DEARBORN — Construction on three acres of vacant land that
will be transformed into a community service center for American Muslims will
begin June 2013. In September 2010 the Bint Jebail Cultural Center (BJCC)
purchased a piece of property that consists of four buildings and the
land. 

The new center titled, “PROJECT H”, will consist
of a lecture and conference hall with a seating capacity of 1200 people,
praying room to accommodate hundreds, large library with American and Arabic
books, leisure room for seniors, computer and recreation rooms, kitchen,
restrooms, six offices, eight classrooms for the purpose of teaching Arabic,
the five daily prayers, Islamic ethics and how to read the Qur’an.

 It will also
feature a funeral home. According to cost studies it will reduce the amount of
burials for grieving families by approximately $2,500. Translation of documents
for immigrants and counseling for marriage, divorce, domestic violence, drug
abuse or other issues will be offered additionally.

The Muslim community is expected to assume 25% of the total
financial responsibilities,  and
the BJCC will handle the rest. “The center is going to offer…services at
cost for the first two years. After that we hope to receive government grants
and other grants that will allow us to offer many services for free,” BJCC
Founder Mohammed Turfe said, speaking at the BJCC’s 17th anniversary and
scholarship dinner April 29. He said BJCC is in a good financial position.   

Fifty-two scholarships valued at $500 each were distributed
to deserving high school seniors during the dinner held at the BJCC. The lowest
GPA among recipients was a 3.8, and the highest was a 4.4, according to BJCC
Educational Committee Chairperson Dr. Mohammed Nasser. Ali Hammoud, BJCC
president, said 100 students applied for the scholarships. 

Scholarship winners included Mariam Abdulghani, Jumana
Abusalah, Ayan Ahani, Reem Alawdi, Diala Ali, Hassan Ali, Mohamed Alrayyashi,
Nassreen Al-Talagani, Rimah Alwakya, Yakeen Alwishah, Mallak Anani, Batoul
Baidoun, Hanie Basma, Aida Bazzi, Amanda Bazzi, Zeinab Bazzi, Linda Chaalan,
Samantha Chami, Layan Charara, Oday Dabaja, Batool Dakhlalah, Sarah Elmasri,
Ahmed El-Moussa, Gassan Fadelallah, Areej Fares, Hassan Farhat, Magda Haj,
Sohaila Hameedi, Joshua Hamet, Zainab Hammoud, Zainab Harissa, Batoul Harrisa,
Emily Hayes, Noora Hussein, Laith Khalil, Mohamad Makki, Laila Marashi, Wassim
Said Moahamad, Aisha Mohammed, Zeinab Moussa, Norman Orabi, Joanne Sabra, Nour
Saeed, Genan Saghir, Noor Salem, Jalil Salhi, Seena Shohatee, Batool Shuker,
Taylor Williams, Sara Zawacki and Hassan Zreik.

Guests included Congressman John Dingell, Wayne County
Executive Robert Ficano, State Representative George Darany, Consul General of
Lebanon in Detroit, Houssam A. Diab, state, county, and city officials,
business and educational leaders among others. 

“There is no doubt that by establishing this
scholarship program for Arab Americans and American students alike, The Bint
Jebail Cultural Center has not only created a sense of belonging to one
community, but has also placed a strong…partnership and commitment of the
students of this community to work together for a common cause,” Diab
said.  

The keynote speaker was Dr. Deborah Watson, president,
Northwest campus, Wayne County Community College District. Watson stressed the
significance of education and discussed 
growing up in six different foster homes and experiencing homelessness
as a young adult. Eventually at 27 she enrolled in a community college.
“My life parallels that of many of my students,” she said.

“I would be less than who I am without my homeland. The
Bint Jebail Cultural Center reminds me of that… Thank you to the Bint Jebail
Cultural Center for the scholarship granted to me and to my peers,” said
scholarship recipient Layan Charara.