Arab American Action Network
Encyclopedia
The Arab American Action Network is a Chicago community center founded in 1995, the brainchild of Columbia University historian and Professor of Arab Studies Rashid Khalidi
and Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs Assistant Dean Mona Khalidi
. It is a community-based organization that strives to strengthen the Arab immigrant
and Arab American
community, primarily in the Chicago area. Through use of such tactics as community organizing, advocacy, education and social services, and leadership development, it seeks to empower the Arab population in Chicago's low-income South Side. The organization acts as an advocate for Palestinian issues and for women's issues.
The Arab American Action Network is a Core Member of the Chicago Cultural Alliance
, a consortium of 25 ethnic museums and cultural centers in Chicago
.
The AAAN works closely with the Illinois Department of Human Services and its case managers to provide interpretation services specifically intended for Arab-American members of the surrounding community who are currently accessing public benefits. The joint goal of the AAAN and the Illinois DHS is to ensure that benefits are received and utilized equally amongst all prospective recipients by ensuring that there are no linguistic or cultural barriers where administration of these benefits are concerned.
Case Management
Approximately 450 families in the community utilize the AAAN for legal assistance, housing advocacy, translation services, counseling, or childcare services. An effort to provide outreach to domestic violence survivors in the area is also a budding initiative.
English As A Second Language (ESL)
In collaboration with Chicago's Metropolitan Family Services
, the Arab American Action Network provides two levels of ESL classes for over 75 women per year on the southwest side of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs.
Rashid Khalidi
Rashid Ismail Khalidi , born 1948, a Palestinian-American historian of the Middle East, is the Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University, and director of the Middle East Institute of Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs.-Family, education and...
and Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs Assistant Dean Mona Khalidi
Mona Khalidi
Mona Khalidi is the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and the Assistant Director of Graduate Studies of the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. She is the wife of Columbia University historian Rashid Khalidi....
. It is a community-based organization that strives to strengthen the Arab immigrant
Arab immigration to the United States
There is a long history of Arab immigration to the United States. It is believed that Arabs accompanied Spanish explorers to the US in the 15th century...
and Arab American
Arab American
An Arab American is a United States citizen or resident of Arab ethnic, cultural and linguistic heritage or identity, who identifies themselves as Arab. Arab Americans trace ancestry to any of the various waves of immigrants of the countries comprising the Arab World...
community, primarily in the Chicago area. Through use of such tactics as community organizing, advocacy, education and social services, and leadership development, it seeks to empower the Arab population in Chicago's low-income South Side. The organization acts as an advocate for Palestinian issues and for women's issues.
The Arab American Action Network is a Core Member of the Chicago Cultural Alliance
Chicago Cultural Alliance
The Chicago Cultural Alliance is a consortium of community-based ethnic museums, cultural centers, and historical societies in the Chicago metropolitan area....
, a consortium of 25 ethnic museums and cultural centers in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
Programs
Partnership With Illinois Department of Human ServicesThe AAAN works closely with the Illinois Department of Human Services and its case managers to provide interpretation services specifically intended for Arab-American members of the surrounding community who are currently accessing public benefits. The joint goal of the AAAN and the Illinois DHS is to ensure that benefits are received and utilized equally amongst all prospective recipients by ensuring that there are no linguistic or cultural barriers where administration of these benefits are concerned.
Case Management
Approximately 450 families in the community utilize the AAAN for legal assistance, housing advocacy, translation services, counseling, or childcare services. An effort to provide outreach to domestic violence survivors in the area is also a budding initiative.
English As A Second Language (ESL)
In collaboration with Chicago's Metropolitan Family Services
Metropolitan Family Services
Metropolitan Family Services is a non-profit organization located within Chicago’s city and suburban communities responding to the needs of families for over 150 years. Through seven major community centers and public policy advocacy, Metropolitan serves low-income and working-poor families facing...
, the Arab American Action Network provides two levels of ESL classes for over 75 women per year on the southwest side of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs.