Millennials are often put down, and told that they are lazy and entitled. They grew up knowing that they live in a racially biased society that is designed to work against them and often feel powerless to do anything about it. However, they have a voice, and they can make a difference – they just need the right mentors and resources to utilize their potential. This panel will showcase service and volunteer opportunities, such as ACCESS Acts, that allow individuals to give back and do good, and talk about ways to make a career out of a passion for serving the community.
Zeinab Ahmed, ACCESS ACTS
Zeinab Ahmed is a high-school senior who has a passion for human rights and social activism. She accidentally found herself on this path when she started to volunteer for community service hours required to graduate; but since then, she hasn’t gotten a paper signed in over 2 years – it has become much more than the number of hours on a piece of paper. She was very shy but is now vocal about what happens in her community. Zeinab wants to major in computer engineering and always wants to stay committed to civic engagement.
Isra Daraiseh, ACCESS
Isra Daraiseh began working at ACCESS after serving as a NNAAC Transformative Leaders Fellow at the Arab American Heritage Council in Flint, MI. She is a passionate advocate for social issues, and dedicates much of her time during and outside of work to such causes. She resides in both Flint and Detroit because although her work is in the Dearborn/Detroit area, her family remains in Flint. She stays active in her home town by serving as a volunteer coordinator for the Flint Muslim Food Pantry, and is also a member of the Flint Muslim Civic Engagement Committee.
Rachid Elabed, ACCESS
Rachid Elabed is the Manager of Business Operations at ACCESS. Prior to this role, he was ACCESS’ Advocacy and Civic Engagement Specialist, where he was instrumental in organizing the Arab American community around key issues, leading successful grassroots advocacy and nonpartisan voter engagement campaigns, and fostering relationships between ACCESS and other organizations in the Metro Detroit area that are focused on serving communities. Additionally, Rachid launched ACCESS ACTS, a high school youth program dedicated to building leadership skills through advocacy and civic engagement. Rachid was the first Michigan Organizer of the Year awardee.
Mohamed Harb, ACCESS ACTS
Mohamed Harb is a high school senior at Star International Academy who is a risk taker when it comes to his dual enrollment classes. He participates in many youth groups, including ACCESS ACTS and the Teen Grantmaking Initiative (TGI), and is very dedicated to giving back to his community.
Sara Harb, ACCESS ACTS
Sara Harb is a high school senior at Star International Academy, who challenges herself by taking multiple AP classes and is taking college courses at a local college. She is a member of the national honors society, has been apart of ACCESS ACTS and the Teen Grantmaking Initiative (TGI), and is always ready to lend a helping hand for her community.
Nesreen Ezzeddine, ACCESS ACTS (Moderator)
Nesreen Ezzeddine is a Dearborn native, with passion and dedication to social justice issues and volunteerism. She began her journey with ACCESS when she joined ACCESS ACTS, a group of high school kids committed to projects centered on advocacy and civic engagement. She recently completed her AmeriCorps Public Ally term, and moved to becoming the NNAAC AmeriCorps VISTA, while also attending Henry Ford College to get her degree in Public Administration. Her vision is to be a part of the change that will create a better future for the next generation.
Session tags: Youth Empowerment, Activism, Philanthropy
Rouge River Room