ARAB AND MUSLIM AMERICAN COMMUNITY MEETING

WITH SENATOR ROBERT MENENDEZ

JANUARY 14, 2006

 AGENDA 

             I.      Welcoming Remarks and Introductions

          II.      Invocations from Father Elias Bitar and Imam Mohamed Qatanani

      III.      Civil Rights -

·         Engy Abdelkader , Maha Munayyer Kabbash

·         Protecting and enhancing the rights of all citizens.  Covering the Patriot Act, illegal wiretapping and intrusions, racial profiling and discrimination.  How the Arab and Muslim American community can play a leading role in this struggle

        IV.      Political Activism in the NJ Arab and Muslim Community

·         Abed Awad

·         Working to empower the community to fully engage in the democratic process

           V.      Community Demographics and the Important role we can play in the future political, economic and moral characteristics of our nation

·         Dr. Aref Assaf

·         Discussion on the community’s rapidly growing population and how it can positively influence events both at home and abroad

        VI.      Middle-East Peace and Justice

·         Salaheddin Mustafa

·         The road to peace, democratization, and prosperity  in the Middle East runs through Jerusalem

     VII.      Lunch is served, Q&A

COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS:

1.       Engy Abdelkader, Esq. - Association of Muslim American Lawyers (AMAL)

2.       Awni Abuhadba – Deputy Mayor of the City of Paterson

3.       Dr. Aref Assaf - President, American Arab Forum, Board Member of ADC NJ, Council Member, Governor’s Ethnic Advisory Council

4.       Abed Awad, Esq – Chair of NJ Arab American Democratic Caucus, Arab American Institute (AAI), NJ Chapter, Board of Directors Member

5.       The Very Reverend Elias Bitar - St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church

6.       Mohamed El Filali – Outreach Director at the Islamic Center of Passaic County

7.       Aslan Goow – Councilman for the City of Paterson

8.       Maha Munayyer Kabbash, Esq. – Board member of ADC NJ, Arab/Muslim Advisory Council to the New Jersey Attorney General's Office

9.       Mohamed T. Khairullah – Mayor of Prospect Park, NJ

10.    Samir Khalaf – Co-Chair of NJ Arab American Democratic Caucus,  Board Member of ADC NJ

11.    Muhammad Hatem Mahmoud –  Community Representative on the Passaic County Child Welfare and Planning Council.

12.    Salaheddin Mustafa – Board Member of ADC NJ , Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), NJ Chapter - Board of Directors, Arab American Forum

13.    Dr. Mohamed Qatanani – Imam of the Islamic Center of Passaic County