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ADC Expresses its Gratitude to Mary Rose Oakar for Over 6 Years of Service and Congratulates Sara Najjar-Wilson as New ADC President
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) proudly thanks outgoing President, Mary Rose Oakar, for her years of dedication and commitment to the work and mission of ADC. ADC wishes her continued success in her future work.
Effective March 1, 2010, Sara Najjar-Wilson assumes her duties as the successor to the Hon. Mary Rose Oakar. Outgoing President, Hon. Mary Rose Oakar said: “It has been a great privilege and experience to work as President of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee for the last 6 ½ years. Working for the protection of the Civil and human rights of people of Arab Heritage and others is a noble profession. I wish to thank the extraordinary and dedicated staff, National Board Members, Chapters, and Supporters of ADC. Special thanks to ADC Chair, Dr. Safa Rifka, Assad Jebara, Vice Chair, for their outstanding support. My sincere best wishes to Sara Najjar-Wilson, Esq., who has an outstanding background for the job as President. ”
“However, more work needs to be done. While ADC has paved the way for the protection of civil and human rights, and has access to the Government and numerous Institutions, it needs more support from people of Arab roots. ADC cannot exist without the support and dedication of its members. Please make the sacrifice and support this wonderful organization celebrating its 30th Anniversary. ADC is needed now more than ever”!
Sara stated: “It is humbling and an honor to be named the President of the leading Arab-American grassroots organization dedicated to advocating and protecting the civil and human rights of all people in our great Country; and to promoting peaceful resolutions to world conflicts, including a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. It is an awesome responsibility – but, I look forward to working with the National Board, dedicated Staff, the Chapters, Members, Coalition Partners, and Supporters to meet the many challenges that lie ahead; and I am confident that working together we will meet and overcome those challenges. We believe that ADC’s 30th Anniversary this year will be a celebration of not only our past achievements but also a celebration of a bright future for our continuing Commitment to Service and to the American beacon of hope, justice, equality, and freedom.”
The Chair of the Board of Directors, Dr. Safa Rifka, said, “ADC is incredibly lucky to have Ms. Najjar-Wilson as the incoming President. She has been involved with ADC for decades, knows the key issues, and will help lead ADC into the future.”
Dr. Rifka also praised Mary Rose Oakar: “And of course, we would not have had many of the recent successes without the great leadership of Mary Rose Oakar; her dedication over the past 6 1/2 years has been unrelenting. Mary Rose was a key figure in the purchase of the current ADC headquarters in Washington DC. We extend to her our warmest regards for success in her continuing public and community service.”
ADC Incoming President, Sara Najjar-Wilson, is an experienced attorney with more than 30 years of service in the Federal government, having served as a Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Division, and as a Senior Attorney in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Office of the General Counsel. Among other leadership positions, she has served as Chairperson of the Federal Litigation Section of the Federal Bar Association (FBA) and as the Program Chairperson of the Washington Foreign Law Society. Ms. Najjar-Wilson represented NASA in several “high profile” activities, including the interests of the families of the late Challenger astronauts, and the launch of the Cassini Spacecraft. Among many honors and awards, Sara received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal.