Hassan Nijem Archives

Pappas honors Arab American business and community leaders for Heritage Month

April 29, 2025April 29, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas honors Arab American business and community leaders for Heritage Month Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas hosted her annual celebration for Arab American Heritage Month, one of several dozen events her office sponsors to recognize the many contributions Cook County’s various ethnic and religious groups have made to society. By Ray Hanania Cook County Treasurer…

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

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas recognizes Arab American Heritage Month by honoring business and community leaders

April 27, 2025April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas recognizes Arab American Heritage Month by honoring business and community leaders WHO: Maria Pappas, Cook County Treasurer WHAT: Treasurer Pappas will celebrate Arab American Heritage Month by recognizing more than 30 business, civic, political and religious leaders from the Chicagoland community with Certificates of Excellence. WHEN: 2…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, Event, Events, Human Rights, News, NewsWire, The Arab Street

Candidates promise fairness and engagement at Arab Chamber Iftar event March 13

March 14, 2025March 22, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Candidates promise fairness and engagement at Arab Chamber Iftar event March 13 By Ray Hanania More than a dozen candidates running for various local offices in the Chicagoland suburbs attended an Iftar dinner Thursday, March 13, 2025 hosted by the Arab American Chamber of Commerce and the Palestine Club at the Jerusalem Banquet Hall in…

Activism, American Arabs, Election, News

Arab Chamber and Palestine Club host Candidate Iftar March 13 in Bridgeview

March 11, 2025March 11, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Arab Chamber and Palestine Club host Candidate Iftar March 13 in Bridgeview The Arab American Chamber of Commerce of Chicagoland and the Palestine Club are hosting a “Candidate’s Iftar” on Thursday, March 13 beginning at 5:30 PM at Jerusalem Banquets, 8314 S. Harlem Avenue in Bridgeview. The event is open to all candidates and to…

Activism, American Arabs, Business, Christian & Muslim, Election, News

County Treasurer Maria Pappas celebrates Arab Heritage Month with business and community leaders

April 27, 2023April 27, 2023 rayhanania No Comments

County Treasurer Maria Pappas celebrates Arab Heritage Month with business and community leaders Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas will celebrate Arab American Heritage Month by recognizing more than 30 business, civic, political and religious leaders from the Chicagoland Arab community with Certificates of Excellence. Pappas will also unveil her office’s new Arab-language outreach video at…

Activism, American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Culture, Event, Events, News, NewsWire, US Arab Politics

Chicago aldermen to host “forum” to explore Mayor Lightfoot’s racist crackdown on Arab stores

May 3, 2022May 3, 2022 rayhanania No Comments

Chicago aldermen to host “forum” to explore Mayor Lightfoot’s racist crackdown on Arab stores Several Chicago Aldermen will convene a Special Forum on Monday May 9 at the Islamic Community Center of Illinois (ICCI) at 6435 W. Belmont Avenue to examine the forced closure of more than 150 Arab American owned stores last summer by…

Activism, American Arabs, Business, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, News, Politics, racism, Ray Hanania, Spotlight

DCEO Access to Capital: Arab American Heritage Month business workshop

April 28, 2022April 28, 2022 rayhanania No Comments

DCEO Access to Capital: Arab American Heritage Month business workshop The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) hosted an online workshop with specialists designed to help Arab American businesses learn more about the opportunities offered to strengthen their businesses. The program was organized in conjunction with Arab American Heritage Month and co-organized by…

American Arabs, Business, News, Ray Hanania, Spotlight

DCEO Celebrates Arab American Heritage Month (AAHM)

April 25, 2022April 25, 2022 rayhanania 1 Comment

DCEO Celebrates Arab American Heritage Month (AAHM) The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) honors the contributions of Arab Americans in Illinois and hosts a virtual webinar entitled ” Access to Capital: Resources for Arab American Businesses to Grow and Thrive.” Public invited to view The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will host a…

American Arabs, Business, Culture, News, Ray Hanania, Spotlight, Technology

Political candidates join local Arab leaders for Iftar

April 22, 2022April 22, 2022 rayhanania No Comments

Political candidates join local Arab leaders for Iftar Arab Chamber leaders Radi Abuhashish and Hassan Nijem host Iftar attended by three of Chicago’s leading candidates for Chicago Mayor Ald. Raymond Lopez, Dr. Willie Wilson, and Paul Vallas, and also State Rep. Cyril Nichols who sponsored legislation to designate Arabs a “Minority” to gain improved access…

Activism, American Arabs, Business, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Election, Features, News, Politics, Ray Hanania, Spotlight, US Arab Politics

Chicago aldermen to host forum on Arab businesses closed by Mayor Lightfoot

April 15, 2022April 15, 2022 rayhanania No Comments

Chicago aldermen to host forum on Arab businesses closed by Mayor Lightfoot Ald. Gilbert Villegas and other aldermen including Ald. Raymond Lopez, are hosting a public forum to allow Arab American business owners the chance to detail what happened to their businesses when they were forcibly closed last summer by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. The hearing…

American Arabs, Civil Rights, Culture, News, NewsWire, Politics, racism, Spotlight, The Arab Street, US Arab Politics

Champion of Arab American rights Ray Lopez announces for Mayor

April 11, 2022April 11, 2022 rayhanania No Comments

Champion of Arab American rights Ray Lopez announces for Mayor Ald. Raymond Lopez who fought to defend the rights of Arab American store owners and who has led the fight against Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s continued failures to reduce crime announced his candidacy for Mayor of Chicago on Wednesday April 6, 2022. Lopez is the only…

American Arabs, Business, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, Election, Human Rights, immigrants, News, Politics, Ray Hanania, Spotlight, The Arab Street

Chicagoland celebrates Arab American Heritage Month

March 31, 2022April 2, 2022 rayhanania No Comments

Chicagoland celebrates Arab American Heritage Month More than 250 government leaders, elected officials and candidates for office attended a celebration of Arab American Heritage Month in Hickory Hills in suburban Chicago hosted by the American Arab Chamber of Commerce. The dinner was donated by three Chamber members and was free to the public featuring a…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Congress, Culture, Editors Picks, Entertainment, Event, immigrants, News, Photographs, Politics, Ray Hanania, Spotlight, US Arab Politics

Arab Chamber to host Arab Heritage Month dinner March 30

March 14, 2022March 14, 2022 rayhanania No Comments

Arab Chamber to host Arab Heritage Month dinner March 30 The American Arab Chamber of Commerce wll host a celebration of Arab American Heritage Month on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at Aladdin Banquets at 8821 W. 87th Street in Hickory Hills. Chamber President Hassan Nijem said that doors will open at 6 PM and the…

American Arabs, Business, Christian & Muslim, Culture, Entertainment, Features, Human Rights, News, NewsWire

Racist targeting of Arab businesses by Lightfoot administration to be probed by City Council hearing

December 19, 2021December 19, 2021 rayhanania No Comments

Racist targeting of Arab businesses by Lightfoot administration to be probed by City Council hearing 36th Ward Chicago Alderman Gilbert Villegas proposed a City Council investigation into a Building Department Task Force accused of harassing Arab-owned small businesses targeted by Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s racist crackdown to confront rising street gang violence. By Ray Hanania Chicago…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, immigrants, News, Politics, racism, Spotlight, The Arab Street, US Arab Politics

Three officials who defended community honored by American Arab Chamber

December 11, 2021December 12, 2021 rayhanania 1 Comment

Three officials who defended community honored by American Arab Chamber More than 200 Arab and Muslim community leaders attended the annual American Arab Chamber of Commerce “Action” Awards dinner. Action Awards were presented to three public officials who went out of their way to defend the rights of Arab and Muslim Americans in Chicago and Cook…

Activism, American Arabs, Business, Civil Rights, Events, Features, News, racism, US Arab Politics

American Arab Chamber to host first business dinner for retail owners Dec. 9

November 13, 2021November 21, 2021 rayhanania No Comments

American Arab Chamber to host first business dinner for retail owners Dec. 9 The American Arab Chamber of Commerce, the only active organization representing Chicagoland Arab and Muslim business owners, will host the first business dinner for members on Thursday December 9 at Aladdins’ Banquets, 8821 W. 87th Street in Hickory Hills, Illinois. The Chamber…

Activism, American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, Event, Events, News, racism, Spotlight, Video

More than $750,000 refunded to Arab property owners in County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Arab Chamber program

November 6, 2021November 21, 2021 rayhanania 1 Comment

More than $750,000 refunded to Arab property owners in County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Arab Chamber program Hundreds of Arab and Muslims property owners participated in a Tax Refund Workshop organized by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and the American Arab Chamber of Commerce Friday Nov. 5, 2021 at the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview, Illinois. More…

American Arabs, Business, Christian & Muslim, Culture, Events, Features, mainstream, News, Palestine & Jordan, Spotlight

American Arab Chamber of Commerce deserves our support

October 31, 2021November 21, 2021 rayhanania No Comments

American Arab Chamber of Commerce deserves our support Hassan Nijem of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce has saved 22 Hookah lounges from being closed, helped to force Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to stop her racist closures and discriminatory targeting of Arab store owners, and now has helped Arab American collect property tax refunds of…

Activism, American Arabs, Bloggers, Business, Christian & Muslim, Commentary, coronavirus, Opinion, Politics, Ray Hanania, Spotlight, The Arab Street