Board forms new committee to address concerns at Crestwood
August 31st, 20120 On Monday, the Crestwood School District held the last Board Meeting of the summer where they approved and appointed several administrative positions for the 2012-2013 school year, which begins on September 4. But the highlight of the meeting didn't come until the end of the agenda, when during the public comments section, community...Proceeds from Eid Festival go towards funding college scholarships
DEARBORN — Since the annual Eid Festival first launched in 2010, its proceeds have gone towards funding college scholarships to assist the youth. “That is one of our main goals. Part of the reason we have the festival to provide college students with financial assistance,” Eid Festival coordinator Hassan Hakim said. Last year...Christian missionaries attract mixed reactions on Warren Avenue; say they’re not against Muslims
DEARBORN — A group of five men demonstrated peacefully along Warren Avenue here Thursday drawing mixed reactions from drivers and others who found it hard to avoid them, considering one man held up a large wooden cross featuring Christian teachings written in Arabic. Domenic Danesi says he's not against Muslims or any faith, and...Muslims in wealthy Detroit suburb seek a mosque, and friends join them to fight the bigotry
The public turnout for the projected conversion of an existing closed public school building, slated for demolition, into a private cultural center, school, and mosque was announced by the Planning Commission to be the largest ever in its history. The place was West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, a western suburb of Detroit....Local organizations tackle hunger issues during Ramadan interfaith event
DETROIT — On Wednesday United Way for Southeastern Michigan held a reception tilted "Ramadan 2012: Fight Against Hunger" at their headquarters in downtown with co-sponsorships from the Michigan Muslim Community Council, Muslims for Humanity, Zaman International, and No Kid Hungry Michigan. The reception addressed the current state of...
U.S. Vice President discusses plight of Iraqi Christians with local Chaldeans
August 26th, 20120 WEST BLOOMFIELD - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden made a stop at the Shenandoah Country Club here Tuesday where he discussed the plight of Iraqi Christians with members of the Chaldean community.Chaldeans are Iraqi Catholics, and the largest concentration in the United States resides in metro Detroit. More than half of Iraq’s...
Dearborn middle school program paves the way for future Arab American journalists
August 26th, 20120 DEARBORN — In the 2010-2011 school year, McCollough-Unis School allowed the Asian American Journalism Association (AAJA) to launch a project from the AAJA’s Executive Leadership Program for Unis Middle School students titled “The Living Textbook.” Jim Finkelstein, news editor for digital at the Detroit Free Press, talks...
Innovative educator Nawal Hamadeh: A pillar of the Arab American community
August 26th, 20120 Nawal Hamadeh had just completed the 9th grade before emigrating to the United States from Beirut, Lebanon in October 1971.Despite arriving to a new country with limited knowledge of the language, she would grow to become a pillar in her community by creating a world-renowned charter school system in metro Detroit, making her a true...
City of Taylor under scrutiny for apartment fire, several families left dismantled
August 26th, 20120 TAYLOR — Last week a major fire at the Park Place Apartment complex in the city of Taylor located on Eureka Rd. left a total of seven families displaced and homeless after the fire was put out several hours later. The incident is the latest in a string of controversies for the city, who earlier this month had already been under...New Detroit, Inc. seeks leaders to join Multicultural Leadership Series
DETROIT — New Detroit, Inc. is currently seeking applicants for its 2012 Multicultural Leadership Series which provides participants an up-close experience to increase their cultural competency by focusing on the culture and history of six communities of color in Southeast Michigan. Sessions begin Thursday, September 20, 2012.“The...Lebanese American Club Youth feeds the hungry in Ramadan
On Friday Aug. 17 the Lebanese American Heritage Club Youth Leadership Committee (LAHC-YLC) provided several unprivileged families with free meals at the Muslim Center in Detroit during Ramadan. "During an era of budget cuts, and with people losing their source of income and becoming vulnerable to facing hunger... such programs become...Tilling the ground for the seeds of terrorism
After more than 10 years of war against al Qaeda and the accompanying global "war on terrorism," we have failed to learn that our actions create reactions. Our presence creates destabilization, then radicalization. Occupations create insurgencies. In Afghanistan, we have fueled the very insurgency we struggle to fight.Al Qaeda had...
Christian missionaries attract mixed reactions along Warren Avenue;say they’re not against Muslims
August 21st, 20120 DEARBORN-A group of five men demonstrated peacefully along Warren Avenue here today drawing mixed reactions from drivers and others who found it hard to avoid them, considering one man held up a large wooden cross featuring Christian teachings written in Arabic. The men are here from...
Dearborn Eid Festival Sunday, Aug. 26, thousands expected to attend
August 21st, 20120 DEARBORN-The annual Eid Festival is Sunday Aug. 26 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Centennial Library Soccer Field here, with no admission cost. The festival attracts thousands of people every year, and has hundreds of volunteers. It’s held in celebration of Eid al-Fitr, and is expected to include attractions such as live interactive...U.S. Census sets goals to expand on ethnic categories, including Arabs
WASHINGTON D.C — This week the U.S. Census Bureau made an announcement that they are in the process of working on expanding their ethnicity categories for the 2020 census. During the last count held in 2010, the Bureau sampled an alternative survey to a small group of people which gave them the opportunity to detail their ethnicity and......
Arab community questions Dearborn’s hiring practices
August 17th, 20120 DEARBORN — A group of local leaders consisting of businessmen, attorneys and civil rights groups under an umbrella called The Congress of Arab American Organizations of Michigan (CAAO) has come together to launch an investigation on the city of Dearborn regarding hiring practices and procedures. The investigation, which was announced...
Huge turnout for Al-Mabarrat annual iftar fundraiser
August 17th, 20120 Group launches its Islamic school project in Dearborn Thousands gathered at the H.Y.P.E Recreation Center in Dearborn Heights Aug. 11 for Al-Mabarrat’s 26th annual fundraising dinner. Guests made generous donations to support a new Islamic school in Dearborn anticipated to open in 2013. DEARBORN HEIGHTS — During its 26th annual......
Plans for Muslim Center in West Bloomfield face stiff resistance from residents
August 17th, 20120 WEST BLOOMFIELD — Hundreds packed the West Bloomfield Township Hall for a joint meeting Tuesday held by the city's planning commission and wetland review board to hear whether the Islamic Cultural Association's (ICA) request to construct a storm water managment system with a direct discharge to the Franklin Branch of the Rouge River,...Dearborn Police warns residents to be more cautious at traffic lights
DEARBORN —This month the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments released information regarding traffic accidents related to the running of red lights, and Dearborn ranked fifth on the list. According to the council, between 2009-2011, 114 drivers in Dearborn were involved in accidents relating to someone crossing a red...Wayne County treasurer’s auctions assist distressed taxpayers in avoiding foreclosure
DETROIT — “In our July auction we were able to sell nearly 1,000 properties. Prior to that auction we sold approximately 600 properties to occupants. These transactions help to stabilize our communities and provide housing for our citizens,” announced Wayne County Treasurer Raymond J. Wojtowicz. The Treasurer is...Detroit Public Serious awarded $250,000 for new series called, “Arab American Stories-A National Dialogue”
DETROIT — The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has awarded Detroit Public TV with a $250,000 grant that will be used to help dismantle negative stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding Arab Americans. The announcement was made last week.The grant was given to the station in order for it expand on its 13 part series, “Arab-American......
Study: Star Academy ranked in Michigan’s highest tier; Universal Academy also scores highly
In a July 2012 published study by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, over 684 Michigan high schools were examined and ranked according to their average academic performance on two key standardized tests, the ACT and Michigan Merit Examination. Among all schools, Star International Academy was honored with the highest rank and...Upcoming St. Sharbel Church Festival to benefit child abuse victims
WARREN — A three-day festival will offer a rich sampling of Lebanese traditions including authentic Lebanese food made from the finest Michigan produce and ingredients. The festival features entertainment by popular American and Lebanese performers and disc jockeys providing an energetic venue for music and dance. Visitors......
Western Union Ramadan 2012 campaign supports United Nations World Food Program
Consumers can play online game ‘Light the Lantern’ to help give up to 240,000 meals to children in needENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU), a leader in global payments, recently announced its support of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) as part of the company’s Ramadan 2012 Campaign. The Campaign...Detroit Public Schools celebrates diversity during 1st Annual Taste of DPS Multicultural Expo
DETROIT — Students, parents and residents from across the district are invited to attend the first annual “Taste of DPS” Multicultural Expo where attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the various cultures of DPS students including Middle Eastern, Bangladeshi, Hmong, African, African-American and Hispanic.The expo will......
