National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM) Recognitions Continue to Inspire Arab Americans in 2026

posted on: Apr 29, 2026

Photo Credit: Arab America Foundation

By: Claire Boyle / Arab America Contributing Writer

Introduction:

The movement for recognition of April as National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM) continues in 2026 with groundbreaking moments that showcased widespread inclusivity and acceptance of the Arab American community to a general audience, as well as celebrating the cultural icons of yesteryear.

History and Background of NAAHM:

National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM) in April was created in 2017 by the co-founders of Arab America and the Arab America Foundation (AAF), Warren and Dr. Amal David, who sought to bring acceptance of Arab Americans into the public sphere as Americans. In 2017, the movement started with only a few states recognizing the initiative. The Arab America Foundation is the originator of the NAAHM movement, and the mission of this initiative is to “formally recognize the achievements of Arab Americans through the celebration of NAAHM. Across the country, school districts, cultural institutions, state legislators, municipalities, public servants, and non-profit organizations issue proclamations and engage in special events to celebrate our community’s rich heritage and numerous contributions to society.”

Years later, the NAAHM movement has gained significant national recognition, including a 2021 letter from former President Joe Biden to the co-founders of the Arab America Foundation, recognizing their achievements. Furthermore, the U.S. State Department and former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden sent special recognition of NAAHM to the Arab America Foundation, which was made even more special when President Biden issued a proclamation in 2023. Since starting the movement with only a few volunteers, NAAHM has been recognized in at least 45 states, as well as receiving permanent designations in Illinois, Oregon, Virginia, the Indiana Senate, and California.

In this article, we review the moments that made recognition of NAAHM special in 2026 and also examine how the movement continues to expand year after year.

Recognition of NAAHM in 2026:

Arab America Foundation:

Every year, the Arab America Foundation hosts its signature event in the Washington, D.C., area in April in recognition of NAAHM. This year, the event was held on April 16, 2026, at the Belle Haven Country Club in Alexandria, Virginia. The event included performances by Arab American cultural icons, including comedian Yasmin Elhady, vocalists Usama Baalbaki and Nibal Malshi, pop culture curator, DJ Basbousa, and dance from the Faris El-Layl Folkloric Dance Troupe. The event brought hundreds of Arab Americans together from throughout the United States and featured the theme of “Many Voices, One Community.”

Proclamations Issued to the Arab America Foundation:

The Arab America Foundation’s dedicated group of volunteers, Arab America interns, and national team have so far gathered over proclamations from close to 40 state governors, city and town leaders, and other levels of government. As seen in the above example, Mayor Vi Lyles of Charlotte, NC, granted the Arab America Foundation a proclamation in their city.

Sesame Street:

Sesame Street, the long-running children’s program featuring the likes of Elmo, the Cookie Monster, and Big Bird, among others, spent a day with Arab American actor Ramy Youssef, where Elmo learned the Arabic words “habibi and salam.” Habibi translates to “my dear, love, or darling,” and Salam is a common Arabic greeting. This short moment provided Arab Americans with widespread cultural acceptance, especially since young children were taught about inclusivity and learning the Arabic language, which was a first for the famous television show. In the clip, Elmo also wished everyone a Happy National Arab American Heritage Month, which was truly groundbreaking.

TCNJ Dining:

TCNJ Dining Services, a cafeteria in Ewing Township, NJ, shared an Instagram reel featuring April menu options in celebration of NAAHM, along with banners and decorations promoting the initiative.

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib Reintroduces NAAHM Resolution in Congress:

U.S. Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Debbie Dingell, who represent some of the largest Arab American communities in the United States, reintroduced a resolution to enact April as NAAHM in a speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Read the full text here.

Society of Women Engineers (SWE):

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) posted on their website to celebrate April as NAAHM. In it, they highlight multiple Arab female engineers who have made a difference in their scientific communities and the world. This list included Dr. Rania El Kaliouby, Sarah Bint Yousif Al Amiri, Sara Sabry, Nora Al Matrooshi, and others.

The Jaxson Newsletter:

The Jaxson Newsletter, as part of the Florida Times-Union, highlighted the Farris family, Syrian immigrants to Jacksonville, FL, who opened a self-service market that became quite successful in the city. The newsletter mentioned this important piece of history to celebrate April as NAAHM.

Lebanese Taverna:

Photo Credit: Washington Post/Yahoo

The Washington Post wrote an article about the owner of Washington, D.C.’s famous Arab restaurant, Lebanese Taverna, and the history behind its namesake and the familial and culinary origins that date back to Lebanon.

Grand Rapids, MI:

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

For NAAHM, the city of Grand Rapids, MI, celebrated by embracing its legacy as “Little Syria,” as described in the Yahoo News article. They describe the origins of St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church and how Arab immigrants came to the area, experienced in trade, and later on became entrepreneurs.

Case Western Reserve University (CWRU):

Photo Credit: Case Western Reserve University

The newsroom at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) highlighted three members of its community with Arab American origins. We met Jumaa Baker, a third-year medical student who serves as CWRU’s HEAL Palestine (Health, Aid Education, and Leadership Chapter President. In addition, we were introduced to Catherine Esper, who studies psychology, political science, and music and serves as President of the Middle Eastern Cultural Association. Finally, we met Sarah Shendy, CWRU’s lieutenant in its Public Safety Department, who was also a prior awardee of the Arab America Foundation’s Rising Leaders Initiative.

Chicago Renames Street in Honor of Jamil “Jimmy” Ayesh in April for NAAHM:

Photo Credit: The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News, a newspaper based in Chicago, recently reported that a portion of Hermitage Avenue in the city that intersects with 44th will be renamed to honor the generosity and humanity of Arab American grocer, Jamil “Jimmy” Ayesh. The renaming ceremony was held on April 25, 2026, to celebrate NAAHM. Ayesh’s legacy began as an immigrant from Palestine, and he later came to the Chicago area, opening multiple grocery stores in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. He was known to give people what they needed when times were tight.

Virginia State 38th District – Delegate Sam Rasoul:

Virginia State Delegate Sam Rasoul, from the 38th District, shared a reel on Instagram to celebrate NAAHM. Sam Rasoul is of Arab American descent.

New York Public Library:

The New York Public Library created a video on Facebook that traced the origins of the first Arab American poet before Gibran and tied NAAHM to National Poetry Month.

Balliston Mall, Arlington, VA:

Milwaukee Area Technical College:

Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) recently held its first National Arab American Heritage Month celebration on campus. The event planning included cultural topics such as Arab food and debke dancing, as well as informative lectures.

New York Road Runners:

Photo Credit: New York Road Runners

Moroccan American runner, Zouhair Talbi, was recently featured in an article written by the website, New York Road Runners. In it, they highlighted his origins from a Moroccan immigrant all the way to his current status, taking first place at the Houston Marathon in January, and is now considered the third-fastest American runner of all time.

Boulder County, CO:

Boulder County, CO, recently put out an article in support of celebrating April as NAAHM. This follows their reassertion in January that they will continue to celebrate heritage months despite the federal government no longer doing so.

San Diego County Office of Education:

The San Diego County Office of Education recently published an article to aid educators in supporting their Arab American students, along with reading lists by grade level for anyone interested in reading Arab American literature. In their article, they highlighted the Arab America Foundation as a resource for NAAHM.

University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Arab American Cultural Center:

Photo Credit: UIC Arab American Cultural Center

The University of Illinois at Chicago Arab American Cultural Center recently created a webpage full of resources and local events for NAAHM. In it, they featured a celebration held at one of the Cook County Forest Preserve locations, an Arab American Talent Show, Story Time at The Field Museum, and an NAAHM Celebration at the Skokie Public Library in Skokie, IL.

University of California – Berkeley (UC-Berkeley):

Photo Credit: Business ABC Net

UC – Berkeley recently hosted events on their campus in celebration of April as NAAHM. The university had UC Berkeley and Egyptian American alumna Jolie Abdelmalik perform at its NAAHM event. They also hosted an SSWANA Culture Show, a calligraphy workshop featuring Arabic and Persian, and an event to dismantle Anti-Palestinian Racism.

Wayne State University:

Photo Credit: Wayne State University

Wayne State University created a webpage dedicated to NAAHM, its history, and on-campus events, and to tying the month’s celebration to Chaldean American Heritage Month.

University of Michigan:

Photo Credit: University of Michigan

The University of Michigan created a website dedicated to what it means to live as Arab Americans in the diaspora. They highlighted their NAAHM events, and this dedication was created by their Multi-Ethnic Studies Affairs (MESA) office.

Dayton Metro Library:

Photo Credit: The Journal News

The Dayton Metro Library in Ohio hosted an Arab American cultural event to celebrate NAAHM. It included Arab music and dancing. It was attended by Montgomery County Commissioner Carolyn Rice, who opened the event and dedicated it to the Arab Americans in Ohio who have made valuable contributions to the area. The event also included a panel discussion and Arab traditional food.

Good Morning America:

Photo Credit: ABC

Good Morning America (GMA), the long-running morning television show, interviewed Arab Americans for a feature to celebrate NAAHM in Brooklyn, NY.

Living Lutheran:

Photo Credit: Living Lutheran

Grace El-Yateem, an Arab Christian woman from Palestine, and is a Lutheran. In this piece for Living Lutheran, she recounts how her Arab American community and identity have continued to shape American society. El-Yateem shares how Lutheranism’s organization, the Association of Lutherans of Arab and Middle Eastern Heritage (ALAMEH) focused on leadership has impacted Americans as a whole. She also focused on the various Arab Lutheran churches in the United States, including the Salam Arabic Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, NY, and Mother of Our Savior Lutheran-Episcopal Church in Dearborn, MI.

Penn State University Hosts First Arab American Heritage Month Celebration:

Photo Credit: The Daily Collegian

Penn State University’s newspaper, The Daily Collegian, featured an article showcasing the university’s first-ever celebration of NAAHM. The event included a talk by Samar Farage, Associate Teaching Professor, whose research focuses on the history of Arab Americans in the United States. Ezra Nanes, the Mayor of State College, issued a proclamation declaring April NAAHM. The event included talks on Arabic translation, and the all-women dabke group, Malikat al Dabke, danced the Dabke before teaching attendees how to perform the popular Lebanese folk dance.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, this year’s celebration of April as NAAHM continued to inspire many generations of Arab Americans. From Ramy Youssef talking with Elmo about Arabic words to GMA touring Brooklyn, NY, to the dozens of proclamations received, to the signature event hosted by the Arab America Foundation, this year’s recognition of NAAHM gained new awareness, excitement, and a greater embrace, awareness, and inclusion of Arab Americans in American society.

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