Arab American high school students pose for a group photo before giving a Detroit school a makeover

DETROIT – Hundreds of Arab American high school students gave the Detroit Institute of Technology at Cody High School a major makeover for National Arab American Service Day on Saturday.

With shovels and paint brushes in hand, over 400 teen volunteers from eight Dearborn and Detroit high schools planted gardens outside the school, replaced damaged drop ceilings in classrooms and repainted worn out walls in bright colors.

Falling ceilings, mold and unsafe conditions of Detroit Public Schools have recently garnered national attention, with city and state government under a hot spotlight to fund the upgrade of the schools’ standards.

Students paint a wall

Khalil said she sees the battered conditions of Detroit Public Schools on the news. Being a student herself, she wanted to help to others get an education without the worries of falling ceiling tiles.

“I feel like we always think that our schools are so bad, but looking at this, it seems like [they have it] 10 times worse,” Khalil said.

This is Khalil’s second time participating in Arab American Service Day, and said it provides a good opportunity to crush the negative stereotypes perpetuated around Arab Americans and Dearborn.

“It’s a good way for us to represent our culture, our religion, as well as our city of Dearborn,” Khalil added.

“Hey, we’re American too and we care about this issue as well.”

Safa Khalil, a 17-year-old Fordson high school student, said she is heartbroken to witness the dilapidated state of the building. Safa said she hopes volunteering efforts like this help paint a better picture of Arab Americans.

“Just bringing the communities together so we can break these stereotypes; we all come together for a good cause,” Safa said.

“Being able to come out, with one hand, all of us is amazing and shines a better light for the future.”

Baneen Alkhasaji, high schooler from Dearborn, said she wanted to help renovate the school to make her neighboring city safer and clear.

She said aiding other non-Arabs establishes strong relationships between communities and cultures, who would return the service if needed.

“It’s a community, we’re all like a family,” Alkhasaji said.

Errice Bryant, an Americorps volunteer and Detroit resident, said she is grateful that people from outside Detroit are giving back to her city.

“It was a great day, we got a lot of things done and I’m glad I got a change to do this with the youth,” Bryant said.

Ibrahim Harb offered to replace falling ceiling tiles for free

Ibrahim Harb, owner of a local construction company, said he volunteered to offer his services free of charge, because he understands the dire need to improve the classrooms hundreds of children sit in every day.

“A lot of people say Arabs are doing bad things; show them, show them what you do – that’s the way,” Harb said.

Aysha Jamali, communications specialist for ACCESS, said a part of National Arab American Service Day’s objective is for Arab Americans to volunteer in communities outside their own. 

She said that establishes connections and builds bridges with neighbors, as well as changes perceptions of Arab Americans.

“It shows that Arab Americans are just as American as any other group,” Jamali said. “A way to express their identity is through volunteering and giving back, which is such an important and core part of being an American.”

Covered in paint, the man who organized the service day at the school said he was pleased with the beautification results. 

Rachid Elabed, ACCESS Community Engagement Specialist, said ACCESS loves engaging with youth and teaching them the importance of giving back to their communities. 

Elabed said ACCESS collaborated with Greening of Detroit other home improvement chains to complete over 10 projects by students, from picking up debris, planting gardens, and painting over graffiti.

The Service Day, now in its 12th year, is a project of the National Network for Arab American Communities. The organization states the initiative includes thousands of volunteers and dozens of projects across the country from planting trees and beach clean-ups to serving the homeless and organizing clothing drives.