YALLA VOTE ‘08 Our Voice. Our Future.

Thursday, July 30^th, I joined members of the National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC) at a conference on civic engagement hosted by ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services). The event introduced the attendees—about 40 leaders of various Arab American organizations from around the country—to the REV campaign (Register Educate Vote). AAI’s own Helen Samhan, Executive Director of the AAI Foundation, spoke about the Yalla Vote campaign and how it fits-in with the Network’s get-out-the-vote plans. After hearing Helen’s explanation of Yalla Vote, some Network members in attendance were so enthusiastic they offered us office space in Ann Arbor, Michigan and a chance to create a new internship position in Texas. Way to go, Helen!

In a city where DOJ, DOD, and SABER are never spelled out and we all know what we’re talking about, the Yalla Vote crew have added a new acronym: ITBPPP. Although ITBPPP (’Inside The Beltway Party Plank Plaform’) is a tongue twister any way you say it, it promises to be a ‘let you hair down’ event where you can talk politics over Shisha and mezza.

In DC it really doesn’t matter which definition of Party you use. We either party with our party or party bi-partisanly. AAI invites you to join our bi-partisan ITBPPP Party.

When: Friday, July 25th at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Logan Circle

To RSVP to this event and get the address and directions, please contact Hilary at project1@aaiusa.org or call (202) 494-9859.

If you can’t come to this Friday’s Platform Party, then host one of your own! It’s easy, and AAI is here to help make your party a success with guidelines, suggestions, and free buttons, posters, and more. Just visit http://www.aaiusa.org/yallavote08 for additional info.

Yalla Vote field interns visit the DNC…

…and the RNC…

… and our nation’s Capital.

To see more photos of their Washington adventure, please visit our Flickr photostream.