Beginning in August 2012, the ACC undertook an collaboration with the Hope Fund Corporation to provide college scholarships to underprivileged students from refugee camps in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine. Wafa Abdin, ACC President, said the process followed by the Hope Fund in selecting recipients and its relationship with universities were two factors that set it apart from other scholarship-granting organizations. Mrs. Abdin said of the venture, “It was particularly exciting to find an organization that offers students an opportunity to completely transform their lives and achieve their dreams. The Hope Fund uniquely positions graduates with the ability to impact other Arab youth.” Mrs. Abdin concluded with the hope that the collaboration would continue to be a part of the ACC’s commitment to education and giving back to the
community.

ACC Board Member Dr. Amer Sabbagh, who was instrumental in the success of the first push for donations, expressed his happiness with its outcome. “It gives me and the ACC a great pride and satisfaction to be able to provide a chance to some of these unfortunate young people to satisfy their goals in life and excel,” he said. Dr. Sabbagh stressed that the educational opportunity provided by the Hope Fund will fuel change and empowerment in Arab society.

Since its inception in 2001, the Hope Fund has helped 13 students graduate college with excellent records. Currently, the Hope Fund is hosting more than 30 college students in partnership with over 15 colleges in the US.

Shireen Abu Khairan, a 2010 Hope Fund graduate, stated of her experience, “The Hope Fund was the path that led me to the light; it changed everything, my ambitions, perspectives, and personality.”

She detailed the hopelessness of many youth in the camp, the powerlessness to change their situations and realize their ambitions, and the inner conflict that many youth feel. Describing the distinct sadness she experienced resulting from her inability to make good on her parents’ hopes for her to have a better life, Shireen said, “You can wish a lot of things but you won’t achieve anything unless you get on with it.”

Shireen credited the Hope Fund with allowing her to seize her ambitions and make her dreams a reality. “I have to say that the Hope Fund is the best thing that happened to me in my life… it gives me the hope that I can continue this life, and I can be something in the future, I can be somebody who everybody will be proud of, somebody who can make better changes for herself, her family, her society and the whole world.”

The ACC extends its sincerest thanks to all of the donors, and invites all members to make a difference in the lives of refugee children and the Arab community by donating to this cause. Donations are tax deductible and 100% of proceeds go to the Hope Fund.

The Arab American Educational Foundation presented a gift of $10,000 to the Houston Community College Foundation in May 2012, establishing the Arab-American Educational Foundation, Inc. Opportunity 14 Scholarship Endowment. The HCC Foundation Board of Directors approved a matching gift, bringing the total scholarship amount to $20,000.

“We are deeply appreciative of the Arab-American Educational Foundation’s generosity in support of the Opportunity 14 scholarship. Their gift will provide access to higher education for many of our students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend college,” said Dr. Kelly J. Zúñiga, Executive Director, HCC Foundation.

The HCC Foundation is engaged in a $30 million endowment campaign to fund the Opportunity 14 scholarship in perpetuity for future generations of Houstonians. Opportunity 14 is helping young people achieve their college ambitions at HCC by providing financial assistance for tuition, fees and books for every student who qualifies.

The Opportunity 14 Scholarship is available to qualified students who live in the HCC service area and who enroll in 9.0 hours or more at HCC within one year of either graduating high school or earning a GED prior to their 20^th birthday.Opportunity 14 is a need-based scholarship for entering HCC first-year students who qualify for some federal or state financial aid, but not enough to cover the costs of their tuition, fees, and textbooks. To be considered for a scholarship, the student simply has to complete two tasks: apply for financial aid and sign up for a minimum of nine semester credit hours at HCC.

If a student meets Opportunity 14’s eligibility requirements, the scholarship funds will automatically be transferred to his or her student account. The scholarship will provide up to $6,000 over a period of 3 years, with a maximum of $1,500 per fall and spring semester and $1,000 per summer semester. In most cases, the combination of financial aid and Opportunity 14 scholarship funds will cover all costs of tuition, fees, and textbooks. To learn more, visit opportunity14.org or call the HCC Foundation office at 713.718.8595.

“Consular Section will Reopen on Monday, August 27, 2012

The U.S. Embassy in Libya is pleased to announce that the Consular Section will reopen on Monday, August 27. The Consular Section will offer a full range of services, including nonimmigrant visas for travel to the United States and services to American citizens who reside in Libya.

The U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens said,
“The reopening of the Consular Section is great news for U.S.-Libyan relations. It will help strengthen educational, business, and personal ties between our two countries, which are the foundation of our long future together as friends and partners. The new Consular Section will make it easier for Libyans to visit the United States and for Americans to receive consular services here in Libya.”

The new office is located in the Embassy’s temporary
facilities on Wali Alahed Street, Airport Road. For people interested in applying for a visa,
please note the following:

On Thursday, August 9, Libyans will be able to begin
scheduling visa interviews for after the official opening on August 27 by following three simple
steps: All applicants must use the DS-160 online application form found at https://ceac.state.gov/GENNIV.

1. After completing the DS-160, choose an appointment date and
   time by clicking on the “Schedule Appointment” button at: https://evisaforms.state.gov/default.asp?postcode=YDE&appcode=3. Each individual requesting a visa needs to have an appointment time. You must use your passport number and the valid barcode from your own application when you make your appointment. If you do not enter this information correctly, your appointment will not be registered. If an appropriate date is not available please keep checking the website as the schedule may change suddenly, and appointments may become available.
2. Please appear at the Embassy on the day of your interview at
   the scheduled appointment time fully prepared with your confirmation page of the application form. You will not be admitted for an interview if you arrive 30 minutes prior to or subsequent to your appointment time.
3. News from the Embassy | Embassy of the United States
   Tripoli, Libya http://libya.usembassy.gov/en-081612.html

1 of 2 8/17/2012 8:52 AM AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 12081760.
(Posted 08/17/12) This site is managed by the U.S. Department of State. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

You may find additional information about visas by visiting
the Consular Section’s website at http://libya.usembassy.gov/visas.html.
American citizens may find information about services to Americans at http://libya.usembassy.gov/service.html.
You may reach the consular section by email at tripoliconsular@state.gov or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USEmbassyTripoli.”

Link: http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=40951&utm_source=AILA+Mailing&utm_campaign=24298023f2-AILA8_8_20_12&utm_medium=email

Direct from Catholic Charities:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION’S JUNE 15, 2012 ANNOUNCEMENT AFFECTING INDIVIDUALS WHO CAME TO THE UNITED STATES AS CHILDREN

On June 15, 2012, the Obama Administration announced a new immigration policy affecting individuals who came to the United States as children. Under the new policy, these individuals may qualify for protection from deportation and for permission to work. At this point, this announcement is still only an announcement – there is no process yet in place to “apply for” this new benefit. The government has been given 60 days to implement this process. Until the government provides more information, there is nothing anyone can do to receive this benefit. You should not pay anyone to help you apply for this benefit until we know more about how it will work.

According to the government, individuals may be eligible for protection from deportation and for permission to work if they meet the following requirements:

• Came to the United States under the age of sixteen;
• Has continuously resided in the United States for at least five years
  before June 15, 2012 and was present in the United States on June 15, 2012
• Is currently in school, has graduated from high school, has obtained a
  GED, or is an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces
  of the United States
• Has not been convicted of a felony, a serious misdemeanor, multiple
  misdemeanors, or is otherwise a threat to national security or public safety;
  and
• Is not above the age of thirty

While we wait for more information about how this process will work, you can prepare yourself by gathering together the following documents:

• Birth Certificate
• Passport
• Texas ID, school ID, or consular ID
• School records, including high school diploma or GED and vaccinations
  card or records showing you are still in school
• Documents showing you were physically present in the United States on
  June 15, 2012 and that you have been in the United States since June 2007
• Police records or court dispositions from any criminal case or case
  with immigration

The purpose for this form is to help Catholic Charities communicate with you when we receive more information about how this process will work. No attorney-client relationship is being established by providing us with your information, and Catholic Charities is not promising that it can represent you in any immigration case. When we have more information about how this benefit will work, we may contact you. Also, if you have more questions about this announcement, you may contact us at 713-874-6570 to follow up. Again, there is still no way that you can apply for this new benefit, and you should wait for more information before taking any steps to try to benefit from this.

To be referred, please contact the ACC directly by phone at (832) 351-3366 or email: bobby@acchouston.org

For a word document containing this information, please click:
Handout re 6 15 12 deferred action announcement

To download the intake form:
Charla Sheet for Dreamers

The Arab American Cultural & Community Center is proud to announce the launch of its new website, acchouston.org.

The redesigned site is easy to navigate and user-friendly. It is the single source for all information about ACC events and our community.
We encourage you to visit the website and to send us your feedback and comments. There are some sections that are still under construction.