YALLA VOTE ‘08 Our Voice. Our Future.

My first week as a Field Organizer in Cleveland is almost over and I’ve already learned so much about the Arab American community here from the local businesses to the organizations that bring the community together. I’m looking forward to meeting with some of these organizations next week and working with them throughout the election season and beyond to get the Arab American community politically active. All of the people that I have spoken to seem really excited about what we’re going to be doing.

Last night I had the opportunity to go the the monthly meeting of the Lakewood Democratic Club. (Lakewood is a Cleveland area city that has a very high population of Arab Americans and is therefore a great place to get Arab Americans involved.) This particular meeting was for their bi-annual elections but they did give me the opportunity to speak to the group. I explained that the Institute is working to bring Arab Americans into both parties coordinated campaigns so that they can become politically active and empowered. At the end of the meeting several people came up to me to say that they are really excited about what the Arab American Institute is doing and that they look forward to having more Arab Americans in the community become involved in their efforts. I even met two local Arab Americans who are already involved in the group and who informed me about events in the community this summer. In about a week I plan to attend the monthly meeting of the Brooklyn Republican Club Meeting (another area city that has a high population of Arab Americans) and I hope that they will be just as excited about what we’re doing and that members of the community are interested in getting involved.

-Nadia