The National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC) is a collective of activist and organizing groups claiming to represent the interests of Arab immigrants and their descendants in America. Founded in 2004, the network promotes greater privileges for Arab immigrants and those who have already settled in the United States, as well as greater investment of public resources into Arab communities.

The NNAAC is a program of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS). an activist organization which similarly works to increase the political, economic, and cultural influence of Arabs in the United States. Today, the network claims to have 27 member organizations in 12 states. ^{1 2}

Parent Organization

Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) was founded in 1971 in Dearborn, Michigan. The state is home to a large population of people of Middle Eastern ancestry. Though ACCESS has a nationwide presence, it dedicates a substantial portion of its resources and efforts to Michigan: The group has stated that it operates 10 offices offering more than 120 different economic and social programs in the Detroit metropolitan area alone. While ACCESS claims that it “serves all Americans,” the organization emphasizes that it was “created to assist the Arab immigrant population.” ³

Initiatives

The National Network for Arab American Communities is one of numerous Arab and other immigrant activist groups pushing for the federal government to add a “Middle Eastern or North African” (MENA) racial designation to the United States Census to have more taxpayer funds and other resources directed to their constituents. In an April 2023 interview, NNAAC director Rima Meroueh stated that Arab and other Near Eastern ethnic groups do not wish to be identified as white, and that adding a new census category would benefit educational, healthcare, and other institutions which primarily serve these demographics. The push for a MENA census category also has the backing of far-left U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), whose efforts the NNAAC has endorsed. ^{4 5}

The NNAAC runs what it calls the “Take On Hate” campaign, which is intended to suppress criticism of Islam and immigration from the Middle East. In one case, the organization targeted a news anchor in Detroit, Michigan for suggesting that the state, which has the largest Arab population outside of Arab countries, may be at a higher risk of Islamic extremist threats. Nadia Tonova, the director of the NNAAC at the time, demanded that the news station issue an apology and claimed that the news anchor had no right to “draw conclusions for her audience.” ⁶

In addition to issue-specific initiatives, the NNAAC provides networking opportunities, conducts political mobilization drives, and offers scholarship funds to help its constituents pay for educational and job certification programs. The organization also provides members with training on starting their own networks and activist campaigns. ⁷

Leadership

Rima Meroueh is the director of the National Network for Arab American Communities. She is also advocacy and community engagement manager for Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS). In this role, she has been closely involved in the organization’s efforts to lobby federal lawmakers. Meroueh has also worked on activism campaigns with the United Church of Christ, a liberal Protestant denomination with initiatives such the Council for Climate Justice and the Justice and Witness Ministries, which trains left-wing activists. ⁸

Funding

Backers of the NNAAC include the Democracy Fund of billionaire Democratic Party donor Pierre Omidyar and the Kresge Foundation, a prominent left-wing grantmaking organization based in Michigan. The Democracy Fund has contributed at least $100,000, and the Kresge Foundation has contributed at least $250,000. ^{9 10}

1. “National Network for Arab American Communities.” ACCESS. Accessed May 6, 2023. https://www.accesscommunity.org/national-programs/national-network-arab-american-communities
2. ACCESS. Accessed May 6, 2023. https://www.accesscommunity.org/
3. “Our Roots.” ACCESS. Accessed May 6, 2023. https://www.accesscommunity.org/about
4. Nargis Rahman. “Advocacy group seeks Middle Eastern, North African category included in Census, other federal forms.” WDET 101.9 FM. April 3, 2023. Accessed May 6, 2023. https://wdet.org/2023/04/03/middle-eastern-north-african-category-census/
5. National Network for Arab American Communities.” “We are excited…” Twitter. April 27, 2022. Accessed May 6, 2023. https://twitter.com/NNAAC/status/1519360890621071361
6. “Detroit TV anchor upsets Muslim community in Michigan for ISIS comment.” Lebanese Examiner. May 7, 2015. Accessed May 6, 2023. https://lebaneseexaminer.com/2015/05/07/detroit-tv-anchor-upsets-muslim-community-in-michigan-for-isis-comment/
7. “National Network for Arab American Communities.” ACCESS. Accessed May 6, 2023. https://www.accesscommunity.org/national-programs/national-network-arab-american-communities
8. “Rima Meroueh.” ACCESS. Accessed May 6, 2023. https://www.accesscommunity.org/about-us/rima-meroueh
9. ^[1]“Arab Community Center for Economic & Social Services Access.” Democracy Fund. Accessed May 6, 2023. https://democracyfund.org/grant/arab-community-center-for-economic-social-services-access/
10. The Kresge Foundation 2020 Internal Revenue Service Form 990-PF. Accessed May 6, 2023. https://kresge.org/wp-content/uploads/Kresge-Foundation-Filed-990PF-2020-Tax-Return.pdf