Date: Sunday, March 28th, 2010
Time: 1:00 to 4:00 PM

Event report

Where: Crystal City Marriott Gateway
1700 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, Virginia 22202 USA

 Strengthening the Moroccan American presence in the United States of America

Moderator and Event Chair:

 Mr. Abdelilah Elkhadiri, Moroccan Society of Houston President, Vice President of the Arab American Cultural Center of Houston

  Event Co-Chair:  Mr. Hassan Samrhouni, Washington Moroccan Club, President  

Panel: 

HE Ambassador, Aziz Mekouar, Embassy of Morocco.
HE Consul General Mohamed Karmoune, Moroccan Consulate, New York
Mr. Younès Ajarraï ,  CCME member, chairman of the Cultures group
Dr Anouar Majid, Old Dominion University
Dr. Mohsine Al Ahmadi, Cadi Ayyad  University , Marrakech ,Morocco
Mr. Abed A. Ayoub, ADC 
Mr. Jordan Paul, MACP
Ms Yasmina El Hasnaoui,  professor at Amherst college.
Ms. Fatiha Occhialini
Mr. Gourad Khalid, WAFIN
Mr. Driss Temsamani, 361 degree
Mr. Amine Chigani, PhD Candidate

 Over the past two decades, The Moroccan American population in the United States of America has exponentially increased becoming one of the most vibrant and fastest growing communities in the US rising to prominence in many areas of business and daily life, commerce and trade, education, medicine and professional services. Today, Moroccan Americans are becoming an integral part of the diversity and fabric that makes up the land of uncle Sam. Given these new developments and realities, it is important more than ever for our community to organize in order to succeed, to unite to become stronger and to unleash its potential. In this town hall meeting, that commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Washington Moroccan Club (WMC), the Moroccan Society of Houston has partnered with WMC to explore ways to consolidate the Moroccan presence in the United States through an open dialogue and discussion by a panel that comprises a selected group of people who have deep understanding of issues in Morocco and in the United States.

 The discussion will be around the following themes:

The importance of the Moroccan Americans in the United States for Morocco.
 The power of civic engagement in the United States.

 How to promote the Welfare of Moroccan Americans in the United States and encourage their political participation.
 Designing a linking strategy between all Moroccan American Non Profit Organizations in the US.

 Getting involved in the Development as well as the political processes in Morocco.
 As Moroccan Americans, do we have the resources to engage in legislative advocacy! What could we do even with limited resources?
 Empowering Moroccan Americans in the United States.

 Ways to raise funds and become financially sustainable organizations.