YALLA VOTE ‘08 Our Voice. Our Future.

On Saturday Night, June 28th, the Moroccan Congress of USA held their “Unite Tonight” for Obama event at Shiraz Grill in Orlando. The event was spearheaded by Jamila “Mimi” Chami, who is the director of the Moroccan Congress in Florida.

There was great Iranian food, live music, and of course, sheesha. The Moroccan Congress event at Shiraz was a great time to talk to the community about their political interests and get them to sign the National Declaration.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the Moroccan Congress, click here to visit their website. Or, send me an e-mail and I’ll get you hooked up with the right people (after recruiting you as a volunteer of course :)).

And, for those of you who are SO sad that you missed this event, don’t worry… I’ll be having a meet and greet event on July 19th. Details to come soon! Yalla VOTE!!

P.S…. Let’s hear from the REPUBLICAN side of the aisle soon, ok? If you’re a Republican organizing in Florida, I’d love to hear from you and help you get out the vote!

-Mia

As we head into July, with changes at the AAI’s Midwest office and community events happening each week, things are heating up! Sunday night Amir joined Hassan and Midwest Director Valerie Smith for the closing gala dinner event of the second symposium of the National Association of Yemeni-Americans at the Dearborn Hyatt, at which Valerie spoke about the Yalla Vote campaign. The conference brought together members of various Arab American community organizations as well as visiting Yemeni citizens, including the Yemeni Ambassador to the U.N., to discuss the importance of education in addressing the concerns and realizing the goals of our community.

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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

We’re moving into the predictable muck and mire of a presidential campaign, and it’s easy to lose heart as temperatures rise, on the thermometer and the campaign trail.

This week’s Washington Watch column from Dr. Zogby is a breath of cool, sweet air, and carries wisdom and hope through these dog days of an election summer:

Great movements arose that changed and are still changing America. Each age has produced its champions. Abolitionists took risks to end slavery. Great mass social movements of organized labor and women, and civil rights, consumer, environmental and peace activists have fought to change the face of America. These movements have, in fact, expanded freedom and opportunity, and improved the quality of life for countless millions.

This came home to me in a very direct way in 1984. I was given the honor at that year’s Democratic National Convention of placing Jesse Jackson’s name in nomination for President of the United States.

As I walked to the podium and looked out over the 4,000 assembled delegates and the more than 15,000 observers and media in attendance, I thought of my father and his story, and mine. What came to me then, I share with you now: Here I was the son of an illegal immigrant, and I was about to nominate for President the great grandson of a slave. Where else but in America could that story be told?

Truly. Look how far we have come. Through perserverence, education, involvement, and care, we can make things right and build a brighter future for America.

this week and be inspired to make some changes.

Last Thursday I had the opportunity to be a guest speaker at NAAP (network of Arab American Professionals) Mixer. The room was filled with excitement and the crowd was pumped. I gave a speech on why Arabs need to come together and vote and talked about the “YALLA VOTE ” Campaign and the National Declaration that we are circulating. I was really happy with the feedback that I got . Even though I was really sick that day ( I came down with strep throat), I was able to give my speech and networked with Arab professionals in the community. Many people came up to me and wanted to involve their children as volunteers. I said “Give me their number and I’ll take it from there.”

After the NAAP dinner, many of us moved next door to, of course, the shisha bar, and finished the night there. If you haven’t picked up on this already I love going to shisha bars and collecting signatures. I have a good time, talk politics, smoke shisha and pass on the Yalla Vote message, which fufills my duty as a YALLA VOTE Field organizer. So until my next adventure, I’ll keep you posted.