DEARBORN — On Wednesday, Feb. 12 Attorney and Arab American Political Action Committee Vice President Ali Hammoud was named co-chair of Building Respect in Diverse Groups to Enhance Sensitivity (BRIDGES).  Dr. Yahya Basha of BASHA Diagnostics was named co-chair-elect of the group. 

On the day of the announcement, 13 steering committee members met and voted for a new co-chair and co-chair-elect, in accordance with newly adopted bylaws. 

“Dr. Basha and I are extremely grateful and assure all of you that we are ready to move forward and begin a new chapter with BRIDGES. Let us all work together to achieve the goals and objectives of this organization, and continue to work with governmental agencies on behalf of our communities,” Hammoud said. 

BRIDGES was formed in 2001to address the discrimination facing Arab and Muslim Americans after 9/11. It was created in an effort to strengthen the relationship between the Arab American community and the federal government. BRIDGES meetings are held on a regular basis. Through the meetings, federal agents and the community have been able to work together and address mutual issues of concern.