The metropolitan Detroit area is home to the oldest, largest, and most diverse Middle East community in America. Two major groups of Middle Easterners have settled in the this area. An estimated 200,000 people of Arab descent live here. The city of Dearborn alone boasts a population of over 19,000 Islamic Arab-Americans. In this community, an organization known as ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Service) has become the nation's premier Arab-American human service agency. They serve tens-of-thousands of people in need, both Arab and non-Arab. They accomplish this through forty-two different programs, rang- ing from health clinics to cultural arts activities. ACCESS has an Arab Folk Heritage Museum with tours and performances of traditional Arab music and dance. Additionally, people from the country of Iraq have come to Detroit for better job opportunities and a better life. This Arab group is known as Chaldeans. They are Christians. In Iraq they are a religious and cultural minority . Many Chaldeans have followed family members to the United States. They come to this country and join them in established busi- nesses. Later, these citizens form their own businesses. They primarily have settled in the Woodward Avenue and Seven Mile area of Detroit. They also have relocated to the Sterling Heights community. |
