Arab-American Affairs magazine, VOL 34 Issue No 218 September-October 2006

First Arab-American History Conference Focuses on Promoting Conservation and Dissemination of Arab-American History Held in Los Angeles October 21, 2006

 The Arab-American Historical Foundation (AAHF) held its first Arab-American History Conference at the Radisson Midtown Los Angeles on October 21, 2006. The theme was: Reviving Arab-American History, according to Joseph R. Haiek, founding president.
    The conference program included three panels addressing the importance of preserving, disseminating and perpetuating Arab-American history. Participating panel speakers were: Dr. Anan Ameri, Director of the Arab American National Museum, and author, Detroit, MI; scientist Sami Asmar, physicist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA; Dr. Edmund Ghareeb, educator and specialist on Middle East Affairs. and author, Washington, DC; who was unable to attend and his paper was presented by William Hannosh, journalist; Prof. Sarah Gualtieri, USC, Los Angeles; Prof. Iyad Al Qazzaz, Sacramento State University; Prof. Anne Rasmussen, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA; Prof. Hassan Sassi, senior structural and earthquake engineer and professor of mathematics, Los Angeles; Prof. Michael Suleiman, Kansas State University and author of many books about Arab-American history and life, his latest reference book: Arab American Experience. The guest speaker was Hon. Judge James Kaddo, Master of Ceremonies Mona Farraj, Esq. Moderators were: Rima Nashashibi, Natasha Ghoneim and Alia Haddad, Esq.

" There is a large void in the preservation of Arab-American history and this conference helped broaden the scope of research, conservation and dissemination of Arab-American history to assist historians, scholars, researchers, the press and the public," Haiek concluded.