2013 ADC Intern Perspectives - American-Arab Anti

perspectives
Ryan o’Laughlin • Hanna Jensen • Laura yan • Firas Suqi •Emma bauer • mariam Elnozahy
american-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee • Summer 2013 • Adc.org
2013 Intern Perspectives
Table of Contents
Summer Interns
Page 2
Letter From ADC President
Warren David
Page 3
Jack Shaheen Award Winners
Page 3
ADC National Intern Blurbs
Page 4-10
Pictures
Page 6 & 11
ADC Michigan interns
Page 12-13
intern Field Trips
Page 14-15
A Message from Marielle:
Become an Intern!
Page 16
ADC Research Institute
Intern Perspectives © 2013
Safa Rifka, MD, Chairman
Warren David, President
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC),
which is non-profit, non-sectarian and non-partisan, is the largest grassroots Arab American
civil rights and civil liberties organization in the United States.
It was founded in 1980 by
former Senator James Abourezk.
ADC has a national network of
chapters and members in all 50
states.
1990 M Street, NW Ste 610
Washington, DC 20036
P: (202) 244-2990
F: (202) 333-3980
www.adc.org
Anthony Shadid Summer Interns
Organizing
Government Affairs
Firas Suqi
Laura Yan
Knox College
Anthropology & Sociology
Class of 2013
Wellesley College
History & Middle Eastern Studies
Class of 2014
President’s Office
Communications
Emma Bauer
Mariam Elnozahy
Legal
Women’s Initiative
Ryan O’Laughlin
Hanna jensen
Michigan State University
International Relations &
Comparative Cultures and Politics
Class of 2014
Barnard College of
Columbia University
Undeclared
Class of 2016
University of Notre Dame
Indiana Law
Civil Rights Law
Class of 2015
Luther College
Economics &
International Studies
Class of 2015
Thank you to All the interns and Part Time Staff that have
helped this year!
Norhan Basuni
Sharif Nassef
John Jay College
of Criminal Justice
English & History
Class of 2011
Celine Toubia
George Washington University
Political Science &
Middle East Studies
Class of 2013
George Washington University
English & History
Class of 2014
Sahar Adora
University of Michigan
Public Policy
Class of 2014
Jamilah Barnes
Urban Youth Scholarship
High School Graduate
Class of 2013
Sami Oudeh
University of Kentucky
International Studies
Arab/Islamic Studies
Class of 2013
Kristen Anderson
University of Michigan
Pre-Law
Class of 2015
Want to become an ADC Intern?
Refer to page 16 & Visit ADC.org
2
2013 Intern Perspectives
Anthony Shadid: a legacy
“I was an ADC intern many years ago and it’s an
experience I doubt I will ever forget. I learned a
lesson that has guided me and my journalism
since then, and it’s that being right is a relative term, and most importantly that no voice
should be silenced.”
- Anthony Shadid
A message from ADC President Warren David
Over the years, it has been a tradition at ADC to host interns who are an important addition to our staff through the
Anthony Shadid Internship Program. We are reminded of how valuable these interns are in helping us carry out the
ADC mission. From organizing to communications, to legal and policy, to working in the president’s office, our interns
get to experience “hands-on” some of the hard-hitting civil rights issues which confront Arab Americans each and
every day.
This summer, six very talented interns from some of the best universities in the country joined us for eleven short
weeks to learn the ins and outs of ADC. Additionally several interns joined us in the fall, winter, and spring.
To all of our interns, I would like to stress the importance of advocacy and how their work at ADC will
affect them throughout their careers. I wish them all the best and look forward to hearing about their progress in the
years to come.
Onward and upward!
Warren David
ADC President
JackShaheen
Mass Communications Scholarships
four young arab american students were
awarded for demonstrating excellence
in the field of mass communications
jordan lazieh • phoebe barghouty • nader ihmoud • rand alkurd
3
ACCLIMATIONS
2013 Intern Perspectives
Firas Suqi
Office Life
A day in the ADC office is as predictable as the chance of rain on a sweltering hot and humid Washington summer afternoon. For those not familiar with
Washington -- there always seems to be a 50% chance of rain, although in
some peculiar way the rain always seems to fall on the walk to and from the
office. Whether it was the midday debke with Warren and Amal, mourning the
loss of a colleague’s family member, or discussing current events over lunch in
the conference room; a day in the ADC office is far from predictable.
It almost seems like this unpredictability mixed with a little bit of debke(ing)
and the constant nourishment of baklava has made the ADC office a petri dish
for producing some of the most renowned and influential Arab Americans in
the country. Any student that comes into the office with preconceived notions
of intern work is in for a treat. I remember freshening up on my coffee making
skills prior to starting my internship at ADC, attempting to get the perfect ratio
of coffee grinds to water. Little did I know that unlike previous internships and
stories I heard from friends, there was to be minimal coffee making involved at
ADC.
Favorite ADC
MOment:
Guantanamo Hearing
Instead, I regularly wrote press releases, met and talked with influential dignitaries, and had my opinions welcomed for organizing strategies around the
country! My favorite characteristic of the ADC office is that in the sea of egos
and titles that is Washington, everyone in the ADC office is treated as an equal with no apparent hierarchies -- a true embodiment of the ADC mission of providing advocacy and fighting for civil rights.
Personal Significance and Understanding Arab-American Identity
Coming to ADC the day after I graduated from college was quite a tumultuous transition. The 48 hour turnaround from walking across the stage, to walking past the break room water cooler really set the tone for the summer. I came to ADC a week
before the ADC National Convention was about to start, or as I like to refer to it, the lion’s mouth of the internship. While
going through this transition, I couldn’t help but conceptualize my difficulties with those that the Arab-American community
have had in coming to the U.S., including my own family.
Although my transition to Washington was not nearly as difficult or met with as much hostility as the transition to another
country, it highlighted the continuing transition and assimilation process my family has faced since fleeing Palestine. Having been born in the U.S. and raised in the post-9/11 era, I, like many first-generation Arab Americans face the dilemma of
embracing American ways and customs in my work and school life, while simultaneously trying to understand and assimilate
back into my ethnic identity and home life.
with Firas
Hometown: Chicago, IL
University: Knox College
Major: Anthropology and
Sociology
Hidden Talent:
He can wiggle his ears really well
If Firas was given one million
dollars he would...
Donate it to his family
Life Goal: “I want to live on every
Firas’ Biggest Hero:
continent, except Antarctica (no offense His dad
Favorite Place in DC:
to the penguins).”
Eastern Market
4
This conundrum faced by Arab Americans today
resembles W.E.B Dubois’ concept of doubleconsciousness faced by African Americans forced
to adapt to a eurocentric upbringing. As minority
populations in the U.S. have a limited capacity
and are seen as inferior populations within the
cultural hegemony of the U.S. - ADC’s work not
only benefits the rights of Arab Americans, but
in fact embellishes American democracy, and
benefits all of those suffering from injustice in
this country.
2013 Intern Perspectives
Hill Shenanigans:
“Um, is he a Congress member?”
Laura Yan
“So…why are you working at ADC?” is the most common question I have received
this summer. I can understand the curiosity. I’m not Arab American; I’m not even
American. And yet, I somehow found myself advocating for Arab American issues to
Congress members and staffers. Growing up in Hong Kong, the mere idea of doing
advocacy work on Capitol Hill was extremely foreign to me. Needless to say, life has
taken me to some very interesting places since I signed up for Arabic 101 at Wellesley.
One of my first tasks at ADC was to follow up on our invitations to each congressional office for our annual Congressional Dinner on Advocacy Day. Four hundred calls
later, I foolishly thought that nothing would be as intense as those phone calls. And
then we arrived at the convention. Since I was the intern who followed up with the
congressional offices, I was in charge of taking care of the Congress members at the
dinner. Although I was probably frantically running around like a headless chicken
(especially since many of the Congress members who showed up had not submitted
RSVPs), the dinner was nevertheless an extremely positive and rewarding experience.
But I was so caught up with greeting Congress members that throughout the rest of
the convention, I thought every wise, noble-looking ADC member was a Congress
member randomly roaming around the Marriott. Thankfully, the other ADC interns
and staff members were able to convince me otherwise.
After the convention, I started setting up meetings with both Congressional members who came to the Congressional Dinner and those who received constituent
letters signed by ADC members at the convention. When I initially set up these
meetings, I thought that like most other interns at these kinds of meetings, I would
silently observe and take notes. However, ADC Communications director Raed
encouraged me to speak up and once I became more comfortable with the issues, I
even led my own meetings with congressional staffers. After about a week of meetings, I arrived at the Hill expecting to meet with a staffer. We started the meeting
and the staffer proceeded to announce that the congressman would be joining us
in a few minutes. I somehow managed to keep my cool and talk about immigration reform and Alex Odeh with the congressman, who was extremely receptive and
seemed genuinely interested in ADC’s work. This is just one of the many empowering, sometimes hilarious, and always fascinating experiences I have had on the Hill
this summer, thanks to ADC.
During my interview with Marielle, I said that I was interested in working at ADC
because I wanted to learn more about Arab American history and experiences, the
domestic impact of U.S. foreign policy, and how ADC engages both the Arab American community and the broader American community, in order to bring knowledge
and practices back to the Wellesley Initiative for Diversity and Inclusion. While these
goals are still extremely important to me, I’ve realized that one of the best things
about ADC is its culturally universal values. The fight for justice and civil rights is
not one that Arab Americans fight alone, and there are many issues important to
ADC that do not specifically pertain to Arab Americans because justice needs to
be served on so many fronts. No matter what I end up doing, whether it is advocacy work for women, Asian Americans, Arab Americans, or something completely
unrelated to advocacy, I will carry the principles of justice for all I’ve learned at ADC. I
have learned so much from my fellow interns and ADC staff, just from conversations
at the office or iftars at good restaurants. Equally as important, I’ve also learned that
writing on the quotes board and popping bubble wrap can be extremely therapeutic.
So thank you, ADC interns and staff, for an unforgettable summer.
5
Laura
Says...
Hometown: Hong Kong
University: Wellesley College
Major: History & Middle Eastern Studies
Life Goal: “To hole myself up in a library
and read all of the books.”
If Laura could time travel back into
history, she would go to:
The Cold War Era
One book she thinks that everyone
should read:
Anything by Jhumpa Lahiri
Is Laura a night owl or an early bird?
Early Bird
Favorite Place in DC:
Constitution Gardens or Dupont Circle
Favorite ADC
MOment:
2013
national
convention
Summer 2013
Adc Intern
Memories
6
2013 Intern Perspectives
Honorary Arab
Emma Bauer
When I started telling people I accepted an internship at ADC, I got
a lot of the same response: “Why?” It’s true I am not Arab, not even
close (even though a lot of Arabs ask me if I am Lebanese, which is
flattering). During my time at ADC, I have asserted that you don’t
need to be Arab American to be a part of the broader cause to promote civil rights.
I originally wanted to work at ADC because of my interest in Middle
Eastern Studies. While meeting with my Field Experience Advisor, he
considered my Muslim Studies specialization and suggested I look at
ADC. Although ADC is a US-based organization that does not focus
primarily on international issues, I figured my experience there would
give me a very well-rounded view of what it means to be Arab, learn
about Arab issues from an American perspective, and maybe practice
my Arabic skills. When I looked more into what ADC does, I remembered all the discrimination and hate I had witnesses towards the Arab
and Muslim community throughout my life. I grew up with several
Muslim friends while living in Germany, and was taught never to judge
based on race. Unfortunately, that same principle did not seem to
apply to everyone else, and I often saw good friends being bullied or
harassed. I realized that working at ADC would give me the chance to implement change and better the lives of Arabs
and Muslims around the world who had faced discrimination.
I was not disappointed: ADC has exposed me to a variety of Arab American issues, taught me about the Arab American
community’s goals, and allowed me to take part in grassroots activism to promote policy change. I have met Arab ambassadors and prominent civil rights activists, partaken in debke sessions during lunch, and connected with Arabs from
vastly different backgrounds, all facing different struggles and striving towards different goals. My time at ADC has been
extremely rewarding and allowed me to work in a field that truly interests me.
Although I am not Arab, I have never felt like I was not a part of the cause to better the lives of Arab Americans. Civil
rights is an issue that affects all of us, regardless of race, color, background, or religion. Although my time here at ADC
was short, I leave with a better understanding and appreciation of the issues faced by the Arab American community. I
am so grateful for my experience here; it has truly left a wonderful impression on me.
Hometown: Rochester Hills, MI
University: Michigan State
Major: International Relations & Comparative
Cultures & Politics
Life Goal: “I want a dog, a house on a lake,
and to learn as many languages as possible.”
Emma
If Emma could have dinner with any 5 people she would invite:
Richard Dawkins, Barack Obama, Helen Thomas, Harry Potter, and
Jackie Kennedy
Skittles or M&M’s:
Skittles
She is most thankful for:
Her family
Favorite Place in DC:
Jazz in the Sculpture Garden
Favorite ADC MOment: Meeting Ben Jealous
7
2013 Intern Perspectives
‘
Hometown: Gross Pointe Farms,
MI
University: Notre Dame
& Indiana Law
Major: Civil Rights Law
Life Goal: “In my life I want to
end racism and smoke hookah.”
take
If Ryan could have one superpower
it would be:
The ability to fly
The best advice he ever received:
Always be open to new
opportunities
Favorite Place in DC:
930 Club
Favorite ADC Moment: Helping people find justice
Defending Human Rights
Ryan O’Laughlin
At first glance, I might seem like an unlikely candidate to work as a legal intern at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination
Committee. I’ve had both friends and strangers ask me why I, someone who is not Arab or Muslim and does not have deep
connections with the Arab community, would choose ADC of all organizations to work at. It’s a perfectly reasonable question.
Generally one does not expect to see an Irish-Catholic white guy working on Arab American civil rights issues, and I certainly
do not have the same personal stake in these issues that an Arab American law student might have. However, while all of this
may be true, it does not mean that the discrimination Arab Americans face is irrelevant to people like me. Violations of Arab
American civil rights not only demean our entire nation, but also place the civil liberties of all Americans in jeopardy.
ADC is currently doing a significant amount of policy work on many civil and human rights issues that impact the Arab American community. In the past few months alone, I have written reports on domestic drone surveillance, immigration reform,
racial profiling, and U.S. funding to Israeli military units accused of committing human rights abuses. These reports only
scratched the surface of what ADC covers. ADC is significantly involved in both international issues, such as the Syrian refugee crisis and the continuing occupation of Palestine, and issues closer to home such as the racial profiling conducted by the
NYPD and employment discrimination against Arab-Americans.
While at ADC, I also encountered the massive number of cases that come through ADC’s doors. The Legal Department at ADC
is continually flooded with new cases, often leaving the lawyers overwhelmed. ADC gets many legal inquiries concerning employment discrimination, visa problems, Syrian refugee issues, travel discrimination, and hate crimes against Arab and Muslim
Americans. Dealing with the massive amount of discrimination that faces members of the Arab-American community every
day can often be quite a challenge for ADC’s Legal Department. Despite the challenges, ADC’s Legal Department continues to
work tirelessly each and every day to protect the rights of Arab-Americans across the nation.
Perhaps the most important thing I learned while working at ADC was the importance of building and maintaining coalitions
with other groups who are dealing with similar issues. Although Arab Americans, African Americans, Latino Americans, and
other groups may each have their own separate struggles, they all also face many of the same issues. Thus, it is important to
work with the members of these communities and the organizations that represent them in order to protect the rights of Arab
Americans. Only by forming coalitions with these other groups and working together can we overcome the erosion of civil
rights of all Americans regardless of their race, gender, religious creed, sexual orientation, or national origin.
8
2013 Intern Perspectives
On Korean Tacos & Coalition Building
Mariam Elnozahy
The Korean taco truck in Farragut Square is a hot spot for employees and
interns alike working in the bustling downtown area. Though the line
sometimes wraps around the corner of the square, the tacos are worth the
wait. Every day from about 12:00pm to 2:00pm, the small, neon-green truck
facilitates a beautiful marriage between tender, spicy Korean barbecue and
the classically delectable Mexican taco. Though I was fasting today, the 15th
of Ramadan, I sat at lunch with two of my coworkers as they indulged in
their mid-day fusion fix. A lull of silence fell over the conference room as
they chomped away at their vividly flavorful tacos, only interrupted by intermittent “mms” and “aahs”. I stared longingly at the juicy tacos and thought
about how apt of a metaphor the tacos were for my ADC experience.
When Marielle first emailed the interns who had been accepted to the
Anthony Shadid Internship program, I was surprised that most of the names
didn’t sound Arab. But I didn’t want to jump to conclusions about my future
coworkers’ ethnic identities - after all, Arab identity in itself is comprised of numerous, multifolded pockets of diversity. Naturally, I headed to Facebook to inquire further. Upon discovering that only one other intern was ethnically Arab, I was pleasantly
surprised. This was going to make for a very interesting office dynamic. I reconciled my confusion at the fact that most of
the other interns were members of other diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds with the realization that ADC’s mission and
work is not exclusive to Arabs and Middle Easterners. The colorful history of racial, ethnic, and cultural tensions of minorities
in the United States ferments the notion that civil rights work in this country is uniquely broad and universal in ways that it
isn’t in other countries. In the Middle East, for example, entire peoples and organizations are devoted to the maintenance and
enforcement of individual sectarian, religious, or cultural rights. These peoples and organizations are extremely exclusive and
unwilling to find common ground and build coalitions to advance their own missions. In the United States, however, minorities that have faced similar instances of discrimination display their strength in unity and serve as stepping stones and support
blocks for each other in the quest for liberty and equality.
One of the highlights of my internship experience was getting to view the power of coalition building first-hand. ADC partners very closely with the NAACP, a long-established and renowned organization with a history of its own. I had the pleasure
of listening to Ben Jealous, President and CEO of the NAACP, address ADC constituents at the convention. His harmonic voice
and charismatic presence carried a powerful message that our struggles as two different minorities with different histories in
this country are similar in nature, and that it is necessary to lean on each other for support against an ever-present culture of
intimidation and constant subjugation of identity.
Like the Korean Taco, ADC has proved to be a one-of-a-kind union of vividly diverse individuals and experiences. From the
diversity of my peers, to the diversity in ADC’s range of work, to the diversity in ADC’s coalition building, ADC has definitely
proved to be just as unique and distinctive as a Korean Taco.
MARIAM
says
If Mariam was trapped on a deserted island
she would bring:
Her journal, the complete works of Tolstoy,
and art supplies
If she could live anywhere it would be:
Bali? Belize? Brooklyn?
Favorite Flavor of Ice Cream:
Life Goal: “Being the
change you want to see Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food
...or something like that” Favorite Place in DC: Yoga District
Hometown: Austin, TX
University: Barnard
College, Columbia University
Major: Undeclared
Favorite ADC Moment
2013 National Convention
9
2013 Intern Perspectives
the ADC family
Hanna Jensen
Having grown up in a very Scandinavian family in the Midwest, I
have been subject to shocked expressions when words like “bag”
or “bubbler” are as easily spoken as “salaam alaikum”. My family
has never shied away from such contradictions; growing up I
remember the stories of my grandfather marching and getting
arrested with Martin Luther King Jr. in the 60’s or my grandmother starting the first biracial Lutheran church in Iowa. I have been
extremely fortunate to be a part of a family who has always encouraged me to question the way our society functions. Coming
up in the 9/11 era, I found myself questioning the way that Arabs
around me were being wrongfully discriminated against, and I
wanted to be the ally to the Arab American community that my
family has been to the African American community.
Thankfully this summer, I have found another family that is so
beautifully committed to protecting civil rights: my ADC family.
From day one the staff has eagerly welcomed us in to an office
full of laughter, hard work, and a strict “open door policy”. During the first month here, I worked hard with Amal to get women
from all over the country excited about the upcoming national
convention. When the convention arrived, we were not disapHanna’s Favorite Quote:
pointed, as women from every walk of life joined us to work
“Its not the years in your life, but towards empowering Arab American women. I was also able to
the life in your years” -Abraham work with our President Warren David in bringing together leadLincoln
ers of the Arab American community for a meeting to discuss
Most Unexpected Hobbies:
coalitions and community development between organizations.
Writing code and painting por- The whole weekend really revolved around all of the ideals of
traits
empowerment, development, and coming together. Being able
Favorite Food:
to listen to such powerful speakers while also being surrounded
Shrimp or Cupcakes
by such optimistic and intelligent people, and witness the tanFavorite Place in DC:
gible results of ADC’s work, was an unbelievable experience.
Smithsonian Sculpture Gardens
with Hanna
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
University: Luther College
Major: Economics
& International Studies
Life Goal: “I want to see
the world, help others, play
frisbee, and to keep laughing.”
After the whirlwind of the convention, the office did a complete
360 and returned to regular day-to-day ADC work. My job made a similarly striking transition, as I was able to use my graphic
design experience to create multiple publications and build websites for ADC. While many interns feel that their voices and
talents go unnoticed by their organizations, I can say the greatest part of being an ADC intern is opportunities I have been given
to use my skills in a really productive and contributive way.
In so many ways, ADC has really been like a family to me this summer. We spend a lot of time together, have a lot of meals
together, and go on a lot of adventures together. Even more so, ADC has put their trust in us as interns, and allowed us to flourish in our own unique ways. I can say with confidence that this is one of the reasons ADC has been and will continue to be so
successful. An organization this in tune with its staff, interns, volunteers and members will continue to thrive on the personal
connections it develops. ADC is really stepping forward in order to fight the injustices directed against Arab Americans, and I
am honored that I was able to be an active part of it. Thanks, ADC family!
Favorite ADC Moment:
2013 national convention
10
2013 Intern Perspectives
ADC & Urban Alliance
Jamila Barnes
I interned at ADC through an internship program called Urban Alliance. Urban Alliance is an employment program for
under-resourced high school seniors in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, MD, and Chicago, IL. I was a part of the Washington,
D.C. chapter. During the school year, Urban Alliance Interns work part-time at a jobsite to gain professional growth and
experience. Being placed at ADC was not my decision; Urban Alliance placed you wherever they could. Having an interest in anthropology and different cultures, being placed at an organization whose people and culture is different from my
own was beneficial; most of my peers were placed at jobsites which did not suit their interest.
Coming to ADC, I did not know what to expect. I was wondering if people would like me, would the work be too challenging, would I understand them and they understand me? I was slightly overwhelmed, and getting lost trying to find my
way there did not ease the already immense pressure I felt. When I arrived at ADC, it was the opposite of what I expected.
Everyone was very friendly and the atmosphere was very warm and inviting. Being a naturally shy person, it was wonderful that I felt like I could make myself at home after the first day of meeting everyone.
Nearly a year later, I have grown and gained so much from my short time at ADC. The work, the heart, and the diligence
ADC puts toward fulfilling its mission is powerful. What I’ve learned more than anything while interning at ADC is more
about the Arab American community: the issues, the culture, the heritage, the different types of people, and so much
more. Arab countries and culture are not talked about much in the textbooks and the schools where I live. All there is
to go by is the media and their perception, which is negative - portraying Arabs in a negative light and stereotyping all
Arabs as terrorists. Even in my community, when I told people where I worked and who I worked for, they referred to it as
a “terrorist organization.” But I know all too well that this is just ignorance, and I feel it is my job, and the job of all those
who believe in the goodness of people, and who believe it is wrong to categorize, stereotype, and oppress a whole community for the actions of a few to educate those who just simply do not know. To me the most respectable action of ADC
is standing against oppression, and letting the voice of the Arab American community be heard.
11
2013 Intern Perspectives
Doris Hage
Office Administrator, ADC Michigan
Sami Oudeh
ADC Michigan Intern
Working with ADC for the summer has been
the most rewarding experience of my life.
From creating Facebook and Twitter accounts and other forms of social media, to
being exposed to cases, I have had many
diverse experiences in my time here. We
visited the FBI office, the District Attorney,
and the Dearborn Chief of Police. I even had
the privilege of picking up Dr. Clovis Maksoud and escorting him to the ADC National
Convention. We are also putting together
an event where we teach young students
how education is a more powerful tool than
violence. For the first time, we are teaming up with ACCESS and the Arab American
National Museum to do this event which will
make it truly special. I love how much ADC is
involved with the community here. It is such
a great experience to be a part of an organization like this.
Being an Arab American, this internship really helped me understand my own community better. Along with my school studies,
I have gotten real life experience, which
helped me develop a greater understanding
of what it is like to be an Arab American. I
plan on graduating from college in August
2013 and pursuing a career in the field of
International Relations. Working as an intern
for ADC has prepared me leaps and bounds
for the challenges that I will face in the years
to come and I am deeply grateful to ADC for
everything that they have done for me.
The ADC-MI summer interns, despite the challenges, have taken the term internship to a
whole new level. They went beyond their expectations by initiating and implementing brand
new items to the ADC table. It was never rare to
hear “Doris, I have an idea!” around the office.
The ADC-MI office is in charge of 4-5 cases per
week. It also has a department that is in charge
of hosting local events, volunteering, and giving
awards to those who make a change within our
community. I thank the summer interns for their
work in impacting change, and leaving such a long-lasting and wonderful
impression on me. You will do great in your endeavors. Remember you can
never stop learning and growing, and life’s challenges are what create the
strongest of individuals.
ADC Michigan
interns
13530 Michigan Ave # 329 Dearborn, MI • Phone: 313-581-1201 • ADCmichigan.org
Want to become
an ADC Michigan Intern?
visit ADCmichigan.org
12
2013 Intern Perspectives
Kristen Anderson
ADC Michigan Legal Intern
My time as a Legal Intern at ADC Michigan so far has been invaluable, especially since this is my first experience with real legal cases,
and ones that involve people directly within my community. Though
I am not Arab American, I am very concerned with discrimination
facing any ethnic group in America. I plan to study immigration law
in the future for this very reason, and because of the refugee and
immigration background within my own family. I firmly believe in the
old phrase “America is a nation of immigrants,” and cannot imagine
a better career than working to preserve this notion. I want to help
ensure that the United States is always recognized as a sanctuary for
liberty and freedom for anyone who desires to begin a life here and
be free from persecution and discrimination of any sort.
Being a part of ADC this summer has truly connected me to the community, from sitting behind the set of a local PBS program with the
META Peace Team, to attending city council meetings to reporting
on issues that affect Arab Americans and educating local youth on
discrimination. In addition to the legal research I have conducted, I
have learned how to interact with professional contacts, plan community events, and draft original opinion articles and news briefs for
our webpage--all of which I had never done before. Interning with a
non-profit civil rights organization like ADC gave me the opportunity for an unparalleled internship experience, and has
given me skills that in my future, as well as the future of immigration in America, will be undoubtedly required.
Sahar adora
ADC Michigan Intern
My summer with ADC Michigan has been one of the most informative and rewarding experiences I’ve had. From helping out with
discrimination cases to improving outreach through social media,
this internship was my first real experience in actively promoting
civil rights. My fellow interns and I also had a great opportunity
to engage youth in ADC’s mission as we organized a workshop on
discrimination where high school students painted a mural and met
local leaders. I am so proud to have been able to ignite these ideas
of public service and engagement in a new generation.
By far, the best thing about this summer has been reconnecting with
my community. As an Arab American from Dearborn, which has the
highest concentration of Arab Americans in the country, it is sometimes easy to forget the substantial civil rights issues that our people
face. I am so grateful for this experience with ADC because it truly
allowed me to think about these issues in a constructive way. After
my ADC experience, I hope to pursue a career in non-profit management, with a particular focus on groups dedicated to human rights in the Middle East. I am sure this summer with ADC
has given me the skills and perspectives necessary for this line of work.
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2013 Intern Perspectives
Intern Adventures
“The TSA Tour was rEally interesting because we were able
to step back and observe the
intricacies of airport security
measures and have them actually explained to us, instead of
just going through the regular
motions.” -Firas
State Department
On Tuesday, June 25th 2013, ADC staff members and interns had lunch with ADC member
Steve Buck, a former Foreign Service Officer
who has served for over 30 years, as well
as a former congressional staff member on
Capitol Hill. Mr. Buck described daily life as a
Foreign Service Officer, how the State Department system works, and how Capitol Hill operates. During the Q&A section of the lunch,
Mr. Buck further discussed how to balance a
career with family life and the more logistical
aspects of a State Department career. When
talking to the interns, Mr. Buck emphasized
finding your passions and translating those
passions into careers.
TSA
TOUR
ADC interns got a chance to look behind-the-scenes of airport security
during a field trip to the Reagan National Airport to meet with Darush
(Dar) Mazhari, a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) executive.
Mr. Mazhari showed our interns the logistics of airport security with a
tour to the operations room, explained the process of security checkpoints, and readily answered questions regarding racial profiling and
other procedures. ADC interns learned a lot about the different types of
security procedures, and how the TSA handles delicate issues surrounding racial profiling and the religious customs of airline passengers. It
was a very enlightening and enjoyable experience, and we would like to
thank Mr. Mazhari for the great tour!
Alice Walker at Busboys & Poets
ADC interns had the privilege of attending an event featuring Alice Walker, long-time civil rights activist and author of several esteemed books,
including The Color Purple. Ms. Walker appeared at Busboys & Poets for a
book signing and poetry reading. During her talk, she advocated equality
for Bradley Manning, the army private who aided Wikileaks author Julian
Assange, and who is now being held as a political prisoner. She also
spoke out in favor of women’s rights, and answered questions from the
audience regarding her books, views, and personal life. ADC would like
to thank Busboys and Poets for hosting the event; it was a very exciting
experience for our interns!
“Busboys and poets is a really Fun venue with a really neat vibe. Being
there and listening to alice walker, who is such a legend, was surreal.
Her undying support for civil rights is an inspiration.” -Mariam
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2013 Intern Perspectives
Intern Adventures
“It was a really cool experience to
hear the archbishop articulate so
many of the issues that are also
important to adc. I also really enjoyed the opportunity to practice
my arabic!” -Laura
Visit
from the archbishop
On June 19, The Archbishop Theodosios of Sebastia Atallah Hanna joined ADC staff members for lunch . ADC mem-
bers were honored by the chance to speak with the Archbishop on a variety of topics ranging from the quest for Palestinian statehood to interfaith cooperation. The Archbishop talked about his work and emphasized that unity between
Christians and Muslims in Palestine is essential to resisting the occupation. We at ADC would like to extend our deepest thanks to the Archbishop and wish him the best in his endeavors.
Department of Treasury
On June 29th, ADC interns received
a tour of the Department of the
Treasury. There, interns were able
to get an insider’s look into one of
the most influential bureaucratic
offices in the United States. ADC
interns got to tour the offices of
elite Treasury staff members and learn the history behind this distinguished institution.
“The treasury tour was something
really different and exciting. There
was so much history there and i
really enjoyed learning about the
building and how important the Department of treasury has been for
the united States.” -Hanna
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
On July 19, ADC staff and interns attended a panel
organized by the Leadership Conference on Civil and
Human Rights, the main umbrella group for American
civil rights organizations. Members of different government agencies and non-profit organizations spoke
on how to be an effective member of the civil rights
community. Some people spoke about working in the
federal government and the various ways in which
elections can influence government agencies. This influence that elections have
shows how important it is
for people to participate
in the political process and
vote in elections. Members
of the panel also spoke
about working in Congress
and the degrees of influence that Congressional
staffers can have in the
legislative process. Finally,
members of the panel emphasized the importance of
persevering in the face of adversity. Although there
have been some setbacks in the civil rights struggle
in recent months, we cannot just give up and back
down now. The only way to stop the rights of the Arab
American community from being violated is to vigorously continue to work to defend them.
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2013 Intern Perspectives
A message from Marielle
After a long day’s work in mid-April, I remember dreading going through the summer internship applications-- I
had received the largest number of applications since I began at ADC two years prior. Yet as I began what I thought
would be a grueling process, I found myself drawn into the lives of students from all across the country. Students
whose backgrounds, studies and experiences made them eager and ready to contribute to ADC’s mission in whatever way they could. We had applicants from almost every possible background; applying from states as far away as
Washington and New Mexico. I’m absolutely thrilled by the impact and reach of ADC’s Anthony Shadid Internship
program as revealed to me this summer.
I have been so deeply impressed and moved by the commitment of our summer intern class to ADC and our work.
They have worked exceptionally hard all summer and have taken it upon themselves to strengthen our impact and
effectiveness. Our interns assisted with fundraising campaigns, met with congressional members, performed website
design, wrote op-ed pieces to major news publications, launched advocacy campaigns, in addition to the endless work they performed for the ADC National Convention. It has been our deep privilege to host such a talented,
dedicated and driven group of interns this summer. We look forward to seeing the way their experience at ADC
shapes their academic and professional aims, as well as the many amazing things they will do in the future. Thank
you Hanna, Emma, Jamilah, Firas, Mariam, Ryan & Laura -- you are and will always be cherished members of the ADC
family!
Marielle Costanza
Development & Special Projects Coordinator
Intern at adc!
Since 1981, over 500 students have participated in the intern program of the ADC Research Institute (ADCRI). Students from all over the country gather at the national office in Washington, DC, each year to gain first-hand experience and knowledge about ADC issues and campaigns.
The intern program offers a variety of positions for leadership development. It educates students on issues of civil
rights, the Arab heritage, and current events in the Middle East. Students gain practical training in community organizing, media relations, research and writing, legal issues, political action, educational outreach, and routine office
work alongside our regular professional staff. The first few weeks of the summer program are centered on the annual
ADC National Convention in June.
Candidates must have completed at least one year of college. They can be undergraduates, recent graduates, or
graduate and law students. Each department has its own requirements.
Come join the network of hundreds of professionals that interned at ADC. We hope to see you next summer!
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