DEARBORN —The American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee of Michigan (ADC) held its annual Benefit Gala on Friday December 9 at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, where over 1,200 participants were in attendance to witness the recognition of both local and national leaders. 

ADC President Warren David, Palestine Office-MI head Hasan Newash, awardee Rev. William Gepford, ADC-MI Regional Director Imad Hamad, awardee Kim Redigan and ADC Greater Detroit President Zouheir Alawieh poses after awards were given out.

The ADC is a national civil rights organization with different chapters around the country committed to defending the rights of people of Arab Americans and promoting their rich cultural heritage. ADC was founded by former U.S. Senator James Abourezk in 1980. Today, it is the largest Arab American grassroots organization in the U.S.

The host of the ceremony, Sandra Ali, Reporter/Anchor of Channel 4 WDIV kicked off the event where she introduced the National Advisor/Regional Director of the ADC-Michigan Chapter, Imad Hamad. Hamad started the Michigan Chapter in 1997, which has since been a prominent presence in the local community despite recent financial problems that has led to a smaller staff. 

ADC still boasts that the Michigan division is the largest chapter in the entire nation. Across the country, ADC can be found in over 30 states and districts, including California, New York, and Washington D.C. Due to the large Arab American population in Michigan, four chapters are located here, including ones in Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor and Detroit. 

The committee’s highlight of the evening was when they gave out six awards to individuals who they have felt have made an impact on Arab American culture over the last year. 

One of the awards the ADC gave out was the “Excellence in Journalism & Foreign Reporting Award,” which went to Leila Fadel, who currently serves on the staff of the Washington Post and has gained a reputation for her courageous reporting on the Middle East revolutions of the past year. Fadel, unable to make it to the ceremony, was overseas in Egypt but gave a brief note for her editor to read at the ceremony.

The “Trailblazer in Media & Entertainment Award” went to Rashid Ghazi, the executive director/producer of the documentary “Fordson: Faith, Fasting, Football,” which was released earlier this year and closely follows the lives of Muslim football players, coaches, and others who attend Fordson and reside in Dearborn.

“The camera men on this film were Christian and the guy responsible for the score was Jewish,” Ghazi stated while accepting this award. “That’s what’s so great about this country, we can all come together and accomplish anything we want,” he added before the crowd gave him a round of applause.

Four other awards were given out during the ceremony by ADC-MI. The “Building Bridges Award,” went to Reverend William Gepford, a prominent leader of the Littlefield Presbyterian church in Dearborn which has worked hard in building interfaith relationships. A second “Building Bridges Award” went to Kim Redigan, who is on the Executive Committee of the Michigan Coalition for Human Rights and achieved recognition for her dedication to non-violent resistance in the West Bank through the Michigan Peace Team. 

The “Literary Leadership Award” went to Laila El-Haddad, a Palestinian free-lance journalist who during her acceptance speech described her efforts to get British Airlines to recognize Palestine as a region. Waleed Howrani, a renowned composer & pianist received the award for “Lifetime Artistic Achievement,” where he gave a special performance of one of his compositions.  

The NAACP of Detroit also gave an award to ADC (national) for 31 years of excellent service, presented to officials by Executive Director Darnell White and President Rev. Wendell Anthony. 

Also present at the event were U.S Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), U.S. Congressman Hansen Clarke (D-Detroit), and U.S Congressman John Conyers (D-Detroit) who each gave brief remarks in support of ADC-MI’s quest to defend civil rights for all Americans.