Category: Culture

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) welcomes two new board members

May 16, 2026May 16, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) welcomes two new board members Board Additions Bring Decades of Legal Excellence and Deep-Rooted Commitment to Arab American Civil Rights The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) today announces the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors: Johnny Simon, a nationally recognized trial attorney, and Cheryl Faris, a veteran civil rights…

American Arabs, Civil Rights, Culture, Human Rights, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, racism, The Arab Street, US Arab Politics

New expo in New Jersey to focus on Arab and Middle Eastern foods

May 13, 2026May 16, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

New expo in New Jersey to focus on Arab and Middle Eastern foods A new food expo to be held in New Jersey June 22 – 24, 2026, will, for the first time, put the focus on Arab and Middle East foods, and features Greek, Iranian, Indian, Turkish foods, making it easier for North American,…

American Arabs, Business, Culture, Event, Events, Food, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, recipe, Spotlight

AHRC: Mental Health Month Renews Calls for Bold, System‑Wide Action on Mental Health:

May 7, 2026May 7, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

AHRC: Mental Health Month Renews Calls for Bold, System‑Wide Action on Mental Health: The American Human Rights Council (AHRC) joins the nation in recognizing May as Mental Health Month, which has been observed annually since 1949. This month honors the millions of people living with mental health conditions—circumstances no one chooses, yet many still endure…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, Health, Human Rights, immigrants, Michigan, News, NewsWire, Spotlight

Cook County Treasurer Pappas Honors Arab American Leaders during Heritage Month Celebration

April 29, 2026April 29, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cook County Treasurer Pappas Honors Arab American Leaders during Heritage Month Celebration Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas celebrated Arab American Heritage Month by recognizing more than two dozen distinguished business, civic, political and religious leaders from across Chicagoland at a ceremony on Wednesday, April 29th. The event took place today, Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 2…

Activism, American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Culture, Event, Events, Food, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Press Releases

Hearing this week on bill to repeal Illinois’ discriminatory BDS bill

April 27, 2026April 27, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Hearing this week on bill to repeal Illinois’ discriminatory BDS bill Statement from State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid on the drive to repeal the discriminatory anti-BDS Bill in Pringfield: The Illinois Human Rights Advocacy Protection Act, HB 2723, is officially in committee, and the hearing is scheduled for Thursday. Our bill repeals Illinois’ 2015 anti-boycott law,…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, Islamophobia, Israel, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, racism, Spotlight

Chicago to dedicate street in honor of Arab American businessman Jamil “Jimmy” Ayesh

April 23, 2026April 23, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicago to dedicate street in honor of Arab American businessman Jamil “Jimmy” Ayesh Jamil “Jimmy” Ayesh owned a grocery store that helped all of the neighbors in the Back of the Yards community. In honor of his legacy, Chicago will install an honorary sign recognizing his humanity. The street sign placement will be dedicated on…

American Arabs, Business, Christian & Muslim, Culture, immigrants, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Photographs, Spotlight

Publisher discounts offered on “Arabs of Chicagoland” book

April 21, 2026April 21, 2026 News Editor News Editor No Comments

Publisher discounts offered on “Arabs of Chicagoland” book Celebrate Arab American Heritage history month, April 2026, by learning about the history of Arab American settlement in Chicago. The book “Arabs of Chicagoland,” authored by award-winning Chicagoland journalist Ray Hanania, is available from the publisher at a special discounted rate The publishers of the book “Arabs…

Activism, American Arabs, Arab American History, Book Review, Chaldean, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, Egypt, Gulf States, Iraq, Lebanon, Middle East, News, NewsWire, North Africa, Palestine & Jordan, Photographs, Ray Hanania, refugees, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia

National Arab American Heritage Month Launches April 1, 2026—Arab America Foundation Unites Communities Nationwide

April 1, 2026April 1, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

National Arab American Heritage Month Launches April 1, 2026—Arab America Foundation Unites Communities Nationwide April 2026 is National Arab American Heritage Month in the United States WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 1, 2026)— The Arab America Foundation (AAF) is leading the nationwide celebration of National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM) this April, uniting communities across the United States…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Culture, Event, Events, Features, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Spotlight

Celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month 2026

March 18, 2026March 18, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month 2026 Join us for the Arab America Foundation’s Ninth Annual National Arab American Heritage Month Signature Event. Thursday, April 16, 2026 Belle Haven Country Club Alexandria, Virginia Early registration: $125 through March 19 Tickets increase to $150 after March 25 This elegant black-tie evening celebrates the theme: Many Voices, One…

American Arabs, ArabAmerica.com, Culture, Entertainment, Event, Events, News, NewsWire

American Arab Chamber of Commerce hosts Iftar with regional officials and community leaders

March 7, 2026March 7, 2026 News Editor News Editor No Comments

American Arab Chamber of Commerce hosts Iftar with regional officials and community leaders More than 250 people attended an Iftar that was co-hosted by the American Arab Chamber of Commerce and Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Alexander-Basta on Thursday evening at the Bolingbrook Community Center. An Iftar is the evening meal served at sunset that signifies the end…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Culture, Election, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, religion, US Arab Politics

Ruzevich slams Casten’s support of Genocide in Palestine

February 26, 2026February 26, 2026 News Editor News Editor No Comments

Ruzevich slams Casten’s support of Genocide in Palestine How do you know an incumbent is worried about losing the primary election? He introduces a bill that attempts to cover up his complicity in an ongoing genocide, his disregard for his constituency, and his desire to maintain the status quo in Congress. Statement from candidate Joseph…

Activism, American Arabs, Congress, Culture, Election, Human Rights, Israel, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, racism, war crimes

Islamic Scholarship Fund ISF Scholarship & Program Applications are Open!

January 13, 2026January 13, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Islamic Scholarship Fund ISF Scholarship & Program Applications are Open! The ISF is excited to announce that applications are open now through March 21st for ISF’s upcoming 2026-2027 internships, fellowships, and scholarships. These programs are designed to provide mentorship, financial resources, and professional development opportunities for the next generation of leaders, and we are looking…

Activism, Christian & Muslim, Culture, Education, News, NewsWire, Spotlight

American Arab Chamber of Commerce Illinois to host 2025 “Best of the Best” Awards Dec. 9

November 14, 2025November 14, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

American Arab Chamber of Commerce Illinois to host 2025 “Best of the Best” Awards Dec. 9 The American Arab Chamber of Commerce of Illinois will host its annual “Best of the Best” Awards night on Dec. 9, 2025, at the Orland Civic Center, 14750 S. Ravinia Avenue, in Orland Park. Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge…

Activism, American Arabs, Business, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, Election, Human Rights, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, Press Releases, racism, Spotlight

Adalah Petitions Supreme Court Against Suspension of MK Ofer Cassif for Speaking Out Against Israeli War Crimes and Genocide

October 15, 2025October 15, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Adalah Petitions Supreme Court Against Suspension of MK Ofer Cassif for Speaking Out Against Israeli War Crimes and Genocide The Knesset’s Ethics Committee has suspended MK Cassif five times since December 2022, for a total of ten months; Adalah argued that these illegal suspections strip him of his ability to perform his parliamentary duties. On…

Activism, Arab World, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, Israel, Middle East, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, racism

Arab America Foundation to host “Connect Empowerment Summit” in New Jersey

October 8, 2025October 8, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Arab America Foundation to host “Connect Empowerment Summit” in New Jersey The Arab American Foundation, launched in 2019 to educate Americans about the Arab identity and empower and connect Arab Americans, will host the “Connect Empowerment Summit” on Friday and Saturday, October 24 and 25, at the Teaneck Marriott at Glenpointe in Teaneck, New Jersey….

Activism, American Arabs, Culture, Event, Events, immigrants, News, NewsWire, US Arab Politics

ADC to issue awards for community leadsership at Convention

September 19, 2025September 20, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

ADC to issue awards for community leadership at Convention The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is proud to announce the distinguished recipients of the ArabCon 2025 Awards. ArabCon—ADC’s annual national convention—runs September 25–28, 2025 in Dearborn, MI, under the theme “We’ve Been Here Before.” The four-day program convenes advocates, scholars, elected officials, artists, business leaders, students,…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, Event, Events, Middle East, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Spotlight, The Arab Street, US Arab Politics

Mo Amer’s “Mo” on Netflix is more than just a great comedy series

September 6, 2025September 15, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Mo Amer’s “Mo” on Netflix is more than just a great comedy series By Ray Hanania The Netflix series “Mo,” starring Arab American comedian Mo Amer is not only one of the best comedy series streaming on cable, but it is a deep dive into the tragic reality of what Palestinians face not just in…

American Arabs, Bloggers, Christian & Muslim, Commentary, Culture, Entertainment, Features, Humor, Israel, Middle East, NewsWire, Opinion, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, racism, Spotlight, Television

O’Hare Airport inspector threatens to dismantle Muslim prayer tent authorized in 2022

August 26, 2025August 26, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

O’Hare Airport inspector threatens to dismantle Muslim prayer tent authorized in 2022 A Prayer tent authorized in 2022 to accommodate prayers for Muslim Uber/Lyft drivers at O’Hare Airport is being threatened with removal. The tent is located at 10400 W. Johnson Road in Des Plaines in a side area of the vehicle staging lot that…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, News, NewsWire, Ray Hanania, Spotlight