National Network for Arab American Communities

I am honored to be starting two incredible internships for Spring 2025, serving as an Advocacy Intern at The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy and as a Government Affairs Intern at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)! Amid several new challenges posed by the rapid developments in the Middle East, the incoming Trump Administration, and the 119th Congress, I look forward to supporting those at the forefront of advancing peacebuilding and human rights initiatives in the U.S., E.U., and Middle East.

Data Equity and Arab American Representation: Breaking Down Barriers For decades, Arab Americans were misclassified, masking the true inequities we face. Join us as we uncover these truths and work towards data equity. For decades, Arab Americans in the United States have been categorized as white in demographic data. This misclassification has hindered the ability to effectively measure and address the inequities that these communities face. The collaborative efforts among organizations like New Detroit and The Just Institute, however, are paving the way for significant change. As efforts continue to dismantle systemic inequities through data equity and partnership, it's vital to remember that the fight involves more than just obtaining resources; it's about transforming systems that have long perpetuated disparities. With joint initiatives and shared objectives, communities can make significant strides in achieving racial equity and bettering the lives of those often overlooked by existing classification systems. #NewDetroit. #ArabAmerican #DataEquity Sara Ismail of Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services New Detroit, Inc. and Detroit is Different

An announcement and an ask for my network: First, I am honored to announce that I have joined the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor as a Foreign Affairs Officer. This role marks the beginning of my career in civil service, and I am unbelievably excited for the opportunity to serve the American people while advancing our nation's values and interests abroad. As I step into this new chapter, I am reminded of the privilege and responsibility that comes with public service. I look forward to contributing to the State Department's vital mission and working alongside dedicated professionals who share a commitment to diplomacy and good governance. As for the ask - if you know folks working in this space, I would love to meet them and find ways to collaborate, particularly as they relate to MENA regional issues and cross-cutting thematic issues with emerging technology and artificial intelligence. My DMs are open and I'd be thrilled to connect. I couldn't have gotten here without the many mentors, friends, and dedicated colleagues who have offered guidance, references, and training along this path. A few years ago, I was just some biochemist in the Midwest - never did I believe when beginning my pivot to public policy that I could make it to a role like this in the nation's capital, working on topics that are very near and dear to me in the Middle East and North Africa. A special shoutout to Razi Hashmi for his help ushering me through the hiring process. I am eternally grateful.

What does it look like for a marginalized community to build power? Join us for our next Power is a Social Determinant of Health webinar with the National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC) as they discuss: ? how they built a robust capacity-building program for their 36 member-organizations ? lessons learned ? and how they have seen capacity-building pay off through tangible policy wins! NNAAC was established in 2004 as a response to the Arab American community’s disenfranchisement and lack of power nationwide. Created as a vehicle for resource-sharing and strengthening growing institutions, the network has since grown to include 36 member organizations across 13 states.?As NNAAC expanded its policy work over the years, it became apparent that the capacity building work also needed to extend to the policy and advocacy realm. NNAAC's national advocacy model is powerful. Their collective was instrumental in advocating for a "Middle Eastern or North African (MENA)" category for race and ethnicity data across federal agencies, and they recently celebrated their success last March when the The U.S. Office of Management and Budget?announced their revised policy to include a MENA category on federal forms. Join us to learn more about NNAAC's model, lessons learned, and how other similarly situated national advocacy groups can build collective power through capacity-building! #Advocacy #PowerBuilding #CapacityBuilding #Philanthropy #Nonprofit

What does it look like for a marginalized community to build power? Join us for our next Power is a Social Determinant of Health webinar with the National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC) as they discuss: ? how they built a robust capacity-building program for their 36 member-organizations ? lessons learned ? and how they have seen capacity-building pay off through tangible policy wins! NNAAC was established in 2004 as a response to the Arab American community’s disenfranchisement and lack of power nationwide. Created as a vehicle for resource-sharing and strengthening growing institutions, the network has since grown to include 36 member organizations across 13 states.?As NNAAC expanded its policy work over the years, it became apparent that the capacity building work also needed to extend to the policy and advocacy realm. NNAAC's national advocacy model is powerful. Their collective was instrumental in advocating for a "Middle Eastern or North African (MENA)" category for race and ethnicity data across federal agencies, and they recently celebrated their success last March when the The U.S. Office of Management and Budget?announced their revised policy to include a MENA category on federal forms. Join us to learn more about NNAAC's model, lessons learned, and how other similarly situated national advocacy groups can build collective power through capacity-building! #Advocacy #PowerBuilding #CapacityBuilding #Philanthropy #Nonprofit