The Arab American Heritage Council uses its platform to increase voter outreach

FLINT, Michigan — For over 40 years, the Arab American Heritage Council (AAHC) has been a community pillar, preserving Arab history in Flint and connecting Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) populations in the city.

Anthony (Tony) Mansour founded the organization in the early 1980s. Mansour, a Palestinian immigrant, moved to Flint in 1928. He founded the AAHC to preserve the history of Arab populations in the Flint area through oral interviews.

Today, the AAHC has flourished and expanded. It uses its resources primarily for immigration and legal services, language services, and outreach and education. With the general election around the corner, it has focused its civic engagement efforts on voter education and election participation.

Flintside sat down with Lina Azeim, who represents the AAHC, to discuss the organization’s work and how residents can connect.

Flintside: What work has the AAHC done in the last year to engage with the upcoming Nov. 3 election?

L. Azeim: “Since May, the AAHC has been working to expand our nonpartisan voter education and outreach efforts ahead of the November 3 general election. Our work has included distributing voter resources, organizing phone banking opportunities, and recruiting and training volunteers to serve as poll challengers through our Election Protection initiative.

We’ve also focused on making election information more accessible through our social media series, Ballot Briefs, which breaks down topics like voter registration, researching candidates, and the different ways individuals can get involved in the electoral process. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that community members have the information and resources they need to make informed decisions and participate confidently in elections.”

Flintside: Why was this important for the AAHC to focus on electoral engagement in particular?

L. Azeim: “Civic engagement has been a central part of the AAHC’s mission for a long time. As an organization representing a community that has historically been underrepresented in many areas of public life, we recognize how important it is for individuals to have a voice in the decisions that affect them and that they feel empowered to use those voices. Electoral engagement is one way to ensure that the needs and concerns of our communities are reflected in the democratic process.

This is particularly important for immigrant and MENA communities, who may face additional barriers to accessing election information or navigating civic institutions such as language access and miseducation. Our role isn’t to tell people who to vote for, but to provide them with the knowledge and resources to participate on their own terms.”

Flintside: What kind of response has the AAHC received from the community outreach you have been doing?

L. Azeim: “We’ve received an overwhelmingly positive response from the community, particularly through our work with the Flint Alliance for Immigrant Rights (FAIR). We’ve seen incredible participation in initiatives like our language program and community teach-ins, with residents not only attending but actively contributing their time, sharing resources, and finding ways to support one another.

That same enthusiasm has extended to our civic engagement efforts, where many individuals, especially throughout the greater Flint area, have expressed their appreciation for the voter education and outreach work we’re doing. It’s been incredibly encouraging to see how willing people are to get involved and help their neighbors. More than anything, these experiences have reinforced how important it is to create spaces where community members feel supported and empowered and can see that their efforts are making a difference directly in people’s lives.”

Flintside: What kind of civic engagement efforts has the AAHC been participating in?

L. Azeim: “Our civic engagement efforts extend beyond elections. In addition to voter education, registration outreach, and election protection, we work with local organizations and coalitions to address issues affecting our communities throughout the year. One example is our involvement in the Flint Alliance for Immigrant Rights (FAIR), which brings together community partners to provide education, resources, and advocacy for immigrant communities across Genesee County.

We’ve also worked to advance the recognition of Middle Eastern and North African populations in demographic data, particularly within local healthcare systems, to ensure that our communities are more accurately represented in the policies and resources that affect them. Our focus throughout all this is to help individuals understand and exercise their ability to make a difference by allowing them to believe in creating a better future for themselves and those around them.”

Flintside: What can Flint residents do to actively engage with the organization and further its efforts?

L. Azeim: “There are plenty of ways for Flint residents to get involved! One is through joining volunteer opportunities for election protection during election season or for our annual service day. They can also getting involved in our immigration work done in collaboration with FAIR, attending community events we organize like our annual picnic and artist showcase to learn more about us and the communities we serve, or even simply sharing educational resources with friends and family who could benefit.

We also encourage residents to stay connected with the AAHC and learn more about our ongoing advocacy and community programming through our socials, mainly Facebook and Instagram.”