YALLA VOTE ‘08 Our Voice. Our Future.

Yalla Vote is spreading the word about the Virtual Phone Bank to student groups on college campuses across Michigan. Last week, we had a voter information table at the picnic of the Muslim Student Association of Wayne State University . This picnic allowed us to speak more about our Virtual Phone Bank and to recruit volunteers. Everyone seemed to be very enthusiastic about our convenient call tool and more people signed up to make phone calls. I also emphasized about how easy it is to do this. I mean this is the EASIEST WAY POSSIBLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. We have to make a lot of phone calls and we can’t do it alone. Arab Americans need to be heard, sign up now for our VIRTUAL PHONE BANK.

YALLA CALL!!!

-Jana

As we all gear up for our last push before the election, we’re asking you to help us find volunteers to make calls this month, using an exciting, new on-line tool that makes it easy for us to get out the Arab American vote.

Yes, we’re all really busy, but the Yalla Vote Virtual Phone Bank makes it simple to reach out to registered Arab American voters across America.

Here’s how the Yalla Vote Virtual Phone Bank works:

1. Fill out the fast, simple form at www.aaiusa.org/volunteer.
2. You will receive an e-mail with details of how to log onto the Yalla Vote Virtual Phone Bank and get started.
3. Set aside an hour or two between 10AM and 9:00PM on days of your choosing to call registered Arab American voters and remind them to vote on November 4th.

We’re asking for just an hour or two of your time to give this easy, convenient system a try. Call registered Arab American voters and remind them to vote on November 4th. If you like the system, you can make as many calls as you like.

It can’t be simpler-and it couldn’t be more important. The stakes have never been higher. It’s our voice. It’s our future. Click here now and make a difference.

Thank you for your help.

s as we move towards the elections, the feeling of excitement and hope flows within the Arab American community here in Orange County. People gathering for get-togethers, Friday prayer, or a casual coffee, are all talking about politics. It seems that folks are unclear on the different stands each candidate takes and what they stand for. This is why everyone needs to do their homework, get to know their candidates, and decide based on where they stand, not how they sound or what the latest political commercial tries to sell you.

Here in Orange County, we’ve been stressing the importance of making an educated vote this November, All through Ramadan. I was at the mosque getting Arab Americans registered to vote. Doing, this enabled me to hit three birds with one stone. Breaking my fast, engaging myself with the community and getting them more politically aware of the elections.

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AAI President Dr. James Zogby spoke on July 18, 2008 at the City Club of Cleveland– “U.S. Middle East Policy & the 2008 Elections: A Critical Moment” (click here to hear Dr. Zogby’s speech). Later that day, he met with members of the local Arab American community, including members of C.A.M.E.O., AACCESS-Ohio, and AAI Ohio members. Dr. Zogby encouraged the community to become involved in this year’s election and answered questions about his talk that he did not get to answer earlier at the City Club.

St. George Festival in Toledo

St. George’s Church in Toledo, Ohio held its annual festival that same weekend. Although it rained on and off, hundreds came to experience Middle Eastern culture and socialize. And Yalla Vote was there with a table and volunteers collected signatures for the National Declaration and registered voters.

C.A.M.E.O. Annual Picnic

On July 20 in Cleveland, the Cleveland American Middle Eastern Organization had its annual picnic at German Central Farm, inviting members of the Arab American community and local elected officials and candidates. I, along with a few volunteers, was also present collecting signatures and telling people about the Yalla Vote campaign.

Until next time…Yalla Vote!

-Nadia

A quick spin around the blogosphere this morning brought an article in New America Media to our attention.Reporters Mohamad Ozeir and Michelle Salamey noticed a disturbing trend at January’s Michigan primary, and wrote the article, Lackluster Arab American Turnout in Michigan:

Though it is tempting to explain the low turn out in Michigan’s primary based on snow and falling temperatures, the weather was not a factor. Many Michigan voters who should have ventured out to cast their ballots didn’t show up. It was true for the general population, but even more evident among Arab American youth, many of whom felt their vote wouldn’t matter.

The problem is… each vote DOES matter. If we don’t participate in the elections, we don’t have a voice on the Hill and in our own backyards to represent the issues closest to our hearts and minds. If we don’t follow the candidates, know how they vote on our issues, and support those who support us, we will be mute and powerless.

Encourage your friends and family to get involved this November. One vote can make the difference… 100,000 can change everything. What would 1,000,000 Arab American voters do?

Michigan field office intern Sarah Jaward did a wonderful job summarizing the Wellstone training sessions that took place the first weekend of April. Below are some excerpts from her report:

AAI Voter Engagement Training

On Friday April 4th through Saturday the 5th the Arab American Institute-Midwest office hosted its first ever Voter Engagement Training, featuring the Wellstone Action Fund. The aim of this initiative was to provide political training and leadership development with the expectation that the skills attainted by the attendees would be implemented back to their communities, helping to mobilize social change within the United States for the Arab American population as a whole.

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