| Arab American Action Network |
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3148 W. 63rd St. Chicago, IL 60629
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| Join Our List |
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| Staff |
Hatem Abudayyeh
Executive Director
Rasmea Yusef
Associate Director
Rania Shkairat
Family Empowerment Program Coordinator
Youth Organizing Program Coordinator
Halima Bahri
Youth Services
Program Coordinator
Samira Ahmad
Lead Case Manager
Southwest Community Coalition Representative
AmeriCorps Members
Samar Damra
Aaisha Durr
Ramah Kudaimi
Besan Quran
Shorook Quran
Arasele Robles
Fatmah Tabally |
| Board |
Louise Cainkar-Mashrah
Treasurer
Ali Abunimah
Omar Bishtawi
Laila Farah
Ahlam Jbara
Mona Khalidi
Souzan Naser
Ora Schub
Lamees Talhami | | |
Dear Friends and Supporters,
In the last few days of the holy month of Ramadan, please consider the Arab American Action Network (AAAN) for your donations and Zakat!
This year has already seen exciting new developments for our organization, but also challenging times brought upon by the U.S. recession and the resulting huge Illinois state budget deficit.
Since last December the AAAN has been facing its own budget cuts, causing a difficult restructuring of programs and staff responsibilities and fear of an uncertain 2010. But the needs of the Arab community will not wane, so the AAAN must remain steadfast and relevant, and we need your help!
 In the past year, we have continued to provide direct comprehensive social services, domestic violence intervention and immigration services-at absolutely no cost-for hundreds of Arab families in Chicagoland; outreach and education to many thousands more; and educational enrichment and social development programming for close to 100 Arab, Black and Latino children and youth.
 Our Arab Women's Committee completed its second annual writing project, utilizing popular education and oral history to support the literacy and story-telling skills of Arab immigrant women, but more importantly, to promote discourse in our community and others around issues such as patriarchy, immigrant rights, racial profiling and discrimination, and social justice. We will produce a booklet of these 19 stories in English and Arabic, but are $3,000 short in our fundraising.
 We also piloted an Arab Family Literacy Project in the southwest suburbs, establishing new relationships with Bridgeview Public Library and Green Hills Public Library in Palos Hills, promoting literacy and reading as essential for children and parents to do together. The pilot was picked up for another
year.
The AAAN made a qualitative leap in its youth organizing program as well, developing an intensive research project this past summer-community mapping and surveying discrimination against Arabs in Oak Lawn, investigating Arab youth's understanding of international issues and conflicts in Palestine and Iraq and examining challenges for Arab and Muslim young women across Chicagoland. We are now beginning the next phase of analysis and campaign development. And lastly we are sure you all have noticed the AAAN's new website content and design, e-newsletters and other great media and communications work, as well as our expansion into the realm of social networking. 
All donations are tax-deductible.
You can also write a check payable to AAAN and mail to:
Arab American Action Network
3148 West 63rd Street
Chicago, IL 60629
Thank you kindly, and we wish all who celebrate amongst you a Happy Eid!
Sincerely,
Hatem Abudayyeh
Executive Director |
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Upcoming Events
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Arabic-English Story Time with Activity
Thursday, October 8
4:30-5:00pm
Green Hills Public Library
8611 West 103rd Street, Palos Hills
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Fall 2009 Youth Apprenticeship Application
The Arab American Action Network (AAAN) is pleased to offer paid youth apprenticeship positions for Fall 2009. The AAAN provides these opportunities to extend educational and career-building experience for young adults who are interested in a variety of local and global issues.
The Fall 2009 Youth Positions will begin on October 9 and end on December 20 and will be based out of the AAAN's main office located at 3148 West 63rd Street, Chicago, IL, 60629. Youth can earn up to $450 over the course of the 10 weeks. Youth must be between the ages of 14-21 years old to apply.
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AAAN Updates
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The Arab Women's Committee invited the Oak Lawn Fire Department to do a presentation about first aid procedures on August 13. See more pictures.
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On August 28 the AAAN hosted a potluck Iftar at its office. More than 100 people attended the dinner. See more pictures.
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 The AAAN participated in a Field Museum and Chicago Cultural Alliance event titled "Talking about Water: Traveling from Abundance to Scarcity" on August 29. The 65 attendees toured the "Water" exhibit at the museum and then listened to presenters from the Cambodian American Heritage Museum, the American Indian Center and the AAAN discuss issues such as the role water plays in one's beliefs and rituals and how access to water influences the quality of life in one's community. Cultural Outreach AmeriCorps member Ramah Kudaimi told the story of the discovery of the well of zam-zam as an example of the holiness of water in Arab culture. And Associate Director Rasmea Yusef shared personal stories to illustrate the Palestinian lack of
access to their own water resources due to the occupation. Each attendee received a certificate for participating and made a pledge to work towards conserving water. See more pictures.
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Read the first chapter of AAAN board member Louise Cainkar's new book, Homeland Insecurity: The Arab American and Muslim American Experience after 9/11. |
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CAAAELII Teachers' Forum
Workshops focus on empowering students |
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On Friday, August 7, the Arab American Action Network (AAAN) participated in the 2009 Annual Teachers' and Administrators' Forum, organized by the Coalition of African, Arab, Asian, European and Latino Immigrants of Illinois (CAAAELII). The forum, held at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) campus, was attended by 73 people representing 16 organizations; the AAAN was one of five involved in the planning.
 "The goal of the forum was to provide a space for ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers and administrators to exchange ideas, engage in professional development, learn teaching and curriculum development techniques and support one another in their field," said Nina Shoman-Dajani, the AAAN Family
Literacy Project Coordinator.
Entitled "Sharing Resources and Building Communities through Adult English Language and Civics Education," the forum featured workshops and networking opportunities. It concluded with a town hall discussion to encourage dialogue around issues facing educators and social service providers such as meeting student needs, working with limited resources and curriculum development. Workshop topics included Teaching Language Skills for a U.S. Job Search, and Learning Disabilities and ESL.
"I think the forum was very successful," Nina continued. "It united community-based organizations and academics from the Chicago area and allowed us to celebrate the great work that is being done in the field of ESL and refugee and immigrant rights."
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 The Arab American Action Network (AAAN) strives to strengthen the Arab community in the Chicago area by building its capacity to be an active agent for positive social change. As a grassroots nonprofit, our strategies include community organizing, advocacy, education, providing social services, leadership development, cultural outreach and forging productive relationships with other communities. | | |
