The Chicago Commission on Human Relations (CCHR) is a City agency charged with enforcing the Chicago Human Rights Ordinance and Chicago Fair Housing Ordinance. It investigates complaints to determine whether discrimination may have occurred, and uses its enforcement powers to punish acts of discrimination.
The Advisory Council on Arab Affairs is one of eight advisory councils of the CCHR. The Advisory Council represents and empowers Arab-Americans of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds, especially those whose voices may not otherwise be heard, to work against discrimination and prejudice. One of the main missions of the Advisory Council on Arab Affairs is to work toward the elimination of stereotypes that lead to the continued discrimination against Arab-Americans.
The Advisory Council works with CCHR to identify and address practices and actions which have a discriminatory impact on the Arab community, and provides assistance in designing educational and enforcement programs for CCHR. It also serves as a liaison between Chicago city government, other advisory councils and community organizations to promote cooperation, enhance services and to identify and remedy the practices and actions that have a discriminatory impact on council constituents.
In addition to hosting Chicago Arabesque Festival on Daley Plaza (www.chicagoarabesque.com), the Advisory Council on Arab Affairs presents Arab Heritage Month (AHM) in November. AHM includes a calendar of events, held by the Advisory Council and other community organizations, designed to inform the public about Arab culture and issues that affect Arabs and Arab-Americans.
For more information on the Chicago Commission on Human Relations Advisory Council on Arab Affairs, Chicago Arabesque or Arab Heritage Month call the CCHR at (312) 744-4111 or visit CCHR's official site: http://tiny.cc/CCHRACAA.
Council Members
Committee Members
Special thanks to Kenneth Gunn, First Deputy Commissioner, for his continuing support of the Advisory Council on Arab Affairs.