The Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) is a human services organization committed to the development of the Arab American community in all aspects of economic and cultural life. ACCESS helps low-income families, as well as newly arrived immigrants adapt to life in the United States. Its goal is to foster a greater understanding of Arab culture in the U.S. and in the Arab world. ACCESS provides a wide range of social, mental health, educational, artistic, employment, legal, and medical services, and is dedicated to empowering people to lead more informed, productive, and fulfilling lives.
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ACCESS began operating out of a storefront at Dearborn’s South End in 1971. Staffed entirely by volunteers, ACCESS’ first board president was George Khoury, accompanied by Hajjah Aliya Hassan as the first volunteer director.
Without the help of The Association of Arab-American University Graduates (AAUG), and its donation of the first months rent, the opening of ACCESS on Vernor Highway would not have been possible. In subsequent years, ACCESS moved to Hashemite Hall until it burned down. In 1973, the building on Saulino Court was purchased by the Yemeni Benevolent Association, and generously offered to ACCESS free of charge, where the administrative offices still reside today.
ACCESS began to really take off in the mid-to-late 1970s receiving many grants and awards. As things began to blossom, the center was hit by a devastating fire. This did not deter the staff and volunteers at ACCESS, who arrived to work the next morning an hour early to set up tents outside and continue helping those in need. With the help of the community and many volunteers, the building on Saulino Court was rebuilt.
ACCESS has grown tremendously over the years, from starting small and serving only hundreds, to now serving hundreds of thousands of those in need. The expansion of ACCESS has grown to five locations, including the Arab American National Museum (AANM), which was founded on May 5, 2005.
With two walk-in offices in Dearborn and one outreach office in Hamtramck, Social Services continues to assist the community at the grassroots level. ACCESS provides them with what they need to improve the quality of their lives. There is a broad range of services provided from finding jobs, immigration needs, to health services.
ACCESS also partners with many companies in Michigan to provide services.
The Employment & Training Department at ACCESS is a Certified Michigan Works One-Stop Employment Services Center. Each year the Employment and Training department holds six job fairs servicing 100 employers and drawing thousands of job seekers. Key Programs and Services:
(Basic Skills, GED, ESL, Office Skills) And Computer Application Training
Through numerous programs the Youth and Education Department provides learning and activities for youth of all ages. Summer programs include a stronger academic preparedness component. Each year through our Adult Literacy Program we are able to provide hundreds of predominantly non-native English speakers with courses in English as a Second Language (ESL). Educational and recreational services are offered through the following programs:
The National Outreach Department houses the National Network for Arab-American Communities (NNAAC), which is a network of independent Arab-American community-based organizations. Formally launched in 2004, the network currently has 16 members in nine states. The network has two annual events and four standing programs: Advocacy; the Arab-American Resource Corps; the Center for Arab-American Philanthropy.
The network’s advocacy program focuses on immigration policy, civil rights and civil liberties, civic engagement and increased funding and support for human services.
The Arab-American Resource Corps (ARC), a national AmeriCorps program, is the only program in the country engaging individuals in service in Arab-American communities. AmeriCorps is a federally funded national service program in which individuals commit to one year of service in their communities.
The Center for Arab-American Philanthropy aims to empower and strengthen the Arab-American community through outreach and education about strategic philanthropy. The program strives to support Arab-American giving, whether specifically to Arab-American community organizations or other issues of concern to Arab-American donors.[1]
The Organizational Development program is designed to support the sustainability and growth of Arab-American community-based organizations. By providing technical assistance to strengthen organizations, the network ensures their long-term sustainability.
National Arab-American Service Day is an annual community service project spearheaded by the Arab-American Resource Corp which takes place in 15 cities throughout the country. Its mission is to foster and encourage volunteerism and service among diverse communities; build bridges and connect people through the common experience of service; and highlight Arab-Americans’ commitment to serving their local communities.
The Annual Conference provides a forum where NNAAC member organizations meet and work with experts, advocates from partner coalitions, the funding community and Arab-American leaders. This unique conference brings together a diverse group of participants in order to discuss issues facing local communities and creates a forum in which important issues can be identified and addressed.