My grandmother tells me the story of having to leave Palestine in a boat and going to Egypt. It was the 1940s. She thought it was only going to be for a few weeks, but they never went back to Palestine. My grandparents learned to make a home for themselves and for others in a…
After 9/11, Arab Americans were heavily targeted, feared and misrepresented. I made it a point to change the way people saw Arab Americans by attaching my identity to everything I do, even when giving to causes that are not affecting the Arab American community. My identity became my driving force, and the pride I grew…
I lost too many friends to AIDS and as a result I began volunteering in HIV and AIDS related projects. Volunteering was a gruesome experience, but also healing and fulfilling. I found a cause I was interested in supporting. This experience led me to another cause I was passionate about namely by birth, the Syrian…
Amad Elzayat’s parents left Lebanon to come to Dearborn, Michigan with their family when he was seven months old. His mother stayed at home to raise six children while his father supported the family working two jobs, until he was injured and couldn’t work any longer. Although Elzayat’s family was poor growing up, he says…
The reputation attached to the pre-med lifestyle is no secret—difficult research labs, months in the library MCAT studying, and multiple emails to doctors asking for shadowing opportunities. Despite this already hectic schedule, pre-med student Abdul-Rahman Sulieman wanted to do even more. As an undergraduate, Abdul helped start MedEq at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan….
Growing up in Southwest Detroit, Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP) fund-holder Rachid Elabed and his friends didn’t have a safe place to play outside. Drawing on his belief that youth everywhere should have a safe place to play and enjoy their childhood, Rachid is partnering with Neinas Elementary School and other community organizations to…
We’d like to take this opportunity to give a warm ahlan wa sahlan to Maher Touma, the newest member to join the CAAP Advisory Board. Maher is the Chairman and CEO of CECA Supply & Services Inc, an oil and energy company located in Houston, TX. Maher is a seasoned businessman, and also a generous philanthropist. He is a supporter…
CAAP recently had the chance to speak with Nadine Makki, the Operations Manager at the Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County, an organization whose mission is to work with communities and their leaders to produce and preserve quality affordable housing. The San Francisco Bay Area is home to incredible innovation and unprecedented job growth,…
CAAP is pleased to welcome our newest Advisory Board member: Dr. Bassam H. Nasr. Dr. Nasr brings several years of experience in the community foundation field, and currently serves on the board of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, as well as several other boards in his local community of Port Huron, Mich. We…
Imagine being forced to leave your home and flee your country for your and your family’s safety. Imagine coming to a country with very little in terms of personal possessions, with limited support to assist you as you attempt to rebuild your life in a foreign land. Such is the reality of Syrian refugees forced…