Posted by Joan Hanna on April 07, 2017 in Blog
Montgomery County in Maryland is home to the largest population of Arab Americans in the state so it comes as welcome news that the county’s Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jack Smith, and the Board of Education, declared April “Arab American Heritage Month.”
In the proclamation, Dr. Smith recognizes the many achievements of Arab Americans from the local to the national level: “For decades, Arab Americans have made valuable contributions to virtually every aspect of American life: science, medicine, education, business, culture, and government…Arab Americans have added to the strength and diversity of American society…” Samira Hussein, a Family Service worker and active Montgomery County Arab American community member, attended the proclamation ceremony and thanked the superintendent and the board for their “efforts to promote respect and tolerance among our diverse student body in Montgomery County Public Schools.”
Actions like the Montgomery County Board of Education proclamation are part of a larger national effort by Arab American organizations, including AAI, to celebrate the role Arab Americans play in making our nation successful. In these challenging times, it is not only important to reject bigotry and hate but also to mark our achievements.