Inspiring StoriesYasmeen Shaheen-McConnell We were sent a moving video that circulated around our office recently about an ABC News investigation into how a Muslim girl is sometimes treated by the American public. It was very interesting to hear feedback and commentary on it, the video is very moving and sad. The clip at the end is very touching because it makes me feel that there is some understanding in our community of different religions, cultures, and ways of being an American that are sometimes lost on others. While everyone liked the clip, some people felt that it didn't go far enough, and that this subject needs to be addressed further. If you are interested in watching it, click here: http://fanonite.wordpress.com/2008/03/29/how-muslims-are-treated/ Amira Muflahi One day while at work, an idea had suddenly occurred to me. I remembered there was a grant up for competition that had to be submitted in June. Last year, when we were informed of the grant, it was too late. So, I thought I'd call the Erie County Youth Bureau and see if the application had been submitted yet. I called, left a message, and the very next day I get a call from the Youth Bureau in regards to the grant. I spoke with Mr. Hunter and gave him insight to what services and programs we provide. He then told me there was a grant out and it was due the following Monday, but that he would give us an extra week. I contacted everybody and told them and we began working on it immediately. I know my job description does not include Youth Programs, but I believe that there aren't any limits to service. Working on the grant was truly an experience. We divided the grant up into sections, each person worked on their section and switched to proofread each others sections. We met several times to work on it, then when it was completed, I was responsible for making 20 copies of it and hand delivered it to the Erie County Youth Department. We will be notified in May, whether we receive the grant or not, but win or lose, it was definitely a learning experience. Nadine Makki This was one of the busiest months I've seen since working at ACCESS. My office was overflowing with sticky notes of names and phone numbers for people requesting financial aid appointments, not to mention the regular walk-in clients. With this kind of pressure put on, it's nice to get some recognition. My supervisor, Enam Abraham, sent an e-mail to the monthly "Got Service?" newsletter thanking me along with the rest of the case managers for our hard work. It felt good to know that my stress did not go unnoticed. Dean Yaz I arrived in the morning to prepare for the Alif Institute's Arab American Family Day. Although it was raining outside, we had prepared for inclement weather. We decorated the main room of the Institute with various regionally significant brocades, shawls, embroideries, and arabesque patterns in an airy configuration that would entice wandering eyes. As people poured into the small building, fresh food was served up and the intermingling came to its highest point as the air became crowded with the breath and voices of children, men, women and elders. Some of our young dancers, who practice traditional steps weekly at the Institute, began a rhythmic performance. As they painted the atmosphere in the chamber with strokes of their hands and twirls of their skirts, the crowd entered into a state of watchful silence. The onlookers admired the coordination of the youth, which had come from careful preparation. I was weaving through the crowd inspecting the capacity of the garbage cans when a woman approached me with polite greetings. She asked me about the inaugural summer camp we've been planning for the kids. Since it will be our first attempt at a camp, we've been coming up with activities for the schedule. This lady, the mother of two daughters, had just moved from Baghdad and she sought a place where her daughters could feel a part of a close community. There was some trepidation in the eyes of the girls, but once I started asking them about what type of activities would excite them in a summer program, they opened up and had very helpful suggestions. Just to see their interest and excitement gave me motivation to keep moving forward with the unifying mission of the Institute. Rasmieh Steve Two weeks ago while I was working in the office the phone was ringing, I picked it up and said Arab American Action Network how can I help you? A deep voice came through the line: I'm S…. a professor at the IL university I read about the services you provide in the newspaper and I would like to ask your advice My cousin is twenty years old and is married to a citizen for one and half years. They lived in New Jersey. They had the first baby then they left to Jerusalem to visit the wife's family. The husband left after two weeks and asked his wife to spend longer time with her parents if she likes to do that, she liked the idea and agreed to follow him back to the US after two weeks. After one week she went to confirm the tickets they asked about the passports. Then she found out that her husband took her alien card and the baby's passport. She tried to call him but nobody answered the messages. The expiration date of her alien card is in July. She went to the American embassy in Jerusalem and asked for help, they told her that they can't do any thing for her and could not issue her a visa. Then my uncle called me to ask if there was any official way to protect her rights. He added that he didn't know more details about the case; he didn't even know his niece or her husband but he wanted to help out. I asked him if she has a copy of the documents, he said no. She didn't expect her husband will deceive her after less than two years of marriage. Her parents suspected that maybe he wants to separate from her or maybe he wants a divorce- which would mean that she and the baby would loose there right. I asked him if it's a good idea to send the young lady and the baby back to USA to face that man who had stolen the documents without conscience or feeling about his family. He said he agreed with me, but that his uncle cared about his daughter's future. At the end I told him OK I have to ask my supervisor and others who have experiences in this subject and I'd call you back. We discussed that case together with our supervisor and tried to ask some lawyers who are working with the immigration cases. I called the professor back and gave him the final idea. In the same time I continued researching other cases and I also attended an immigration workshop where I propose the problem to the expert participants. They gave me new ideas about how we could help the young lady to get the visa and suggested that she take her birth certificate to the American Consulate whereby they could trace her valid residency in the US and issue her a visa. After she arrived there would be much legal recourse for her to pursue. I informed the professor about this option. He was very grateful and commented that I worked in a professional way and that he appreciated it. In addition, I gave him my cell phone number so that his cousin could contact me upon her arrival in the US. Kristine Smith Last month in March after visiting Sahar, the woman who had ran away from her husband in North Dakota, had called me up to invite me to dinner. She was so grateful for my assistance in straightening out her complications with Focus Hope she said she wanted me to eat her "real" home cooked Arabic food. When I arrived she was still pre paring the food and all three kids were fast asleep on all of the couches. Soon the little boy awakened and he joined me for a delicious meal. The meal consisted of Babaghanoush, chicken Shawarma, salad, rice, chicken (lemon), and baklava. The food was so good! I was beyond grateful for such a generous meal. After all three of the kids woke up I took Sahar to the grocery store. She took the smallest one in as the two others sat and danced out in the car. It was a very satisfying night being able to help someone. Karla Ramos The month of March is a reading month. The children at Salina 21st Century program were able to make six books. The books were entitled Kurdusa Counts. These books were written and illustrated by six different teams. After the books were completed, they were donated to the Pablo David Home for the elderly to enjoy. Kameeza Nizam One of our teens is interested in a career in the culinary arts. He applied to a program called C-Cap where they train you to become chefs and give you scholarships to attend culinary school. This one teen in particular I helped him write his essay and fill out his application for the program and scholarship. Since English is not his native language, he was frustrated at times with his essay. It was difficult for me to help him with his essay during our after school program since I couldn't give him my undivided attention, so I made appointments with him to come in to work on his essay. He is currently a finalist for the program and is training to become a chef. He was very grateful for the extra time I gave him helping with his application. I was amazed that he was so motivated into getting into this program. We both did a lot of leg work looking into schools and searching for additional scholarships. I think being a finalist in this program has lifted his self esteem and he is so proud of his accomplishment that he brings in his chef hat to show to the other teens. It's a great feeling to see the pride on his face when he talks about being a chef, and it makes me feel good knowing I was there to help when he needed it.
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