SE Michigan (V9-I9)

Governor Jennifer Granholm appoints Faiz M. Khan

By Imam Abdullah El-Amin

On January 25, 2007, Governor Jennifer Granholm appointed Mr. Faiz M. Khan to the Michigan Board of Dentistry, part of the state Department of Community Health.

Governor Granholm announced 12 other appointments to state boards on the same day–Khan is the only Muslim among the appointments announced that day.

The Michigan Board of Dentistry is responsible for certification of dental specialists and the licensure and examination of persons prior to their entry into the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene, or dental assisting in Michigan.

Khan is a design release engineer with General Motors.

Mr. Khan has been involved with the community representing Pakistani-Americans for the last 30 years. He is currently a director-at-large for the Michigan Democratic Party, along with former president and current director of the Pakistan Association of America. He also produces and hosts the Pakistani radio show, “Voice of Pakistan,” which broadcasts every Sunday at 11am from WPON 1460 AM.

Khan’s term on the Board of Dentistry as a representative of the public is set to expire on June 30, 2009. He succeeds Evalyn L. McNamara whose term expired.

This appointment is subject to Article V, Section 6 of the Michigan State Constitution of 1963. It stands confirmed unless disapproved by the Senate within 60 days.

The Arab American National Museum

By Dana Inayah Cann

Art. Culture. History. The Arab American National Museum has that to offer and much more.

Located in Dearborn, Michigan, the two-story museum was opened on May 5, 2005. The first Arab American museum in the world, the museum is also the only Smithsonian Affiliate to date in Southeastern Michigan.

The first level of the museum carries the AANMN store, a library and resource center, an interactive Arab world map, a conference room, a temporary exhibit gallery and a community courtyard with a blue tiled fountain in the center of the room which is surrounded by rich Arabic pieces dating from ancient to modern civilizations.

Located on the second floor are three galleries: Coming to America, Living in America and Making an Impact. Coming to America depicts the travels Arabs had coming to this country since the 1500s. As you enter certain areas of the gallery, you can actually hear voices above exhibits telling the story of the person or people that the exhibit is representing. Living in America details religion, work, family life and political involvement to name a few. Making an Impact shows exhibits politicians, activists, athletes, physicians, entertainers, labor leaders and other Arab contributors. Some people include the late Stephen Yokich who was the president of the UAW, and Willian Peter Blatty, author of The Exorcist.

The lower level holds temporary exhibits by Arab American artists and various historical and modern topics of the Arab community.

For the month of March, the AANM events are as follows:

3/1: Global Thursdays: Leslie McCurdy, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: A One-Woman Show

3/4: Free Craft Sundays: Pewabic Artists

3/8: Global Thursdays: Simon Shaheen (Palestinian Virtuoso)

3/15: Global Thursdays: Elizabeth Ayoub (Venezuelan-Lebanese Songtress)

3/22: Global Thursdays: Kiran Awuhalia (Pakistani & Punjabi Folk)

3/24: Rahim Alhai & Souhail Kaspar

3/29: Lalia Farah, Living in the Hyphen-Nation: A One-Woman show.

For more information on the AANM call (313) 582-2266 or visit arabamericanmuseum.org.

CAIR-Michigan Annual Fundraiser

CAIR will be having its annual fundraiser in one month–Sunday March 25th, at 2 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn.

The main attraction of this year’s fundraiser is keynote speaker Robert Fisk, who has written extensively on the Middle East and especially Lebanon, and whose articles have appeared several times in The Muslim Observer.

To reserve a place at the convention, call 248-559-2247 or email cairmichiganbanquet@yahoo.com.

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