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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CELEBRATING ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, April marks National Arab American Heritage Month, honoring the the history, culture, and contributions of Arab Americans throughout the 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, Arab American heritage was first recognized in various states beginning in the 1990s; and
WHEREAS, the National Arab American Heritage Month initiative, launched by the Arab America Foundation in 2017, collaborates with a grassroots network of over 250 Arab American volunteers in 26 states working to designate the month of April as National Arab American Heritage Month; and
WHEREAS, the month of April was chosen as it marks the beginning of spring, a season known for symbolizing hope, growth, and new beginnings, which mirror the hallmarks of the Arab American community; 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 as part of the fabric of America, along with proclamations issued by 45 state governors; and
WHEREAS, Illinois is one of five states that have passed permanent legislation designating the month of April as National Arab American History Month; and
WHEREAS, notable Arab Americans include Michigan State University professor and pediatrician Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha who blew the whistle on the Flint Water Crisis; the first female White House correspondent Helen Thomas broke barriers for women in journalism; and Chief of the Exploration Mission Planning Office for NASA Najoud Merancy manages the integration and design of the Artemis missions; and
WHEREAS, according to the Arab American Institute (AAI), it is estimated that the United States is home to 3.7 million Arab Americans, 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 percentages of residents in metropolitan areas including New York, Detroit, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Minneapolis; and
WHEREAS, Illinois is home to the sixth largest Arab American population, with an estimated 181,139 Arab Americans calling our great state home; 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, in March 2025, the Cook County Board of Commissioners resolved to work toward including MENA data, with disaggregated ethnicity data when available, in data collection and analysis; and
WHEREAS, Cook County has cemented its commitment to celebrating and uplifting 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 is faced with all too often , and encourage all residents to publicly denounce hate; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County United Against Hate initiative calls on residents to foster welcoming communities, report discrimination, and champion justice; 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, and support efforts towards social justice; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby commemorate April 2026 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.
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