| Arab American Action Network |
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3148 W. 63rd St. Chicago, IL 60629
773-436-6060
773-436-6460
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| Join Our List |
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| Staff |
Youth Organizing Program Coordinator
Halima Bahri
Youth Services
Program Coordinator
Melissa Lukasick
Finance Assistant
Rania Shkairat
Family Empowerment Program Coordinator
Nina Shoman-Dajani
Family Literacy Project Coordinator
AmeriCorps Members
Samar Damra
Ramah Kudaimi
Besan Quran
Shorook Quran
Fatmah Tabally |
| Board |
Louise Cainkar-Mashrah
Treasurer
Ali Abunimah
Omar Bishtawi
Laila Farah
Ahlam Jbara
Mona Khalidi
Souzan Naser
Ora Schub
Lamees Talhami | |
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Upcoming Events
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 Letters went out last week regarding the FY 2010 Illinois state budget. Unfortunately budget cuts ranged from 57% - 75% and in some cases complete elimination of crucial programs and services. Hundreds of thousands of families are at risk of losing vital services.
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Arabic-English Story Time with Activity
4:00-4:30pm
Thursday, June 18
Green Hills Public Library
8611 West 103rd Street
Palos Hills
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This Palestinian Life:
Stories of Palestinian
Nonviolent Resistance
A film by Philip Rizk
7:00-9:00 pm
Tuesday, June 23
United Church of Christ, 615 West Wellington Ave
Lakeview Neighborhood
Suggested Donation: $5
Director Philip Rizk uses an oral history approach to highlight the stories and perspectives of Palestinian villagers and Bedouin by portraying the daily life of Palestinian communities to explore how their life is being undermined by the pressure of Israeli occupation.
Co-Sponsors: 8th Day Center for Justice, American Friends Service Committee, Amnesty International, Arab American Action Network, Christian Peacemaker Teams-Chicago, Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, Eco-Justice Collaborative, Francis of Assisi Catholic Worker House, Kairos Community, The Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation Peace Dialogue, Palestinian Childrens' Relief Fund, Viatorian Community, Voices for Creative Non-Violence, Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ, West Suburban Faith-Based PEACE Coalition and Women's Resource Center
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The Arab American Action Network in partnership with Bridgeview Public Library
is offering a
Summer Enrichment Program
Program open to Children ages 6-12 years old who participate in English Language Learner Programs
Bridgeview Public Library
7890 West 79th Street
June 29-August 6
Mondays-Thursdays
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
For more information and to register, contact Halima Bahri at 773-436-6060 x 107 or stop by the Youth Services Department at the Bridgeview Public Library.
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Let's go to the zoo! Brookfield Zoo and the Arab American Action Network, as a member of the Chicago Cultural Alliance, are planning two special events this summer at the zoo.
Brookfield Zoo 75th Birthday Party
Wednesday, July 1
Chicago Cultural Alliance Family Day
Saturday, July 11
Admission Half Off on Both Days
with Voucher from AAAN
(Adults $6, Children Ages 3-10 $4)
The Zoo will also be providing transportation from four locations throughout the city. More information to come.
If you are interested please register here to receive a voucher and reserve a spot on the buses. Vouchers and bus space are limited so register early! Deadline is Friday, June 26. |
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AAAN Updates
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Children enjoyed another Arabic-English story time at the Green Hills Public Library on May 21. See more pictures.
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The AAAN attended the Chicago Youth Initiating Change Social Justice Student Expo on May 22.
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 More than 80 women and their children attended the AAAN ESL field trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo on June 9.
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The After School Program held an ice cream party on June 10 to celebrate the end of the school year. See more pictures.
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Learning English |
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AAAN classes teach much needed skills
 Nabila Hassan hates the phrase "No speak English." Anisa Ali doesn't like the feeling she gets when she cannot respond to someone speaking to her. Massada Othman wants to get a degree in the United States and work in the journalism field.
All these women are enrolled in the free English as a Second Language (ESL) classes provided by the Arab American Action Network (AAAN) twice a week. Muna Hammad has been an ESL and citizenship teacher at the AAAN for 8 years. She estimates that she has taught English to about 350 women over the years.
"Women are an important part of the family," she says. "If she is educated she can help her kids, learn how to drive and depend on herself. A lot of women don't go to school back home but here she has an opportunity. In this society, you need to be educated and understand the language."
Manal Jibreel enrolled in the class four months ago. She started learning English by watching television and speaking to her neighbors. She hopes to use English as a step towards getting a better job and becoming an active member of society. She has a BA in Social Security Development from Jerusalem University and wants to get a masters degree.
"If you don't know the language people can take advantage of you," Manal warns. "I want to be able to translate for myself."
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AAAN ED Attends NNAAC Session |
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General objectives of network discussed AAAN Executive Director Hatem Abudayyeh attended a strategic planning session of the National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC) earlier this month. Launched in 2004, the mission of the NNAAC is to develop grassroots institutions that can meet the needs and concerns of Arab Americans locally and collectively raise these issues on the national level.
What were the goals of this NNAAC strategic planning session?
It was a preliminary discussion to develop the general strategic objectives of the network. Next steps include conference calls, focus groups and one on one interviews involving extended staff of NNAAC organizations and other stakeholders in developing a clear and specific strategic planning document that will be discussed, debated and approved at the NNAAC national conference in October of 2009.
How long has AAAN been a member of the NNAAC? How and why was the NNAAC founded?
The AAAN is a founding member of NNAAC and has been represented on its Advisory Board since its inception. NNAAC was founded to provide technical assistance, peer to peer learning opportunities, organizational development support, national service programming and a collective political voice for Arab-American social service and advocacy organizations across the country.
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 The Arab American Action Network (AAAN) strives to strengthen the Arab community in the Chicago area by building its capacity to be an active agent for positive social change. As a grassroots nonprofit, our strategies include community organizing, advocacy, education, providing social services, leadership development, cultural outreach and forging productive relationships with other communities. | |
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