Blog

This week, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) attempted to break the dam on a discussion that has been held back for too long: the sanctity of Israel in our U.S. Congress, and the role of powerful pro-Israel organizations like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in maintaining a taboo around...

By Ian Tennison Last week ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services) held a policy briefing about educational and healthcare needs of immigrant communities on Capitol Hill. As the largest Arab American social services agency in the United States, ACCESS is one of Michigan’s largest direct service providers.  The briefing consisted of two...

The Arab American Institute mourns the loss of Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), a giant in American electoral politics and “the Dean” of the House of Representatives. Rep. Dingell spent nearly 60 years in public service in Washington, serving over the course of eleven different presidential administrations. While much evolved in those...

UPDATE: The US Senate's first bill, S1, which contains Senator Rubio's Act authorizing punitive government measures against participants in American boycotts against Israel or its illegal settlements, will be voted on today. Tell you Senators to vote against it! ------------------------ BACKGROUND: With every new Congress, the House and the Senate...

On Monday, January 28, 2019, AAI was delighted to co-host a reception welcoming new Members of Congress alongside Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL). We partner with these organizations on work to spread the message that U.S. policies that will help bring a...

Internships at the Arab American Institute provide an exciting opportunity for undergraduate, masters, and law students or recent graduates to gain experience in civil rights advocacy, public policy, and civic engagement. Each summer, AAI accepts 10 exceptional applicants—four are placed internally at AAI and six are placed externally at partner...

As we approach two years since President Trump’s Muslim and Refugee Ban policy first took shape, it is important to look at both how we arrived at such a dark moment in our history and how directly impacted communities are nonetheless closer to the warm glow of a long-promised equal...

The Arab American Institute Foundation (AAIF) is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the Helen Abbott Community Service Awards.   Now in its 20th year, AAIF presents awards to exceptional Arab American students for their leadership and dedication to community service. The awards’ namesake, Helen Abbott, is remembered...

With every new Congress, the House and the Senate set their biggest priorities for their terms in the very first bills they introduce. Typically, these priorities focus on fundamental American interests. But this year’s first Senate bill, S1, takes aim at the First Amendment in an effort to shield Israel...