The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee’s national office this week announced that Sara Najjar-Wilson took over as the group’s president on Monday, replacing former Congresswoman Mary Rose Oakar.

New ADC President Sara Najjar-Wilson

Najjar-Wilson had been serving as ADC’s executive director since November.
“Working for the protection of the civil and human rights of people of Arab heritage and others is a noble profession,” said Oakar, who served as president for over six years. “My sincere best wishes to Sara Najjar-Wilson, Esq., who has an outstanding background for the job as president.”

Najjar-Wilson is an attorney with over 30 years of service in the federal government, ADC spokespeople said, having worked for the Justice Department, NASA, the Federal Bar Association and the Washington Foreign Law Society. She’s received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal.

Safa Rifka, chair of ADC’s Board of Directors, said Oakar led the group through many successes, and that Najjar-Wilson is the right fit for the future.

“We would not have had many of the recent successes without the great leadership of Mary Rose Oakar,” he said. “Mary Rose was a key figure in the purchase of the current ADC headquarters in Washington DC… ADC is incredibly lucky to have Ms. Najjar-Wilson as the incoming President.  She has been involved with ADC for decades, knows the key issues and will help lead ADC into the future.”

Local ADC Regional Director Imad Hamad said the group has faced intense financial struggles, and that fresh leadership could help.

“Sarah is a promising leader,” Hamad said. “We trust that she is gong to take ADC to a new era. We hope that under new leadership, these challenges will be overcome.”

Hamad reappointed to rights commission

Hamad, who was appointed during the Bush administration to the Michigan Committee of the US Commission on Civil Rights, was reappointed recently by Obama administration officials. He’s served on the commission since July 2007.

State advisory committees support the eight member national commission to advise Congress and the President on civil rights issues.

“I look forward to continuing to work with the members of this prestigious Commission to help promote civil rights and civil liberties on a local and national level,” Hamad said.  “During these challenging times, we must make every effort to engage in constructive dialogue with one another.”