Children return home after judge’s decision, mother vows to help other families facing custody battles
March 29th, 20130 OAKLAND COUNTY — On Mar. 7 Oakland County Judge Lisa Gorcyca granted a American Muslim couple back custody of their two daughters. The girls, Sophia, 6, and Nadiya, two, were removed from their home and parents’ custody in May 2012 by officials from Child Protected Services after a neighbor witnessed Sophia playing...ASU holds 8th Annual Banquet
DEARBORN — The Arab Student Union (ASU) of the University of Michigan-Dearborn held their 8th Annual Empowering the Youth Banquet at the Bint Jebail Cultural Center on Friday March 22 with keynote speaker Reverend David Alexander Bullock. Also in attendance among the 600 guests were Congressman John Dingell, Dearborn Board Trustee...Arab American named Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Gold Scholar
DEARBORN — Henry Ford Community College student Amir El-Aswad received a $1,500 scholarship and a special medallion as a Coca-Cola Gold Scholar. El-Aswad was one of 1,800 applicants. "I was absolutely surprised and delighted at the same time when I learned that I won this scholarship," said El-Aswad, of Bloomfield Hills. The...Arab American CHS students receive prestigious U of M tuition-free scholarships
DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Three Arab American students received special recognition Thursday at Crestwood High School here for their success both academically and in other areas. The students all received tuition-free scholarships for four years from the University of Michigan. Hassan Abbas, the president of the National Honor Society...Large influx of Iraqi refugees continue migrating to metro Detroit
According to a report, since the start of the Iraq War in 2003 roughly 30,000 Iraqi refugees have arrived in metro-Detroit. Some of the obstacles the refugees are dealing with include language barriers, driving, poor mental health, and not having the high education levels required to get employed among other serious issues. In 2012...Board seeks public input on Election Day for school bond
DEARBORN — The Dearborn Board of Education is seeking community input in regards to placing a $76 million bond proposal on either the August 6, 2013 Primary Ballot or the November 5, 2013 General Election Ballot. Anyone interested in sharing their opinion can take part in a quick and easy survey by visiting the district website,...Michigan Right-to-Work in effect, protestors express dismay around metro Detroit
DETROIT- Michigan’s controversial Right-to-Work law went into effect on Thursday with the backing of Governor Rick Snyder, who said it is a milestone that will bring jobs to Michigan. Protestors hold a peaceful demonstration outside a UAW meeting on Thursday evening.Protesters however expressed their dismay all over metro-Detroit....Biden to keynote Michigan Democratic Party’s annual event
Biden.LANSING — Vice President Joe Biden will serve as the keynote speaker for the Michigan Democratic Party’s annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner that will take place on April 20, 2013, at 6 p.m. at Cobo Hall, party officials announced Monday. “As we continue to fight against policies that hurt the middle class in Michigan, Vice...Local TV station hires Arab American multimedia reporter
Nima Shaffe.SOUTHFIELD — Today's young Arab Americans are pursuing career paths previous generations didn't generally take on, such as everything from journalism and high political office to entertainment. Arab American Nima Shaffe is one of local WXYZ channel 7 ABC affiliate's new multi-media reporters. There has been some...Visually impaired Arab American to be honored for work in rehabilitation and disability
DEARBORN — Rabih Dow, Director of Rehabilitation Services and International Training and Fencing Coach at the Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton, Massachusetts will receive the Excellence and Great Achievements Award for his work in rehabilitation and disability from the Lebanese American Heritage Club. "Although I lost my...Detroit police and fire departments receive $8 million donation
DETROIT — On Monday, Mayor Dave Bing announced that several businesses have pledged a total of $8 million to help the city pay for emergency vehicles that includes 23 EMS units and 100 police cars. Detroit, which has a projected deficit of more than $200 million this year alone, has had to cutback on emergency services in recent...Michigan announces Autism spectrum disorders state plan
LANSING — On Mar. 18, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) and the Michigan Autism Council released the Michigan Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) State Plan. This plan represents another major step to addressing the many needs of the 16,000 students with ASD in our public school system and the 50,000 individuals and their...Social justice groups merge as Michigan United
DETROIT —Two of Michigan’s social justice organizations, the Alliance for Immigrants Rights and Reform and the Michigan Organizing Project, officially merged as one organization, and are now officially Michigan United. The merge occured during Justice Launch 2013, a statewide social justice gathering of more than 500...Local college groups to hold blood drive at HFCC
DEARBORN — The Criminal Justice Club and Arab Student Union at Henry Ford Community College (HFCC) will hold a blood drive in Room C-119 of the Student and Culinary Arts Center, located on the main campus, on Monday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. and Tuesday, April 9, from 10 a.m. to 3:45 a.m. The event is free and open to...Arab American wins State of Michigan USA Taekwondo Championship
Hameed Dakroub (Center) Master Hameed Dakroub has won the Michigan Tae Kwon Do State Championships in Lansing on March 23, 2013. He has previously won the Ohio Regional Championship in 2011, and the USA Jr. Olympic Tae Kwon Do Championships, in 2002. He also took fourth place at the World Class National Championships, in......
New Syrian cookbook features century-old traditional recipes
March 29th, 20130 A new cookbook titled, Sitto's Kitchen: A Treasury of Syrian Family Recipes Taught from Mother to Daughter for Over 100 Years features century old Syrian recipes. It includes original recipes from the author's grandmother along with contemporary cooking tips and memories associated with each dish. Readers are invited to learn the...Dearborn Heights Police seek stronger neighborhood involvement to fight crime
DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Last Tuesday, the Dearborn Heights Police Department held a public meeting at their police department in order to bring the city's neighborhoods together to help reduce a recent string of robberies targeting vacant homes.Police Corporal Mark Parrinello organized the meeting in an effort to pump some new momentum into...Of hope and pain: Rachel Corrie’s Rafah legacy
“Hi Papa .. Don’t worry about me too much, right now I am most concerned that we are not being effective. I still don’t feel particularly at risk. Rafah has seemed calmer lately,” Rachel Corrie wrote to her father, Craig, from Rafah, a town located at the southern end of the Gaza Strip.‘Rachel’s last email’ was not dated on...College students visit Honduras; bring relief to impoverished residents
DEARBORN — Five Arab American Wayne State University students spent their spring break in Honduras working on projects that bring relief to impoverished people, such as revitalizing current infrastructure and establishing an entirely new framework to improve the quality of life in rural areas. The projects included dam......
Hotline established by ACRL in wake of abrupt, unexplained bank account closures of Arab Americans
March 22nd, 20130 DEARBORN — A local civil rights group is taking action in response to the overwhelming number of complaints it has received from Arab Americans who say their bank accounts were closed abruptly with no reasonable explanation. At a press conference Tuesday, the Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL) announced that it established...Judge David Allen to chair ADC-Michigan Advisory Board
Judge David J. AllenDEARBORN — The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) of Michigan announced that long term advisory board member, the Honorable Judge David Allen will now serve as the ADC Advisory Board Chairman for the 2013/2014 term. Judge David J. Allen of Wayne County Circuit Court has worked in the......
Michigan Civil Rights Commission celebrates 50 years; local Arab leaders ask for better representation
March 22nd, 20130 LANSING — This week, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission (MCRC) celebrated a landmark with its 50th anniversary milestone. The commission has been a prominent advocate since the 1960's, when it defended the civil rights of African Americans, and comes full circle today in a post 9/11 era, with issues pertaining to the Arab and Muslim...
Candidates pull petitions for Dearborn Heights Mayor, City Council
March 22nd, 20130 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The municipality race in Dearborn Heights is picking up steam as candidates have begun to pull their petitions before the May 14 deadline. Positions up for election this year are Mayor, four of the seven City Council seats, Treasurer and City Clerk.So far, three candidates have pulled petitions for city mayor. Daniel......