to withdraw support and funding for the annual Arabesque Festival which was held at Daley Plaza under the supervision of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley for some 4 years. Emanuel also dismantled the Human Relations Commission in a direct effort to dissolve the Advisory Commission on Arab American Affairs, the only agency in Illinois that addressed racism and discrimination against Arab Americans.
ArabAmerica.com leads a national effort to establish April as National Arab American Heritage Month in all 50 states. Image courtesy of ArabAmerica.com
The commission was targeted by extremist Jewish American organizations that support Israel complaining that the commission served as a base for the influence of Palestinian Americans, who make up more than 75 percent of the Arabs who live in Chicagoland (Chicago and the surrounding suburbs).
This year, Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan has introduced a law that would officially designate April as Arab American Heritage Month, joining seven states that already recognize April as Arab American Heritage Month. The law was announced during the annual Brunch & Forum hosted by the Arab American Democratic Club on Sunday Oct. 21, 2018 at Niko’s Banquet Hall.
There is a campaign to get President Donald Trump to also recognize April as Arab American heritage month, too.
Here is an overview of the States and territories that officially recognize and celebrate Arab American Heritage Month in April each year.
Illinois will join 7 US States and 1 US District that recognize APRIL as Arab Heritage Month in America. The current April Arab American Heritage Month celebrations are:
Arizona. Click here for more details.
California. Click here for more details.
Virginia: Declared by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
Maryland. Click here for more details.
Texas. Click here for more details. Celebrated since 2013
Georgia. Celebrates every April Arab Heritage events
Washington DC. Celebrated since 2008
Michigan. Click here for resolution introduced by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. Or read the resolution in full below:
A resolution recognizing April as Arab American Heritage Month was introduced to the U.S. Congress by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell on April 5, 2017. Click here for more details.
Congressional Record
HON. DEBBIE DINGELL OF MICHIGAN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Friday, April 13, 2018 Mrs. DINGELL.
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize April as National Arab American Heritage Month. Arab Americans throughout southeast Michigan and the entire country embody the best of America through their work ethic and contributions to our communities. It is always an honor to recognize April as National Arab American Heritage Month and celebrate the community’s diversity of creed, values and faith that strengthen America’s democracy. With almost four million Arab Americans living in the United States, it is important that we take the time to honor the momentous contributions made by these individuals. Arab Americans have greatly impacted the American way of life across a variety of fields, including education, business and government. Those of us in southeast Michigan know that whether they are a business owner, lawyer or factory worker, these individuals make our community a better place to live and raise a family. Michigan’s 12th District contains Dearborn, Michigan, which is home to the largest population of Arab Americans in the country, and it is a distinct privilege to represent this community in Congress. Dearborn is a vibrant city that is home to people from all walks of life and backgrounds who have a common desire to foster a community in which families can thrive. Arab American community members are attributed to meaningful and lasting positive change in southeast Michigan. Notable contributions include the creation of the Center for Arab American studies at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, which teaches the history and experiences of Arab Americans in a fast growing facility and the opening of the Arab American National Museum, which is the world’s first museum devoted to Arab history and culture. These hardworking individuals make our communities strong and exemplify the values that make America great. During Arab American Heritage Month, it is my hope that the contributions of Arab Americans throughout our country’s history will be recognized and celebrated. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing April as National Arab American History Month. Their meaningful contributions to the United States are deserving of acclaim.”
LAHC 31st Annual Awards Gala, Dearborn
LAHC- Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities will hold its 31st Annual Awards Gala on April 10, 2019 at the Henry Hotel, Fairlane Plaza, 300 Town Center Dr, Dearborn, MI 48126, Michigan from 6 PM until 11 PM.
LAHC is a 501 ( c) (3) Not for profit human services organization, committed to the development of the Community, in all aspects of its economic and cultural life. To fulfill this goal, the LAHC provides a wide range of human and cultural services as well as advocacy work. Our staff and volunteers have joined forces to meet the needs of low income families by empowering and enabling people to lead more informed, productive and fulfilling lives. The LAHC provides comprehensive and holistic services to all people in need, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, race, religion, age or sexual orientation.
Services include:
- Social Services: Emergency Services, Food, Clothing and Shelter, Career Services, Translation and Advocacy.
- Youth and Education Department: provides academic enrichment, leadership development, diversity training, scholarship & Internship opportunities and college access education.
- Community Health Awareness: Healthy Living Program, HIV Awareness, Blood Drives & Hope for the Cure
LAHC- Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities is an organization dedicated to providing quality programs and projects, and through the economic downturn, we have remained steadfast in accomplishing our goals and fulfilling our vision to further our initiatives and increase our activities to meet the needs of the communities we serve. Our commitment and love for the residents of our great State has allowed for us to continue moving forward and our organization has been able to grow to become one of America’s most prestigious and well respected organizations; and is not only nationally, but internationally recognized for its success and achievements.
Midwest Federation of American Syrian & Lebanese Clubs convention 2019
The conference will be held in Chicago at the Swissôtel Chicago, 323 E Upper Wacker Dr, Chicago, Illinois 60601 from July 4 through July 7, 2019. This would be the Federation’s 83rd Annual Convention.
The Midwest Federation of American Syrian & Lebanese Clubs are a nonprofit organization. We are a non-political, social and fraternal organization which was organized to promote and preserve the ethnic heritage of its members, to advance the scholarship of its youth, and to support humanitarian causes.
Click here to visit their Facebook page for more information. Midwest Federation of American Syrian Lebanese Clubs, Inc.
