Goals

• To foster an awareness and appreciation of Arab history, it's many cultures and its people
• To work with and provide information to the public, media, cultural centers, social service agencies, educational institutions, businesses and others interested in our community.
• To serve as a resource for developing friendships among Arab-Americans
• To promote voter registration and active participation of Arab-Americans in their local community

Objective

The Arab Americans of Central Ohio seeks to achieve the following long as well as short-term objectives:

• Assist the Arab Americans to adjust to the American Life, culture and become active citizens.
• Foster an awareness and appreciation of Arab History, cultural heritage.
• Establish network with media, cultural centers, social service agencies, educational and businesses for the enhancement of adjustment to new immigrants as well as those who became citizens.
• Strengthen relationships among Arab-Americans of diverse cultures on the one hand and with Native Americans on the other.
• Stimulate participation of Arab Americans in the local governmental and civil institutions.

 Historical Perspectives

 Due to the increasing number of migrants from diverse Arab Countries to cities and towns in Central Ohio, A groups of professionals, businessmen and women, felt the need to establish an organization in response to the increasing demand and need for varied services.  The Arab Americans of Central Ohio (AACO) was formally established in 1990 and registered in Columbus as a community based, not for profit, non-sectarian, non religious, an independent and tax exempt ( 501(C) (3) cultural organization. 

As volunteers, it is the intention to support local, state and national networks of Arab-American organizations of mutual interest to the Arab-American community and society at large.

Community Programs:

Community involvement

• Volunteer projects (Soup Kitchen, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, etc.)
• Blood Drive
• Build the local community and enhance its identity
• Prepare Arab-Americans to assume leadership positions
• Since there are no strictly Arab neighborhoods in Columbus, AACO should be the place where everyone considers their place to be.

Annual Fund Raising: Funding for local needs

• Community Center
• Scholarship for HS students
• Poor kids who wish to attend kids activities.
• Arabic day school

Arab Family Services

• Get together and Family Fun days Community wide gatherings for families with children to have fun and to get to know one another.
• Teen Connections Monthly social, athletic, and cultural activities.

Groups for interfaith couples and singles

• Matrimonial Services. Provide Arab singles with introductions in a dignified and confidential manner.
• Mental Health Assessment, short-term counseling and referrals.
• Family Life Education workshops: to enable families and individuals to cope with predictable life crises and to enhance identity and participation in the AACO community.
• Resettlement services for ''New Americans'' refugees. Assist newcomers with finding housing, acquiring furniture, developing language skills, accessing medical care, training for and finding employment, and other acculturation issues.
• Prepare New Comers Information Kit
• Information and referrals to appropriate agencies for issues including housing, financial support, and employment.
• Provide information about local organizations; and worship opportunities.

AACO'S Men's Club

• May meet at a member's home periodically for a Sunday breakfasts.
• Discuss ideas, sports and books, listen to speakers, or simply schmooze.

AACO'S Women's Club

• Encourage each member within her own time frame to realize fully her potential as a powerful and positive force within the local and national Arab-American community.
• Stimulate the formation of close and lasting friendships
• Organize fall rummage sale', bake sale, cards and rededicates sale, entertainment book sale, and other fund raising activities.

AACO'S Youth Club

• Middle school and high school clubs for Arab-Americans.
• Meet with advisors to design programs
• Joint programming with other groups.
• Visits to amusement marks.
• Hayrides and retreats
• Holiday celebrations and variety of social activities.

AACO Older Adult Activities - Senior Citizens:

• Work with the school system to welcome new Arab students to get them adjusted to the new environment.
• Community TV station program sponsorships.
• Council of Arab educators to discuss issues of mutual concern, improve their skills and knowledge in areas of Arabic education, and collaborate on the programming options for teachers and students.
• Foster self-esteem in youngsters and substance abuse education.
• Campus organizations collaboration: Invite and educate.
• Introduce Arab students to AACO
• Encourage program participation

K-12

Exploration of Arab and Muslim identity, values and ethics, history and culture, community building and social interaction.

10-12th Grade Kids

• Prepare 10-12th grade kids to develop skills that will enable them to serve as:
• Classroom Assistant
• Role models and helpers for younger students.
• Junior members of the religious schools, mosques, and churches.
• Mentorship’s from appropriate field of expertise

AACO Historical Society:

• Collections and preservation of documents, photographs, and artifacts relevant to Arab History in central Ohio.
• Link between the past and the present.
• Help future generations understand how the Arab community of central Ohio was established and developed.
• Collection should be available to students, researchers, and other people interested in the sociological, religious, and cultural history of our community.

AACO Business club:

• Social physical intellectual, cultural, and educational programming
• Walk your weight off.
• Quilts to needy kids
• Crafts
• Lunch Bunch
• Blood pressure clinic
• Annual book fair.
• Day trips to area attractions.
• Evening and weekend activities.
• Monthly dinners and get together

AACO Sports Programs

• Soccer
• Softball
• Canoeing
• Camping
• Bowling
• Golf
• Outing Club
• Community Leagues
• Weekly practices

Education Programs: Schools

• Introduce Dual Language Curriculums
• Education Programs
• Help business start-ups by providing resources and planning education.
• Assist businesses development and strategic planning.
• Link to local business resources, chamber of commerce, library, and government organizations.
• Develop MCO business directory.
• Promote Joint ventures and acquisitions.
• Develop investment education programs
• Employment opportunities

AACO's community newsletter ''The Bridge”:

• Have a motto: ''The Central Ohio Arab-American News''
• Publish monthly.
• Higher circulation and distribution.
• Free to anybody.
• Totally supported by advertisers.
• Tabloid size, about 30 pages
• Target circulation should be 5000
• Future Bridge issues should include the following:
  • Guide to Arab life in Central Ohio
  • Comprehensive description of all Arab Muslim and Christian organizations, yearly calendar, organizations and advertisers phone lists, and general feature stories of Arab- American interest.
  • The goal of the newspaper is to provide its readers with the best, most comprehensive news about all elements of our Arab community
  • In addition to articles on upcoming events, monthly columns, food, travel, Arab Interest, psychological issues, political commentary, and book reviews,
  • Submission of articles and letters to the editor is always welcome.
  • Political Programs
  • Promotion peace in the Middle East.
  • Encourage US policy that recognizes Palestinian human and national rights
  • Apply the teachings of Arab and Muslim history and ethics to current local, national and international concerns
  • Programs to include fighting racism, bigotry, stereotyping, and seeking a mid east peace.

Current Hot Issues

• This is a vision for the community that can be established within the next ten years if a plan is put in place, and the community rallies behind it.
• I realize with the present resources of AACO we cannot achieve all of the above, however, we should study the above programs, prioritize and start implementation one by one.
• Government funding for such programs should be investigated.
• Our focus should be in attracting the community to AACO and its programs by presenting programs with substance and plans to achieve these programs.
• These programs are for the benefit of the community and ultimately the citizens of this community will harvest what they will seed
• Membership to AACO should be open to all for a free 6 months period to start with *
• Once members realize the potential of AACO'S programs, I’m confident that most will contribute with their time and money.

Membership drives should target.

• Business owners
• Professionals
• Families
• Students

AACO permanent meeting location should be finalized

• Short term at a restaurant, office, or other location
• Long-term AACO'S own bldg