Arab America Foundation Announces CONNECT Arab America: Empowerment Summit

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Arab America Foundation Announces its Speakers for the CONNECT Arab America: Empowerment Summit

posted on: Sep 29, 2021

The CONNECT Arab America: Empowerment Summit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

REGISTER HERE

(WASHINGTON, D.C., September 29, 2021) The Arab America Foundation is excited to announce its speakers for the CONNECT Arab America: Empowerment Summit, November 12,13 (the 14 is optional), 2021, at the Doubletree Hotel in Dearborn, Michigan.

The historic in-person event features an exciting array of speakers in public service, women’s activism, identity, community advocacy, engagement, and leadership. Moreover, participants will have many networking opportunities and will celebrate Arab heritage through music, entertainment, cuisine, and cultural and informational exhibits.

“We have assembled expert speakers who represent the Arab American identity and culture for this landmark event to be held in Dearborn, the heart of Arab America,” said Warren David, president of Arab America, and co-founder of Arab America Foundation. He went on to say, “it is crucial that Arab Americans come together now more than ever because our unity is our strength.”

The Arab America Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational and cultural organization; its mission is to promote the Arab heritage, educate Americans about the Arab identity, and connect and empower Arab Americans, especially the young ones through Rising Leaders’ initiatives.

Meet the Speakers to Date (more to be announced):

Rana Abdelhamid

Entrepreneur, Activist, and Candidate for New York’s 12th Congressional District

Please see Rana Abdelhamid’s bio here!

Diana Abouali

Director, Arab American National Museum

Please see Diana Abouali’s bio here!

Osama Abuirshaid

Executive Director, American Muslims for Palestine (AMP)

Please see Osama Abuirshaid’s bio here!

Shareefa Albanna

Entrepreneur and President, Pursuit Consulting

Please see Shareefa Albanna’s bio here!

Dr. Debbie Almontaser

Yemeni American community activist and educator

Please see Dr. Debbie Almontaser’s bio here!

Myles Amine

Team San Marino Tokyo 2020 Olympic Bronze Medalist, Wrestling

Please see Myles Amine’s bio here!

Hady Amr

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Israeli and Palestinian Affairs in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Please see Hady Amr’s bio here!

Nabih Ayad

Attorney and Founder, Arab American Civil Rights League

Please see Nabih Ayad’s bio here!

Nabeela Barbari

Director, National Security Council, The White House

Please see Nabeela Barbari’s bio here!

Mayor Bill Bazzi

Mayor, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Please see Mayor Bill Bazzi’s bio here!

Yasmine Al-Bustami

Actress, CBS’s NCIS Hawai’i and the CW’s The Originals — TV Series

Please see Yasmine Al-Bustami’s bio here!

Susan Dabaja

President, Dearborn City Council

Please see Susan Dabaja’s bio here!

Ameera David

WXYZ TV, ABC Detroit weekend anchor, and weekday reporter

Please see Ameera David’s bio here!

Derek Dickow

Acclaimed Keynote Speaker, Power Connector, and Master Networker

Please see Derek Dickow’s bio here!

Debbie Dingell

Congresswoman, U.S. House of Representatives, Michigan’s 12th Congressional District (D)

Please see Congresswoman Debbie Dingell’s bio here!

Zenna Faraj Elhasan

General counsel at the Kresge Foundation

Please see Zenna Elhasan’s bio here!

Abderrahim Foukara

Washington D.C. Bureau Chief, Al Jazeera

Please see Abderrahim Foukara’s bio here!

Soujoud Hamade

Attorney and President, Michigan Chapter, National Arab American Bar Association

Please see Soujoud Hamade’s bio here!

Abdullah Hammoud

State Representative 15th House District, Michigan, and Dearborn Mayoral Candidate

Please see Abdullah Hammoud’s bio here!

Bilal Hammoud

Public Engagement Associate, Michigan Department of State

Please see Bilal Hammoud’s bio here!

Mai Khader Kakish

Food blogger, writer, and chef @almondandfig

Please see Mai Khader Kakish’s bio here!

Waleed Mahdi

Assistant Professor, US-Arab Cultural Politics, University of Oklahoma

Please see Waleed Mahdi’s bio here!

Weam Namou

Executive Director, Chaldean Cultural Center

Please see Weam Namou’s bio here!

Taharah Saad

President, Arab American Women’s Business Council

Please see Taharah Saad’s bio here!

John Sakakini

Supply Chain Commodity Manager, Delta Airlines

Please see John Sakakin’s bio here!

Executive Director, American Syrian Arab Cultural Association and Manager, National Arab American Medical Association

Please see Rouba Samman’s bio here!

Mayor Andre Sayegh

Mayor of Paterson, New Jersey

Please see May Andre Sayegh’s bio here!

Blanche Shaheen

TV host/journalist turned cooking show host, cookbook author, and columnist.

Please see Blanche Shaheen’s bio here!

Assad Turfe

Chief of Staff for the Executive of Wayne County, Michigan

Please see Assad Turfe’s bio here!

Amer Zahr

Palestinian American comedian and political activist

Please see Amer Zahr’s bio here!

Meet the Performers

Stevie Ansara

Jordanian American artist, beatboxer, and multimedia producer

Please see Stevie Ansara’s bio here!

Joseph Bishara

Vocalist and Performer

Please see Joseph Bishara’s bio here!

Abe Diab

Renowned Arab Musician and Org Keyboardist

Please see Abe Diab’s bio here!

Michael Ibrahim

Conductor, National Arab Orchestra

Please see Michael Ibrahim’s bio here!

Omar Kurdi

CEO of Friends for Life Rehabilitation Services and Founding Member Masrah Cleveland, Al-Arabi

Please see Omar Kurdi’s bio here!

Karim Nagi

Arab musician, performing artist, and lecturer

Please see Karim Nagi’s bio here!

Sawsan Najar

Performer and Vocalist

Please see Sawsan Najar’s bio here!

Neemz (Tusneem Abuhasan)

Palestinian American singer/songwriter and multidisciplinary artist

Please see Neemz’s (Tusneem Abuhasan) bio here!

Pamela Noun

Awardees:

Mona Abdulla, Emerging Leader Award for 2021, Arab America Foundation

Emerging Leader Awardee for 2021, Arab America Foundation

Please see Mona Abdulla’s bio here!

Nabeleh Ghareeb, Most Valuable Person (MVP) Award for 2021, Arab America Foundation

MVP Awardee for 2021, Arab America Foundation

Please see Nabeleh Ghareeb’s bio here!

For press inquiries: Claire Boyle

cboyle@arabamerica.com

To register for this event: REGISTER HERE

For sponsorship opportunities: Contact Warren David (313-999-6000) wdavid@arabamerica.com

For more information about the Arab America Foundation, please visit:

Arab America Foundation

Check out Arab America’s blog here!

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