www.adcmichigan.org

ADC MICHIGAN NEWS AND VIEWS

ADC 8^th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Awards Reception

January 26, 2007 at 6:00 PM

For sponsorship and/or information, call 313-581-1201

ADC Michigan Condemns Act of Vandalism to Local Mosque

ADC Michigan strongly condemns the hateful and intolerable act of vandalism targeted at the original structure of the Islamic Center of America and other places of worship and businesses in the City of Detroit and Dearborn (including the Karbaala Education Center) this past week.

Based on factual information and photographs that ADC has received, the front of the Islamic Center of America was defaced with anti-Muslim slurs, stating: “Go Home 911 Murderers,” and “You Idol Worship.”

As a community that prides itself on its rich diversity, ADC Michigan views this, and all hate crimes, as unacceptable and completely contradictory to our nation’s values and beliefs.  ADC reiterates its position that any act of hate will not be tolerated, or justified under any circumstances.  ADC Michigan calls on the Detroit and Dearborn Police Departments and the FBI to aggressively investigate these unfounded attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice. 

“We see these violent acts as an attack on the entire community,” states ADC Regional Director Imad Hamad.  “We trust that the authorities will exhaust every effort to resolve this case and ensure that such acts of hate will not be tolerated in our community.”

ADC Calls on Community to Advocate Against Closure of Public Schools in Detroit

ADC Michigan is truly concerned with the recent decision that has been made to close down a few Detroit Public Schools.  It has been brought to ADC’s attention, by concerned students, faculty and parents that O.W. Holmes Elementary, along with a number of other schools, are in jeopardy of closure by June 2007.  ADC has received numerous phone calls over the past few weeks from students and parents who asked for assistance in keeping their school open.  Although ADC understands the financial constraints regarding this matter, it shares the community’s concern over closing the doors of a school which facilitates the educational need of a diverse student body, including a large Arab-American base. The decision to shut down this institution will no doubt have lasting effects on its students, faculty and the community.

As a strong believer in sustaining educational institutions that serve all children, ADC is very concerned with this potential closure, which substantially affects particular groups of students.  ADC has offered to assist the District in exploring potential alternatives, in an effort to keep the doors of education open to the faculty and students of O.W. Holmes Elementary School.

Due to the level of concern regarding this matter, ADC calls on community members, especially Detroit residents, to voice their concerns to the Detroit Public School District.  Letters of support can be directed to Lisa Fedeli-Hughes and emailed to lisa.fedeli-hughes@k12.org.  You may also sign an online petition at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/owholmes.  ADC will continue to monitor the developments on this situation due to its serious impact on many communities.

New Intern Joins ADC Michigan

ADC Michigan is pleased to welcome to its office an additional intern for the winter semester.  Ms. Nicole Rohrkemper is a graduate in Economics and Philosophy from Alma College and a future law student, who plans on studying civil rights law.  Nicole, who has three and half years of legal experience working as a legal assistant at a general practice law firm in Ann Arbor, will work directly with ADC Michigan’s Director of Policy and Community Affairs, Nadia Fadel, on discrimination complaints received by the office.

ADC MLK Scholarship Awards Ceremony this Week - January 26, 2007

On Friday, January 26, 2007, ADC Michigan, will host its 8^th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Awards Dinner at the Bint Jebail Cultural Center (6220 Miller Rd.) in Dearborn.  ADC Michigan is pleased to host Detroit Chief of Police Ella Bully-Cummings as the keynote speaker at this event. The reception is expected to host 500 guests, including students, their parents, officials, educators and dignitaries. This year’s reception promises to be a spectacular event that will showcase our youth’s accomplishments.  For more information on the MLK contest, or the Scholarship Dinner, visit www.adcmichigan.org, or call 313-581-1201.  To read more about ADC Michigan’s MLK Scholarship Program, read the Arab American News at: http://www.arabamericannews.com/newsarticle.php?articleid=7351.

Objectivity in the Media, Does it Exist? - January 25, 2007

On Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 7:00 PM, Friends United will host a number of diverse media experts in an educational forum discussing “Objectivity in the Media, Does it Exist?” at the University of Michigan Dearborn’s Fairlane Center. The panel consists of Paul Anger, Vice President and Editor of the Detroit Free Press, Gregg Krupa, Staff Reporter for the Detroit News, Kay Siblani, Managing Editor of the Arab American News and  Terry Ahwal, Director of Development at the Rehab Institute of Michigan.  In addition, Matt Roush, Technology Editor at WJR Newsradio 950 will moderate questions from the audience. For more information, contact Siham Awada Jaafar at 313-910-1955 or Paul Good at (313) 910-1955.

LAHC Now Accepting Applications for Annual Scholarship

Once again, the Lebanese American Heritage Club is accepting applications for the 19th Annual Arab American Scholarship Foundation Program. Please note that all applicants must first apply online by visiting the LAHC website at: www.lahc.org. Applicants must also print out a copy of the application, sign it and mail it with the required supporting documents by April 13, 2007 to the LAHC Headquarters, located at 4337 Maple Street, Dearborn, MI, 48126.  PLEASE NOTE THAT If YOU DO NOT APPLY ONLINE, YOUR APPLICATION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. 

*ADC News and Views is ADC Michigan’s electronic newsletter.  All rights to this newsletter are reserved for ADC.  However, please feel free to circulate this information with proper acknowledgement.  For more information, please contact Ms. Rana Abbas Chami at 313-581-1201.

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