DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- In commemoration of the one-year
anniversary of the terrible events of September 11th, 2001, ACCESS has
expanded and intensified its educational programming to reach those whose
understanding is critical to the well-being of the Arab American community.
Already subject to negative stereotyping before September 11th, Arab Americans
have been encountering more hostility during the past year. In this context,
ACCESS recognizes that it has a duty to help non-Arabs better understand Arab
American heritage and culture.
The ACCESS Educational Initiative specifically focuses on the needs of K-
12 educators, law enforcement personnel, and state legislators in Michigan's
major metropolitan districts, including the tri-county metro-Detroit area, Ann
Arbor/Ypsilanti, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Flint. It offers free, custom-
tailored programming, including in-house school presentations, and all day
workshops about Arabs, Arab Americans and Islam. It also offers free, train-
the-trainer workshops for educators and community members. School
presentations can provide educators with professional development training,
and all-day workshops are certified by the Michigan State Board of Education
for required continuing education units (CEUs) as well.
The program includes online resources available on the ACCESS website
(http://www.accesscommunity.org ); such as educational materials and information and
classroom materials on Arabs, Arab Americans, and Islam. In addition, a one-
hour video will be produced in collaboration with national and local public
television, as well as a one-hour radio program.
The cost of this 2-year initiative is estimated at $1.3 million. ACCESS
is proud to announce that they have raised $1.15 million so far for the
program. Support has been received from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation,
the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan, the Hudson Webber
Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, the Ruth Mott Foundation, the Detroit
Empowerment Zone Corporation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
For more information on the ACCESS Educational Initiative and/or to
schedule a workshop in your area contact:
Detroit tri-county Deana Rabiah 313-843-2844
Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Nadia Hidayet 734-995-8624
Flint Elyse Semerdjian 810-624-3810
Grand Rapids Claudia Sowa, 616-771-6706
Grand Valley State
University
Lansing Rose Hassoun 517-332-4783
For questions about the Educational Outreach Initiative or ACCESS Cultural
Arts programming call: 313-843-2844
SOURCE ACCESS
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Related links:
http://www.accesscommunity.org
CONTACT:
Deana Rabiah of ACCESS, +1-313-843-2844
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