arab american institute

& foundation
year end report

2009
2009 YEAR END REPORT

a year to remember

In November 2008, the Arab American Institute and Foundation (AAI) wrapped up
our most comprehensive Yalla Vote initiative to date. Our staff and volunteers, partners
and interns had done incredible work—not just in 2008, but since the day we launched
the program in 2007. And, in the wake of the largest Arab American voter turnout in
history, we were proud and energized.
It turned out that we needed that energy, because 2009 has been just as eventful a
year. AAI was your voice on domestic issues, from introducing Arab Americans’ issues
to a new Administration to coordinating with both major political parties to ensure
outreach in our communities nationwide; from fighting the most egregious provisions
of the PATRIOT Act to hosting the 21st Annual Virginia Candidates Night. And on the
international front, we made sure that members of the U.S. Congress heard from people
on the ground in the aftermath of the attacks on Gaza. We provided the White House
with input on the President’s Cairo speech, as well as our ideas on advancing the Middle
East peace process and supporting the new government in Lebanon.
AAI staff participated in the Carter Center’s delegation overseeing Lebanon’s June
2009 Parliamentary elections, traveled to Morocco with the U.S. Department of State
to discuss the role of Arab American women in U.S. politics and, in our offices, briefed
visiting delegations of elected officials, journalists, human rights activists and businesses
from over three dozen countries.
In 2010, we mark AAI’s 25th anniversary. We celebrate how far we have come—as
an organization and as a community. We celebrate our strength and our diversity, our
commitment and our resilience. We move into the next quarter century with a new
generation of leaders, a new league of supporters, and a new appreciation of our own
capacity.
And we move there together.
Together, we have created so much more than an organization. We have cultivated a
vision, a community, and a future.

2009
 2009 YEAR END REPORT

a new administration

Even before President Barack Obama took the oath of office, AAI was
introducing the incoming Administration to our community, our priorities, and
our concerns. Members of the Transition Team joined Arab American leaders at
AAI’s December 2008 Summit and celebrated with our community at AAI’s 2009
Inaugural Celebration. In the months that followed, AAI served as a critical link
between our Arab Americans and the Obama Administration.

Welcome to Washington
The Obamas weren’t the only new
faces in Washington. With the new
Administration came opportunities for
appointments to government agency
posts and commissions. AAI helped Arab
Americans interested in being part of
the Administration navigate the Federal
system, posting application guidelines
and lists of available positions.
We collected resumes, coordinated
their review with the Diversity project
at Berkeley, and met with the Transition
Team and Office of Presidential
Personnel. And we continue to meet
with Administration officials about the
many qualified Arab Americans being
considered for appointments to federal
Boards and Commissions.
Arab Americans were among some of
the early high-level appointments by the
President: Secretary of Transportation,
Ray LaHood, and former Senator
80 community leaders from 17 states to
Washington, D.C. They were joined by
senior staff from the Transition Agency
Review Teams and Policy Working
Groups, whose participation in the
two-day summit reinforced the Obama
Administration’s commitment to work
with our community.
We covered a wide range of policy-
related topics during the Summit,
including domestic policy priorities—
mainly civil liberty issues—and Middle
East policy realities. Our partners and Above: Guests at the Arab American
leaders, many of whom were involved Institute and Foundation’s Inaugural
in state and federal campaigns, brought Celebration
their experience, perspective, and
expertise to the panels, prompting
spirited discussions and strategy
sessions on increasing Arab American
involvement in the electoral process, the Below: Secretary of Transportation Ray
role of Arab Americans on the Hill, and LaHood addresses the audience at AAI’s
our leadership opportunities in the new Inaugural Celebration

George Mitchell as Special Envoy for Administration.

Middle East Peace. Other appointments
included Juliette Kayyem as Assistant
Secretary for Intergovernmental
Programs at Department of Homeland
Security, and Chris Mansour as
Director of Congressional and Legislative
Affairs at Department of Interior.
In the month after the 2008 elections,
AAI hosted an Arab American Leadership
Summit on December 14-15 that brought
In 2009, AAI took the results of
these conversations and turned them
into an action-oriented agenda for the
next two years. The Arab American
Action Agenda 2009/10 provides Arab
Americans across the country with the
resources, the actions, and the channels
to positively impact the policies we care
about.
2009 YEAR END REPORT

Participation
Expanding Arab American Participation
in the National Parties
On July 21st, Chairman of the
Republican National Committee
Michael Steele met with AAI
Chairman George R. Salem and other
Arab American leaders from Virginia,
Maryland, and New Jersey. They
discussed the future of the Republican
Party and ways to engage the Arab
American community in politics and
party activities. Health care reform and
the 2010 midterm elections were the
two top issues discussed at the meeting.
Chairman Steele reiterated his desire
for a diverse set of candidates based not
only on geographic and socioeconomic
status, but ethnic, racial, and religious
background as well.
AAI continues to be actively involved
with the DNC. In 2009, AAI President
Dr. James Zogby was elected Secretary
of the National Democratic Ethnic
Coordinating Committee (NDECC) and
he continues to serve on the Executive
Committee and as co-chair of the DNC
Resolutions Committee. In addition,
four Arab Americans were nominated
to serve as At-large members. The
Arab American Democratic Leadership
Council, part of the Arab American
Leadership Council, is also a member of
the NDECC.

Above, from top: Hon. George R. Salem

and Sherine El-Abd at the 2009 Kahlil
Gibran “Spirit of Humanity Awards” Gala;
Majid Al-Bahadli and John Zogby at the
2009 Fall Leadership Summit

Left: Samiah Bahhur and friends at the

2009 “Virginia Candidates’ Night”

Below: Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA)

at the “Virginia Candidates’ Night”.
“Candidates Woo Arab-American Voters”
That was the story line on NPR, and that was just what happened at the 21st Annual
Virginia Candidates’ Night on September 27. Hundreds of Virginians—Democrats
and Republicans—joined candidates for state office to discuss our community’s issues,
as well as the candidates’ plans to address them. U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany
(R-LA) welcomed the crowd and spoke about his own commitment to AAI, to our
community, and to our issues. Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds
addressed the event, and former Congressman Tom Davis served as a surrogate for
Governor-elect Bob McDonnell.

Look for more Town Hall meetings and Candidates’ Nights in the coming year, as
AAI and our partners work around the nation to get out the Arab American vote for
the 2010 mid-term elections.
 2009 YEAR END REPORT

Who, What, Where, When

Arab Americans are playing a greater political role than ever before—as
volunteers, voters, and candidates. We know why—because we believe we can make
a difference, and we want to be sure our community and our issues are strongly
represented in the national forum.
But if you want to know who is running, what offices are up for grabs, where
the hot races are, when the voter registration deadline hits in your district—we can
help there, too.

AAI’s Roster of Arab Americans in Public Service and Political Life

is the only document that provides a comprehensive picture of Arab American “A bevy of star-studded
involvement in politics and public service, including those in elected and appointed celebrities in the Arab-
office. It’s updated annually, and available on our website, free of charge. American circle...dined
and spent the evening
Check the political resources section of our website for updated lists of Arab
American candidates, as well as information on key races, voter registration links, celebrating this historic
and even local filing and registration deadlines as we head into 2010! moment in American
history”

-Steve Clemons,
The Washington Note

Arab American Inaugural Celebration

On the Eve of the Inauguration, AAI hosted the 2009 Arab American Inaugural
Celebration. HRH Queen Noor al-Hussein, Secretary of Transportation Ray
LaHood, Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement Tina Tchen,
U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall and others joined more than 600 guests from around the
country in celebrating this historic inauguration—and the historic role that Arab
Americans played in the 2008 elections.

Above: HRH Queen Noor al-Hussein; comedian Aaron Kader

From top right: Attendees at the Inaugural Celebration with comedian Dean Obedallah; a guest at the
Inaugural Celebration; Jack Hanna and daughter Joan
2009 YEAR END REPORT

FOCUS: ARAB AMERICAN

As we move toward the 2010 mid-term elections, AAI is conducting research and providing analysis,
talking points, issue briefs, and other resources—including specific actions that can be taken on five issue
areas (see box below). To learn more about specific initiatives, and to get the tools to help you keep these
issues in on the table and in the debate, visit www.aaiusa.org and sign up for our weekly e-Digest.

In Summer 2009, AAI launched the Arab American Action Agenda, designed to provide a
framework of specific action steps to focus and advance Arab American advocacy and calling on
the U.S. government to:

Support a strong, central government in Lebanon that can promote reconciliation and reform, and
to provide aid and promote investment to restore Lebanon’s infrastructure

Support the creation of a national unity government in Palestine and an end to the blockade of
Gaza; stand firm on the rollback of Israeli settlements; and initiate a political process that leads, at
last, to a just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Promote national reconciliation through means identified by the Iraq Study Group, and ensure the
protection of minority communities throughout Iraq

Increase assistance to help Jordan and Syria manage the influx of refugees from Iraq, issue
the long-awaited U.S. visas for Iraqis who supported and worked for the U.S., and begin the
repatriation of Iraqi refugees

Hold hearings on civil liberty abuses resulting from the PATRIOT Act and similar legislation abolish
NSEERS and terminate other ineffective programs that permit racial profiling, increased domestic
surveillance and selective law enforcement.

Focusing on the Issues in the nation’s Capital

Working with the White House Office of Public
Engagement, AAI organized briefings for Arab
American community leaders and organizational
representatives. The first of these occurred at the
White House on April 24, 2009. Arab Americans
from across the country attended this event, the
first time in nearly a decade that Arab Americans
were invited to a White House briefing.
Top-level officials from the National Security
Council’s Middle East and North Africa Office,
Departments of State and of Homeland Security,
and the President’s Office of Intergovernmental
Relations and Public Engagement participated in
the discussion.
White House officials Tina Chen and Cecilia
Munoz assured our leaders that the President is
committed to a real dialog with the Arab American
community–to understanding our concerns and
our role in re-establishing fair and just foreign and
domestic policies.
Before the meeting ended, the White House
promised that this would be just the first of many
meetings with our community. And they didn’t
disappoint. Since then, additional comprehensive,
community-wide briefings have been held.

ACTION AGENDA 2009/10
Response to Violence in Gaza
Our community was deeply concerned by
the Gaza War in 2008-09. But AAI orchestrated
quick, decisive responses to the tragic events in
Palestine. We brought substantial media attention
to the issue, including appearances on BBC, CNN’s
Larry King Live, and National Public Radio. We
issued action alerts and talking points for Arab
Americans contacting their members of Congress.
We hosted conference calls for our leadership—and
for Washington-based officials—with journalists
and aid workers on the ground. We hosted policy
discussions on Capitol Hill, arranged briefings for
Arab and Muslim Americans with international
NGOs working on the ground in Palestine to
provide humanitarian aid to families and victims
in Palestine, and organized a volunteer effort for
Right of Entry
Throughout the summer, AAI made sure
that the State Department, the media, and the
general public understood the challenges—from
harassment to denial of entry—that U.S. citizens of
Arab descent face when trying to visit their families
in Palestine.
This is an issue we have raised for 25 years with
every administration. During our April 24 2009
leadership briefing at the White House it was raised
as an issue of great concern, and in May AAI hosted
a conference call with Deputy Assistant Secretary
PATRIOT Act
Since passage of the PATRIOT Act in 2003,
AAI has tracked, documented, and challenged
the excesses of this legislation. In meetings and
hearings with government agencies and elected
officials, AAI presented findings, analyses, and
individual stories to support our contention: that
the PATRIOT Act can and must be amended if it is
to be an effective tool to ensure national security.
And it must be amended if the nation is committed
to restoring and protecting the civil liberties of all
Americans.
With several controversial provisions of the
PATRIOT Act scheduled to expire in December
2009, AAI worked with coalition partners to
evaluate and recommend proposed amendments.
2009 YEAR END REPORT
Martin Luther King Service Day to collect personal
hygiene supplies for Gaza.
Almost a year later, we mobilized Arab
Americans to show their support for the Goldstone
Report, and to express their outrage at the blanket
dismissal of Richard Goldstone’s findings
on violations of human rights and international
law perpetrated during the war in Gaza. And
we reported on how the House voted—which
members had the courage to support—openly and
strongly— the report.
Because even when we can’t win the battle,
we’ll make sure you know the truth and have the
tools to act on it.
Michele Bond of the State Department’s Office of
American Citizens’ Services to discuss the impact
on our community. We heard from people around
the country who had faced discrimination at the
border—some who weren’t let in, some who couldn’t
get home to the U.S.—and helped direct people to
register their experiences with the State Department
which has been documenting this treatment. AAI
wrote to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about
this issue and maintains regular contact with senior
officials at the State Department.
We issued Action Alerts to keep the community
informed about the “sun-setting” of the most
disturbing provisions. In response, our members
sent thousands of letters to their representatives,
urging that the most egregious components be
removed, and that fair, just, practicable solutions
be incorporated in their place.
As we go to print, the debate on the PATRIOT
Act continues on Capitol Hill and we’re working to
ensure further progress on other key civil liberties
issues, such as NSEERS, ethnic and religious
profiling, and domestic surveillance. AAI will
continue to track these and other issues, and to
represent our community in upcoming discussions
and debates.
2009 YEAR END REPORT

service & outreach

In 2009, the AAI Foundation feted the achievements and leaders of our own
community at events like the Arab American Inaugural Celebration and the Kahlil
Gibran Spirit of Humanity Awards. But we also celebrated our role in the national
and international communities. Through our Service Days, we helped the homeless
in D.C. and the victims of war in Gaza. Our Awards and Scholarship Program
rewarded the hard work and tremendous spirit of our youth. Through these and
other leadership programs, we introduced the next generation of Arab American
leaders to the contacts, concepts, and context that will help them take AAI’s work
into the next 25 years.

Above: Heather Yamour, Nora Bisharat,
Samia Badih, Giselle Kasim
Below, from top: Volunteers help
assemble personal hygeine kits for D.C.
and Gaza; Samar Alhinnawi.
A Year of Service
In January, when President and
Mrs. Obama announced a National
Day of Service honoring the birthday of
Martin Luther King, Jr., our community
was still reeling from the devastating
violence in Gaza. It didn’t take long to
identify a program that would allow Arab
Americans to give back —and to reach
out. For weeks, we solicited donations
of hygiene supplies from stores, hotels,
and doctors’ offices. On January 21,
volunteers met in our D.C. offices and
assembled packets, which were then
delivered from our offices on K Street,
in the shadow of the White House, to
homeless shelters in Washington, and
through our friends at ANERA to relief
centers in Gaza.
As the Arab American Resource
Corps’ national partner in Washington,
D.C., the AAI Foundation takes pride
in coordinating the National Arab
American Day of Service initiative in our
city. This year, we partnered with the
Network of Arab American Professionals
(NAAP) and So Others May Eat (SOME)
to create a kitchen garden at Freedom
House, a transitional housing program
in the nation’s capital. The new
garden will help SOME provide more
fresh vegetables for residents of this
transitional housing program—no small
feat when you’re serving nearly 400,000
meals each year.
In September, AAI staff and members
were among the more than 2,000 D.C.-
area volunteers observing the first
annual Day of Service and Remembrance
on September 11th. Partnering with
Greater D.C. Cares, we joined a group
of volunteers cleaning up Marvin Gaye
Park, a much-neglected public space in
the capital’s Northeast quadrant.

New Faces, New Voices

AAI has had the privilege to serve as a leading voice of and in the Arab American
community for the last 25 years. And we are proud of the role we have played
in cultivating new leaders who will—and, in many cases, already do— play a key
role in the future of our community and our country. The AAI Foundation offers
scholarships for students and young professionals to attend our workshops and
summits and maintains a comprehensive list of scholarships, awards, and study-
abroad opportunities available to Arab and Arab American students.
In addition to hosting interns in our Washington, D.C. offices, AAIF also
coordinates a Summer Internship Program that has provided more than 75 college-
aged youth with coveted placements in government, NGO, and national party
offices.
 2009 YEAR END REPORT

2009 Kahlil Gibran Spirit of Humanity Awards Gala

The 11th annual Kahlil Gibran Spirit
of Humanity Awards Gala took place
in Washington on April 23rd. Senior
Presidential Advisor Valerie Jarrett
opened the gala, followed by Her
Majesty Queen Noor al-Hussein.
This year’s recipients included Marshall
Legacy Institute, for its work eradicating
landmines from war-ravaged areas;
the United Nations Relief and Works
Agency, for 60 years of humanitarian aid
to the people of Palestine; and Kennedy
Center President Michael Kaiser, the
visionary behind Arabesque, a three
week festival celebrating the arts and
artists of the Arab world. Secretary of
Transportation Ray LaHood presented
the Najeeb Halaby Award for Public
Service to Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni,
former head of the National Institutes of
Health.

From top: Ismael Ahmed, Darrel R.

Drobnich and Maya Berry; National
Network for Arab American Communities
members and staff at the Gibran Gala

Left (from left to right): Hon. George

R. Salem, Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni, Karen
Abuzayd, Dr. James Zogby, Rep. Keith
AAIF also offers the Helen Abbott Community Service Awards and the Jallow Ellison (D-MN), Tony Lake, Michael
Award for Public Service. In 2009, AAIF presented five awards to outstanding Kaiser, Jim Kimsey
Arab American students:
Below: Valerie Jarrett
Alaa Itani (Portage, Michigan)
Sarah Jaward (Dearborn Heights, Michigan)
Banafsheh Sharif-Askary (Melbourne, Florida)
Joseph Wahhab (Brookfield, Wisconsin)

The 2009 Jallow Award for Public Service was presented to Hammad Hammad,
a Palestinian immigrant and Fulbright Scholar who graduated from Georgetown
University’s School of Foreign Service in 2008. After graduation, Hammad
created “Camp I Have a Dream,” a summer camp for refugee youth in the
Dheisheh, Jalazon, and al-Azzeh refugee camps in the West Bank. Currently
the Rangel Fellow at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Hammad will
begin a career in the U.S. Foreign Service in 2011.
2009 YEAR END REPORT

leadership training
Making History
In October 2009, AAI hosted a Fall
Leadership Summit, praised by the
White House, the media, and our own
leadership as “historic”. Arab American
leaders from 20 states attended the two-
day event—Republicans and Democrats,
first- and fifth-generation Americans,
business leaders, students, and
community activists. We were joined
by Tina Tchen, Director of the White
House Office of Public Engagement,
who reaffirmed the Administration’s
commitment to working with Arab
Americans on the many issues we care
about.
National Security Advisor Gen.
James Jones addressed participants,
discussing the Administration’s vision
for a lasting peace in the Middle East.
What was historic was our Summit ‘kick
off’—a joint session co-hosted by AAI and
J Street, the new pro-peace lobby. The
Arab American and American Jewish
leaders who came together left the event
invigorated and inspired to continue
their joint work for a just peace.
Above, from top: Dr. James Zogby,
Jeremy Ben-Ami, Tina Tchen; Hon.
George R. Salem, Gen. James Jones,
Dr. James Zogby.
Action Alerts
Below: Samuel Halaby, Arab American
and American Jewish leaders at In 2009, AAI issued Action Alerts spurring thousands of Arab Americans to
Leadership Summit joint session take action—calling and writing to their Members of Congress, Senators, and
Administration officials on topics including:
The AAI leadership agenda included
topics ranging from U.S.-Middle East
policy to PATRIOT Act reauthorization,
to resettling Iraqi refugees.
On Sunday evening, attendees heard
from the Ambassadors of Egypt, Iraq,
Palestine and Syria. In candid discussions
with AAI Board Chair George Salem,
the Ambassadors discussed events in
the Middle East, offered insights into
their governments’ priorities, and even
fielded questions from the attendees.
Former Economic Minister for the
Palestinian Authority Bassem Khoury
also addressed the dinner event.
In just two days, AAI was able to
connect our leadership to key policy
makers, detail important foreign and
domestic policies—where they are, what
they propose, and who’s supporting
them—and outline strategies to ensure
that the issues on our agenda become a
priority for our community’s leadership
and for our nation’s leadership.

Providing Humanitarian Aid to Victims of the War in Gaza

Taking Action on Israel’s Denying Entry into the Occupied Territories

Reversing Controversial Components of The Patriot Act

Banning the Use of Cluster Bombs by the U.S. Military

Supporting the Appointment of Sen. George Mitchell as Special Envoy to

the Middle East
 2009 YEAR END REPORT

the next 25 years

…We Don’t Look a Day over 20!
It’s true—the Arab American Institute
is celebrating its 25th Anniversary in
2010. For a quarter century, we’ve
worked in, for, and with the Arab
American community, making sure that
the government, the media, and the
public understand the issues that impact
Arab Americans most profoundly and
most personally.
It hasn’t been easy, the road hasn’t
been smooth. But it’s a journey we are
proud to have taken with you.
As we look back on these 25 years, we
thank all of you whose commitment and
support made possible the tremendous
accomplishments that we’re celebrating
this year. And as we look forward, we
thank you again—for the role that we
know you will continue to play, as AAI
members, as Arab American activists,
and as American citizens.
Above: Guests at the 2009 Gibran
Awards Gala

Left: Guests at the 2009 Inaugural

Celebration

Below, from top: At the AAI-J Street

Joint Session; Peter Tanous and guests
at the Gibran Awards Gala

25 for 25
During the month of February, AAI
will host an online auction of 25 items
from around the nation and throughout
the Arab world. Embroidered pillows
from Palestine, a hand-woven rug from
Jordan, calligraphy, paintings, jewelry,
and even delectable edibles—there’s
something for everyone! An online
catalog will be available in January, so
be sure to check aaiusa.org early and
often to see all of the beautiful items
available.

2010 Kahlil Gibran Spirit of Humanity Awards

This year, we have so much to celebrate—it promises to be a gala like no other!

Mark your calendar and reserve your table early.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Renaissance Hotel
999 9th St NW
Washington, DC 20001
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND GOVERNORS
Mr. Hossam Abdel-Maksoud Mr. Samuel Halaby
Abdel-Maksoud Pharmacies Attorney
Briarwood, N.Y. Pittsford, N.Y.

Mr. Jean AbiNader Mr. Assad Jebara

Moroccan American Center Zanadi Jeans
Washington, D.C. Morristown, N.J.

Dr. Samir Abu-Ghazaleh Mr. Al Maloof

Avera Women’s Center Genovese, Joblove & Battista PA
Sioux Falls, S.D. Miami, Fla.

Mr. Eddie Ayoob Mr. David Pollak

Barnes & Thornburg Pegasus Capital
Washington, D.C. New York, N.Y.

Dr. Yahya Basha Ms. Denyse Sabagh

Basha Diagnostics, P.C. Duane Morris, LLP
Royal Oak, Mich. Washington, D.C.

Ms. Sherine El-Abd Hon. George Salem

N.J. Federation of Republican Women Law Offices of George R. Salem, LLC
Clifton, N.J. Washington, D.C.

Ms. Randa Fahmy-Hudome Mrs. Helen Samhan

Fahmy Hudome International Arab American Institute Foundation
Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C.

Mr. Abul Huda Farouki Mr. Nabil Takla

Financial Instrument & Investment Corp. Morganti Group
Reston, Va. Danbury, Conn.

Mrs. Samia Farouki Dr. James Zogby

Nour USA, Ltd. Arab American Institute
McLean, Va. Washington, D.C.

Hon. Edward Gabriel Mr. John Zogby

The Gabriel Company, LLC Zogby International
Washington, D.C. Utica, N.Y.

ARAB AMERICAN INSTITUTE & FOUNDATION

1600 K STREET, NW WAShINGTON, DC 20005
(202) 429-9210 WWW.AAIUSA.ORG