Blog Posts Related to the Arab American Community

Muslim Women Emerging Leaders: Rising Beyond the Ceiling

“As we honor the many women who have shaped our history, let us also celebrate those who make progress in our time.” – President Obama, Women's History Month Proclamation 2014

In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Office of Public Engagement organized and hosted a Muslim women emerging leaders event at the White House. The event brought together leading Muslim American women and aspiring young Muslim women to celebrate their aspirations and honor their contributions to our nation to bring progress in our time; hear directly from Administration officials about policies and programs affecting women; and discuss ways to rise beyond the ceiling and become leaders in government, media, business, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics).

More than 80 women from various states and local universities and high schools participated in the event and had the opportunity to share their experiences and hear from Administration staffers and other leaders in the community.

Key speakers included former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s Chief of Staff Huma Abedin, U.S. Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Rashad Hussain, Deputy Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls Avra Siegel, and outreach liaison to Muslim American communities for the White House Office of Public Engagement Rumana Ahmed, who all shared their perspectives on women—specifically Muslim women—in leadership across sectors and the role of identity. The main panel was moderated by Hoda Elshishtawy of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, who helped organize this leadership event.

During breakout sessions, participants also heard about opportunities and initiatives from White House staff, including Press Secretary for the First Lady Joanna Rosholm, Press Assistant Monica Lee and Senior Policy Advisor for the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Danielle Carnival.

They also heard from other Muslim women in the field, including former CNN executive Maria Ebrahimji, Raheemah Abdulaleem from the Department of Justice, Reema Dodin from the Hill and Founder & CEO of Invest to Innovate, Kalsoom Lakhani.

Opportunity for all, women’s empowerment and leadership, and equality were all issues that brought these women together and what the President has already moved to act on. Read more about President Obama’s actions here.

Rumana Ahmed leads Arab American and Muslim American outreach and is the Executive Assistant to the Director of the Office of Public Engagement.

Working on the Frontlines of Humanity

Nahla Kayali is being honored as a Cesar E. Chavez Champion of Change.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said “You only need a heart full of grace. And you can be that servant.” My passion to serve humanity runs through my veins. To serve humanity is not dictated by the color of your skin, the credentials you hold, or the amount of money you make; it’s a blank passport. All you need is love, which is universal. I have dedicated my life to serving my community and working to ensure it has the resources to thrive. Thus, I am honored to be a White House Champion of Change. 

It was during my divorce as I was trying to rebuild my life that my story of service begins. During my quest to enroll my daughter in health insurance, I learned about the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  Concerned for my child’s health, I right away enrolled my daughter in CHIP. I then asked myself—does my community know about CHIP?

I knew my community was underserved and didn’t have access to many resources so I made it my mission to start helping my community and that began with starting a non-profit agency. While my daughter enjoyed story-time at the library, I read piles of books on how to start a non-profit. As a single mom, immigrant, and with no education beyond the 8^th grade, I came across challenges that discouraged me from pursuing my dream, but my guidance from Allah and love for humanitarian work reminded me that my destiny is to start an organization to serve my community.  

Access California Services (AccessCal), a non-profit community-based culturally and linguistically competent family resource center, came to life in 1998. I received a $2,000 grant from Community Action Partnership of Orange County and worked out of a one-room office using a folding table and telephone I brought from home. I was the organization’s first volunteer. My first task was to outreach and enroll underserved children in CHIP. 

Through this program, I learned that the community needed much more than health coverage. I collaborated with the community to implement a needs assessment that surveyed 200 families. Through the assessment, I determined what other services were needed, and with that, our organization grew. Today AccessCal provides 12 programs including health access, mental health, employment services, immigration and citizenship services.

It’s been 15 years since AccessCal was established. AccessCal is my second home. When I walk down the hallways of the organization and see our refugee and immigrant clients crying tears of joy—it becomes my joy. When Khalid got his first job as a lab technician to help him put food on the table for his kids, when Fatima pledged allegiance to the flag and became a registered voter, when Sarah got health coverage to address her cancer diagnosis, when Nasser learned how to speak English to speak to his grandkids, when Mariam and Saeed saved their marriage after receiving counseling, and when Faisal learned to type a resume after taking our computer classes, I was reminded we have the capacity to change lives.

It’s an honor to have AccessCal recognized at the government level. Through grants at the federal, state, county, city, and foundation level and with the in-kind support of volunteers, community members, advocacy organizations, and business owners we are able to continue the work we are doing—which is serving humanity.  

Nahla Kayali is the Founder and Executive Director for Access California Services, a non-profit community-based family resource center dedicated to providing Arab-Americans and Muslim-Americans in Southern California with culturally and linguistically competent health and human services. 

Engaging Community Leaders On the Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations Process

In the President’s State of the Union  address, he stated, “American diplomacy is supporting Israelis and Palestinians as they engage in difficult but necessary talks to end the conflict there.” Secretary Kerry has been at the forefront of these talks and the negotiations process, and the Office of Public Engagement and his Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations have come together to engage various leaders and discuss the influence and role they can have in this process.

Arab-, Israeli-, Palestinian-, Jewish-, Christian- and Muslim American youth leaders from across the country gathered at the White House for the first time earlier this month to share the work of their organizations and student groups, and to discuss ways to promote and organize efforts in support of the current negotiations process and a two-state solution between Palestine and Israel as difficult conversations currently take place in the region. These young leaders have an imperative place and role to play in this negotiations process and in the future of the conflict as next generation leaders.

Youth Leaders discuss the work of their organizations and ideas for collaboration with State and White House staff collaborate. February 6, 2014. (by White House Office of Public Engagement)

Also earlier this year, Secretary Kerry joined a luncheon with Christian, Muslim and Jewish faith leaders at Georgetown university, coordinated by the Office of Public Engagement, State Department’s Office of the Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations and the new Office of Faith-Based Community Initiatives launched by Secretary Kerry last summer. Imam Yahya Hendi, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and Rabbi Sharon Brous came together to give opening prayers on the shared responsibility of people of all faiths in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Following the prayers from the three clergy, Secretary Kerry discussed current U.S. government efforts in the negotiations process. He also listened to the perspectives, concerns and recommendations of the various prominent faith leaders in the room, and encouraged interfaith and/or faith-based efforts to support peace in the region. 

Secretary Kerry Delivers Remarks at the Georgetown University Interfaith Luncheon January 28, 2014. (by The U.S. Department of State)

“Humanity once shared an ark, why not again?” – Imam Yahya Hendi

Rumana Ahmed is the Executive Assistant to the Director of Public Engagement.