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NAAP-NY June 2004 NEWSLETTER
WELCOME TO THE NAAP-NY MONTHLY NEWSLETTER!
Thanks to all of you who’ve told us how much you’ve enjoyed reading our inaugural issue. We’re so pleased that you found the information valuable, fun and useful. And so we’re delighted to be sharing this next issue with you.
Please click on the links below to take a look:
- May NAAP-NY Events Recap
- June NAAP-NY Events and Meetings
- NAAP-NY News
- Summer Months
- NAAP-National News
May has been a very busy month for NAAP as we took part in everything from a rally to an art show. Take a look below to see what’ve been up to!
Saturday May 1st – New Jersey Community Outreach Initiative
NAAP-NY proudly endorsed this important event to help promote an open dialogue between Arab and Muslim communities of New Jersey and State and Federal agencies (i.e. Governor’s Office, FBI, Immigration, etc). Held at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ, this event was spearheaded by the New Jersey Chapter of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and endorsed by a number of community organizations, such as CAIR-NJ, AAI, AMU, PAC-NJ and more.
Saturday May 1st – Revlon Run/Walk for Breast and Ovarian Cancer
For the third year in a row, the NAAP-NY’s Community Service Committee organized a NAAP team to take part in the Revlon Run/Walk– a fundraising event that benefits the fight against women's cancers. The walk began at 9am in Times Square and ended in Central Park. Captained by Sarah Abdallah and Maha Khalil, the NAAP-NY team was able to raise over $500 for this very important cause. Many thanks to those NAAP-NY members who participated. Congratulations team!!
Thursday May 6th – ROAR! NAAP-NY Group Outing!
NAAP-NY organized a group outing to see PALESTINE ON BROADWAY in the world premiere of ROAR by Palestinian playwright, actress and dear friend of NAAP-NY, Betty Shamieh, at the exclusive discount price for NAAP-NY members only! Over 30 members came out to watch the impressive play.
Saturday May 8th – New Jersey NAAP-NY Orientation
To further outreach to our New Jersey membership, we held our first Orientation event in 2004 at Pier A Park in Hoboken. While the cold kept us out of the park, we relocated into a cozy café and had a great discussion among 15-20 people about the organization and ways in which our NJ members can get more involved. We look forward to seeing new faces at the next NAAP-NY orientation in the end of the summer.
Monday May 10th – Political Committee Meeting
To bring our members political initiatives that are in line with the constantly evolving political changes, NAAP-NY’s Political Committee will meet on the second Monday of every month. On May 10th At our last meeting we discussed two main themes:
1 - Ways to engage and inform the larger American community regarding Arab and Arab-American issues and concerns. Members have been assigned to scout different and ideal venues to hold film-screenings and lectures.
2 - With the presidential campaign approaching, we are currently pulling together the 2004 NAAP-NY Election Outreach Campaign - Monday June 7th has been slated for our first kick-off meeting for the elections.
· Please contact sarab998@aol.com for more info.
· If you're not on the Committee working-list and want to join, please email naappolitical-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Thursday May 13th – Media Committee Meeting
With so many negative stereotypes and misinformation in the media these days, a great team of members got together to construct a plan of action to align initiatives that will address issues that relate to the Arab-American community· The next meeting is slated for June 17th @ Brooklyn Bagel Cafe at 32nd & 5th at 7:30PM
If you’re interested in getting involved with this committee, please contact yasminaai@hotmail.com for more info.
· If you're not on the Committee working-list and want to join, please email naapmedia-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Wednesday May 19th – NAAP-NY General Meeting
Maybe you are new to New York in 2004. Maybe you are looking to get involved. Maybe you are thinking about what NAAP-NY can do for you? Or what you can do for NAAP-NY? This is exactly why we hold a general meeting every few months! We held our last meeting at Maradona Café with 15-20 people in attendance. With the many new faces came many new ideas about future projects and how NAAP-NY can do things better. We also discussed the interesting results of our membership survey that shed light on the demographics of our organization (see NAAP-NY News section for highlights).
Friday May 21st – Monday May 24th - The Forgotten Ones, Palestine Children's Art Show
Opening night on Friday May 21st was an enlightening evening of music and art featuring a slide show lecture by photographer, artist and activist
Andrew Courtney. Due to unforeseen circumstances concerning onsite building management, the cultural event on Saturday May 22nd was forced to
cancellation. The cultural event and exhibition are being rescheduled for
the weekend of August 21st at Xanadu. All bids placed Friday May 21st are
being honored. To schedule pick-up or volunteer and help out with the
rescheduled event please email naap_ny@naaponline.org.
Sunday May 23rd – Counter-Demonstration at the Salute to Israel Day Parade
The Salute to Israel Day Parade took place on Sunday May 23 along 5th avenue and for the 4th year in a row PAFNY (Palestine Activist Forum of NY) organized a counter-rally; a peaceful counter-demonstration in solidarity with the Palestinian People. This year marked 3 years with heavy NAAP-NY involvement. Over 500 New Yorkers from diverse communities: Arab, Jewish, Muslim and Christian gathered at the Salute to Israel Day Parade to voice their outrage at the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands.
There are a number of events and meetings taking place across all NAAP-NY committees. So be sure to mark your calendars, save the dates, and support your community by coming out to help make these upcoming and promising initiatives successful events!
Thursday June 3rd – ADC-NY/NAAP-NY Social Mixer
Over 120 people showed up for an evening of fun-filled mingling and excitement, as NAAP-NY and ADC-NY celebrated our first ever joint mixer at the LEMON lounge. Thank you to all the volunteers from both orgs who helped make this event a reality!
Monday June 7th – NAAP-Political Committee Meeting - NAAP-NY Election Outreach Kick-off
NAAP-NY members have been working over the last few months with various organizations and coalitions to help align our work with similar, like-minded groups to enhance efficiencies of voter registration and voter education campaigns directed at empowering our communities.
Please join us on Monday June 7th at 7pm to kick-off NAAP-NY's 2004 election outreach plans.
What: NAAP-NY Election Outreach Kick-off
Where: Horus, 6th Street and Avenue B (Manhattan)
When: Monday June 7th at 7pm
Wednesday June 9th - NAAP-NY Street Fair Meeting
The Street Fair is one month away and we need to fill up spaces! Please join us on Wednesday June 9th at 7pm to discuss the upcoming fair. Without YOUR
help this can not be a successful event! Help us bring NYC a little bit of outdoor Arab fun! It will be a day to bring Amazigh, Arab cultures, merchandise, and festivities to NYC!
What: NAAP-NY Street Fair Planning Committee Meeting
When: Wed. June 9th -- 7PM
Where: 61 Cafeteria (upstairs), 5th Ave and 13th Street
Trains that go there: 1,2,3, F, 4,5,6, N,R,W
The fair will be held on July 10th on Bond St., between Broadway & Lafayette in the Village. For more info on the fair: www.naaponline.org/ny/streetfair04.asp. Please email Amal Ibrahim @ amal201@hotmail.com for any questions.
Saturday June 19th –Summer & The City BBQ
Food, fun, games, a special raffle and FREE henna tattoos from 2pm to 3pm!!
Please join us to celebrate the REAL beginning of SUMMER on Saturday, June 19th at Prospect Park in Brooklyn (Prospect Park West and 9th Street - Entrance) from Noon to 6:00. This will be a great opportunity to network, build coalitions, discuss future collaborations, make new friends and have some FUN in the SUN!! Don't forget your blankets, games and sports equipment!!!
Spread the word and tell your friends!!! For more info please email amal201@hotmail.com
Thursday June 17th - NAAP-Media Meeting
Please join this growing committee on Thursday June 17 @ Brooklyn Bagel Cafe at 32nd & 5th at 7:30PM. An agenda will be sent out before the meeting however if you have any questions please email yasminaai@hotmail.com.
NAAP-NY heading to D.C for the ADC National convention
Dozens of NAAP-NY members will be heading to D.C the weekend of June 11th to take part in the annual ADC national convention. Come support one of the largest national Arab-American conventions - For more info about the ADC conference visit: www.adc.org
NAAP-NY Membership Survey
Thanks to all of you who’ve responded to NAAP-NY’s first membership survey. Your participation and input has been invaluable to us. And the feedback has been enlightening. Here’s some key highlights:
* 65% of NAAP-NY members are female
* 76% of members fall within the 23-34 age range
* 30% live in Manhattan, 15% in Brooklyn and ~30% in New Jersey
* 30% are of Egyptian National origin followed by 18% Palestinian, 14% Lebanese and 8% Syrian
* 70% of members are Muslim, with 25% Christian
* 43% hold an undergraduate degree and an additional 42% have a graduate degree
* Only 36% of members are fluent in Arabic (with reading and writing)
* 94% of you said you will be more active in 2004 than you were in 2003
What does all this mean? NAAP-NY is made-up of a highly educated, upwardly mobile segment of society which also represents the diversity of backgrounds within the Arab world. Of course, NAAP-NY needs to continue reaching out all across our community to strengthen its role as an organization dedicated to empowering the Arab-American community.
For any questions on the survey please email NAAP-NY's Membership Committee @ naap_ny@naaponline.org
The Arab-American Mentorship Program (AMP)
Due to the encouraging feedback from the current members of our mentorship program, NAAP-NY’s Alumni Relations Committee is now working on a second round of matching mentors with undergraduate students from universities in the NY and NJ areas. If you are interested in participating and haven’t filled out our brief online mentorship application please visit: www.naapononline.org/ny/mentor.asp. For more info, please contact either nana997@aol.com or yasmine_shamayleh@hotmail.com
Summer’s here and things are starting to heat up! We’ve got big plans for the months of June and July…but need your help. Here’s a look ahead at what you can expect to see rolling out of some of NAAP-NY’s committees. Contact the committee facilitators to find out how you can get involved.
*The Political Action Committee will kick off its Election Outreach Campaign. There’s never been a more crucial time for our community to have its voice heard. Help out by volunteering to register voters at scheduled drives in your area. By the way, are you registered to vote for the upcoming elections? Contact sarab998@aol.com for more information.
*On July 10th Join us in bringing NYC a little bit of outdoor Arab fun at The 2nd Annual Arab-American & North-African Cultural Street Festival, a cooperative effort between NAAP-NY and the Algerian American Cultural Center. Go to www.naaponline.org/ny/streetfair04.asp for details, directions, or if you want to rent a booth to promote your goods. For additional info please email amal201@hotmail.com with any questions.
* NAAP-NY's Summer Hafla is scheduled for Saturday July 23rd. The Social/Cultural committee will be meeting soon to discuss locations – if you have an idea for a great location for our summer party please email naap_ny@naaponline.org.
* NAAP-NY is partnering up again with Marsh Inc. to take the kids from the Arab-American Family Support Center to a MetroStars game. For help in
organizing this outing or if you'd like to chaperone please email naap_ny@naaponline.org
Imagine Life
Please visit the Imagine-Life website at www.imagine-life.org for updated information regarding the campaign. Your support is needed!
A.R.T Downstairs Café T.V. Show
The tape of the pilot program was sent off to A.R.T. headquarters and we are awaiting (anxiously) word on whether the series will be picked-up.
NAAP-National Biz Meeting
As some of you may already know, the various NAAP chapters plan on gathering on the weekend of July 17th in Providence, RI for the 4th National Meeting. The purpose of this meeting will be to review chapter accomplishments, discuss ongoing projects and agendas for future initiatives in order to ensure that our common strategy aligns across all NAAP chapters. NAAP-NY members from the leadership/administrative committee will represent the NY chapter and will provide a full recap to the membership afterwards.
THANKS FOR READING!
Our goal is simple: to provide you with a one-stop resource for the most up-to-date information regarding NAAP-NY and other NAAP chapters.
We appreciate your continued support and always welcome your input, feedback and involvement. Thank you for making NAAP-NY a successful Arab-American organization. We look forward to seeing you at the next NAAP-NY meeting or event.
If you have any feedback on the newsletter please email us at naap_ny@naaponline.org.
Thank you,
The Network of Arab-American Professionals of New York
www.naaponline.org/ny/ | naap_ny@naaponline.org | 212.592.4052
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