GAZA IN OUR HEARTS

Please join a special evening of culture and prayer in support of Health Outreach to the Middle East (HOME) and their efforts in Gaza.

Saturday, January 31, 2009 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Arabic Baptist Church

4605 Massachusetts Ave NW

Washington, DC

This will be an evening of Palestinian songs, music and poetry as we honor and pray for the Palestinians in Gaza. There will also be a message of peace and hope from Pastor Esper Ajaj.

Featuring:
Fuad Forty-DC's most well known lute player and Arabic vocalist.
Remi Kanazi-NYC based poet, activist, and editor of "Poets for Palestine".
Other special guests to be announced.

The mission of HOME is to provide high quality health care services to communities all over the Middle East. This month, they are working with the American Bible Society in Jerusalem to provide monetary, medical, and other services to support the people of Gaza. Afterwards, a coffee hour and Arabic sweets as you mingle with friends and make new ones.

There is also a 5pm prayer vigil for those that would like to attend. This will take place outside of the church. We will be remembering those that have lost their lives and continue to suffer in Gaza. Feel free to attend both events or the portion that you choose.

For information please call: 202.363.3911

ADC Live on C-Span's Washington Journal

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) will be represented by Policy Analyst Yousef Munayyer live on the C-SPAN program "Washington Journal." Washington Journal is a live roundtable on public affairs and is a call-in show. Munayyer will comment on the steps the Obama Administration should take to make progress toward ending the conflict.

The discussion will be hosted live by Pedro Echevarria on C-SPAN Saturday mprning, January 30th from 9:00 to 9:30 EST. You may call the show to ask questions and discuss this issue.

Call-In numbers, divided by political affiliation as per C-SPAN:

Support Republicans: 202.737.0001
Support Democrats: 202.737.0002
Support Independents: 202.628.0205
Outside U.S.: 202.628.0184
Email: journal@c-span.org

Kahlil Gibran Spirit of Humanity Awards

Thursday, April 23

5:30 reception
6:30 gala

JW Marriott Hotel
1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC

Black Tie

Ticket information

The Kahlil Gibran Spirit of Humanity Awards are named for the world-renowned, Lebanese-born author of The Prophet whose work underscored his respect for the dignity of man, his belief in the sanctity of individual freedom, and his universal love of humanity. The Awards further symbolize Gibran's pride in his Arab heritage and respect for the freedoms that he found in the United States.

At the awards gala, the AAIF honors individuals, corporations, institutions, and communities for their work in promoting greater understanding and appreciation of diversity and inclusion.

Youth Leadership Awards

The Arab American Institute Foundation is looking for qualified individuals to apply for Youth Leadership Awards.

The Helen Abbott Community Service Awards and the Raymond Jallow Awards for Public Service are given annually by the AAIF for outstanding candidates who have shown a commitment to public or community service.

The Helen Abbott Community Service Awards honor students and student organizations whose devotion to community service, selfless acts of care, and interest in improving the quality of life for others reflect the life of the Awards' namesake. Each year the AAIF awards a maximum of two $1,000 individual prizes to exceptional undergraduate students and one $500 grant to a high school student. Previous recipients have demonstrated an extraordinary ability to balance success in their academic endeavors with selfless service to their respective communities.

The Raymond Jallow Awards for Public Service are presented to two deserving candidates whose commitment to public service reflects the life of the Awards' namesake. Two $500 grants are given to students and adults who are actively involved in, or plan to participate, in public service. Previous recipients have displayed a strong commitment to service in the public interest.

Please contact Kyle Haley for more information

The AAI Gala Was The Place To Be!

What a week in Washington!

The AAI Inauguration Gala was the place to be. Everybody was there (check out the photos below) including Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Congressman Keith Ellison, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (with former Central Falls, RI Mayor Tom Lazieh), and Her Majesty Queen Noor.

Join The Fun!

Some loyal readers requested permission to post articles on this blog. Let's do it!

If you're interested in contributing by writing articles, please send me an e-mail message with your name and contact information and I'll do the rest.

Thanks for your interest!

Fred

GAZA: THE SPOKEN TRUTH

The Arab American Anti Discrimination Committee (ADC) invites you to an evening of poetry and spoken word featuring the Iron Sheik, Tala A. Rahmeh, Laila Abdul-Hadi Jadallah, Serin Atiani, Hani Almadhoun and others.

Community members will also be given an opportunity to share their favorite poem or share their spoken work about the atrocities in Gaza.

Thursday, January 15, 7:30 p.m.
ADC National Headquarters
1732 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Washington, DC

This Event is free and open to the public, however space is limited, so please send RSVP to rsvp@adc.org.

The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Beyond Band-Aid Solutions

Wednesday, January 14 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm

The Brookings Institution
Saul/Zilkha Rooms
1775 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, DC

The latest conflict in Gaza has exacerbated an already fragile humanitarian situation and created another humanitarian crisis in the Middle East. Even before Israeli airstrikes began, humanitarian agencies faced restrictions on personnel and shortages of vital supplies. The current round of fighting has left almost 800 people dead, thousands wounded and many more with limited access to food, water and health care. Though limited humanitarian aid has been allowed into the territory, humanitarian aid alone cannot be the answer to the problem. As with all conflicts, the answer lies in a political settlement.

The Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement will host a discussion on the humanitarian situation in Gaza within the broader context of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. Brookings Senior Fellow Elizabeth Ferris will provide introductory remarks and moderate the discussion. After their presentations, panelists will take audience questions.

Panelists
Michael Khambatta, Deputy Head, Regional Delegation for the United States and Canada, International Committee of the Red Cross

Tamara Cofman Wittes, Senior Fellow, Saban Center for Middle East Policy,The Brookings Institution

Andrew Whitley, Director, New York Representative Office of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)

To rsvp, please call the Office of Communications at 202.797.6105 or click here.

The Continuation of Hope and Real Change

The American Arab Anti Discrimination Committee commemorates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sunday, January 18 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Doors open at 5:00.

Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ
5301 North Capitol Street NE,
Washington

Featuring the following speakers and artist:
Phyllis Bennis - Institute for Policy Studies
DC Labor Chorus
Omekongo Dibinga - Free Your Mind Publishing
Bill Fletcher, Jr. - Author, Solidarity Divided
Sarita Gupta - Jobs with Justice
Rev. Graylan Hagler - Plymouth Congregational Church
Linda Leaks - Empower DC
Tram Nguyen - Virginia New Majority
Hilary O. Shelton - NAACP Washington Bureau
Christylez Bacon - Progressive Hip-Hop Artist
Voices of Praise - Plymouth Congregational Church

Join Plymouth’s Board of Social Action, Men’s Club Ministry, and a host of progressive and diverse organizations in this celebration!

For more information, please contact organizing@adc.org or Jane English at janeengli@gmail.com 202.488.4375.

Please Volunteer With The ADC

The Arab American Anti Discrimination Committee has extended its hours of operation and community members are encouraged to volunteer their time at the office, which now will be open Monday-Friday from 8am-8pm.

To volunteer, please contact: organizing@adc.org

They are working so hard for all of us. We all need to support the ADC.

National Day of Service

President-Elect Obama is calling for a National Day of Service on Monday, January 19. It's actually been extended to include the weekend.

The Democratic Women of Clifton will participate with a clean up of Clifton Road. Please join them in this community improvement effort by meeting them at the Clifton Elementary School parking lot, 7010 Clifton Road, Clifton, VA 20124 on Sunday, January 18 from 1:00 to 3:00. Please call Barbara Tuset for details - 703.638.4746.

Can't make it? You still can participate in the National Day of Service.

As the economic downturn has hit us, the number of people who don't have enough food has increased dramatically in our area. Food banks and other programs are struggling to do the best they can to address the hunger problem in Fairfax County. Some of the families they serve are one step from homelessness. To help, as part of the National Day of Service, the DWC is collecting gift cards for local grocery stores. These gift cards will be distributed through Our Daily Bread, a Fairfax County non-sectarian, non-profit that serves 60 families every month. Please purchase a gift card for a grocery store (e.g., Giant, Shoppers Food, Safeway) in $25 to $100 denominations and bring to the DWC meeting on January 11th at the Clifton Community Hall, or mail it to DWC, P.O. Box 143, Clifton, VA 20124. If you can't purchase a gift card, please make a check out to Our Daily Bread and put "Food Program" on the memo line and mail it to the DWC address above. We will see that it gets to Our Daily Bread so that they can purchase the gift cards. They plan to deliver your donations on Monday, January 19.

Democratic Women of Clifton

The Democratic Women of Clifton is an organization that provides a friendly, social atmosphere where Democrats can gather to discuss and educate themselves on important issues, learn about the political process, increase awareness in their communities, and help to elect great Democrats to local, state, and national office.

You don't have to be a woman or live in Clifton to join. Check them out - they do great work helping Democrats in Virginia!

Sharon Bulova

Let's do what we can to keep Fairfax County blue. Please support Sharon Bulova for Chair.

Vote for Sharon Bulova on Tuesday, February 3.