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March 18th ADC Event Pays Tribute to International Womens Day and
The ADC Michigan Womens Initiative, working in tandem with the Washington D.C.-based ADC (American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee) will present its inaugural banquet the evening of Sunday March 18th, at the Regency Manor in Southfield, Michigan. Several hundred guests are expected to gather in what is a continuing, world-wide celebration and tribute to International Womens Day (which kicked off the first week in March).
Promising a stellar program, the Womens Initiative will recognize and honor “Ordinary Women Who Achieve Extraordinary Things.” Music and cultural presentations will be combined with “life story narratives” of several Arab American women who, over time, defeated the odds, met challenges, and accomplished extraordinary endeavors. Inspired by a wave of anti- Arab American sentiment in recent years, noted Detroit educator, community activist, and women’s rights advocate, Amal David, brought together a consortium of 60 women of Arab descent, who saw the need to be more proactive and respond to civil rights issues, personal hardships and barriers, faced not only by women, but also children and the Arab American community in general.
Dr. David, who spearheaded the ADC Womens Initiative in Spring of 2011, hopes that this group will grow and become a dynamic, community-based and outreach arm of the national organization, which was founded in 1980. As the largest non-profit grassroots Arab American civil rights organization in the U.S., ADC addresses civil rights issues of Arab Americans, while it combats discrimination, promotes mutual understanding across all cultures, and through its educational, cultural, and fine arts programs, helps to preserve and showcase the cultural heritage of over 3 million Arab Americans in the U.S.
The Michigan Womens Initiative consists of women from Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties who joined the ADC National Office and its Detroit Chapter, in its mission to recognize the achievements of Arab American women, while it supports and strengthens the role of women within all communities. “We came together as a volunteer group of diverse Arab American women from around the country, to commemorate International Womens Day, and to especially recognize and herald the many accomplishments and endeavors of everyday women within our communities,” says Nuzmeya Elder, program committee member.
ADC’s not-to-be-missed March 18th celebratory program at the Regency will start at 5:00 p.m. and feature keynote speaker Hala Ajluni, an accomplished Arab American woman of Palestinian roots and well-known community service activist and culture/arts advocate, who will share inspiring messages from her “life’s journey.” Also highlighting the evening will be a special Awards Presentation, which recognizes “the exceptional lives of four ordinary women” who were selected for recognition by a female nominations panel. Banquet guests will be treated to moving video clips and testimonials; a memorable performance by the classic Ta’amollat Women’s Dance Troupe; “crowd-pleasing” Dearborn elementary school students will perform a unique drum (derbekee) music number; vocal performances by the truly talented; and a popular DJ will sustain the evening’s upbeat mood with a rich array of Arabic music for listening and dancing. Tickets are $35 and may be obtained by calling the ADC Michigan Office: 313 – 581-1201.