[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 175 (Monday, November 14, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S6665]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARAB COMMUNITY CENTER FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
                                SERVICES

 Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 50th 
anniversary of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social 
Services located in the heart of Dearborn, MI. Created in 1971 out of a 
storefront on the impoverished south end of Dearborn, ACCESS has been 
engaging and building a community to empower individuals, families, and 
community members ever since. What began with a modest, volunteer-run 
effort to support the growing immigrant population has blossomed into 
the largest Arab American community nonprofit in the United States. 
ACCESS has been integral in assisting the growing Arab population as 
they adapt to life in the United States. By uplifting and advocating 
for real and meaningful change, they have become committed to 
safeguarding the engagement of Arab Americans throughout Michigan.
  Fittingly, the mission of ACCESS is ``To empower communities to 
improve their health and their economic, social, and cultural well-
being.'' Spread throughout metro Detroit, ACCESS has 10 locations that 
provide more than 120 different programs/services to the community; 
they provide educational opportunities for youth including the Arab 
American Youth Leadership course, in which they support and foster the 
identity of the Arab American youth, as well as their 21st Century 
Community Learning Centers, which provide academic support during the 
school year and enrichment in the summer. Children are exposed to 
topics that focus on their identity and culture, as well as help build 
their advocacy, leadership, and civic engagement skills through youth 
empowerment to encourage community involvement.
  In addition to youth services, ACCESS also offers a large variety of 
services to adults, especially recent immigrants. ACCESS provides 
subsidized immigration services to the community, as well as many free 
services addressing the community's basic needs, such as tax 
assistance, legal services, and assistance with public benefits 
programs. They also provide life skills training to settling families 
via their Center for Working Families, including financial coaching, 
workforce development, and skill-building. Most profoundly, ACCESS 
provides affordable healthcare through two community health and 
research centers--a fully integrated community health ``one-stop 
service center'' that is comprised of medical, public health and 
research programs, as well as mental and behavioral health programs.
  While mainly focused on direct assistance to individuals, ACCESS also 
works to preserve the Arab American history and cultural identity 
through national programs such as the National Network for Arab 
American Communities, the Center for Arab American Philanthropy, and 
most notably, the Arab American National Museum, founded in 2005; the 
museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute and is the Nation's 
only cultural institution devoted solely to document, preserve, and 
present the history, culture, and contributions of Arab Americans.
  ACCESS has impacted countless lives throughout the course of 50 
years. I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing ACCESS for 
their tireless advocacy and support of the Arab American community, 
both in Michigan and nationwide. I wish ACCESS continued growth and 
prosperity in the years ahead.

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