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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CELEBRATING ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, April is National Arab American Heritage Month, celebrating the the history, culture, and achievements of Arab Americans in our country; and
WHEREAS, Arab Americans have richly diverse backgrounds and faiths, dynamic traditions, cutting edge innovation, and a devotion to community and country; and
WHEREAS, beginning in the 1990s, Arab American heritage was recognized in various states throughout the year; and
WHEREAS, in 2017, the Arab America Foundation launched the National Arab American Heritage Month initiative in line with its mission to promote Arab heritage and empower Arab Americans; Educate Americans about the Arab identity and culture, and to connect Arab Americans to each other and to other communities; and
WHEREAS, in 2022, the Biden Administration became the first to declare April as National Arab American Heritage Month celebrating their unique heritages, customs, and talents into the tapestry of America; and
WHEREAS, notable Arab Americans include Lebanese-American poet, essayist, and visual artist Etel Adnan, Egyptian American scientist and geologist Farouk El-Baz who worked with NASA in the scientific exploration of the Moon and the planning of the Apollo program; and Dr. Michale DeBakey - the first to successfully repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm, do a coronary bypass operation, and first multiple-organ transplant; and
WHEREAS, according to the Arab American Institute (AAI), an estimated 3.7 million Americans have Arab roots, with ancestries that trace to 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa to Southwest Asia including Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Palestine, Iraq, Jordan, and Yemen; and
WHEREAS, today Arab Americans live in all 50 states, with large percentage resident in metropolitan areas including New York, Detroit, Los Angelese, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.; and
WHEREAS, an estimated 181,139 Arab Americans call Illinois home per AAI; and
WHEREAS, Illinois is the first state to recognize the racial classification of Middle Eastern or North African (MENA) for state data collection purposes; and
WHEREAS, Cook County is committed to celebrating the diversity that makes it a great place to live, work, and play; and
WHEREAS, as we celebrate the achievements of the Arab American community this month and all year long, we are cognizant of the profound discrimination that the community all too often must face; and
WHEREAS, to combat all injustice, the Cook County United Against Hate initiative inspires individual and organizations to publicly denounce hate, create welcoming spaces, support community learning, and take action to disrupt hate; and
WHEREAS, Cook County and the Cook County United Against Hate initiative encourages residents to get to know their neighbors, be welcoming to all, to embrace different cultures; and
WHEREAS, all residents of Cook County and beyond are invited and encouraged to actively learn from those with lived experiences that are different from their own, to question hateful acts when they occur, to learn how to safely interrupt hate, and support efforts towards social justice; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the President of Cook County and the members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby commemorate April 2025 as Arab American Heritage Month in Cook County; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body.end