About AAI

2009 Mid-Year Update

Posted on Friday August 28, 2009

On behalf of the Arab American Institute, we wanted to share some highlights of our work in the last six months. We've created a solid foundation and, as you've heard online and by mail, we're building on that foundation with a solid plan of action: The Arab American Action Agenda 2009/2010. 

The Action Agenda provides research, resources, and recommendations for concrete measures that you can take to promote substantive action on issues that matter most to Arab Americans.

We hope you'll be as proud as we are of what you and AAI have accomplished so far in 2009. And we hope you'll continue to support our work throughout the year.

James Zogby and George Salem Signatures
James Zogby
President		 George Salem
Board Chair



Obama Administration: An Ongoing Dialog

In 2009, AAI has forged strong relationships with the Administration and key federal agencies. We have held several meetings with the White House, including two briefings with Arab American organizations, political leaders, and media outlets. We continue to work closely with the Office of Public Engagement on a variety of programs, including:

  • creating a comprehensive list of Arab American community leaders and Arab American media outlets
  • establishing a calendar of major Arab American events (conferences, galas, etc) throughout the U.S.
  • collecting resumes from qualified Arab American candidates for appointment to federal Boards and Commissions. AAI also facilitated the application process for positions within the Obama administration, communicating processes and information to our members.


AAI also is in regular contact with the Department of State, working closely with the Office of Overseas Citizens Services and Consular Affairs on the denial of entry issue and other travel concerns; with the Department of Homeland Security on civil liberties and civil rights issues; and with the Department of Justice, representing Arab Americans in meetings with Arab, Muslim, Sikh and South Asian advocates.

AAI's Action Agenda 2009/2010 is serving as a stimulus and guide for action. The Agenda outlines positions on four key issues: Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, and civil liberties. In addition to stating clear, forward-moving Arab American positions on these issues, the Action Agenda provides context and a unified message for ongoing, effective advocacy. In the coming year, AAI will continue to research, analyze, and disseminate information on proposals, legislation, actions, and issues focusing on these four topics. We also will issue Action Alerts and convene national and regional meetings to develop concrete strategies and actions that can be taken by Arab Americans from all walks of life, with all levels of advocacy experience.


Our Voice on the Hill

As always, AAI continues serves as a liaison between the Arab American community and our elected officials. We have conducted several briefings for Senators, Representatives, and their staff, as well as panel discussions and conference calls with experts on foreign and domestic issues.

In addition to meeting regularly with members of Congress or their staff, AAI's Department of Government Relations helps Arab American leaders and AAI members schedule meetings with Congressional offices - including more than 50 meetings in the first half of 2009. And, of course, we continue to track legislation and proposals, issuing Action Alerts to facilitate our community's response to key issues, from support for constructive policies for Lebanon to ensuring the protection of our civil liberties.


Power to the People

AAI's Community Relations staff serves as the link between national and community-based programs, providing contacts, connections, and context to Arab American initiatives around the country.

In addition to speaking with regional and national leaders about the impact of the November 2008 elections, we have updated our Roster of Arab Americans in Public Service and Political Life. The Roster not only provides our community with a better picture of the scope of Arab American involvement in U.S. politics, also creates new avenues and networks to promote discussion and action on key issues. We continue to update our list of Arab American candidates, as well, including those running for prominent positions such as Mayor of Manchester, New Hampshire and the Detroit City Council.

As the only Census Information Center for Arab Americans, the AAI Foundation will be the primary point of contact for 2010 Census outreach to our community. We are assisting the Census Bureau in developing Arabic-language media campaigns, networking with Arab American staff in regional Census offices, and will be conducting targeted education and outreach to our community need for and safety of  being counted in 2010.


Events

AAI and the Foundation hosted three major events in the first half of 2009:

The 2009 Arab American Inaugural Celebration was held on Inauguration Eve at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, D.C.  Nearly 600 guests attended the event, which featured remarks by Christina Tchen, Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement; Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood; and AAI Board Chair George Salem; as well as comedy performances by Dean Obeidallah and Aron Kader.

The 11th annual Kahlil Gibran Spirit of Humanity Awards Gala took place on April 23rd. Featured speakers included Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison; Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan; Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood; and Congressman Keith Ellison. Click here to read more about the event, the honorees, and to see photos of the Gala.

And stay tuned for information about upcoming events in 2009 and 2010, including:


Messaging in the media and beyond

AAI works hard to make sure that Arab American issues are not discussed merely within our own community, but as part of the national debate. We do this by bringing our issues and stories to the White House and to Capitol Hill, as you saw above, and by bringing them to the media.

AAI's vision, insights, and expertise have made the news on issues from the crisis in Gaza in January 2009, to the transition and Inauguration, to President Obama's historic speech in Cairo. Dr. James Zogby was featured on ABC, BBC, CNN, Fox News, NBC, and in a host of newspaper outlets, including Agence France Presse and Reuters. In addition, Dr. Zogby' publishes a weekly column, Washington Watch, and hosts Viewpoint with James Zogby - now available from AAI's website as a podcast and available for viewing online. 

Our research and polls also made the news - most notably:


Reaching beyond the media, AAI continues to work with arts institutions, government agencies, and non-profit organizations to highlight Arab American issues and Arab Americans' contributions. Highlights from the first half of 2009 include AAI's participation in:

  • The landmark Arabesque Festival at the Kennedy Center in February 2010
  • The Carter Center's delegation to observe the June elections in Lebanon
  • A July 20th conference celebrating the 45th anniversary of Title VI, at which Dr. Zogby delivered the keynote address
  • A U.S. State Department speaking tour of Morocco (on Arab American women's political identity and status)
  • The National Conference on Race and Ethnicity, featuring Helen Samhan's workshop on Islamophobia and the 2008 Elections

It has been an exciting year so far. With your help, AAI has made the most of every opportunity to garner attention and support for our community's most pressing issues and most critical battles. There is always more to be done, and we hope that the Action Agenda will provide the framework, ideas, and opportunities for you to become ever more involved in the work being done by AAI and by Arab American leaders around the country.

Thank you for your continued support of our work.