Arab American and American Indian leaders came together Tuesday in a rare meeting between the two communities with goals of strengthening bonds and discussing issues of mutual concern.
Heads of the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee Michigan and the North American Indian Association (NAIA) of Detroit said the two groups met with hopes that it would spark the beginning of a lasting partnership.
“The Native American community in Detroit is touched and honored by ADC Michigan’s efforts to build a partnership that will better both of our communities,” said Sharon George, Executive Director of the NAIA of Detroit. “We look forward to future meetings that will give us the opportunity to bring our communities together with respect to our cultures and traditions.”
ADC Michigan Regional Director Imad Hamad said the two groups had never before made an effort to engage each other.
He said the leaders learned about each other, what areas in the region the two communities are concentrated and what current issues are of most concern.
“This is a very unique connection,” Hamad said.
“Our bond is strong and this meeting is the beginning of a productive and mutually beneficial relationship between ADC Michigan and the NAIA of Detroit.”
He said the two groups may share events in the future, and could be able to rely on each other when facing adversity.
“We may need them to support of us in certain issues. They may need us to support them in certain issues,” Hamad said.
“This is a very important community… ADC Michigan takes great pride in its partnership with the Native American community.”
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Detroit Mayor Kenneth Cockrel Jr. |
DETROIT— The Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization providing human and social services throughout southeastern Michigan, will host City of Detroit Mayor Kenneth Cockrel Jr. at the joint meeting of its Board of Directors and Advisory Board on Tuesday, April 7 at 11:30 a.m.
The board meeting is to be held at ACC’s Youth Recreation and Leadership Center, located at 62 W. Seven Mile Road, in Detroit. Mayor Cockrel will be present to share his views and plans for economic development in the City of Detroit.
ACC’s Seven Mile Project, a Community and Neighborhood Development Initiative, is aimed at revitalizing the area both economically and residentially. Divided into three phases, the project has provided a glimmer of hope on the long-abandoned Seven Mile Road nestled between John R Road and Woodward Avenue. The project received its “COOL CITIES” designation by the Governor’s office in 2005.
ACC is the premier non-profit human service organization providing services to the Middle Eastern and mainstream communities in southeast Michigan. As a bridge of understanding, ACC maximizes the skills, resources and expertise of the community. Furthermore, ACC provides better opportunities to enable newcomers to adjust to their new environment.
Hearings to resume in SMART bus harassment case
Hearings before the Michigan Civil Rights Commission are to resume Monday in a long-running case to determine whether a Farmington Hills Chaldean man should be compensated by SMART, metro Detroit’s bus system, for alleged harassment he faced from co-workers and supervisors over several years at a SMART facility, where the man worked as a bus mechanic for 15 years.
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Mazyn Barash |
One of the co-workers who allegedly harassed Barash was fired in October after the U.S. Secret Service visited the facility to investigate alleged threats the man made to kill then-presidential candidate Barak Obama.
Images of camels, an Aladdin cartoon character and war in Iraq, were posted throughout the work place, as co-workers made disparaging comments aimed indirectly at Barash’s ethnicity on a daily basis, according to family members.
SMART spokespeople have only said about the case that SMART does not tolerate discrimination and takes allegations of bias seriously.
The hearings, which began early last year, are scheduled to resume on April 6 and continue through the month at Michigan Department of Civil Rights offices in Cadillac Place, 3054 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit.
In another workplace discrimination case, a district court in St. Paul, Minn. approved a settlement in an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission class-action lawsuit ordering $365,000 be paid to a group of 156 Somali American Muslims.
Gold’n Plump Poultry, Inc. is to pay $215,000 to 128 Somali American Muslims who claimed religious discrimination, including discharge and discipline, and the group of employees is to be allowed a break during their shifts to allow them to pray.
Another 28 people are to be paid $150,000 by employment agency The Work Connection, for refusing to place the job seekers because they wouldn’t sign a form stating that they would not refuse to handle pork in the course of their jobs. In addition to stopping use of the “pork form,” the agency is to provide each of the 28 job seekers an offer for placement at Gold’n Plump.
“When employees identify aspects of their religious beliefs that conflict with their employment, employers must engage these workers to explore solutions. Employers who take a ‘my way or the highway’ approach to requests for religious accommodation clearly do so at their peril,” said equal opportunity attorney Nick Pladson.
Treating mental illness in Muslims
LANSING — Intense social focus and political pressure on American Muslims in recent years, coupled with cultural stigma associated with mental illness, put U.S. Muslims at greater risk of suffering from untreated psychological health problems, according to mental health experts.
A conference in Lansing on Saturday is to help create awareness, promote acceptance and identify resources for addressing psychological health in Muslim communities.
“Islam and Medicine-Treating Muslims: A Mental Heath Perspective” is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 4 at the University Club of the Michigan State University Ballroom, 3435 Forest Road.
Contact MSU’s psychiatry department eductational program coordinator Rita Peffers at 517.353.4349.
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Imam Hassan Qazwini (L) with the Archbishop of Detroit, Allen Vigneron. |
DEARBORN — The new Roman Catholic archbishop of Detroit visited the Islamic Center of America on Monday, in an effort to foster interfaith relations.
Archbishop Allen VigneronImam, the spiritual leader of some 1.4 million Metro Detroit Catholics, met with Imam Sayid Hassan Qazwini, head of one of the nation’s largest mosques.
“So many of us here today are bound by the word of God, and we look to Abraham as one of our fathers in faith,” Vigneron said. “I am almost overwhelmed by your words of welcome and warmth.”
Vigneron was bishop of the Diocese of Oakland before becoming the local archbishop in January.
He spoke Monday about three specific virtues shared by Christianity, Islam and Judaism – commitment to the common good, dedication to peace and hope.
“God says in the Quran, ‘You will certainly find the nearest in friendship to those who say they are Christian,'” said Qazwini during the visit. “Jesus and Muhammad are none other than but two channels to God. Let us open our houses of worship to each other.”
Fundraiser for Michigan Peace Team
A fundraiser in support of the Michigan Peace Team featuring Michael Moore will take place Saturday, May 2, 2009. From 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. a wine and cheese reception will be held. From 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. a program and dinner will take place. Throughout the evening there will also be a silent auction and musical entertainment. Emcee for the evening will be Amy Lange, news reporter for WJBK TV-2 in Detroit.
Admission is $50 per person for the program and dinner, $100 per person to also include the wine and cheese reception.
This event is to be held at the Democratic Club of Taylor at 23400 Wick Road, Taylor, MI 48180.
You may place your order for tickets online at http://www.michiganpeaceteam.org/Michael_Moore_fundraiser.htm. The amount of donation over $18 per person is tax deductible.
For more information call Kim Redigan at 313.520.7465 or email to:kredigan@yahoo.com or email Liz Walters at elizabethwalters.mpt@gmail.com.
If you are interested in helping MPT by donating auction items, please phone Maureen Aman, 586.242.4250.
Small items for donation, such as gift certificates, may be mailed to Lourdes Fonseca at 23730 Rowe St.; Dearborn, MI 48124.
Free physicals offered in Detroit for athletes
DETROIT – It is a fact. In order to play a sport, students must have an up-to-date physical exam performed by a medical professional. It is also a fact that many students’ families simply cannot afford that procedure and the athletes sit on the sidelines when they should be engaged in the competition. Additionally, statistics show that as many as one in every seven adolescents has no health insurance and that one in every three low income adolescents has no Medicaid coverage, as the option of securing private health insurance becomes more and more unattainable.
The Detroit-Wayne County Health Authority, the Detroit Health and Wellness Promotion, in collaboration with the Northwestern High School (NWHS)-School Based Clinic, examined those problems and created a solution. During the Easter break, between 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., from April 13 through April 17, any student athletes between the ages of 5 and 21 will be able to receive a free physical examination so that they can get back into their game. Even if students have insurance, they are welcome to take advantage of this event.
Students simply need to come to Northwestern High School, located at 2200 W. Grand Blvd., and go to room A-300. In addition to the physical exams for the athletes, free Well Child Care Visits will also be available at the clinic during the break. No proof of residency is required. It is recommended that anyone taking advantage of the free physicals and Well Child services, make an appointment by calling 313.596.0700, ext. 388, however, walk-ins are welcome.
Each day of the Easter Break clinic, the first 100 young athletes who come for physicals will receive a sports backpack. There will be information presented that focuses on the importance of good nutrition, and learning about and understanding how to live with chronic diseases such as asthma and diabetes. If the young athlete is un- or underinsured, the Health Authority staff will be there to provide screening and application assistance to try to enroll them in a Medicaid program. There will also be a variety of activities taking place such as a raffle, door prizes and face-painting along with refreshments.
During the school year, the NWHS clinic provides primary care services for the students. It is operated by the Detroit Health and Wellness Promotion.
Co-sponsors of this event are the Southeastern Michigan Medicaid Health Plans: Health Plan of Michigan, Midwest Health Plan, Molina Healthcare, Great Lakes Health Plan, Omni Care, and Pro Care Health Plan.
For more information about DPS enrollment, call 313.873.7098 or visit our website at www.detroitk12.org.
Annual celebrating success banquet scheduled
DEARBORN — The Arab American Professionals Network (AAPN) will be hosting its 4th Annual Celebrating Success Banquet on Wednesday, May 20th, 2009 at the Greenfield Manor in Dearborn.
The AAPN recognizes Arab American professionals in the Detroit area who serve as mentors and role models for other Arab Americans in the region. Five individuals will be recognized as the Arab American professional of the year in medicine, education, business, finance and law. Nominations are open to the public and deadlines are quickly approaching!
If you are interested in sponsoring the event, or nominating a professional contact Hebah Alwerfalli at Hebaha@americanarab.com or 313.945.1700.
Nomination forms for the 2009 Arab American Professional of the Year are available on the website of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce at www.americanarab.com.
The Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC) will host City of Detroit Mayor Kenneth Cockrel Jr. ACC is the premier non-profit human service organization providing services to the Middle Eastern and mainstream communities in southeast Michigan.
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