Arab American Heritage 2022: Home

Arab American Heritage at SXU

There's a Middle Eastern Studies program here at SXU! Email Dr. Saca (saca@sxu.edu) to learn more.

Did you know that the Haddad Room in the Stump Library is named for Doctors Safia and Hassan (Husni) Haddad? They worked at Saint Xavier for many years. The Haddad Peace Scholarship celebrates the Haddads and their legacy. 

More About Arab American Heritage Month

We celebrate Arab-American Heritage Month in April, and have since it was passed into law at the federal level in 2016 and in Illinois in 2018. Before this, Chicago and the state of Illinois celebrated Arab-American Heritage Month in November. 

Displays

Check out the 2020 virtual display and the 2021 virtual display! They're available wherever you have internet access.

Stay Tuned For More!

There will be a series of programs in the Library to celebrate, so stay tuned!

Institutions

You can visit these in person!

• Alif Institute, located in Atlanta, Georgia, fosters understanding and appreciation of Arab culture.
• Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, presents the Arab American Book Awards yearly, and has information for educators and more.

These live online:

• Arab America provides news and more - including recipes and an Arabic word of the day!
• Arab American Institute was founded in 1985 and is the only national nonpartisan organization of its kind in the United States.
• International Prize for Arabic Fiction

Local Community & Cultural Centers 

Check out these local organizations and cultural institutions! 

• Arab American Business and Professional Association 
• Arab American Cultural Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago
• Arab American Action Network
• Arab American Family Services

Museums

• Arab American National Museum
• Museum of the Palestinian People
• Palestine Museum

Performing Arts

In Chicago

• The East Loop
• The Chicago Immigrant Orchestra 
• Middle East Music Ensemble at the University of Chicago
• Silk Road Rising

Beyond Chicago

Theater

• An introduction to theatre in the Arab world from Al-Bab
• Al-Harah Theatre in Bethlehem
• Ashtar Theatre in Ramallah
• The Freedom Theatre in Jenin
• Selected Arab American comedians from Arab America 

Music

• Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, Palestine
• National Arab Orchestra

Film Resources

Can't get enough film? Check out these film festivals and more!

• Chicago Palestine Film Festival
• Arab Film & Media Institute
• Palestine Film Institute

Selected Immigrant Rights & Resources

• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
• Arab Resource and Organizing Center
• The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
• Palestine Legal