Zeineb Hussein.

DEARBORN HEIGHTS — This week, State Senator David Knezek (D-Dearborn Heights) announced the hiring of Dearborn Heights resident Zaineb Hussein to serve in a full time position as the director of Constituent Services in his Lansing office.

Hussein, 31, has emerged as an advocate and leader in the Dearborn and Dearborn Heights community in recent years. Last year, she ran for a position on the Crestwood School Board District. She will leave behind her current occupation at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to take on her new role in Lansing. 

“I really would like to thank David for this opportunity,” Hussein told The Arab American News. “Our community can shine  so much more if we become more visible in certain arenas and I’m very thankful for the position. I want to make my community very proud and hopefully it can leads others to do the same.”

Hussein’s position marks a major milestone for the local Arab and Muslim communities, as she is currently the only Arab American to work in the Michigan senate. Even more noteworthy is that Hussein becomes the first woman to wear a hijab at the capitol building. 

“Make no mistake, Zaineb was hired because she was the best person for the job,” Knezek told The Arab American News.  “However, through her new leadership role, Arabs and Muslims are gaining an additional advocate fighting for them every day. My colleagues in the Senate recognize the fact that I have always been and will continue to be consistent in my outspoken support for the Arab and Muslim community. It will be nice to have another ally in Zaineb.”

Hussein said she will remain active in the local community and will continue to reside in Dearborn Heights while commuting to Lansing several times a week. She is currently a member of the Dearborn Heights Community Organization (DHCO) and the League of Women Voters, and will continue to assist numerous non-profit organizations here. 

State Senator David Knezek.

Knezek, a Dearborn Heights resident and a graduate of Crestwood High School and the University of Michigan-Dearborn, has remained closely involved with local communities. His previous campaigns for state representative and state senate have included the involvement and backing of local Arab Americans.

Knezek said Hussein was the first candidate he had in mind when he created the position for his office. He had been familiar with Hussein’s work and dedication in the local community for several years. 

“I have always been impressed with her work ethic, her ability to connect with residents and her willingness to go above and beyond to serve others,” Knezek said.  “Most importantly, she has a big heart and truly cares about taking care of people. That’s very important to me.”

Along with Hussein, Knezek’s office will include two other full-time staff members and several interns who are currently assisting in the transition process at Lansing. 

On January 1, Knezek officially commenced his position as state senator after serving two years as a state representative. At 28-years-old, he is the youngest member of the state senate. A formal swearing in ceremony will take place in Lansing on Wednesday, January 14 at Noon. 

Knezek’s 5th district represents more than 260,000 residents in Dearborn Heights, Garden City, Detroit, Inkster and Redford Township. Knezek said it was important to include diversity in his office to properly reflect his constituents and the multi-cultured communities in his district. 

Hussein will directly oversee the health and well being of residents in the district and will serve as the primary point of contact in Knezek’s office.

“I created the position of director of Constituent Services because I wanted to increase the efficiency and professionalism of my office while making the needs of my residents’ priority number one,” said Knezek. “The district I represent in the Senate is incredibly diverse. I’ve always highlighted this diversity as a strength and as an example of how positive changes can take place when we embrace one another as a brother or a sister. In the same way, having a diverse staff is important to me because we need to ensure that we are lifting the voices of our community so that everyone has a seat at the table.”