A permanent museum exhibit at the Arab American National Museum (AANM) in Dearborn, Michigan has been set up to display 10 Arab-Americans who are being recognized for their talent, ambition and vision. They will all be immortalized in the “Making an Impact” exhibit for those who have made an impact in their field within the community and globally.
In celebration of ending its tenth year anniversary, the museum included the ten new members in their permanent display. The exhibit was started in 2005 and has included hundreds of Arab-Americans. Activists and physicians, politicians, athletes, entertainers and labor leaders feature in the multimedia displays which include many artifacts displaying the individuals’ achievements during their lifetime.
Sadam Ali – Olympic Boxer
The Olympic boxer, Sadam Ali, a Yemeni-American is one of the sportsmen featured in the exhibit. Another sportsman who is being recognized for his sporting achievements is the Syrian-American National Hockey League All-Star Brandon Saad.
The Palestinian-American comedian and actress Maysoon Zayid has also been included in the exhibit, and she performed in the museum’s Aliya Hassan Auditorium, in her 2-night comedy show for 200 guests.
This year’s new members of the exhibit are also Egyptian-American Engineer Rana El Kaliouby, a Palestinian-American comedian and politician Dean Obeidallah, a well-known Egyptian-American designer Karim Rashid, and the popular Syrian-American hip-hop artist Omar Offendum. Jordanian-American poet Suheir Hammad is also one of the new additions, as are Lebanese American DC Entertainment chief creative officer Geoff Johnsand and Sudanese-American Activist Dr. Nawal Nour.
AANM Director, Devon Akmon stated that it is important to show recognition towards the contributions which these Arab-Americans have made over the last century across different fields. He also mentioned that many of the inductees this year are still young and have so much potential, and “being inducted at this point in their lives speaks volumes to the hard work and innovativeness of these individuals.”
This year’s inductees included Arab-Americans who made a great impact locally and globally across five different fields of sports, entertainment, activism, Science and creative arts.
The admission to the exhibit at ‘The Arab American National Museum’ is free and is easily accessible to the public, located at 13624 Michigan Ave., Dearborn. If you have some free time, try and pay a visit, as it is an interesting exhibit of influential people, each with a different and inspiring story.
Here is a list of this year’s inductees and their achievements.
Sports:
Sadam Ali: Winner of 2006 National Golden Gloves Championship featherweight division, Represented Team USA at 2008 Summer Olympics.
Brandon Saad: National Hockey League star, played for Chicago Blackhawks in 2011 and the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2015/2016.
Suheir Hammad- Poet and Writer
Creative Arts:
Suheir Hammad: Poet and writer received the Tony Award for Special Theatrical Event and the George Ellenbogen Poetry Award for her work.
Geoff Johns: Writer of comics including Superman, The Flash, and Aquaman. AANM’s Russell J. Ebeid Library & Resource Center has put together a “graphic novel collection in his honor.”
Karim Rashid: Designer of products and brands which include furniture, lighting and luxury goods which are displayed in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Science:
Rana El Kaliouby: Developed the App, ‘Affectiva,’ and is featured in the Women in Engineering Hall of Fame.
Dr. Nawal Nour – Activist
Activism:
Dr. Nawal Nour: She established the ‘African Women’s Health Practice at Brigham and Women’s Hospital’ in Boston and was honored with the MacArthur “genius grant” for her outstanding work.
Entertainment:
Dean Obeidallah: Co-directed and co-produced the award-winning documentary “The Muslims are Coming!” with comedian and filmmaker Negin Farsad.
Omar Offendum: Popular hip-hop artist, poet, designer, and activist has been involved in campaigns to raise money for humanitarian relief organizations from the profits of his performances.
Maysoon Zayid: Actress, comedian, and activist who has appeared in soap operas and movies, and co-founded the New York Arab-American Comedy Festival with Dean Obeidallah.