Press Room

AAI in the News

15th Annual Arab-American banquet focuses on service, political evolution

The Toledo Blade
Posted on Sunday October 12, 2003

Members of the Arab-American community and area politicians gathered last night at the SeaGate Centre downtown for the 15th annual banquet of the Greater Toledo Association of Arab Americans.

Dr. James Zogby, head of the Arab-American Institute based in Washington, was the keynote speaker.

In a discussion before the banquet formally began, Dr. Zogby said issues traditionally of interest to Arab-Americans, such as the Middle East peace process and diplomacy with Arab countries, have become vital to America’s future.

“Our community began to organize itself politically 20 to 30 years ago and we were on the margins of the politics of the country,” he said. “But now we’ve entered the political mainstream in a serious way, and our issues are America’s issues.”

Dr. Zogby founded the Arab American Institute, a political action and policy research organization. He helped establish several other groups dealing with issues in the Arab World and traveled to the Middle East with delegations led by former Vice President Al Gore.

The U.S. State Department gave Dr. Zogby a Distinguished Public Service Award recognizing his contributions to national and international affairs.

He spoke to about 450 people at the banquet, which honored the activism of U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo), longtime peace and justice advocate Anne Marie Abowd, and United Auto Workers regional director Lloyd Mahaffey.

In addition to helping improve the economy of northwest Ohio, Miss Kaptur has made diplomatic contributions to the Middle East peace process, according to the banquet program.

Mrs. Abowd has demonstrated, lobbied, and lectured to stop injustices against Arabs around the world.

Mr. Mahaffey, UAW regional director for Ohio, belongs to several civic groups and is active in the Democratic Party.

“Mr. Mahaffey has empowered many workers, including Arab-Americans,” Omar Salhab, the Arab-American association president, said. “By honoring him, we honor the whole labor force.”

After the three honorees received their awards, Dr. Zogby spoke to the crowd about the political evolution of Arab-Americans.

“We were really lucky to get him here,” Genevieve Geha Kirkbride, a banquet coordinator, said.

The banquet also featured traditional dance performances by Annamarie Zilba, a dance teacher in the Toledo area.