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Arab-American Democracy Initiative Meeting Challenges
Khaled Beydoun, founder of Democracy in the Arab World Now (DAWN), is educating Americans about the Arab world one bracelet at a time.
“We circulated wristbands that created visibility and serve as a conversation starter for individuals who don’t know much about the region,” Beydoun said. Nearly 10,000 bracelets have been distributed since DAWN (http://www.arabdawn.org/) began in February.
According to its website, “DAWN is a campaign of Americans who stand in solidarity with Arab citizens across the Middle East who seek a new dawn of freedom and democracy in their countries.” Just a few months after its launch, DAWN shows that successful grass-roots movements start with commitment and determination.
“When you are a grass-roots organization, a lot of your funding and time is needed,” Beydoun said. “A lot of our membership and our leadership are fully employed individuals, so time is always at a premium.”
DAWN’s steering committee, which funded most of the bracelets, paid for them out of pocket. “It was one of those issues where you are generating a lot of popularity, and we just wanted to circulate them and get them out,” Beydoun said.
Along with time and money, DAWN’s core challenge is keeping its audience aware of key issues. As events rise and fall in the region, DAWN informs followers through its website and Facebook page.
“But when crises reach a point where they become almost commonplace, for instance in Libya … because they have stretched and extended for so long, people’s ears are less focused on what is taking place,” Beydoun said.
To expand public engagement, Beydoun said, DAWN is partnering with the Network of Arab-American Professionals (NAAP (http://www.naaponline.org/)).
With chapters in eight major U.S. cities, NAAP strengthens the community through social, cultural, professional and political initiatives.
Beydoun said the connection to NAAP is through Sarab Al-Jijakli, co-founder of NAAP’s New York chapter and DAWN supporter. Still in the planning stage, the partnership assures wider audiences for DAWN.
“Once we make our full integration into NAAP, we are going to have workshops and teach-ins that are housed through the respective NAAP chapters nationally,” Beydoun said, adding that DAWN plans to appoint a representative at each NAAP chapter nationwide.
Another approach to engaging with the community, Beydoun said, is connecting with individuals who can promote DAWN’s message.
“One of our strategic objectives was to attract members who already had an established platform or had positions where they had direct access to individuals whose ears were open,” Beydoun said. DAWN supporters include consultants, attorneys, physicians and academics.
As regional events unfold, Beydoun said, DAWN is adapting to changing needs. One of its early initiatives included a petition urging President Obama to support Arabs striving for democracy. Future petitions will focus on specific issues.
“We are looking to adjust and revise petitions based on the developments and the fluidity as to what is happening in the region,” Beydoun said. “Instead of having a broad petition, we are going to progressively have more focused and narrowly tailored petitions that focus in on the most pressing events taking place in the region.”
For the future, DAWN seeks more NAAP-type partnerships. Beydoun said one possibility is working with the Egyptian American Rule of Law Association, of which he is a member.
Partnering with like-minded groups and expanding programs will require further funding and logistics support. Beydoun is already thinking about that time.
“Ideally, [we will] reach a point where we can apply for grants and get the resources and potentially hire some full-time staff at some juncture,” Beydoun said.
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