YALLA VOTE ‘08 Our Voice. Our Future.

Matt Ellias, the New York Field Organizer for Yalla Vote, enjoyed some attention last week, as reporter Sharmila Devi spent the day shadowing him for an article in the National, a spectacular new(ish) newspaper out of Abu Dhabi, UAE. The article is called, “Campaign Urges Arabs to Vote” and is well worth the read. Here’s Matt’s take on the experience:

Correspondant Sharmila Devi interviewed me about the campaign, and shadowed me around Queens a bit to get a firsthand view of the work I am doing on the street. The interview was conducted at the office of the American Mideast Leadership Network on Steinway Street in Queens, which allowed AMLN President, Rami Nuseir, an opportunity to weigh in both on Yalla Vote and on the political status of Arab Americans. In addition to Rami and myself, Dr. Ghassan Elcheikhali, principal of the Razi school in Queens stopped by to lend his insight as a leader in the Arab American community. We had a very productive interview at the AMLN office, then made our way to a local coffee shop for a more informal discussion, and ended the day with a quick tour of Steinway, and a glimpse of your New York Field organizer in action. Please take a moment to read the article, if you haven’t already had an opportinity.

One famous Arab American- DJ Khaled said it best. “We takin’ ovaa…”

America’s Second Favorite Arab American DJ/ New York’s favorite Field Organizer,

-Matt Ellias