National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC)

NNAAC, a program of ACCESS, is a national consortium of independent Arab American community organizations amid the U.S. – and the only network of its kind.

ADVOCACY & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT (ACE)

NNAAC’s Advocacy & Civic Engagement (ACE) program utilizes the collective power of NNAAC members to address issues of concern on the national level. We place a firm emphasis on listening to and assessing the grassroots community needs and then addressing those needs through policy forums, meetings with nationally elected and administrative officials, collaborations with allied organizations, an annual Arab American Advocacy week in Washington, D.C., and nation-wide advocacy campaigns, among other things.

NNAAC has become one of the leading national organizations advocating on issues of concern to the Arab American community. We have identified three main priorities:

1. Civil liberties, which includes human rights and racial profiling

2. Immigrant rights

3. Support for vital human service programs

Every election season, NNAAC is involved in nonpartisan Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts through a series of initiatives to increase Arab American voter registration and engagement. This long-term civic engagement program encourages Arab Americans to participate more in their communities, and provides resources and trainings to increase the capacity of NNAAC member organizations to support their own GOTV efforts locally.

In 2014, NNAAC launched The Campaign to TAKE ON HATE, a multi-year, grassroots campaign to challenge this country’s growing prejudice and persistent misconception of Arab and Muslim Americans, including refugees of Arab and Muslim descent.

TAKE ON HATE aims to achieve meaningful social change not only through public education, media and coalition building, but also by providing a platform for Arab Americans to speak up and inspire real policy change that challenges institutional discrimination and protects the rights of our communities.

CAPACITY BUILDING

NNAAC increases the capacity of our member organizations through our Capacity Building program, which provides organizational development services with the goal of strengthening and empowering member organizations to be more stable, well-managed nonprofit organizations. This program enables our member organizations to provide better services to their local communities. Strategies include extensive one-on-one technical assistance, trainings, and webinars.

Additionally, NNAAC hosts two bi-annual events each November. On odd-numbered years, NNAAC's National Conference brings together members, community and civic leaders, advocates, and funders for trainings, workshops, a policy forum, keynote speakers, and networking opportunities.

On opposite years, NNAAC hosts a Leadership Institute, which provides members an in-depth training on particular areas of self-identified needs. This year’s event will be hosted in November by NNAAC member, the Alif Institute in Atlanta, GA. This annual event will be a particularly special one as it will wrap-up NNAAC’s year-long celebration of its tenth anniversary.

YOUTH & COMMUNITY SERVICE

The Youth & Community Service program seeks to engage Arab Americans in volunteerism, including youth leadership. To accomplish this, we train NNAAC members on best practices for recruiting and maintaining volunteers; help members implement volunteer management techniques; educate the community on the importance and impact of volunteerism; and host national community service events, such as our National Arab American Service Day, which encourages Arab American communities to give back through service, fostering a culture of leadership, community engagement and volunteerism.

NNAAC’s Transformative Fellowship Program (formally the Youth Fellowship Program) increases the capacity of our human service member organizations to provide additional support to their communities, while at the same time develop crucial leadership skills in the fellows themselves. The program engages college students and/or recent graduates over a nine-month placement with a NNAAC member organization. Fellows are recruited by NNAAC members locally, and in partnership with universities. 

Regions

• Michigan

Location