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AAIF Celebrates Michigan’s Arab Americans in Public Service

Posted on Monday July 25, 2005

Yalla Vote Walk Will Encourage Participation in August 2nd Primary

WASHINGTON – The Arab American Institute Foundation (AAIF) will pay tribute to leading Arab American public officials who have made a difference in civic and community life in Michigan this Friday, July 29th from 6:30 – 8:30 pm at the newly opened Arab American National Museum. For more information on AAI’s efforts in Michigan, click here.

State legislators, city council members, and judges from throughout the state will be honored for their significant contributions to the civic and political empowerment of the Arab American community. Public officials in attendance will include Dearborn Councilman Robert Abraham, Farmington Hills Councilman John Akouri, 3rd Circuit Court Judge David Allen, State Representative Barbara Farrah, Oakland County Probate Judge Linda Saoud Hallmark, State Board of Education Member Marianne Yared McGuire, Dearborn Councilwoman Suzanne Sareini, Michigan Women’s Commission, Office of Governor, Sally Shaheen Joseph, and Oak Park Councilman Kirk K. Yousif.

“As AAI celebrates two decades of service, we will honor Arab Americans in Michigan who have dedicated their careers to public service and have truly made a difference in their communities,” said AAI National Field Director Abdallah Al-Zuabi. “We hope this celebration will encourage participation in the upcoming primary and inspire a new generation of Arab Americans to run for public office.”

In preparation for Michigan’s August 2nd primary, AAI volunteers will organize a Yalla Vote walk down East Dearborn’s Warren Avenue on Thursday, July 28th from 4:30 – 7:00 pm. (Loosely translated, Yalla means “come on” in Arabic.) The area is home to a variety of Arab American businesses and serves as a community gathering point. Walkers, wearing Yalla Vote shirts, will speak with community members, hand out Yalla Vote stickers, and post bilingual signs reminding people to vote on August 2nd.
Michigan is home to 490,000 Arab Americans living in 82 of the state’s 83 counties. For more information on Michigan’s Arab American community, visit

WHO: Yalla Vote Walkers
WHAT: AAI’s Michigan Yalla Vote Walk for the state primary
WHEN: Thursday, July 27, 4:30 – 7 pm
WHERE: 13244 West Warren Ave. Dearborn- 4:30 pm gathering point
Walk covers Warren Ave. between Greenfield and Wyoming in East Dearborn

WHO: Michigan’s Arab American Public Officials
WHAT: AAIF’s “Celebration of Arab Americans in Public Life”
WHEN: Friday, July 29th, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
WHERE: Arab American National Museum
13624 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn