Friend,

Each year for Arab American Heritage Month (#AAHM), we look forward to honoring Arab American culture, history, cuisine, and more. It is a time where we reflect on the positive impact our community has made and lift up our experiences.

We have come a long way from the first time Arab American heritage was recognized on the national level with a “National Arab-American Day” in 1992. Now, in 2022, President Biden issued a statement [[link removed]] in recognition of Arab American Heritage Month, as did countless other government officials and organizational partners. I am so proud of the work our community has done for decades to get us here, particularly on the local level. And I know you understand that efforts like #AAHM are directly tied to our work to protect the rights of Arab Americans, while also defending the civil rights and liberties of all. This month, we get to celebrate what it means to be Arab American and we invite you to join us!

Throughout April, we will feature Arab Americans who inspire us every day through their work in various fields. We are kicking off this month by sharing a bit about Abdullah Hammoud, the newly elected Mayor of Dearborn, Michigan [[link removed]] . We are delighted to celebrate our heritage and hope you will stay tuned each week as we recognize other Arab Americans who have made meaningful contributions.

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“To the young girls and boys who have been ridiculed for their faith or ethnicity, to those of you who were ever made to feel that their names are unwelcome, and to our parents and to others who are humiliated for their broken English and yet still persisted — today is proof that you are as American as anyone else and there is a new era in Dearborn.”

Abdullah Hammoud gave these moving remarks on November 2, 2021 at the Mohammed Turfe Community Center in Dearborn following his historic election as the first Arab American and Muslim Mayor of Dearborn, Michigan, home to the highest concentration of Arab Americans in the country. His win drew national and international media coverage given the discriminatory barriers Arab Americans have historically faced in Dearborn, including a notorious mayoral campaign flyer in 1985 that called for talking about the “Arab Problem.” While that was all before Abdullah was even born, that anti-Arab bigotry would partly define city politics for years and even found its way to his successful campaign for mayor last year. However, given the way Abdullah has approached his public service, it was not a setback but rather another way for him to reaffirm his dedication to giving back to the community.

Abdullah got his start in elected office when he ran successfully for the Michigan House of Representatives at the age of 26. He served three terms representing Dearborn and before that, in 2014, he was elected as the youngest member for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. Environmental justice has always been one of Abdullah’s key priorities as he has advocated to improve Michigan’s land, air, and water, and put forward thoughtful environmental policy.

Politics was not always the type of work Hammoud imagined he would take on, however. He initially planned to step into the medical field, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan–Dearborn and earning a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and Genetics from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. He then pursued a Master's of Business Administration at the University of Michigan-Ross. Following the sudden death of his brother, Abdullah reflected on the role he saw himself stepping into and made the decision to dedicate his life to public service. A son of Lebanese immigrants and a person with strong roots in his community, he is passionate about giving back to the people and place in which he has built his life.

Hammoud has dedicated his career to serving his city and community and in the role of Mayor, he aims to do just that for working families, improve and invest in infrastructure, public health and safety, lower taxes, and ensure quality services for residents.

We look forward to seeing the continued progress Mayor Hammoud makes in Dearborn and are proud to lift up his work and commitment to public service this month.

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Arab American Institute Foundation
1600 K Street, NW, Suite 601
Washington, DC 20006
United States